ABSTRACT
Ifweassume,forthesakeofargument,thatAfonsode Albuquerquedid,indeed,replyinsuchamanner,howcouldthat murdererhavesaidthathehadcometoserveanEasternprince? Whenhadheeverplacedhimselfunderthecommandofoneofthe localleadersintheregion?Ifsuchadialoguetookplace,the implicationisthatthePortuguesehadbeensufferingheavylosses andwerethuspromptedtousediplomaticlanguage.Moreover,what isthevalueofathreatafterabitterfighthastakenplace,asWilson himselfstatesbasedonareportbySousa?
