_ 570 _ If we did not go in them in person they could not go to India, because the foists were dismantled and most of the seamen were dead, and if we did not sail in them the lascars would go ashore, and he was afraid that some of the foists would mutiny. If we would not go in the foists it would be necessary to burn some of them here in Massawa and refit the rest, and the Turks would hear about it and would say that he had been defeated. When I heard these things that the Governor had ordered should be said to everyone, and also because it was in Your Highness's interest, I embarked in the foist in which I had come from India, and I took with me the other foist I had bought, the one in which I went to Suez, and I ordered them to be well equipped, and I filled them with men. The other captains thought it was of greater service to Your Highness to go safely in the galleons to serve you in India, and so many sailed in them(A). The Governor left Massawa on 10 July and arrived with all the fleet at the entrance to the Strait on 18th of that (A) Miguel da Cunha also remained with the foists, as he mentions in the letter he wrote to the King on 28 December 1541 (Corp. Cron., Parte 1, Maço 71, Doc.42): 'I, sire, went to one of the oared vessels...and served you as was right, although for this Gulf the one I travelled in is so small. The other captains of the ships just embarked in the galleons...'.
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