12 with two excellent ports close by: the eastern and western; one commercial and the other military. Opposite the city, but in the same spot, there stands the fortress against the sea. It has two entrances: one opens to the city and the other to the sea. This meant that entering and exiting the fortress was possible from land while allowing access to it from the sea as well. In addition to the military port, there is also a large gunpowder factory, where the Portuguese army throughout the Indian Ocean get its supplies. The city of Hormuz is the most renowned commercial centre and marine port in the world. It is a meeting point for trade that exceeds all the east and west markets put together. It also has a large port for all kinds of horses shipped from Arabia and Persia to India. The city provides the Portuguese and the Muslim Kings of India with what they need. As a result, the importance of the Hormuz Fortress to the Portuguese kings who possess it cannot be underestimated. Its loss would cause the greatest of damages imaginable to the Portuguese. In the city, there live around 200 married Portuguese, many local inhabitants and residents, around 7000 people. This is in addition to the
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