Page:The Captivity of Hans Stade of Hesse.pdf/165
seventy canoes, and had attacked them at daybreak as is their custom.[1] The Mammalucks together with the Portuguese had run into a house, which they had built of earth, and defended themselves. The other savages had also kept together in their huts and defended themselves whilst they could, so that many of the enemies had remained dead. At last, however, the foe had gained the upper hand, had set fire to the place of Brikioka, and had captured all the savages, but to the Christians of whom there might have been about eight, and the Mammelucks in the house, they had not been able to do any harm, for God intended to preserve them. The other savages, however, whom they had taken there, they had at once separated and divided, and thereupon they had returned to their own country.
Caput XVI.
How the Portuguese rebuilt Brikioka, and afterwards raised a fort in
the island of Sanct Maro.
Upon which the authorities and community thought it advisable that the said place should not be abandoned, but that it should be strongly fortified, for at that point the whole country could be defended. This they had done.
Now when the enemies perceived that the Brikioka settlement was too strong for them to attack, they during the night passed by water immediately above the place, and captured whomever they could seize about Sanct Vincente. For those who lived in the interior thought they were in
- ↑ The practice of all savage peoples, who rely upon the drowsiness of the attacked when enjoying the "beauty sleep" before dawn, and who want the day soon to break, so that after darkness has covered the attack, they may have light to pursue the fugitives, and to drive away or to carry off their slaves, cattle, and other booty. See part 2, chap. 26.