ABSTRACT
As soon as the great Afonso Dalboquerque had withdrawn to the ships, on obtaining this victory, it was announced to him that, after his departure to Turumbaque, two almadias had gone out by night to the mainland. Now, because he was desirous of knowing the whole reason of this trip, he ordered Duarte de Sousa, with two skiffs well furnished for any contingency, to go at once and wait for them at that part whence they had set out; and, as the almadias returned at night, they came unexpectedly upon Duarte de Sousa, who, directly that he caught sight of them, gave them chase, and before they touched land took them both, and proceeded with them to Afonso Dalboquerque. And from the Moors who were captured, he heard that Cogeatar, in consequence of the great lack of water in the city, sent swift-rowing almadias to Nabandé for it by night; for these could coast along more secretly than the paraos. When the Moors had told him of this, he ordered their noses and ears to be cut off, and that they should be put on shore, and their almadias burned; and from thenceforth he ordered a watch to be set upon the shore to put a stop to this device by which Cogeatar designed to get water. When the people of the city perceived this means of supply cut off, and that they were in great likelihood of perishing with hunger and thirst, many men assembled together, with their women and children, although it was night, and surrounded the king’s palace, shouting loudly, and crying out, desiring him to take pity upon them and the troubles they were suffering in the death of their fathers, husbands, children, and relations, without any hope of aid coming to them 182from any quarter, and all because Cogeatar would not give up four Christians, who were worth nothing, and of whom they had no need. And further, they related many disasters which had taken place, so that it was grievous to hear them, and the cries were so loud that they were heard in the ships.
