was met with, who was or pretended to be a Christian.  This person carried our men to a river, where they found a spring of excellent water issuing out of the rock; and for his services they gave him a red nightcap.  Next morning four natives came off in a small boat, with many gourds and cucumbers for sale.  These people said that their country produced cinnamon, and two of our people were sent onshore to see whether this were true, who brought with them two green boughs which were said to be cinnamon, of which they had seen a large grove, but it turned out only to be the wild kind.  At their return, these men were accompanied by more than twenty natives, who brought hens, gourds, and cows milk for sale, and who said, if the general would send some of his men on shore, he might have abundance of dried cinnamon, hogs, and poultry:  But he dreaded treachery, and would not allow any of his people to go on shore.  Next forenoon, when some of our men went to a part of the shore at some distance from the ships to cut wood, they suddenly came in sight of two boats lying close to the land, and returned with intelligence of what they had seen; but the general would not send to inquire what these might be until after dinner.  In the mean time, one of the men in the top gave notice that he saw eight large ships out at sea, which were then becalmed.  The general gave immediate orders to have every thing in readiness in case of an attack, and as the wind served both fleets, they soon came within two leagues of each other.  The enemies perceiving our fleet approaching, fled towards the shore; but one of their rudders breaking, the men belonging to that ship escaped in their boats, and Coello immediately took possession, expecting to find it laden with rich commodities.  Nothing was found however, except cocoa-nuts and a kind of sugar called melasus, which is prepared from palms or date trees.  He also found on board many bows and arrows, swords, spears, and targets.  The other seven ships were run aground, so that our ships could not get near them, as drawing too much water; but our people followed in their boats, and drove them out of their vessels by firing upon them with their ordnance.  Next day, while our fleet was at anchor, seven men came off from the land in an almadia, who reported that these eight ships had been sent by the zamorin from Calicut to capture our fleet, as they had been informed by some of the fugitives[64].

From this place the general removed to the island of Ansandina, at a short distance, where he was told he might procure good water.  This island is very small, and only a league from the continent.  It contains several woods, and two cisterns, or conduits, built of freestone, one of which is six feet deep, supplied with excellent water from certain springs; and the sea around has great quantities of fish.  Before the Moors traded with India, this island was well inhabited by the native idolaters, having many