_ 243 _ He embarked in the galleon with the idea of placing himself at the entrance of the Strait of Basra when the galleys passed, because if they fled from our fleet, he would have closed the doors through which they were to retreat, so that none of them would escape. He sent a message about this to Dom Fernando, which was a discourse worthy of the great captain that he was, informing him that if the galleys fled from him towards the inner part of the Strait, he should pursue them as far as Basra, where he would be waiting, and all of them would be lost. As soon as Dom Fernando left Muscat, he scoured the inner coast of Arabia and sent some light cutters ahead to spy on the galleys. On reaching Cape Mussendum they caught sight of them, fifteen in all, sailing in a line. The cutters hastily sent a warning about them to Dom Fernando, who prepared the galleons and gave instructions about the way in which the galleys were to be attacked. Being in the vanguard, he met them first but sent the foists and caravels ahead to attack them, because they were lighter ships. Our ships did this with great urgency and purpose and they exchanged fierce broadsides with them. When Ali Chebuli saw our fleet, he set full sail and made for the shore, while keeping up a continuous barrage.
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