_ 573 _ especially in the Strait where there are such fearful waves. These were some fidalgos in these foists who grieved much over how Your Highness was being served, and they looked after these foists with great care, because everyone wanted to do his part. We left this inlet at the mouth of the Strait and made for Qiãn because we all thought that we would find the Governor there and that it was not possible that he should leave sixty and more foists without a commander and go off to India. Sailing in that direction we came to a bay with a good harbour and anchorage called Bandar Barum. When we reached there, we were in a very bad way and in danger from the strong winds and high seas. Here at Barum we found very good and plentiful water. The bay is peopled by Arabs and Fartakis, and we had some trouble with the lascars because they were sick and dying of hunger, and secretly they deserted to the interior. I sent to ask them, always with great difficulty, not to disobey orders, and to say that some disaster might befall them and some might die, and when they saw me they did as I said. One day twenty or so lascars secretly made off and went to a small village to steal dates and goats. The people of the village attacked them and killed seven, and when we
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