_ 321 _ Having discussed this matter among themselves, Lourenco Vaz who was travelling as a soldier befriended by Dom Antonio, and was at that time beneath the gangway of the galliot, where the members of the council had gathered, on hearing what was being discussed, said that all that was needed was the captain-major's signature to be shown to the Italians to see if they were familiar with it and if it corresponded with what they had seen. This sounded a good idea to everyone, and they agreed to carry out the experiment, and as a greater guarantee, all those who were there signed a sheet of paper, Dom Antonio among them. They summoned the youths and gave them the paper for them to say if the signature that they had seen was there. With all eyes on them, they pointed to Dom Antonio's signature and said it was like that one. Whereupon everyone took what the captives had said to be true and they agreed to withdraw to Ormuz, which they did immediately. When they arrived there, Dom Antonio ordered the ships to be beached and repaired and he had the soldiers paid and gave orders for them to be fed. A short time later a Moorish merchant, who had passed through Basra, arrived there. He revealed the trick that the Pasha had used against
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