_ 77 _ in Antacan(A), 24 leagues from Ormuz, they embarked for the fortress of Minãb(B) albeit against the wishes of some, because they feared that they would be killed there. The Father(C) ordered me to accompany them to give them religious instruction, console and direct them. In all there must have been nearly 400 Christians. I had my work cut out with these people because, according to the padre’s and the captain’s orders, I was (A) Perhaps a mistake in the spelling of Khôr-fakkân (Khor – fakkan), a place situated between Sohar and Ormuz (cf. TOMASCHEK, Mohit, tab XI). (B) The King of Ormuz in a letter of 25th October 1552 written to João III illustrates our text well with these words: “As there was news and certainty that the Turkish fleet was coming, it was decided that the guazil Reiz Nur el-Din, the chief magistrate Mirebeirus and I should enter the fortress [of Ormuz]. This we did in due time, and the captain also decided that, because the size of the fleet was not known nor how many people there were, all the Portuguese should assemble in the fort. And because the common Christian people were many and [Reis Sharaf] and his son Reis Nur al-Din as well as [Mirebeirus] had a lot of people, that is wives, sons, daughters, relatives and followers, it was imperative to put all of them where they would be safe or in a place where they would not be harmed. My son who is now three years old was handed over any my mother, for them all to be placed in the fort of [Minão], which they call [Moghistan], on the Persian mainland, where Mir Ahmad Shah is captain” (Torre do Tombo: Corpo Chronologico 1-98-6, f, iv). (C) Gonçalo Rodrigues.
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