‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎238] (259/508)

238 The Travels Peter Delia Valle,
J V. Having pafs'd by this Cape, (which is 5 as I believe wilhin ten
or twelve leagues of Ormn% ) leaving Ormuz and Bender di
Komhraon the right hsrnd, (becaufe weprefum'd the Dutch and
Englifh Ships to be there) we direded our courfe towards Larek^
hoping to find Rny Freira there 3 as we had underftood by the
way 5 but a little after, we defcry'd two Ships of Ruy Freiras Ar
mada ("as we fuppos'd) in two feveral places towards the Land 5
each of which gave us a Gun 5 whereby we apprehended that
they intended either to receive or give us fome neceffary Ad-
vertifement. Wherefore quitting our courfe to Lare^ we turn'd
theSternto the coaft of Arabia^ towards which one ofthefaid
Ships about Sun-fet feem to be retir'd. We approach't near
the Land about Evening, and palling amidft certain Rocks,went
to cafl: anchor within a little bay which was there 5 but in the
narrow ftreight between a Rock and the Continent, a moft im
petuous current of the Sea hurri'd us away fo furioufly, that
without giving us time to let down the fail, it had almoft daih't
us againft the foot of certain high Rocks, where, if we had
touch't, without doubt our Ship had been fplit in a thoufand
pieces, nor had any one of us efcap t with life unlefs by miracle:
neverthelefsby plying our Oars ftoutly, and at length letting
down the fail, by Gods mercy we were delivered from this im
minent and manifeft danger. Yet not fo fully, but that we had
like to have been caft upon another Rock, not fomuch through
the violence of the Current, as the negligence of the Sea -men
who did not govern the Sails and Helm well. But at length be-
ing by the Divine Adiftance freed from both dangers, we got to
the place we defign'd, and there found one of Ruy Freira s Ships
which had given us a Warning-piece in the preceding day 5 and
alfo an armed Bark of that fort which they call Terrankim, and
are almoft fuch as our Caichi or Shallops 5 which Bark Kuy
treira fent to the Rock Baba S el am there to wait for the Armada
of Goa^ and advertife him when it arriv'd. In the Ship was Sig.
Sancho di Toar, who the laft year had been fent from Goa Gene
ral ot certain Ships to adift Ruy Freira^ and being weary of the
war, now with his licence (obtained, as may be though^ by
importunity) was returning to and fo to Goa, with fe-
venty or eighty foldiers that accompani'd him. After we jiad
calt anehor, although it was very dark, yet fome of the faid
o iers, and the Captain of the Terranquim c&mexo our Ship to
Ipeak with Don Francefco Cavacio 5 foallb did the Captain ot the
r ^ a bo v efaid di Toar, next morning. Don Francefio dif-
waded the foldiers from deferring the war in a time of lb great
need, and otfo fair anoccafion as would be at the coming of the
Armada of Goa, which was approaching hourly 5 telling them
iriat at0^4 it would beheld an adtion little honourable, and
that the Vice-Roy would feverely punifti whoever return'd
rmther abandoning Ruy Freira : In (hort, he faid fo much to
nem,* that being aflur'd of the coming of the Fleet of Goa y
(which