_ 122 _ our own, and it behoves us, on account of their piety, to communicate to you that, according to a despatch which has arrived in this city by one of these captains, we understand that they have discovered India and other kingdoms and domains adjacent, and have entered and navigated her seas; and that they have found there great cities, great, prosperous edifices and a large population. All manner of commerce in spices and precious stones is carried on there, and transported in carracks, and the discoverers themselves have seen this, in great volume and of high quality, to Mecca and from there to Cairo, whence these goods are distributed throughout the world. They have brought back quantities of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, pepper and other kinds of spices, and also the stems and leaves of the same; and many precious stones of all kinds: rubies and others; and they have also discovered lands where there are gold-mines; but they have not now brought back large quantities of gold or of the spices and stones as they might have done, because they had not taken with them many goods [to offer in exchange]. As we are aware that Your Highnesses will gain great pleasure and contentment from this intelligence, we
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