_ 162 _ the island of Kamaran there is no place where water is not to be found if you dig down three feet. Throughout the whole of the Straits there is no place or island that has so much, so that all the Moorish ships that carry on past the entrance to the Straits, have no life-line if they do not take on water on the island of Kamaran. Item 31: So, I told the Commander not to try and sail to Jidda because it was already too late. The easterly winds had already finished and it was impossible to track in the Straits on account of the many shallows. Thus, we should take on water there and make our way to Dahlak, which was off the land of Prester John. Item 32: Dahlak...... you will be aware that it has great fishing grounds...... very weak, that I would take it on myself...... to capture it with two naus, the smallest to be found in the fleet, and with 100 men. Trying to go to Jidda should be forgotten, for the above reasons. Dom Garcia replied by asking if I had thought this over and I answered that I had. Your Highness can ascertain whether this is true or not from Dom Joao de Eça, Pero da Fonseca, Gomes Teixeira and from many nobles and gentlemen who happened to be here.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy