Besides, That This Might Give Occasion To Some Of Those About The Rajah, Who Were Known To Be Already Unfriendly To The Portuguese, To Insinuate That The Captain- General Had Usurped The Authority From The Rajah, And Might In That Way Wean His Affections From Them.

Pacheco was convinced by these arguments that he had acted wrong, and immediately sent to countermand the execution.

Two of them were already _half-dead_; but _those who were still living_, he sent to the rajah, informing him that they had deserved death, but that from respect to him he had spared their lives. The rajah was singularly gratified by this mark of respect, and the more so because there happened to be then present several of his principal nobles and some chiefs from other places, besides sundry of the chief of the Moors of Cochin, who had endeavoured to impress on his mind that the Portuguese were willing to assume the command in his dominions[8]. Henceforwards Pacheco had such good intelligence, that all the subtle devices of the zamorin were counteracted.

The month of June was now ended and the rainy season, or winter, began to come on, from which Pacheco naturally concluded that the zomorin would soon break up his encampment, on which occasion he was fully resolved to give them an assault, having sufficient experience of the pusillanimity of the enemy. But the zamorin, being afraid that Pacheco might attack him at his departure, gave out that he intended to make another assault on the ford with a greater fleet than ever, and even directed the floating castles to be repaired.

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