_ 67 _ and appointed, a commander-in-chief called Mirocem, a Mameluke relation of his who was Lord of Iudda. He gave him 2000 men, among whom there were many renegades from Genoa as well as Venice, and from various other European countries. There were also Mamelukes and Arabs from Grada, all of them wearing skirts of mail. Many of them were riflemen, and the other archers. Once this fleet had been provided with a great deal of artillery and provisions, Mirocem left, at the beginning of February 1506. He was accompanied by Maimame, who went aboard the vessel which had brought him from Calicut. They spent the winter in the island of Kamaran, which lies to the north of the entrance to the Red Sea Straits, at 320 leagues from Iudda, Mirocem stayed at Kamaran for four months, owing to the many ridges which are found in the Red Sea, and to the bad weather prevalent there, which is very unfavorable for navigation. Once winter was over (it lasts from the end of May to the beginning of August) Mirocem resumed his journey to India, when he crossed. The gulf, the galleon which carried his provisions was separated from the fleet, and went to Dabul, where its Patran, whose name was Rumecan, ran it aground for repairs. Mirocem and the fleet reached the city of Diu, which belonged to the King of Cambay, on the 20th of
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