‘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’ [‎265] (286/508)

Into the EAST-INDIES.
mform'd that I underftood the Language, he told rae^
that I muft excufe what his Officers had done, for he had great
need of Arquebuzes for war 5 that the T urbant and piece of Silk
much pleas'd him, but he would pay for them 5 whereto I an-
fwer'd, that I did not value his payment, but would give him
both the one and the other. Then he call d for the Turbant,
and having view'd and highly commended it, though I told him
it had been us'd, (as indeed T had worn it feveral tiStes in Perfia)
he enter'd into the Tent with it where his Women were, and
ftom whence was heard a great noife of Hand-mils, where-with
to make Meal for Bread 5 it being the cuftom amongft the Ara
bians , for even the nobleft Women to do fuch fervices ; By and
by he came out again with the Turbant upon his Head, where
upon his people congratulated him for his new bravery, faying to
him, Mnbarek^ that is, Blefled, to the fame purpofe with our
Ad multos Amos, Then they fet before him a brafs diQi full of
Grapes, and we being all call'd about him, he began to eat and
give us fome of the faid Grapes, which were very fweet and
good, and the firft that I had eaten this year. This ended, we
retir'd to our places, and after a (hort ftay, ^ I took leave and
departed with JUahhmadAga to theCafiUi one of his fervants
and the Camelier remaining behind by the Sceich's Order> who
faid he would fend adifpatch for his own and my bufinefs the
next day by them. -
July the firft. The Camelier return d with an Anfwer, that the
Sceich would not take the Sword, and the Changier or Ponyard
from me 5 and for the Turbant and piece of Silk, he Tent me
29 Piaftres , whereof the Camelier faid he had expended five 5
to wit, two to the Officer that pay'd him, and three to I know
not who elfe, fo that he brought me but 245 which were not a
third part of what the things were worth. However I took
them , becaufe the barbarous dealing ot the Sceich delerv d not
that I (hould correfpond with him with better courtefie. I have
related this Adventure, that thereby the dealings of thcfe un
civil Barbarians may t)e known. ^ ,
July the fecond. We departed from this Station early in the
Morning, continuing our journey, but were detain d near two
hours by certain Arabian Officers of a Brother of Scetch Najtr,
who alfo would needs extort fome payment upon each Camel.
Wearriv'd late to bait near a water^ where we found many Ara
bian Tents, from which, and a neighbouring Village, we had
plenty both of fweet and (bwer Milk, and alfo of Grapes. Here
we ftay'd all day, and upon a hafty quarrel between
Atari am ^ and Eugenia my Indian Maid, at night the faid Maid
ran away from us in thefe defarts, yet was fo honeit as to leave
even all her own things and ornaments behind*, fothatuwas
rather defpair than infidelity that occafion'd her night. I had
touch adoe to recover her again, and was in great oanger or 10-
iinp t her- in cafe (he had fallen into the hands of any Arabian^
b4 Mm who* -