_ 39 _ that if we had other fortresses the losses would outweigh the profits. It would be easier to explain all this to you in person than by letter. Wherever we establish ourselves it is impossible to trade: there are no foreign naus and the local people live in fear and servitude and are badly treated by the warriors who confiscate whatever they need and go wherever they please while the peaceful people receive us in their homes, confiscate nothing and only go where they are allowed. This lasted for several days and as there are still some naus at sea that come from the islands and other places that pay no taxes, half the cargoes or whatever amount is considered best could be taken from them, using only verbal persuasion. Of course, if any cargo is left to them, they will interpret our action as weakness and immediately go to reload, and will not resist as courageously as they would if they thought they were fighting for their lives as well as for their merchandise. If they learn that we are humane they will lose their fear of us and everyone will sail wherever they wish. I believe, Sir, that the Indian expenses and possibly more than those can be met out of the proceeds of the
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