_ 120 _ the city of Ormuz. He swore by his beard that the fortress had to be built, he regretted to say that the walls would be built of the bones of Moors, and that in their own homes he would have to show him so much blood and guts that he would fall dead to see it, and the day the King of Portugal’s flag was hoisted, he would put his head on the top of the pole carrying it. When Khwaja Attar heard the Captain-in-Chief reply he was very frightened and afraid, and it seemed to him that what they were telling him was false, because the Captainin-Chief would not talk so boldly if he was on such bad terms with his Captains. He wanted to calm the Captainin-Chief, and so he sent him words that he had been angry when he had spoken as he had, and he regretted it, and if necessary he would go and work on the building himself. He also informed him that on the mainland was the ambassador of Shah Ismael, who was coming to ask the King of Ormuz to pay him tribute, and he would be grateful if he would tell him how he should answer. This reply from Khwaja Attar was a great relief to the Captain-in-Chief and he was happy in his heart, and at once sent back word that he well understood with what anger he had sent such a message, and if he had not he would have sent no reply but have immediately gone with fire and blood to do the kind of deeds the Portuguese did.
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