_ 18 _ In the same year (1563) Father Melchior Nunes Baretto sent a letter to Father Diego Leones, the Superior General of the monks of the Society of Jesus, Cochin, on the 24th of January 1563, mentioning Massawa which was invaded by the Turks:(4) You must have already been informed through the letters of recent years of how difficult and virtually impossible it is for us to set foot in the land of Prester John due to the invasion of Massawa by the Turks who have built a fort there. Because of this, they do not allow anyone from here to sail in that part of the Red sea. So unless a large fleet is assembled to transport a thousand fighting men we shall not be able to enter there. (4) Document no. and reference.
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