_ 54 _ two ivory horns as tall as a man, which were richly carved and were played through a hole in the side. When sounded, they harmonised with the trumpets. On Thursday, the captain-major and Nicolau Coelho went in the small boats with bombards in their bows and they sailed the length of the town. There were many men moving about ashore and among them two on horseback, who strutted and pranced about, as soon as they appeared. There they carried the King in a palanquin from a stone staircase of his court, and brought him into the presence of the captain in his small boat. He again asked the captain to go ashore because he had a crippled father who was keen to see him, and that he and his children would come aboard his ships, but the captain declined. Here we found four ships belonging to Christians from India. The first time they came to Paulo da Gama's ship, where the captain was, they were shown an altarpiece on which was Our Lady at the foot of the cross with Jesus Christ in her arms, with the Apostles. When the Indians saw this portrait, they threw themselves to the ground. While we were there, they came to say their prayers and brought cloves, pepper and other things which they offered. These Indians are of dark complexion and they
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