_ 101 _ a great number had fled and died; this news the Captainin-Chief received by a ship that had been taken by Alvaro Barreto that was coming from the Strait. As regards this coast, Senhor, the whole of it is at peace with the exception of Dabull, where some of its foists took one of ours, and they slew I do not know how many men, and which I believe, on Lopo Soares leaving will be destroyed, because these dogs do not want but the sword in the hand and if this be not done to them believe me Senhor that they will daily comit a thousand evils and treacheries. Lopo Soares has come from Ceilão where he had made a Fortress, they paid in tributes to Your Highness ten Elephants and four hundred bahars of cinnamon. The Captain of the Fortress is Dom João da Silveira, as Alcaide in Chief and Captain of the sea there remains Antonio de Miranda; the Fortress was made without killing any one and is made of mud walls and stones and clay, it seems to me that it ought to be made of stone and lime, because the winters are very severe in Ceilão, and if a seige comes, it will follow that the walls be uncovered for them to be able to set fire, also, Senhor, the wall may fall, and give labour trouble to those that are within, but of the land I do not write to Your Highness, because it will all be made known very quickly by Lopo Soares.
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