ALMEYDA, Dori FRANCIS, the first Portuguese viceroy of the East Indies. After the Portuguese had been a short time settled in India, the Mahometans foreseeing that their interference would ruin their com merce, succeeded in exciting the jealousy of the Samo rin, (the title of the sovereign who reigned at Calicut,) to such a degree, that he requested the assistance of the Mamelukes, to enable him to expel the strangers, whom he was taught to consider as the invaders of his dominions. The news of these proceedings spread great consternation amongst the Portuguese in India, and obliged them to send to Portugal, to request immediate assistance. Upon this don Francis Almeyda, count d'Abrantes, was despatched with thirteen large vessels, and six smaller ones, and a considerable number of troops on board. On arriving in India, he took the most effectual methods to promote the Portuguese in terest. During his administration the great island of Madagascar was discovered. His son, Lorenzo Almey
da, first surveyed the Maldive islands, and afterwards discovered Ceylon, the chief monarch of which he compelled to submit to the power of Portugal. This gallant young man fell in a great naval engagement with the Samorin, in which, however, the ships under his command gained a decisive victory. Almeyda was su perseded in his command by the famous Alphonso Al buquerque afterwards so renowned in India. Having resigned the command, he prepared to return to Europe with the great riches which he had acquired. He found it necessary to land on the coast of Africa, for the pur pose of procuring some fresh provisions. Here a dispute arose between some of his sailors and the natives, in which Almeyda imprudently interfering, was slain, to gether with 57 of his attendants. (g)