‘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’ [‎267] (288/508)

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Into the EAST-INDIES.
it, fifteen Piaftres,, and two more towards the abovemention'd
Gabel of the Camels to Emir Najtrs Brothei^ befides other fees.
They open d my Trunks, and took away two Velvet Caps^much
good Paper, and (everal other things ^ and had it not been more
for the Capigi Ibrahim entreaties than authority , they would
alfo have broken open the Cheftj wherein I carri'd the Body of
SittiMaani my Wife. Three hours before night, we put our
felves upon the way 5 and travell'd till about an hour before night,
when we came to a place of water.
the tenth. We travell'd till Noon, and refted in a great
Plain furrounded with certain Hills, in the midft whereof ftands
ereded a Stone^ fafhion'd at the Top like the bowl of a Foun
tain. After which, we proceeded till an hour after Sun-fet, and
came to a place where we found good water between two little
Hills. Here we ftaid to refrefti our felves and our Camels till
three hours before night ^ the Capigi who were to go by the
way of Anna to find the^mtar at Mardin^ or elfewhere, depart
ing before us : but we, who intended to go to without
touching at Anna 0 for compendioufnefs oi the way, and for
avoiding payment of fome kind of Gabel the^left the way to
Anna on the right hand, and took that within the Defart more
Southward. We travell'd all the remainder of this day^ and all
the night, with part aHb of the next day, without ftaying 5 to
the end we might the fooner arrive at water, of which we had
no lefs defire then need i
July the twelfth. About three hours after Sun-rife we baited^
being weary, at the foot of certain little Hills, without finding
water 5 fo that we were fain to drink that little which remain d
in the Goat-skin borachoes which we carri'd with us. About
three hours before Sun-(et, we proceeded again till aknoll: Noon
the next day, when we arriv'd at water, to wit, the famous Ri
ver Euphrates, lighting upon a place of the ordinary way to A-
hppo, where I had formerly pals'd when I went from thence to
Baghdad, and where the road between the River and certain
little Hills full of that Talk or (hining Mineral is very narrow.
Our further ftirring at night was prevented by the fupervening
of fome Soldiers, lent by the Officers ot Anna, (yjhomiheCapi-
gtsha.d inform'd of ourpaflage) to demand thole Tolls or Ga-
bels which we had fought to avoid, although we pjifi d not
through that City.
July the fourteenth, Moftpart of this day wasfpent in paying
the faid Gabel. I paid for my part fix Piafters, and gave two
more as a gratuity to the Soldiers, befides which, I was obligd
to pay twenty to the chief Camelier, whole money was all gone 5
and in this manner I was conftrain'd both to profit and pleafure
him who never did me other than difprofit and difplealure.But for
all this, they afterwards open'd the two grcateft 1 runks 1 had,
and tumbled all my Goods about, treatkfg me with ail rigor and
difcoiu tcfie. Only I took it well (and upon that account wil~
- M m 2 * linglj
267
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