_ 267 _ In the same year (1550) The Turkish King sent a fleet of twenty-five ships led by General Piri Reis to Basra. These events were mentioned in the book: "Da Asia Nova", by the Portuguese historian Diogo do Couto:(31) How the Turk sent a fleet of twenty-five galleys, under general Piri Reis, to Basra; and what happened to a number of galleys and our ships in that Strait. As soon as the Grand Turk received news that the Portuguese fleet, in which Dom Antão was sailing, had entered the Strait of Basra to help the Arabs and the Gizares, and that he would have certainly captured that city from him if it had not been for the trick played by the Pasha, fearing that he would lose the fortress and that the Portuguese would take it over, (which would disgrace and (31) Document no. and reference.
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