_ 306 _ As the salary and upkeep of 4,000 men could be paid from the income of the fortress, it would always be possible to keep them there for whatever would serve his interests. After the Turks took over Basra, which is a city at the mouth of the River Euphrates very near Ormuz, the King took more interest in the affairs of India because here was a neighbor to cultivate seriously, as this was an ideal place for harboring galleys and oared ships of every kind and with timber for building them. Moreover, Turkish aid was near at hand, without any need for it to be sent by way of foreign countries. For that reason and many others, the King, having reflected on the importance of this matter, decided to seek the advice of our men about it, as they would be able to give him the best guidance because of their experience in Indian affairs. It was his wish that they did this in writing so that each, after pondering deeply on the matter at his leisure, would be able to explain clearly and more at length what he thought about it. The men from whom he sought this advice, present as well as absent, were Martim Afonso de Sousa, D. Estevão de Gama, Antonio da Silveira, who had been captain of Diu during its first siege, Rui Lourenco de Tavora, D. Jeronimo de Noronha, D. João Mascarenhas, D. Alvaro de Castro, D.
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