ABSTRACT
One day, while eating with my companion, two Persian merchants of Canonor arrived, whom he immediately called to eat with him. They answered : “ W e have no wish to eat and bring bad news.” W e asked them : “ What words are these which you utter?” They said : “ Twelve ships of the Portuguese have arrived, which we have seen with our eyes.” My companion asked: “ What people are they?” The Persians replied: “ They are Christians, and are all armed in white arms, and they have commenced building a very strong castle in Canonor.” 1 My companion turned to me and asked me : ** O Iunus, what people are these Portu guese ?” I answered him : (( Do not speak to me of such a race, for they are all thieves and corsairs of the sea, and I should like to see them all of our Mohammedan faith.” Hearing this he became very malignant, and I rejoiced much in my heart.
