_ 59 _ If Your Highness would consent to leave the profit from trade in these regions and the income from commerce, tributes, pareas and shipping to pay the expenses incurred in these kingdoms, you could have 10,000 men in India and four or five officials in very influential positions which, with the help of God, would be sufficient for its defence. And the people Your Highness told us not to ask for are really necessary as situations arise every year which cannot be dealt with without people and we are not in a position to be able to find extra people nor to have people available whenever it may be necessary. Your Highness is well aware of the orders you give and that we have to go wherever our Lord so wishes. It is wise to have the necessary people available. However, I cannot determine how many will be needed as these matters are still not absolutely certain. Nor shall I mention the people, arms and other items necessary for the safety of India, as your officials did about copper. They saw that there was a certain amount of copper in the trading posts and wrote that it should not be sent as it was not being used but finally it was all used and it took three years for a request for more copper to arrive and the goods to be delivered. The same would happen with the people and arms. Please believe, Your Highness, that I use all the prudence and knowledge that God gave me in the defence of your interests in India.
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