_ 222 _ need to load the ships and the factors, bad management swallowed all our resources up, and the men would experience difficulties. On the other hand, if he went to Ormuz and became its undisputed master which he hoped Our Lord would help him do he would have enough to provide for the men and he would be able to clean and tar the fleet. He could then wait for the Roumeliotes until it was the right time for them to be able to sail for India. The profits made from the horses taken to Goa would be so great, that the King of Narfinga and the Hidalcan would be vying with each other to see who could offer the highest price. As a result, he would be able to acquire either Baticala or the mainland of Goa. Besides this, the king’s position and reputation in India would greatly improve, thanks to the capture of a kingdom as wealthy as Ormuz. And once it was in our hands it would be easier to blockade the Red Sea from there than from India, because Ormuz was closer to it. When the Red Sea was closed off the spices could be sold at Ormuz, which would be hugely profitable for the King of Portugal. This the governor knew from experience, because the year, in which he had gone to the Red Sea 60 more ships
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