ABSTRACT
Notwithstanding all these differences which the great Afonso Dalboquerque had every day with the captains, and which caused him much pains, yet he did not cease to seek a remedy by which to obtain water for his fleet, of which there was great need; and although in the Island of Queixome, which was close at hand, he could no longer obtain it without force of arms, because of the numerous forces which the king had sent there after the mutiny, for all this he had made up his mind to go there, and, before he set out, desired to be informed by the Moors, whom he had captured in Arbes, in what place the captains and men lodged whom the king had sent to keep guard over the wells. The Moors told him that the headquarters were in a large town called Queixome, and from it all the other settlements were supplied. 190Afonso Dalboquerque, upon receipt of this information, gave orders to João da Nova and Afonso Lopez to make ready with all their forces to accompany him, and to Antonio do Campo to provide the paraos, with Moors to beach them, in order to load with water, and he left Francisco de Tavora and Manuel Telez in charge over the ships. So, when midnight was come, they set out, and arrived before Queixome so soon, that it was necessary to come to anchor until it was time to see where they could disembark; and when dawn began to appear Afonso Dalboquerque ordered the boats to make for the land, and disembarked with all the company, and told João da Nova and Afonso Lopez da Costa to take their division beforehand and march straight upon the place, and attack it without loss of time, and ordered Jorge Barreto, with fifty men, to attack it from the inner or land side, to draw off the Moors from collecting at any part, and they would thus all meet there; and after giving them these directions he set out with the remaining men, marching direct towards the place, to succour the captains. João da Nova and Afonso Lopez da Costa made such haste, that they arrived before Jorge Barreto at the head of the town, and attacked some large houses, wherein were three captains of the King of Ormuz, just in the act of mounting their horses, and some few bowmen. As soon as João da Nova and Afonso Lopez da Costa perceived there were people in the houses, they closed up with the doors and broke them in with axes, and got in along with them all in confusion; while Jorge Barreto, who by this time had come up, proceeded to attack them behind the houses, upon the top of the walls of some country houses. The Moors, now that the gates leading to the streets were broken open, assembled together in a courtyard and defended themselves there for some time without anyone being able to get in to them; but our men, being ashamed at the delay, attacked them with great vigour, and forced an entry. And, in 191the moment of getting in they wounded João da Nova, who was the first, and the Meirinho, 1 and steward of his ship, and killed one of his sailors; but our party revenged themselves amply, for they put the three captains to death who were getting on their horses to flee away, and all the bowmen who were with them.
