_ 115 _ nowadays things are done to them that were never done before. Moreover, the customs officers do not allow their goods to be cleared without first extorting large bribes. Rais Norodim claims that he cannot do anything else in view of the fact that he pays Your Highness fifteen thousand xerafins. Thus, Sir, he is crafty enough to give the impression that we are responsible for his misfortune. Item: Sir, this year customs clearance was so slow that the goods lay spread about the courtyard in such quantities and in such a way that when the tide rose, water reached them, but the customs officers would not clear them, and I saw this happen. A new Christian, named Gaspar Pires, who is here in Ormuz, had a share in the profit of this customs house. According to what many people report, this new Christian............ and he speaks the local language and thus is so…………of the captain and also of Rais Norodim ........... everything he wants in this city and the Moors......... his hand, saying that he takes his.......... and I, Sir, saw with my own eyes, because if he came to me......... a Moor saying that they arranged both ……… of the Moor in the middle and that they would come laden………… Ormuz and that the said Gaspar Pires would take from them …... hís share without wanting to give them anything that........... nor would he ever pay them for transportation.
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