_ 68 _ September of the same year. He had come to Diu so that with the king’s help he could launch the attack on the Portuguese. He brought with him a very valuable present, sent by the Sultan to the King, and another for Meliquias, the Governor of Diu, so that the latter might influence the King of Cambay to help him, For Meliquias was very close to the king, and did indeed succeed in getting him to help Mirocem. With the arrival of the Sultan’s fleet, the Arabs in India became very confident, convinced that the Portuguese would be defeated for good. And in order to catch the Viceroy by surprise they kept the news of its arrival very secret until it could be re-equipped. This was done in Diu with the help of Meliquias who at the time was the second most important man in Cambay, after the King. He was a Tartar by birth and a Muslim by faith. He was a very good horseman and had a great deal of experience and knowledge, both in war and peace. His own name was Quejas, but the Arabs added “Meli” to it, which in their language, means governor or captain, for this was his rank in the city of Diu. The King of Cambay had given him the charge because he was a great friend of his. Besides Diu, he had also given him the cities of Mangalor and Patan to the north, as well as Gujoga, Surrat, and Reinel, which are wealthy cities
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