_ 224 _ ships to Portugal, aboard which he spent the rhinoceros for the king, as well ag some of the valuable jewels which had been given to him by the kings and rulers of India. After he had provided for the fortresses at Cothin, Calicut and Cannanore he went back to Goa with all the ships which he meant to take to Ormuz. Now, the hidalcan had asked the governor to send him a trustworthy ambassador to settle their affairs, for if they dealt with these matters by post their correspondence would be endless. The governor sent Joao Goncalves de Castelo Branco, in whom he had great trust, and instructed him to ask the hidalcan for the mainland tanadarias of Goa, stretching from Banda to Chandagara along a distance of twenty leagues. If he refused he was to ask him for those at Antruz, Bardes and Salfete; and if he declined to let even these go for free, then he was to ask for them again, but this time offering him one third of their revenues, to be paid for in horses or elephants. If they came to a satisfactory agreement there would be perpetual friendship and peace between him and the King of Portugal; furthermore, the governor would allow him to be the only man to whom the horse merchants could sell their horses; thanks to this privilege, he would earn 50,000 pardaus. However, the King of Portugal had as much to gain if he obtained these
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