‘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’ [‎219] (240/508)

Into the EAST-INDIES.
fruits.of the Fields^ to wit, of Rice newly eared 5 which is the
moft fubftantial of the fruits of the Territory of Gaa, I was told
likewife that they made a Statue of an Elephant with Rice-ftraw,
which I know not whether they carry'd about with them or fet
up in fome Piazza. This cuftom is pradis'd annually upon the faid
day j becaufe at that time precifely the faid fruit begins to ripen.
Augnfi the twenty feventh. One Galeon (of four that were
coming from Mafcat, whither they had been fent lafl: Jpril with
Provifions) arriv'd at Coa 5 they came 3 by the Vice-roy's Order^
to tranfport 3 if occafion requir'd, new fuccours to be fent //
to Ormuz. This Ship related, that the other three were poffi- ^
bly returnd back again to the ftreight of Ormuz^ for fear of fome
Dutch Veffels which hover'd thereabouts 5 but this being driven
out to Sea, and having loft its company in the night, was forc'd
to come diredtly forwards. It related further, that Ormnz had
been againbefiegda good while by the Captains of Kny Freira,
to wit, firft by Michel Vereira Boraglio our friend, and after
wards by another, whom he fent thither by turns, becaufc there
by the task would be eafier to the befiegers.-but that,at the part
ing of thefe Galleys from Mafcat, Rny Freira himfelf was upon
the point to go to the faid Siege with all theMen and Veffels with
oars he had, which were about twenty or twenty five Galeots,
and many lefs Morifco Veffels call'd lens's: a fmall prepara-
tion indeed to take Ormuz withall.
September the fecond, a little before day-light. The fafe arrival
of the annual Portugal Fleet was congratulated by all the Bells of
Goa. It confifted of two Merchant's Ships,leffer and lighter then
the Carracks which ufe to come other years^ one Galeon laden al-
fo with Merchandize, and order'd to return with the fame Ships,
in cafe it (hould not be neceffary at Goa for the war 5 and five
other Galeons equip'd for war which were to remain at Goa
with all the Soldiery which was numerous and good, to be im-
ploy'd as occafion fhould required The General of this Ai mada
was Sig. Nugrto shares B-otelho^ the Admiral Sig. Giovan Verei
ra Cortereal, to whole diligence the happy and fpeedy arrival of
this Fleet is attributed ^ the like not having come to pafs in ma
ny years, and that through the fault andgreedinefs both of the
Pilots and Merchants: for before, without keeping order or rule
in the voyage or obedience to the General, every one endea-
vor'd to have his Ship arrive firft and alone.But this Sig.Gio.Perei-
ra Cortereal having written and prefented a printed Difcourfe
about this matter to the Ring, his Majefty approvd the fame and
gave ftrift charge that his Prefcription (hould be obierv
withall exadnefs5 and hence proceeded the good fuccefs of
this Voyage. This Fleet brought news, that the Prince ot
England was departed from without effe&ing the marriage
between the two Crowns, becaufe the Parliament of
land would not confent to it: which confidering all the preceding
tranfadtions feems to me a ftrange cafe, and perhaps the like
p f 2 hath