_ 61 _ Turks, Arabs, subjects of the Mogul, Armenians, Hindus and Jews. It was one of the best fortresses in the State of India, built in the year 1515 during the governorship of Afonso de Albuquerque; it had two gunpowder factories and a shipyard for foists and galliots; there was a cathedral church, a house of the Holy Misericord and a convent of our holy father St Augustine, with 20 religious. Within the island there is only salt, sulphur. f0l. 112 rainwater cisterns and a spring, discovered by the King of Ormuz at [Turumbaque], at the end of the island, which is very salty; but in spite of all this it was very well supplied and had an abundance of all necessities to a greater extent than any other city in this part of the Orient. Brother Antão de Jesús of the Convent of Thana The said Father Provincial, Brother António da Paixão, attempted to spread the faith throughout the cities and towns of India, selecting from the small flock he had with him some of the most trustworthy and able persons. He had already sent some to Ormuz, and the others stayed in Goa. The Father Provincial left for the north with the intention of founding a convent wherever he found a suitable site and town.
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