_ 140 _ Chapter: 91 In this year of 1508, the King of Portugal decided he would best be served if the Viceroy ended his governorship of India, giving way to Afonso de Albuque que, as was explained before. He would have a small fleet, carrying up to 500 men at his disposal in India, for he was told that this number would be sufficient to guard the Malabar coast and prevent any spices from reaching the Red Sea. Another commander-in-chief would take Afonso de Albuquerque’s place to stay at Cape Guardafui with a powerful fleet his jurisdiction would extend to Cambay and he would not be under any obligation towards the Indian governor. For the king had been informed that it would be a greater service to God to conquer the Strait of Mecca than to conquer India, so that the Law of Muhammad might be destroyed. Once this was done India would be safe, because the Arabs wouldn’t be able to go there in search of spices. The Strait should be conquered because this was the most important place, from which the Arabs issued their orders. He chose a nobleman of the royal household to serve as commander-in-chief of this fleet at Cape Guardafui his name was Jorge de Aguiar, and he sailed on a ship called St. John.
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