_ 90 _ You answered me that Fernão de Aleaseva was coming here to attend to everything mentioned in my letters. I met him in Goa on my return from the Straits with the Captain-General; and when we had proceeded to Cochin I informed him several times, in the presence of Diogo Vaz, of everything that I had observed here. One day, when I suggested he should give bread to the nau “Santa Catarina de Monte Sinai”, which was about to set sail, he said things to me in the presence of the factor Pero Quaresma and the clerks, which should never have been said. I ignored his remarks in the hope that Your Highness would reward me for the services I render you here, as many noblemen will testify. I am not saying this to criticise him, since he commended my work, but simply because it is my duty to act in your interests. Thus, Sir, I give you an account of the fleet that went to the Straits, which is still there, as well as what it needs. Item: Dom Aleixo left on 23rd December in the “Santa Catarina de Monte Sinai”, accompanied by various other naus of no less than 120 tons. Item: Smaller ships, some between 80 and 120 tons and others between 40 and 80 tons, took on provisions, Joined Dom Aleixo, and sailed directly to Goa.
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