He was tasked, among other things, with establishing a number of forts on the east African coast, namely at Sofala and Kilwa, and free Portuguese trade from opposition.

[3] Malindi was an ally of Portugal since Vasco da Gama visited the city, and was a rival of Mombasa, which was hostile towards the Portuguese.

[1] The harbour was protected by a small fort or bulwark, connected to the city by a short wall, and armed with eight guns.

[4] The fort opened fire on the first Portuguese ship to enter the harbour to sound it, the São Rafael, captained by Gonçalo de Paiva.

[2] Dom Francisco was met by a Spanish resident in Mombasa, a gunner by profession who had converted to Islam, and he told the Portuguese that "Mombasa was not like Kilwa: they would not find people with hearts that could be eaten like chickens as they had done in Kilwa, but that if they were keen to come ashore the people were ready to set about them for their supper.