Manuel Peres, galego, que se dizia chamar António Barral, foi, com outros dois homens, acusado de ser salteador em Setúbal e no Alentejo. Foram-lhes apreendidos um punhal, duas gazuas, um passaporte falso, três cartas e um bilhete. Duas das cartas foram escritas por Domingos Cortez, sócio da quadrilha de Pedro Indiano, preso na Cadeia do Limoeiro. A terceira carta, aquela aqui transcrita, não está assinada nem endereçada, mas o autor dirigia-se provavelmente a Antonio Platillero (ver. CARDS0121).Este caso, como muitos outros, prova quão corretas estavam as memórias dos viajantes que atravessavam o país. Os assaltos e os grupos de bandidos, alguns deles bem perigosos, atestam de facto o sentido das suas palavras.

Letter with instructions from an unidentified author to one of his fellows, probably António Platillero.

The author informs his comrade about the location of the product of a robbery.

Stories about robberies and gangs, some of these really dangerous, were very often reported by the people who dared cross the country at that time. This case, like many others, shows how correct these memories were.

«My beloved brother.

First of all, health, a lot of health, caution, good sense in everything. If we make use of these means, nothing will be impossible. Thus, go through Santo António do Couço, straight to Benavila, straight to Monte do Parreira, straight to Monte do Caroço. In Monte do Caroço, ask directions to Monte da Misericórdia, which is a hillhouse just next to Monte do Caroço. However, the money is at Monte da Misericórdia. Arrive to the Monte when it's still day, so that you can figure out where the money is. As soon as you have an ideia of the location, go there at night. The door to the hillhouse faces the East, in the wall that is turned to the North, next to the corner that connects with "Cuevas". A high hand away from the corner, two hands and four fingers above the ground is the pot, about two hands inside the wall. There was a young cork-oak right in front of it. Take a bayonet, because the wall is very fresh. As for people, there are no more than two persons, since it is a small hill house. The money has been there for two years. The one who put the money there was arrested within three days. I'm absolutely sure it is there, be diligent. When he put the money there, the house wasn't even finished. That is between Alter and Benavila. The wall must be very soft, since it has been built not very long ago. That way, pay great atention! It's in the north wall, right on the corner of the "Cuevas" wall, a hand higher than the corner, two hands and four fingers above the floor. Go as soon as possible.»