_ 195 _ reliable they were. He therefore laughed at the thought of anyone, no matter how powerful, taking his fortress by force. Nobody in the world would be able to do it, let alone the men of this fleet. He therefore didn't think it necessary to make a show of strength before the battle. He also noticed that the commander-in-chief had inspected the palm-grove and had stayed there longer than elsewhere, so that he suspected he would try to disembark there. He therefore gave orders for a hut to be built at the site on the following night, where his men would take some artillery and defend the entrance. When the commander-in-chief returned to the ships, he summoned his council and told them of his intention to attack the fortress. He asked for their opinion, and they all agreed to disembark near the palm-grove for the reasons I've explained. They would set out before daybreak, when everyone had gone aboard the barges and boats before sunrise the commander-in-chief gave orders for them to row towards the palm-grove. He was accompanied by João da Nova, Lionel Coutinho, Rui Dias Pereira, Job Queimado and two other captains. Afonso de Albuquerque followed behind with his captains, namely Francisco de Tavora, Manuel Teles Barreto, Antonio do Campo and Afonso Lopes da Costa. Afonso de Albuquer-
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