‘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’ [‎310] (331/508)

The Travels of Peter Delia Vallc,
upon a high fituation, another upon the mouth of the Port which
is very large within, and another alfo within the Port divided
into two, and ftanding upon two little rocks. Divers of our
people went afhore the fame day, but I did not, till the next :
when after 1 had heard Mafs faid by the F. Provincial of the Je-
fuits in Sicily) in a Church call'd Our Lady delle Gratie^ I went
to fee the Capuchins Church, the Streets of the City, the Caftle
and whatever was remarkable, which was vew little.
January the fixteenth 3 rhe weather continuing foul withfnow
the Captains upon confultation refolv'd to return back to Syra-
cufe, becaufethe Galleys had not provifion enough for a longer
ftay. Wherefore after dinner, we fet fail back again,and arriv'd
before night at 3 whereof the Biftiop being advertis'd
fcntSig: to fetch me, and Sig: Maria to conduft
my women to his Houfe. « > ■AiiA,
January the nineteenth. The weather becoming good, the
General fent us fudden notice that he would depart immedi
ately, as accordingly we did, and at night enter d the Port of
Augujta, becaufe it was again become fomewhat tempeftuous.
The next Evening we departed from Augufia ^ and fail'd all
night with a bad wind, which forc't us to make ufe of our Oars.
Jamary the twenty firft. At day-break we came before Cap
grojjo, about twenty miles from Mefsina, and continuing our
courfe, arriv'd at before Noon. At the mouth of the
Port we were queftion'd. by the Commiffioners of Health, who
were very rigorous here, and indeed were to be commentbd for
it 5 (ince,had it not been for the exad diligence of Mefsint in
this matter, the prefent Peftilence of might eafily have in-
tefted all Italy .'for Card. Dona and others that govern'd at Vi-
krmo, to avoid damnifying that City by lofs of Trade, have ha
zarded the fatety not only of the whole Kingdom ( jjs ismanifeft-
ly feen) but alio of all Italy by concealing the Plague of P4-
krmo as much as they could, inttead of remedying the Infedion
by fuch fevere and rigorous courfes as was fit, namely, by burn
ing infected Goods and the like jyea, they rather maintain'd that
the Plague was not there when it wasthcrejand requir'd prattick
to be given them everywhere, procuring Orders from Spain fat
that purpofe : by which means many other places of Sicily, are
become infeAedy and the Plague, whichjhad fit means beenus'd,
pcihaps would icon have been extinguifht, hath continu'd above
tuo }cars, and continues itill 5 the Orders of the Viceroy and
the Couit of Spain^ promoting the fpreading thereof indefpight
of all. Only the City of Mejsina hath the glory of withftand-
ingfo great mifchief for the publickfafety. Whilftwe wereun-
der examination, expecting Bills for Prattick againft: night, I ad-
vertis d Sig; Franctjco Faraone, and Sig: Don Palntieri di Ci-
my ancknt Friends,of my coming, who, in the Evening
when Prat tick was gJanted us, came with other Gentlemen and
Gentlewomen inCoachey to the fhore-fide to receive me, and
Sig: