_ 155 _ rice which cost ten calaims would sell at twenty measures for ten calaims within a week. So, I advised the Commander to buy rice for the fortress but he informed me that that was Rui de Araujo’s responsibility. When the ships were ready to sail, Rui de Araujo had still not bought the provisions. The junks had left and no rice could be found except at eight measures for ten calaims. I inquired in the city and found out that Rui de Araujo had bought a large quantity of rice through Ninachato at twenty-five measures for ten calaims. This had been withheld illegally, because they knew the fortress needed it. I obtained written evidence as to who had bought it and from whom. I was told that it had been bought in the name of the Commander-in-Chief. I brought all this to the attention of the Commander Rui de Araujo maintained that it was rice bought for the fortress, but when I found two houses stacked with rice, he said it belonged to Ninachato. Item 18: God knows that everything I have reported about Rui de Araujo has not been said out of spite, but simply to show Your Highness that I have served you well, without deceit, and just as much as those who were favoured by you, and so that your will also grant me some reward to ease your conscience. In a word, I am extremely poor.
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