While the general and the other captains were on shore, busied in the repairs of the San Michael, there came one day a man in a little parao, seemingly about forty years old, and not of that country, as he was dressed in a sabaco, or gown of fine cotton reaching to his heels, his head covered with a kerchief or towel, which partly covered his face, and wearing a faulchion or crooked cymeter at his girdle.  Immediately on landing, he went up and embraced the general, as if he had seen or known him before, and treated the other captains with the same politeness.  He told them he was a Christian, born in Italy, and had been brought when a child into the Indies.  That he now dwelt with a Moorish lord named Sabayo, who ruled a certain island called Goa, about twelve leagues from thence, and who had 40,000 horsemen on that island.  That, as his dwelling was now among the Moors, he conformed externally to their worship, though in his heart a Christian.  That learning certain men had come in ships to Calicut, such as had never been seen before in the Indies, and that no one understood their language, he immediately understood that they must be Frangnes,[67] for so the Christians are named in the Indies.  That he was desirous of seeing them, and had asked leave of Sabayo to come and visit them; which, if he had not obtained, he would have died of vexation.  That Sabayo had not only granted him leave for this purpose; but desired, if he found the strangers to be from his country, to offer them any thing they might stand in need of which his country produced; particularly spices and provisions.  And besides, if they would come and live with him, Sabayo would entertain them honourably, and give them sufficient to live on.  The general asked many questions concerning the country of Sabayo and other things, to which he made answer.  After which he requested to have a cheese from the general, to send on shore to a companion, as a token of having been well received.  The general suspected some mystery in this man, yet ordered a cheese and two new loaves to be given him, which he sent away to his companion.  He continued talking with great volubility, and sometimes so unguardedly as to raise suspicions of his being a spy.  On this Paulo de la Gama, who particularly suspected him, inquired of some of the natives if they knew who this man was; they immediately told him he was a pirate, who had boarded many other ships while laid aground.  On receiving this information, the general ordered him to be carried on board his ship, then aground, and to be whipped well till he should confess whether all that he had said was true or false; also, what was his purpose in coming thither, and whether he were actually a Moor or a Christian.  He still insisted that he was a Christian, and that all he said was true, declaring the information given by the natives to be entirely groundless.  The general now ordered a more cruel torment to be inflicted to