_ 154 _ was motivated by a need for money, he sent Antonio de Sintra to tell him that the Viceroy would give him part of his year’s salary (this was the sum fixed by the king for Albuquerque’s salary as Governor) or perhaps the Viceroy did this just to please him. Afonso de Albuquerque thanked him very much and the Viceroy wrote to the Factor of Cochin, instructing him to give him the money. The Viceroy also told Jorge Barreto that should Afonso de Albuquerque wish to lodge at the fortress, he should see to it, Before Afonso de Albuquerque left for Cochin, he sent the Viceroy two very precious pearls which Cojeatar had given him in lieu of part of his tribute. The Viceroy asked Gaspar, who had been a Jew, how much they were worth, and he replied that he had seen many pearls, but none like these, and none so valuable so that he couldn’t say how much they were worth, for they would fetch as much money as anyone might be prepared to offer. The Viceroy sent the pearls back to Afonso de Albuquerque, telling him to send them to the king if he saw fit; in turn, Afonso de Albuquerque gave them to Fernao Soares, together, with the four archers he had captured in Ormuz, as I described before. They were dressed in crimson brocade tunics, crimson satin hoods and fine turbans, and wearing beautiful daggers with indigo and
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