_ 227 _ All is well with the Viceroy in the Indian Ocean and in the fortresses of Cochin, Cannanore and those on the Red Sea coast. An important Indian king who sought our friendship handed a seaport of his over to our officers. This has already yielded a profit of 1000 pardaos; each pardao being worth about one golden espardim. God be praised that distant kings are willing to renounce sovereignty over their lands in our favour. Translation of pp. 425-426 Item: The said Tristan da Cunha left India with the entire fleet well laden. Not all the ships have yet arrived. Just three that came with him brought between 22, 000 and 23, 000 quintals of spices and drugs, as well as other royal merchandise of seed pearl, stone and other commodities. It would be possible for a similar fleet to load up if such a fleet existed, because thank God, almost nothing gets through to Mecca on the Moorish ships. With God’s help, we hope that with the capture of the island of Socotora and with the squadrons we have sent there, that from henceforth nothing will pass. Item: Before Tristan da Cunha left India, news came via the Moors, of how Ormuz had surrendered to Afonso de Albuquerque and had become our tributary, together with another important city in that area.
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