ABSTRACT
Two days had now elapsed since this skirmish, and there began to be a great want of water in the city, so that many children began to die of thirst, and they could provide themselves from no other quarter with dispatch, except from the wells of Turumbaque, because of the exceeding vigilance and care which the great Afonso Dalboquerque had employed in blockading the island. So Cogeatar determined 178to send secretly and clear out the pools; and with this view he dispatched a captain with some men on foot and on horse, and many camels and beasts to bring water immediately to the city. Now, as Afonso Dalboquerque had his sources of information respecting all the intentions of the king, to wit, Moors to whom he used to give many presents from his stock, he was immediately advised of this, and prepared Manuel Telez and Afonso Lopez da Costa, with one hundred and fifty men, to go and fall upon these men and cover up the wells again. The captains started at nightfall by sea, and arrived at the wells when morning was just breaking, and at once attacked the Moors; and, as these were not in careful array, they were routed, and, without making any resistance, took to flight, and our men pursued them, and killed many as they came up with them, and then returned in a body to the wells, and killed all the camels and beasts of burden which the Moors had there to carry water, and covered up the wells. When this was done they returned to the boats, and, betaking themselves to the ships, came upon Afonso Dalboquerque on his way towards them in boats to give them assistance, if it were necessary.
