ABSTRACT
Within the fortress, the work became steadily harder, whilst the efforts of the defenders diminished each day, chiefly owing to the lack of water. The burning thirst which imperilled them increased daily, mainly because their miserable rations were dry and salty. On the other hand, the purification of the numerous dead bodies, together with the spells of intense heat which were particularly severe in that time and place, were the cause of numerous diseases, of which many of our men died. Above all what most disheartened them was their despair of the arrival of relief, which was caused by the news brought by Dom Manoel de Sousa. Withal, however, they struggled on as best they could, and even the sick and wounded were employed in the duties and positions of the healthy, owing to the few fit men that there were in the garrison.
