_ 173 _ Next to the said port there is an island called Fartan, which has abundant water, cattle and palm trees. Your Highness could make a deal to support him against the King of Aden in exchange for all the red stone in his territory. Your Highness could then arrange for ships from Cambay to come to the fortress and exchange their bales of cloth for the said stone through your factors. Item 49: The Commander-in-Chief sent me with some naus and a caravel to discover everything about Zeila, and to burn any ships that might be there. We found eleven in the port and duly burned them. In any place where an interpreter was needed, I was called upon because there is no one in the fleet who speaks Arabic like me. I also know Persian. Nor is it just a question of speaking. Parrots can do that whereas I speak before Kings and Lords. Forgive me, Your Highness, for blowing my own trumpet, but I think you should know how useful I am in your service. Item 50: For my sins, I have no one to represent me before Your Highness. Thus, I beg of you to forgive me and not to regard me as presumptuous or importunate when I spin out my arguments because I do so out of a desire to serve Your Highness and because they say that you like
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