Inasmuch as the great Afonso Dalboquerque had made up his mind to maintain Goa and fortify his position therein, he determined, before winter should become more settled, to provide himself with all things necessary for that undertaking; and issued immediate orders for collecting together all the supplies that could be found. And all the horses that remained in the land were placed in some large stables which the Çabaio had erected in the fortress, wherein formerly they used to place the horses which the dealers brought from Ormuz to sell. And for this purpose the Çabaio used to have a Xabandar, whose office corresponds to that of Almoxarife da ribeira, [superintendent receiver of the royal import dues,] whose duty it was to look to the care of the horses, and the people were obliged to bring hay, and corn, and mungo, which is a certain species of seed that they feed the horses with, in abundance. And to this Xabandar, in union with other Moors on which this charge devolved, Afonso Dalboquerque gave orders to look to the provender of these horses, and to see to all the other matters relating to the coast, with the intention of proceeding with his management of the affairs of Goa in the manner of his ordinances and government.