_ 143 _ and a few rowing-boats which they had captured from us,” to conduct war against us and even to attack the fortresses by sea.(A) Sousa: História Militar-Marítima da Índia, Vol I pp. 103-8. In 1581 the Pasha of Ayman [Yemen] decided to attack and sack Muscat. News of this intention of the Turks reached Muscat, but when the Captain of Ormuz was told he did nothing, because according to his information “there were no galleys in Mecca and they were incapable of leaving port.” All the same, he sent a message to the residents to keep a lookout and careful watch. At the end of August 1581, the Turkish fleet set sail, although strong westerlies were still blowing. It consisted of four galleys under the command of Mir Ali Bek, Turkish by nationality, “a dissolute, quick-tempered pirate, hardly a captain.” On the Arabian coast one of the galleys was holed and ran aground; with the other three he made for Cape Ras al Hadd. When he sighted Muscat, he made for it at nightfall, but so that the surprise should be complete, he did not drop anchor then and made for the Bay of [Sedabo], where on 22nd September he landed most of his people. (A) Queiroz, Father Femão, Vida do Venerável Irmão Pedro Basto, Book II Ch. II.
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