_ 182 _ Chapter: 37 After Hoja had been destroyed the commander-in-chief proceeded on his way and came to the city of Braucha or Brava, as the Portuguese call it. It belongs to Arabs and is situated at a distance of 80 leagues from Hoja. It is surrounded by a low wall and a moat, the street planning is good, and its houses are tall, made of stone and painted white. There is much trading activity here and therefore it possesses many merchants. It has no king but is ruled by elders of the people. On his way there the commander-in-chief captured two Cambay ships which carried valuable cargo, and once the whole fleet came before the city, he sent Lionel Coutinho ashore with an offer of peace. The latter took twenty men along with him, while the fleets’ barges remained by the shore with their prows on land, carrying many men to rescue Lionel Coutinho in case the Arabs should try to harm him. When the Arab saw how few of our men came ashore, about 100 of them came out to meet them and one of them asked Lionel Coutinho what he wanted. The latter replied through an interpreter, saying that his commander-inchief was subject to the Portuguese King’s and wished to be at peace with them. The Arabs at once began to talk among themselves and the interpreter told Lionel Coutinho to
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