the marble-paved inner court of the shahbandar 's sprawling brick estate house was crowded almost to overflowing : with wealthy hindu money-lenders , whose mercenary hearts were as black as their robes were white ; muslim port officials in silks and jewels , private riches gleaned at public expense ; the turbaned captains of arab cargo ships anchored at the bar , hard men in varicolored robes who sat sweltering , smoking , and drinking steaming coffee ; and a sprinkling of portuguese in starched doublets , the captains and officers of the three portuguese trading frigatta now anchored at the bar downriver .