_ 229 _ interests as we can obtain from them, take no care, so that in the name of peace and much to their advantage, they return to Ormuz without our doing something about it, because it is clear that if they dress as merchants, all those who want to come can come here. I believe that, for all these reasons, such trade should not be allowed nor should such a peace be signed. By withholding this shipping from them, not only would Basra be lost but the Customs Houses of Baghdad, Beirut and Aleppo would suffer enormous losses, and inevitably Basra would be ruined. Having started from nothing a short while ago, it would not be great if it were not for the trade that it had with Ormuz, with the drugs and pepper that were brought there from here and which the caravans from Turkey came to fetch. By preventing ships going to them, there would be no caravans or Custom Houses, nor would the Turks have any income with which they could support themselves, because they only set foot in place where they have their interests. Aden must be the example, a city of such importance to the Turks that they were scarcely able to support it without trade or a Customs House. As for the claim that the Customs House of Ormuz will produce less and the drugs will cause a great loss, and this will mean suing for peace
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