_ 512 _ The King of Gezira defends him and they say he captured five or six boats from them there and three heavy guns which they are taking in them to bombard Basra. They say that the Turks who are attacking Basra are no more than four thousand cavalry and a few infantry. If there are not many more, the Moors here say that the King of Basra can fight against them and destroy them. May God grant them victory over such evil people. The captain will write to Your Lordship about this in more detail because he has more information about these matters. Sir, following Your Lordship's instructions, I have worked hard to purchase sulphur. According to public rumour and report, it seems to me that there are more Portuguese taking it to Cambay and to other Moorish lands than there are trying to procure it for our Lord the King. This is true but I am unable to prove it. Nevertheless, this evil and despicable factor has committed enough vile offences for Your Lordship to punish the wicked Christians and evil men who are involved in this base business. It has now been confirmed to me that at that moment a terrada was leaving this Strait with a lot of sulphur and that it had to go and take [it to] Dabul or a river between there and Chaul, and if there was no way to sell it, it was to go to the [Aguaraçona] or [Mergeu] river, because on
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