_ 82 _ received information about us that we were nothing but thieves who went about stealing. However, he did all this in the way that you have seen. On Sunday, 24 June, the feast of St. John the Baptist, the merchandise left for Calicut. When it arrived, the captain gave instructions for everyone to visit the city as follows: One man would go from each ship and when these had returned, others would go. In this way they would all be able to visit the city, and each one would buy what he wanted. As they went along the road, they were received with great hospitality by the whole Christian community, who were all delighted if someone went to their house to eat or sleep, and they shared everything they had with very great pleasure. Furthermore, many people came to the ships to sell fish in exchange for bread and we received them with great hospitality. Many others arrived with their children and little boys, and the captain gave orders for them to be fed. All this was done to encourage peace and friendship with them and so that they would say good rather than bad things about us. However, there were so many of them that they exasperated us because many often arrived at dead of night and we were unable to throw them off the ships. This was
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