The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman

_ 578 _ with 20 oars; Malik Eyaz(A) had 4 large ships and 6 galleys of 700 tons each and 80 talaias, which are boats for coastal navigation of the size of caravels in Portugal, 70 tons, which are like sambuks. The Viceroy ordered the mamelukes to be hanged in the cities of India, by their feet with their toes [?] cut off. Some of them wished to die as Christians; these he ordered to be hanged by the neck, for some of them were found to have Latin missals, one of which I saw. Formerly they were generally Christians and defended themselves very well, but our men knew the art of navigation better. Item: From Diu the Christians set sail again for India. Arriving in Chaul, they obliged the lord of the city to pay tribute every day (forever) of 2000 xerafins, rice, and hemp to caulk the boats. Item: From Chaul to Dabhol. The Viceroy captured the city in the course of the voyage he made in search of the Sultan’s fleet and engaged in a battle with the pagans, landing and putting the pagans to flight. They pursued them and conquered the city, pillaged it and set it on fire. (A) Malik Eyaz, the Muhammadan Govemnor of Diu, mentioned by Portuguese chroniclers under the name of Melquias. He was a renegade Polish Catholic, captured recently by the Sultan of Gujarat,Mahmed Begara,who gave him the govemorship of the stronghold of Diu.

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