_ 177 _ pay a tithe and duties on its cargo. I saw it entering and it was much lighter. 9. The count ordered another fleet to Malabar under the captain Gil Eanes(A) and others left from other parts in the south so that the coast is safe from the Malabari and there is now no memory of them along the whole coast, which is most unusual. They are now so disgraced at having so many sailing ships taken from them and so much of their land burned, and by being unable to carry on any business with other countries, that it is hoped that the Samorim will make peace, although this may be much against his will. 10. Ceylon, which is the island where cinnamon is grown, and where we have one or two forts, even though it is not under siege as it has been in past years, since the king(B) spends much and is tired of having won nothing, he is not however in a state of peace(C) since he wanted recently to assist in an act of treachery so that some Portuguese would be in his hands, but it was discovered at (A) D Aegidius (Gil) Eanes Mascarenhas, about whom which consult Couto, Dec X, 1. 3, 8 (pp. 322-323), where he is called Gil Eanes Mascarenhas. (B) Mayadune and Rajasinha I, kings in Sitavaka in the years 1579-81 (cf Documenta Indica X 397) laid siege in vain to the town of Colombo (Perera, History of Ceylon 1 49 75). (C) Cf Couto, Dec X, Book 2, c 9 (pp. 209-11).
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