The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman

_ 137 _ As he saw that he did not have enough men to go and fight on land, and that he could not succeed in obtaining the fortress from Cojeatar if he fought him from the sea and also because his ship was letting in a great deal of water, making it almost impossible to use the artillery he decided to go to India. He left on the 3rd of November, and after he had lost sight of the island of Ormuz, Francisco de Tavora saw a large terrada, and moved towards it without being seen, because it was dark as he pursued it into the strait the wind died down and he had to anchor, abandoning its prey. This was the reason why he couldn’t go with the commanderin-chief; the latter, thinking that Francisco de Tavora was sailing ahead, continued on his way. On the following day, the 4th of November, before reaching Cape Musandam.(A) They caught sight of another terrada sailing along the coast, Nuno Vaz, who was also sailing along the coast, in his pinnace, went towards it and captured it without a fight, because it surrendered at once. He found that it was carrying alum and liquorice, as well as some seed-pearls, from here he followed the commander-in-chief on his way to India. (A) Macendo in the original.

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