ABSTRACT
When the great Afonso Dalboquerque perceived the willingness and quiet with which the natives laboured at the work (which was not to be seen among the Portuguese, to many of whom it seemed a very unnecessary thing that the fortress should be built), in order the more to develop this friendly feeling with the native Moors, he ordered Pero Vaz Dorta, factor of the fleet, to take some of the houses in the city, wherein he was to collect all the merchandise which he brought, to begin the trade between us and the Moors, and he was to sell all the merchandise at a cheap rate, in order to attract them, through their cupidity, the more into friendliness towards us; and he gave him as scriveners, Pedralvarez, gentleman of the royal chamber, and Lizuarte de Freitas, and Antonio Fernandos Tassalho, servant of the Count of Villa Nova. And in order that the men who were on shore should always keep together to defeat the malicious designs of Cogeatar, he ordered the captains to prepare the mess for the men, according to their allowances, and each one was to have a man who should go and purchase all that was required, and this one could go about the city, having a written paper from the captain, but no other could go; and to execute all these things he made Martim Vaz an inspector, with twelve men, commanding him to take into custody every Portuguese who might be found without a 144permit in the city; and if he found any of those who had to go to market, with the writing of his captain, doing anything whereby the Moors might be scandalised, he was to seize him, and carry him before him for a sound flogging.
