_ 253 _ terradas and other vessels to transport them. While this was being arranged, Dom Antão de Noronha dispatched Manuel de Vasconcelos as captain-major of twelve light craft, with standing orders to attack El Katiff, and prevent the Turks from receiving help from Basra. These ships all arrived in a few days at El Katiff and put in at that port, where they decided to stay until D. Antão de Noronha arrived, which took two months. Every day they went to the beach at high tide to bombard the fortress, blocking every kind of aid to them, that could come by sea, so effectively that nothing ever entered it. This placed the Turks in dire straits. D. Antão de Noronha remained in Ormuz attending to all necessary business, arranging for some siege guns, plenty of blankets and ladders, and as many supplies and munitions as he could. When everything was ready, Dom Antão set sail for El Katiff with an enormous fleet and all the Portuguese troops, after relieving them of duty in the fortress. It was already the end of July and in a few days; after enjoying continuously fine weather, he anchored in the port, where he found the ships of Manuel de Vasconcelos. Having learned from him about the situation and plight of the fortress. Dom Antão de Noronha gave orders
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