_ 152 _ the captain, whose name was Mir Ahmed Shah, to ask him for permission to teach the Christians and told him what his people had been saying to me, which stopped them for a while. One Wednesday, when I was at home after visiting the Christians, many people came to me with the news that Ormuz had been taken. This caused great distress among the Christians, and many collected together all their belongings in order to flee inland with them. But then came news to the contrary, and they quietened down somewhat. Now I am expecting that we shall be sent for from Ormuz, although I think I shall stay in this country for some time. The climate is healthy in June, July, August and part of September; but in October and November it is like a plague. The people here say that when a certain star rises in the south it is a sign of this bad weather, which is felt first by the oxen and beasts of burden. To know if the star has risen they watch at the cattle, and see them terrified. This has just happened, all the people I brought here fell ill, but it pleased Our Lord that only four children and one woman died. From Moghistan. Alvaro Mendes(A). (A) Biblioteca de Ajuda, 49-IV-49 f 167r.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy