Page 59 - Journal of Asian History_Neat

TUf AND rORTUOUEHK IN THE PERSIAN OULV 71

APPENDIX I"

Curb. Ormuz, fol. 88r-92r.
Tho letter of Dom Manuel dc Lima, Governor of Hormuz
to D. Joiio do Castro, Governor of India:
Hormuz, 23 June 1547
Senhor,
I arrived at this fortress of Hormuz on 18lh May [but] I did not take
charge of tho fortress for ono month, because Luis Falcao wanted to
complete his timo [as governor], which was [indeed a month more]. I
took charge of the fortress on 19th June and I found the place very
uneasy, having in it not even one merchant nor anyone else
buying bealilha1 or any land of spices or any other merchandize. And all
the people who were coming to do business at Hormuz were surprised
for the reason of this situation. Moreover, a captain of the ruler of
Laristan, one of his principal men, was located opposite this island [of
Hormuz], on the mainland, with many horsemen and foot-soldiers;
and it was already some months that he had been there with his en­

campment at certain wells from which this city of Hormuz draw's its
water. And the people of Moghistan [Mogostao], fearing this people,
took refuge in this city. And it was here that the cafillas passed, so
that these people [from Laristan] stopped them, with the result that
none came to pay the taxes at the customs house of the king, Our
Lord. With regard to Basra, things are as V. S.1 knows and, in addition,
I shall proceed to tell Your Lordship more about that land and about
the affairs of Basra.
Luis Falcao had given permission to certain terradas, to go with
their merchandize to Basra. And since my arrival in this city [of
Hormuz] he has also allowed some [other] people to go there with nine
terradas. When I reached this city, I was informed that the capitao3 of
Basra, who was called Mehmed Pasha (Mahamed baxa turco), had
• •.
resolved to send an ambassador to me.
On 7th July his ambassador came with a letter for me. This ambassa­
dor is an Arab merchant who is called Hajji Fayat (hagy fayat). He is a
;

* I am very grateful to Senhor Luis de Sousa Re be 11 o of King’s College, Lon­
don, for the help he gave me in London.
1 BtalUha-i.e., fine linen.
* V. S.f i.e., Votsa Senhoria meaning ‘Your Lordship.*
■ CapUdo-i.e., here, the beyUrbey of Basra.
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