_ 309 _ Ormuz. Manuel de Lima told D Álvaro that he [D Paio] had been in Aden from 15 November 1547 to 5 February 1548, but left the city because it was besieged by Turks. There were fifteen galleys off the city with many fighting men in them who had come in them from Suez, and two thousand Turks who had come overland. The city was constantly besieged, no supplies could enter, and the people were dying of hunger and had nothing to eat. As they were suffering greatly and very hungry, there were many violent disagreements between them within the city and they were in revolt. Many did not obey the King of Aden because they spoke the same language as the Turks and were of Turkish origin, and because the King of Aden’s fighting men were in disarray, fighting him all the time and attacking the city-walls, so that they no longer offered any defence. When D Paio saw the enemy fighting outside, the men in the city no longer wishing to fight or widen all the walls, he left at night with the Portuguese he had with him and went on board a catur which was there, to give news to the fleet which was expected to come from India to the assistance of Aden.
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