‘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’ [‎284] (305/508)

1 he Travels of Peter Delia Valle,
fo that Ifoundoncly fourfmall Houfes/carce re-edifi'd,this year
wherein the Lieutenant of the place (for the right Governoiir
remains at Jleppo^) the Vice-Confulsof fuchEuropsan-Nations
as trade intoSoria, and a very few other people refided. Sig;
Antonio Grandi, the Venetian Vice-Conful, having notice of
my coming by a Meflenger whom I fent to him from Eeilan, re-
ceiv'd and lodg'd us in his own Houfe with much Courtefie 5 upon
the recommendation of his Conful 5 from whom I prefentedhima
Letter. And when I had acquainted him with my defire to depart
as foon as poflibie s and (hewn him the Governor's Pafs for my fclf
goods, and people, which I brought with me from Aleppo, toge
ther with other commendatory Letters to his Lieutenant and
other Miniftcrs^ the faid Sig: Antonio went prefently to prefent
the fame, andjjby the authority he had here obtain'd, much more
ea^ly then I expeded, that I might imbarque when I pleas'd •
yet upon promife, according to the cuftomof Turkje, ofafmall
Prefent to the Governor, and alfo to a Jew his Minifter^ which
was afterwards given to them both. After dinner Captain Fort,
Commander of the French Ship S.Anne, wherein I was to im
barque, came a ftiore, and I agreed with him to go aboard that
night, though he pupofedto ftay two or three dayes longer, in
expectation of more lading before he let fail. Accordingly after
I had written to andfupp'din the Houfe of SigiJntonio
Grandi, I was carry'd aboard by the faid Captain with all my
people, and onely thofe few goods which I had brought with me
iiom Aleppo $ leaving all the reft tobefirft receiv'd by thefaid
Sig: Antonio, and then convey'd tome by Sea more atleifure.
1 bus alter many years I quitted the Continent of Ajia^mth a cer
tain Rtfolution never to let foot upon it again unlefs armM, and
began my Voyage towards my defired Italy y there being with
me of Women, Butoni MaTi&nt Tin at in, a Giorgian Virgin;, and
taithtul Companion ot mod of my Peregrinations, Et/geitid an
Indian Maid of Scilan 5 and of Men, F. Fra: Gregorio Orftno,
V icar General of Armenia 5 and my Servants, Micheldi Bengal^
commended to me at Goa by Sig: Antonio Barraccio, Ciwin
Robetjh, a Chaldean of Kiumalava, and the two Syrians recom-
mended to me by that Arch-Biftiop, namely Abdi 'civa, andHf«-
at, Neftorians.
tv ventieth, All my other goods, together
wit 1 the Coffin ot 6itti Maani, Cconceal'd in a ball of Cotton
yzin) were imbarqud, ( thanks be to God J without any di-
iturbance. 1 he next day I took the height of the Sun in the
or ! dlexandretta, and found him decline at noon from the
Z-emth 2 ^ degrees. He was that day in the degree of
/ irgo, I he lame day, by the advice of Sig: Antonio Grandi, to
prevent all turther troubles which might arife from new fcarch-
ingot my goods, and payment of half Gabels, in cafelftiould
exchange the Ship wherein I was, fora Fiemifh Veflclcalfd the
ISeptune) as I had iormerly intended to do at Cyprus ^ I determind
* ta