_ 81 _ The 500 taras which I sent to the Cide…… helped me. I did not meet up with them again and we all remained…… Praised be almighty God and the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God our Lady, for delivering us from the hands of those devils. Twenty-six of us had been captured. This episode had been reserved for me from on high, because I deserved it on account of my sins. Praised be the Lord God. I left for Muscat immediately with my wife and daughter, taking the Guazil with me about which he was well pleased. We left in one of Dom Manuel de Lima’s carracks which had arrived there. The following morning, one of the caturs from the fleet brought Gonçalo Falcão who was serving as Captain-Major of the sea, to see me. He brought me the money which I had requested from him in Kuriyat. I boarded the catur with my wife, my daughter and the Guazil. I arrived at Muscat where I paid the money which I owed to the Guazil. Fully paid up, he then returned to his house, having asked me for a wife which I found for him in one day. I shall kiss Your Lordship’s hands it, Sir, you do me the honour of ordering that I be paid the salary which, according to the list of completed payments signed by the Viceroy - glory be to him - is still owing to be. I have always continued in the service of our Lord, the King; when the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy