The Fruitful Province In
Which It Stands Was Called By The Ancients Siria Muinifera, Because It
Produces Frankincense, Myrrh, And Storax.
Being desirous to plunder
Maskat near Cape Ras-al-gat, Mirazenam sent three Turkish gallies on
that errand under Ali Beg, who took possession of Maskat, whence most of
the Portuguese residents saved themselves by flight, leaving their goods
to be plundered by Ali Beg.
The fugitives took refuge in Mataro, a
town only a league distant, whence they went to Bruxel, a fort about
four leagues inland, belonging to Catani the sheikh or chief of a
horde or tribe of Arabs. The Arab officer who commanded there received
the Portuguese with much kindness and hospitality, and protected them
till the departure of Ali Beg, when they returned to Maskat. On learning
the ruin of Maskat, Gonzalo de Menezes, who then commanded at Ormuz,
sent Luis de Almeyda with a squadron consisting of a galleon, a galley,
and six other vessels, with 400 good men, to attack Ali Beg. But Almeyda
neglected the orders of his superior, and sailed to the coast of the
Naytaques, intending to surprise and plunder the beautiful and rich
city of Pesani[403]. But the inhabitants got notice of their danger
and fled, after which Almeyda dishonourably plundered the city, to which
he set fire, together with near fifty sail of vessels which were in the
bay. He did the same thing to Guadel or Gader, a city not inferior
to Pesani, and to Teis or Tesse belonging to the barbarous tribe of
the Abindos who dwell on the river Calamen in Gedrosia[404], and
who join with the Naytagites in their piracies.
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