‘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’ [‎231] (252/508)

into the EAST-INDIES.
which are thereabouts. In the morning we faw the Land naked
both of Trees and Grafs, but rather ftony in appearance and Dc-
fart, although it was part of that which they call Happy.
December the thirtieth. We began to move forward Eaft
Strnth-Eafl:, having the Land on the left hand ^ but a fudden
contrary wind arifing forest us to caft anchor again in the place
where we were, not without dangers for in the furling of the
fail, through the negligence of the Sea-men, h wrapt about the
Maft, the wind blowing very furioufly againfi: the fore-deck i
fo that had the Veflel been lefs found and ftrong-fided,or fome of
the PaiTengers lefs diligent to help, it had been overturn'd and
funk, like the Ship of Orontes in the (hipwrack of Mneas^ which
Virgil defcribes tohave been loft by the like cafualty. At night,
the contrary wind ceafing, we proceeded in our intended courfe,
December the one and thirtieth. The wind failing, we caft an
chor, but jn an unfecure place, not without danger of being
fplit upon the Chore, whither in fpight of our anchors the wind
hurri'd us, but tacking about, we got to a more fecure place,
near that from whence we had mov'd the day before.
On the fir ft of January, and of the year 1625, We ftood at VI I,
anchor till night, and then made a little progrefs 5 but all the
next day we ftood at anchor again, and took very good fiflijand
at night a little wind blowing from the Land, we went forwards
now and then, but very little.
January the eighth, Having all the preceding days been about
theCoaftof Arabia, cafting anchor every day, and weighing
again at night 5 (during which, a Boat of Arabians brought us
much frefh fifl], and an Arabian came fwimming to us a great way
only to beg a little Rice and Bifket, which we gave him) at
length having a good wind this day after noon, we pafs'd a Cape
which they call Capo falfo, becaufe 'tis neer and refcmbles the
Cape Rafelhhad, but is not it. At night we palled by the True
Cape call'd by the Arabians Rafelhhad, that is, the Cape of the
Confine, becaufe'tis the laft and moft Southern Cape of Arabia,
being, as they fay,in the latitude of twenty two degrees and a halt
from the iEquinodial Northwards, and diftant from Majcat ?
whither we were going, forty leagues^ the call it cor
ruptly Capo cli Rofalgate. Having pafs'd this Cape, we fteer'd
Northweft, ftill upon thecoaft ot Arabia which lies all the way
on the left hand, and enter'd the Perfian Gulph, but faw not the
oppofite Continent of Perfia^e^ufQ foragood way inwards the
Gulph is very broad.
January thefeventh. Having in the night foregoing had a good
Wind, by day -light we were got eighteen leagues beyond the
Cape, near the place where the City of C a!at at, which Al-
huquerque deftroy'd, fometimes ftood, upon a good River, at
the foot of certain little Mountains, of which almoft the whole
coaft conllfts. Here the wind fail'd us, and having labour d with
theoar ail day, we got no further ihenTeive, a place inhabited
by