The king accordingly commanded the letter to be read by him and other three Moors ; who, having first read it over to themselves, interpreted it aloud to the king, to the following effect : “As soon as it became known to the king of Portugal, that the king of Calicut was one of the mightiest kings of all the Indies and a Christian, he was anxious to establish a treaty of amity and commerce with him, that he might procure spices, which were in great abundance in his country, and to procure which the merchants of many parts of the world trade thither : And, if his highness would give a licence to send for spices, he would send many things from his kingdom which wrere not to be had in the dominions of his highness ; or if these things were not satisfactory, of which the general could shew him some samples, he was wiling to send money, both gold and silver, to purchase the spices. And finally referring his highness to the general for farther information (Kerr 372).”
Kerr, Robert. “History of the Discovery and Conquest of India by the Porugues, between the Years 1497 and 1505: From the Original Portuguese of Herman Lopes De Castaneda.“ A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. 2, William Blackwood, J. Murray, J. Cuming, 1811, pp. 292-504.