ble, and I shall not venture to offer any particulars
in this placev
Having given this account of the first establishm
ent of the Portuguese in the Archipelago, I
shall take a rapid survey of their conduct in the
Spice Islands. Albuquerque, while at Malacca in
1511 , dispatched a squadron to the Moluccas, under
Antonia D’Abreu, who, touched at the island
of Amboyna only, and from thence returned with
one of his ships bearing a cargo of spices. Francis,
Serrano, one of the captains of D’Abreu’s squadron,
was, separated from his commander, and suffered
shipwreck on a desert island. Some hospitable
fishermen, who observed his situation, carried
him in safety toi Amboyna, where the Portuguese
were received with a friendship and humanity
which did honour to the character of the natives,
and which, formed so cruel a contrast to the requital
they received. *
* The hospitality of the people of the Moluccas, towards
every class of strangers, was remarkable. All the European
nations were received by them with a courtesy and good faith
which does honour to their character ; and the malignant passions
of barbarians never displayed themselves in their conduct
until excited by insult and provocation. The following is the-
account of the reception of our countrymen by the king of
Ternate. “ The foureteenth of November wee fell with the
islands of Molucca : which day at night, (having directed our
course to run with Tydore,) in coasting along the island of Mo-
12
It was not, however, until the year 1521, ten
years after their establishment at Malacca, that the
Portuguese appeared m force in the Moluccas.
Antonio de Britto commanded a squadron of nine
ships, Which appeared in the Spice Islands, for the
tyr, belonging to the king of Ternate, hfs deputy or vice-king,
seeing us at sea, came with his canoa to us, without all feare,
and came aboord ; and, after some conference with out Generali,
willed him in any wise to runne in with Ternate, and
not with Tydore, assuring Him that the king would be glad of
his Co mining, and would' be readie' to' d!oe what he would require
; for which purpose he him9elfe would that night be With
the king,, and tell him’ the newes, with whom, if hee once dealt
hee should find, that, as hee was a king, so his word should
stand. In the mean time the vice-king had been with the
king, according to his promise, signifying into him what good
things he might receive from us by traffique : whereby the king
was moved with great liking towards us, and sent to our Generali
with- special message that he should have what things he?
needed and would require, with peace and friendship-; and/
moreover, that he would yeeld himselfe and the right of his
island, to be at the pleasure and commandment of so famous
a prince as we served; In token whereof he sent our General
» signet, and within short time after came in his owne person,
with boats and canoas to qur shippe, to bring her into a better
and safer road thatt shee was in at that present. Our Generali’s
messenger being come to the court, was met by certaine
noble personages, with great solemnitie, and brought to the
king, at Whose hands he was most friendly and graciously en*
tertained.” Drake’s Yoyage in Purchas, Vol. I. Book H,
p. 54, 55.