_ 198 _ mainland, because all around this island live Moors, and in it there are many of them and of many other nations. They have to be treated gently but told the truth. 16. Father, we are staying in the little college that Father Gaspar built, alone, away from the bustle of the town, although Father António and I often go out to teach catechism and to ring the bell to pray for souls in purgatory, and the other things we have to do. When we come here we are alone and quiet. We have our hours of prayer, and so do the boys. I will not write to you of many details I could describe, there is not time. I will tell you only that a few days ago we were expecting Turkish galleys, which laid siege here last year. It was said that they were coming from Basra on their way to [Suez] because the Grand Turk, according to what a renegade told us, ordered them to go in order to send a large fleet. They came within twelve leagues of this island, and the people of the town were very frightened because they thought that our fleet which was waiting in the Strait for them, to prevent their passage would be afraid of them and that they would come and sack the town, even though this captain, who is now Dom Antão de Noronha, was firmly determined to wait for them in the battle-ground and not for them to come ashore as they did before.
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