'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎37] (58/448)

^Ethiopia. Xed-fea
Ttolomes endeavoured to make thofe Seas communicable, albeit the lall; in greateft nart
efFeded it by a llmce of 100. foot broad, and 3 o. deep i but difcouraged when he wr-
ceivedftrangedifeafes iweep molt of the Pioneers away, hideous noifes (if the report
b, 6 t" 16 ) sffnghting others; but what moft difcouraged the profecution was the fear
they had that level Countrey of ^ ? might (efpecially when Land-floods and SpriiK-
tydes met) be overflown, and that the Salt-water of theRed-fea would alter the fwelt
tafte of the Rjyer Nile ■, fo as upon matnre deliberation it was found the moftprudentfal
courfe to deflft : And fuch a vain attempt might have been prefidential to Nero in that
fuccefslefs enterpnze of tranffeftrng the Ifihmm or ftreight in that narrow neck of lafld
ntxCormth which knits the of Pdopm to the main to
alio labouring to unite the BUckJea with the to T^WtheWke
Euphrates i and to the Great Turke of late endeavouring to force into Tan an
limy (who like other Hiftorians .took much upon trull) relates how that in^^
Cafars time f which was 200. years before his) certain Spanilh-ihips filferedlhipvfrack
in this Sea i but how they came there, he refolves not. We do not read that the
debona Sferanz.a was known in noo. years after; thofe Voyages
and fome others, being not to be credited i and yet Sir Ral. inclines to believe
that the Phcemc.i.am when SubjeibJ to the Scepter and the moft expert in Navi
gation, endeavoured it about that time when PW. Nedpthj whofe hand good
fell) in vam attempted to cuta fluice 80. miles long and broad enough for two Gallies to
rowabreaft twixt the Red-fea and the Nik.Herod. I. 4. likewife reports that thevcom-
palt and after three years Voyage returned into through the of
Gthralter, which- ifit were fo, was quite forgot fucbtime as Gama made his
paflage. When tne Pormgmfe liad lettled his Plantations in and fuch other
Mantim places as beft pleafed him upon thofe Coafts, and foon
alter in/Ww and the ftiore ; (tor fo propitious was the time or fo little was the
reliluance he found as he had the liberty to pick and choofe) that Anno i <20. ,AibH
querque having taken Aden then perfwaded himfelf the Empire of the Indies was perpe
tuated to the Crown of Portugal. Qua viBa (faith Oforim) putabat India Impermm fore
jemptermm: But it proved otherwife for not long after, many of his plantations
were dejtroyed partly through their own luxury ^ but moll through the treachery of the
Negros, albeit lufficient remains yet under their obedience.
This warm part%)f the Interior v£thwpm being the NorthermoU of the Trododites
Country by molt .called Ethiopia fub tABgypta and bounded to the Eaft by the Red-fea
was (fay fome)firft planted hfchm the Son olCham after his departure out of Arabia ■
or as others, by Sheba the Son of Rhegma. The Cmlum and Solum fuch, as the firft be
comes extreamin heat during thofe months the Sun is vertical, the Country extends
equally on both fides the ^quinoaial beginnmg from 20. degr. North and neceflarilv
mltruds the Inhabitants for the moft part to feekftiade, and other refreihing in fubter-
ranean habitations-, and the rather, for that the Country is obferved to be full of hills
for 600. miles from the Red-fea and more towards the Weft, but fteril towards the Eaft,
and the Mediterranean fo covered with loofe fands 'as renders it impalfable. Upon the
Weftern Banks the Mare ^^r^wthefehave been Port Towns, Zeyley, Snaehen, Ma~
M Theran, with fome others that of late years have been much refortedto not only
by the but by other Merchants of feveral Countries*, howbeit fmce the prin
cipal Marts were tranilated to Goa and Or mm, Macha and Aden on the oppofite Coaft
are moft frequented. Moreover, albeit the Egyptian Princes of old have been of
great power for many ages, yet fuch was the poverty or rather natural defence this
Country was provided with againft the invaiion of any numerous party, as it continued
ever independent without being fubdued or harralfed by any of the four Monarchies,
who unleis in an auxiliary way (if they be the Su%ims that affifted Shijhac mentioned
m 2 chron. 12. 3.) from hence never exaded tribute; all that Camhyfes the Son of the
great Cyrm aimed at (after his fubjeding .^gypt to the Ferftan Empire about the year
rrom the Creation of the World 3400. revolting' under Dar. JSTothus, and reduced by
Ochus) being for their returning him by his Amballadors fome of their Earth and Water,
the ufual fymbols, of fubjedion as we alfo find ftoried of Nebuchadne^ar, Judith 1.
Chap. ver. 7. which thefe Troglodites well knowing how little advantage that great Mo
narch would get by entring their faplefs Country, fcornfully refufed it. Now con
cerning the Commerce this Red-fea has afforded, the firft I find ftory takes no
tice of, is the trade which King Solomon from hence ingroft for the Gold ofOphir, the
Port whence his fleet ufuallyfet fail being MzJmgloabor, Berenice thinks Jofiphm l 8. a
\