_ 291 _ fishing but also for attacking those who passed by, which indeed they did from that day on, causing great damage to sailors and indeed discredit to the captains of Ormuz and the entire Portuguese nation. For since each one wished (as is usual among those who make laws and govern) to acquire money by all means available, and since they had no other means of achieving this end, they never made any attempt truly to engage in war with these robbers. It would have been a most simple thing to force them to leave those sandbanks within three or four years and make them go and live elsewhere where they would be more restricted and from where they would no longer be able to carry out the robberies as they still do. This would be achieved simply by not allowing them to set sail for four months of the year during which time they would fish and pick dates, these being their staple diet, along various parts of the coast. This would entail no greater expense than the use of three fustas, which are constantly armed for such a purpose in these parts. However, the design would be different, as they do not carry out trade and commerce any more, their purpose being the protection of the strait from these robbers. The Captain of Ormuz sent the above-mentioned fleet against these fishermen and plundering pirates in the
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