_ 214 _ He went with his prize to Muscat, where he found his father already waiting. As the latter had sailed in the rear of his fleet, he had no news of his son when he entered the Strait, nor did he know what had happened to him with our foists. So, thinking that he might be able to find him even as far as Muscat, he travelled the length of the coast looking for him. At that time, Estevão Gomes, a man of great energy, was the factor of Kalhat, about whom more will be said later. When he saw the galleys passing, he boarded a very small terranquin to go and inform the viceroy. Piri Reis, who was delighted to find his son and excited by the prize that he found with him, entered the bar of Muscat, and although he knew that our men were garrisoned there, he came ashore without resistance. He sacked the town which was deserted, where he still found a lot of merchandise that had been impossible for the inhabitants to collect. Not content with this, and wishing to capture the Portuguese by means of a siege, he ordered some pieces of artillery to be disembarked. He wanted to climb the hill but was unable to transport more than one cão (small cannon), because the slope was very steep, so the men ascended it with great effort. With
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