_ 169 _ archives as the final minute from which the original order was copied for the Commander. However, Fragment 18 poses an important question. It seems to me undeniable that it contains a shorter and a more composed text than the corresponding part of Document III. It must thus be an earlier form, since it is in Document III that we find the spirit of King Manuel's letter to the Samorin, which can be read in Castanheda, from where I transcribed it for my book on the foundation of the State of India, and in Fontoura da Costa, and in Grenlee. What, then, is the explanation of why a version considered an early form contains in the text phrases which, in the version considered to be later, are placed in the margin, to be interpolated in a fair copy, and also that in this later version there are lines completely deleted? This happens in two passages only. One is that referring to the couple of men who were to disembark with the Indians who went ashore with Baltasar in Calicut; the other is that in which especial caution is given not to accept hostages of low status. In fact, these two passages, which in Document III are in the margin, to be interpolated, feature in the text of Fragment 19, which I consider to be earlier. Since I am convinced of the priority of Fragment 19 because of the lack in it of details and of the
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