ABSTRACT
As soon as the great Afonso Dalboquerque had arrived with his fleet at Calayate, 2 they employed all that afternoon 63in repairing their ships; and, on the following morning, he sent a boat to shore, and in it Pero Vaz Dorta, factor of the fleet, and João Estão, scrivener, and Gaspar Rodrigues, interpreter. When they landed, the Moors, who at once collected on the beach, questioned them as to what they required and whence they had come. And Pero Yaz Dorta replied, through the interpreter, that the fleet before them belonged to the king D. Manoel, King of Portugal and Lord of the Indies, and that the chief captain, who came with it, desired to know what place this was, and of what kingdom and lordship. The Moors replied, that the name of the city was Calayate, and that it belonged to the kingdom of Ormuz, and if they required anything they would give it very willingly; and, with this reply which the Moors gave, Pero Yaz Dorta and João Estão returned, and acquainted Afonso Dalboquerque with what had taken place. On the following morning the Goazil 1 and rulers of the city sent him word to send two of his men to land; for they wished to send two of their men to confer with him. Afonso Dalboquerque sent two of his young men, and two honourable Moors came from land, and informed him on the part of the Goazil and rulers of the city, that whatever was required for his fleet they would willingly cause to be sent to him; for they desired to have peace and friendship with the King of Portugal, and they brought him a present of oranges, lemons, pomegranates, and fowls, and some sheep; but, because, for all these good words and the presents, much people were continually marching along the beach and through the city, armed and clothed like Turks, with bows, lances, swords, and cimitars (and on the bank they had a stockade with four mortars), Afonso Dalboquerque declined receiving the present, saying that he would not accept anything from those against whom he would have to declare war if they refused to be vassals of the King of Portugal, whose chief 64captain he was, sent by royal command to the kingdom and city of Orrattz. 1 The Moors replied, that if he was on his way to Ormuz, this place was the door to it, and if he 65treated them well they would open it for him, and he could so enter the house, and since he was determined to go and visit the King of Ormuz, their Lord, he might make some agreement with him, but if no agreement were made, they would agree to be subject to the King of Portugal, and as his vassals they desired he would not desire to destroy them nor make war upon them. Afonso Dalboquerque ordered the captains to be summoned, and recounted this reply to them, which the rulers of the city had sent him, and it was unanimously agreed that if these men were willing to supply all the stores necessary for the fleet, from the great need there was of such, he ought to dissemble and give them a respite until he arrived at Ormuz, making a virtue of necessity, until he obtained his supplies.
