_ 226 _ along the Arabian coast. Dom Antão went in their pursuit, with the galleons proceeding close inland and the cared fleet in mid-channel. Siqueira and Aguiar sailed ahead of everyone to search all the inlet so as to ensure none had remained behind. This was the month of February, when the Xamal winds, which are northeasterlies, blow. Inside that Strait they are extremely blustery, consequently the fleet had such a struggle against them that it was scattered by the violent storm that they caused, so that they travelled with small sails until they were off Muscat. On seeing the fleet from the shore, Fernão Dias Sefar sailed towards them in a terranquin and informed Dom Antão that the day before two galleys had passed within sight of land. Dom Antão gave orders to set full sail and went to chase them, sending the oared ships ahead to harass them if they found them, but he reached Ras-el-Had without sighting them. There he took advice about what he should do and if he should follow them to the Strait of Mecca. It was decided that as the monsoon had not yet arrived because the westerlies were blowing, and the fleet was not prepared for this, it should go and wait on the banks of the Teve
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