_ 93 _ because they are highly detrimental to Your Highness’s service. There is no information about Sheikh Ismael, except that he is at peace, not at war. With regard to this fortress, as I have already written to Your Highness, the Governors have kept it in bad repair. I only have four or five barrels of gunpowder but nothing with which to repair the bombards and the small amount of artillery. It is necessary to be better protected than at Rhodes, because, as Your Highness will be aware, people come here from all regions of the world: Genoese, Venetians, Turks, Jews, Armenians and men from all other nations. The first thing they want to do when they arrive is to see the fortress, but your man does not let them see it because it is like a barn inside. As I tell Your Highness, it is greatly lacking in every way. And outside, it is well known that if anything happened in India inflicted by the Turks which God forbid they would attack this first, because it is so close to the Strait and is the best position. Your Highness has in these parts, which are of such advantage. You should give orders for it to be attended to there, not just in the form of a recommendation to the Governors but tell them exactly what to do.
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