_ 262 _ the guazils of Ormuz and Moghistan together with their companies, while he embarked with all his men in 18 foists. After setting sail, he reached the far end of that Strait. One night a storm blew up which unrigged nine ships and separated them from his. With the other nine, Dom Antão de Noronha, continued his journey until he reached the mouth of the River Euphrates, where he decided to wait for the other ships. There he sent some Arabs who were with the king of Basra’s ambassador (who went to Goa), with letters both for the king and the Gizares, in which he informed them of his arrival there, and that he was waiting for their reply to know the manner and order that he was to adopt in attacking that fortress. After the letters had been sent and he had been there seven days, the other nine ships of his convoy arrived. He entered the River Euphrates with these until he reached an island just inside the entrance, called [Mouzique], where there was a small castle perched on a rock manned by some Turks. These immediately abandoned it when they caught sight of our fleet. The captain-major ordered some men ashore, who found the place deserted. Meanwhile he remained there awaiting the reply of the king of Basra and the Gizares.
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