_ 141 _ There is nothing from there to be spent on other obligations. We are daily expecting news of Bernardim de Sousa and Rais Nur al-Din, the son of King Sharafa, who were in charge of this. God grant that the news will be good. As for the custom house, last year and the year before that a good return was collected for our lord the King by Francisco Lopes, factor of this city. In the present year I think that it will be in debt through the effect of the news of the possible Turkish attack on Ormuz. The carracks coming from India brought very little merchandise and no indigo from Cambay. Which usually brings in twelve thousand pardaus a year. And because of some alarms, Luffa Falcao had the King taken into the fortress which caused some dismay in Persia, and not many merchants arrived. So, for these reasons the customs–house will be in debt this year. But it has something from the previous years. When I know for certain that Your Lordship has arrived I will write to you at greater length, to give an account of myself and other matters of this kingdom and the King and everything else necessary. May God increase Your Lordship’s life by many years for his service. From Ormuz 24 August 1545. I the Guazil kiss Your Lordship’s noble hands.
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