_ 65 _ Sultan. Those who bought this merchandise took it on boats down the river Nile, up to a place situated at one league from Alexandria. From here they take it on camels to Alexandria, at whose gates the scriveners register the goods and search all the men, to make sure they are not evading any of the duties they must pay. After this inspection, the Venetian merchants who stayed in Alexandria bought them, and both buyer and seller had to pay a 5% duty. When the Venetians loaded the merchandise, they had to pay the same amount once more, and they also had to pay the Harbour inspector. Besides this the Venetians had to pay a 10% duty on whatever they brought to Alexandria. But in spite of all these duties, the Arabs and the Venetians still made such enormous profits that the loss of this trade was a heavy blow, and the Sultan suffered more losses than anyone else, because of all the duties he was in the habit of receiving. He therefore decided to despatch a large fleet to India in order to expel the Portuguese from there. For this purpose it was agreed that the Republic of Venice should send him many carpenters to build ships, as well as caulkers and artillery founders, in spite of the fact that there was a longstanding friendship between it and the Portuguese royal House, and that King Manuel had
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