_ 227 _ Goa came to visit me. Having paid the due courtesies, they complained to me that they were all hungry because the value of the bazaruco(A) coin had risen so much that the quintal of copper was now worth thirty-two pardaus and three tangas. For this reason, these bazarucos had no value outside the city because on the mainland they accepted bazarucos only by weight, so that two bazarucos were worth only one of those which were formerly minted. The city was scandalized by the fact that this was a tribute payable only by the Portuguese, and, until I remedied it, they came every day to complain and to make great protests, for they found not a shop or apothecary's store open, and there was nothing on offer to eat in the stronghold. Those who most pressed me to reform this coinage were Your Highness's officials. They demonstrated to me by argument that in the case of many objects which were bought every day for the storehouses and the fleets Your Highness was losing more by the making of this coin than you gained if the rate was thirty-two pardaus and three tangas the quintal. The city, all the people and the Brothers (A) On the question of bazarucos, see Letter IX.
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