_ 534 _ To provide greater safety from this danger he ordered the Viceroy to endeavor to maintain friendship with Sheikh Ismael, something it seems that would be easy, because of the wars he was waging with the Turks; and to demonstrate to him more clearly that it was His Highness' wish to be on good terms with him. As soon as he arrived, he was to address him with friendly words, and after reminding him of what a serious drawback and disadvantage it was for his state to have the Turks so near, and to allow them to build forts in Basra, he should offer him support and help to drive them out of there. He should hint that if this was to be achieved, it would be helpful for him to have a fortress built on the island of [Murzi] (which is at the entrance to the River Euphrates), before they arrive in Basra. This would result in the total destruction of the Turks, and provide security for all the places that he had on the coast of the Strait. Apart from this agreement with Sheikh Ismael, the King ordered the Viceroy (something that was also pointed out to him in some of the advice that was given to him about this matter) to try to persuade the King of the islands of Gizara (whose residents were bellicose people) not to trust the Turks.
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