‘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’ [‎266] (287/508)

266
VIII.
1 he Travels of Peter Delia Valle,
who, undoubtedly, would have hid her ^ aru^ perhaps, carry'd
her afar off, and made her a flave for ever. I mention this, to
the end Mafters may learn not to drive their Servants into de-
fpair by too much ri^or, which may redound to the prejudice
of themfelves, as well as of them.
jf«/^ the third. Setting forth early, we baited before noon
near a Lake of Water, ftreaming there amongft certain Reeds
and verdant Fields, about which new many Affnet# rifis Volucres^
fome of which we took and eat. F. Cregorio Orfino, who was
with me, bathing himfelf here, (as he was wont often to do for
the heat) and being unfkilful of fwimming, was in great danger
of being drowned 5 hapning unawares to go into a much deep
er phce of the Lake then he imagind. We travell'd no further
this day, but onely at night went to joyn with the Capigi's, who
had pitch'd a Tent a little further from the Water, to avoid the
Gnats there, which were very troublefome both to Men and
Beafts. The two next dayes wetravell'd but little, becaufeof
fome difference between the Arabians and the chief Camelicr,
who went back to the Sceich about it.
Julj) the (ixth. We travell'd this day over Lands full of a white
and fliining Mineral, which was either Talk, or Salt-petre, or
fome fuch thing. I brought a good quantity of it away
with me.
JhIji thefeventh, Wetravelfd from day-break till noon, paf-
fing over a clayie and flippery ground, where the Camels went
with much difficulty. We refted ox a place full of prickly (hrubs,
the leavs whereof are kfs then a Man's naile, and of the fhape
of a heart 5 the fruit was round and red, likefmall coral-beads,
ot tafte fweet, mixt with a little fharpnefs, having little ftones
in them 5 it was very pleafant to the tafte, and afforded no fmali
retreftiment to us in thefe Defarts. The Mahometans celebrated
their B air am , the Faft of Ramadh an being now ended.
July the eighth. We came to feveral places of ftagnant waters,
and baited at one, two or three hours before noon 5 but the
water was fulphureous and ill-tafted , as 'moftof the reft were
alio, in regard ot the many Minerals where-with the Earth of
the Dciart abounds. We departed not from this place at night,
ecaufe we were to pay a Gabel to Emir Aindleg Abftrifc^ whofe
1 erntory here-abouts begins. Emir Aburifc is the greateft
nnce ot the Arabians in Arabia Defirta 5 and this Prince, (whofe
, proper name is Aludleg) fucceeded his deceafed Uncle Fddd i
vvho was living and reign'd when I went from Alevvo to Baghdad
nine years before^ having ufurp*d the Government frcm Mndkg>
who was very young at the time of his Father's deceafe. At
mg.it we were vifited by fome pilfring Arabians , who finding
us prepard with our Arms, betook themfelves to their heels,
and dcapd unhurt from us, though we purfu'd them a while.
ja/y the ninth. The Morning wasfpent in paying Gabels : I
p -n c tor my part for a load and halt ot portage, as they reckon 'd
it.