_ 498 _ They opened negotiations with the King of Ormuz, Rais Nuruddin, Ibrahim Beg,'an important and honoured captain of Sheikh Ismail' and even the Persian ambassador to the Commander acting as intermediaries. The supporters of Rais Hamid finally left the city peacefully. Albuquerque's conciliatory attitude in 1515 needs to be emphasized because of the contrast with his behaviour in 1507,when he put several towns in that area to fire and the sword. In the first instance he had used force and fear to prevent any opposition to the Portuguese presence, but later he sought to enlist local collaboration in the Portuguese 'protectorate' over the city and the commercial and martime empire implanted in the seas and coastal areas of the Indian Ocean. Pero de Alpoim tells the King of the building of the fortress and the care taken with its artillery, heavy and light: 'It is a fine thing to see the heavy brass and iron bombards, which are better made than any I have seen [...] as are the brass falcoes with their chambers and barrels fitting very well(A). There follows an account of some administrative measures taken for Ormuz. Another (A) Ibid., fo. 2v.
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