_ 311 _ and in addition three thousand men overland. Five foists had also gone in aid from El-Shihr, and two terradas carrying two hundred Turks. When D Paio was still in Aden two Arabs had come into the city from the Turkish galleys, and from them he heard that all the galleys in Suez were being made ready, and that as soon as their preparation was complete they were to make immediately for Aden. This appeared to him to be the case, for three arrived, then three, then four. D Paio gave all the above news in writing to D Álvaro de Castro, supreme commander of the fleet, in the Canacany Islands, where he was awaiting the fleet from India in order to give him the news. As he approached the Islands D Álvaro sent a catur ashore with a servant of the ambassador to learn any news. The catur went to [Verumia], and here he heard from the local Sheikh, who had news of Aden, that eighteen days before a man had left there who told him that Aden had not yet been captured. Hearing this news, D Álvaro sent for all the captains and fidalgos sailing in the fleet and gave them an account of the news; he showed them the standing orders he was carrying from the Governor. Each of them gave his opinion, so that on the basis of their opinions what was most in the service of our lord, the King, should be done.
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