_ 364 _ As his illness returned to afflict him, on the advice of his doctors, who said that he would be better at sea, he resolved to return to India. When the King of Horauz received this news, he came to see Afonso de Albuquerque, greatly lamenting his departure. Afonso de Albuquerque treated him as a son he loved; but also as a King he revered, and had worked hard at his affairs of state and placed his finances in good order. The King, when he came to see him, began to keep saying how helpless he would feel without him, and that he feared for his life, because he did not think that Rais Hamid would live long. To this Afonso de Albuquerque replied that he was leaving his nephew there to guard and defend him as if he were his Lord the King of Portugal. And he said many other things to console the King. The King went away, but a few days later he wanted to come back and see Afonso de Albuquerque. But Afonso de Albuquerque excused himself, saying that his illness made him unfit to receive princes. He accepted that the sea would be a remedy, as his illness was afflicting him greatly while he was on land. One day at siesta-time, quietly and secretly he embarked on Diogo Fernandes de Beja’s ship. Having to converse with people now tired him so much that he handed over his own ship, the “Nazaré” to his
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