The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman

_ 171 _ He is known as “Elhati Dantinelque Israel”, which means, “David, King of Israel”. The language his people use is very like Chaldee, in the same way as ours and Latin. The Kings are white and only those with the blood of David can be crowned. His subjects are Christians and observe both the Sabbath and Sunday. They stone anyone found working on Sunday. They are circumcised and baptized and obey both the old and the new laws. They do not eat pork. Item 45: Your Highness, you have in your territories a product, namely opium, which I believe could generate a great deal of money if you would only give the order for its manufacture. This year it was priced at 25 cruzados a faracola. It could command any price provided it did not come from Aden, and if it did, it came through one of your factors. They say that there are no end of opium poppies in Portugal and they must be better than those from Aden. We note that Turkish and Cairo poppies are much more priced than those from Aden, but they do not grow them in Turkey and Cairo because in Moorish lands, it is forbidden by the Mohammedan religion, as is wine, which is a sin to drink or produce.

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