'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎34] (55/448)

H
Socotora.
we call the Milkv-wav, and is the only vifible Circle m the Heavens, Denfa ftellm
TLTuanilimcalls them, a Troop of invifible Stars, and yet the fblendor beaming from
H em ildifcernable; and here under the iEquinoctial the two Bears which were depreft
reappeared in our hemifphere •, for there at one time we faw both Poles, fo as I think
LmjiStln errs, in faying he faw the Southern Pole Star whenhe was at which ele-
^^UndeT Sdegrt^s the winfr weary it feems of its amftancy)Veer'd into the Eaft North
Eaft fo as the monxjonbecame adverfeto us upon that Courfe,for we could come no near
er than South Eaft, at which time many of our Ships Company died of Calentures, Sea-
feavers, Fluxes, Scurvy, Aches, and fuch other Diftempers as ufually attend Seamen in
^SevertLklfthis mortality was notmore to be imputed to the extremity of the heat
f albeit thereby bur Bilquet, Meat, andWater became putrid and foftmk.ng, that fave
flcceflfty inforced it would not have been tolerable, which as the Zone became more
temperate, Beef, Pork andWater recovered their fweetnefs) than indeed might be
to their intemperate eating, and overcharging their ftomachs with freft Meat got at
helia, Which was crude, little falted, and rudely dr eft, as alfoby quaffing too ex
orbitantly, a liquor though wholefome enough if moderately drunk, yet excels dilpo-
fes the Body to dangerous Fluxes. So as our Admiralout of his Ship threw five and thir-
tv dead Men over-board, the Hopewell eleven, the Star five every Ship loft fome', too
manv, if God hadotherwife pleafed. This wasaggravated bythe death
mil an expert and ingenious Seaman, Mafters-mate m the Captain died
then alfo, one whofe difpofition was fo civil and obliging, that indeed his name and
nature were harmonious. Their Bodies being committed to the Ocean (a fpacions
Grave') a Volly of fmall ftiot and two and twenty great Guns from our Ship proclaim'd
their farewel to the watry Citizens, inviting them to fafe-guard fuch a Trealure ^ Hea
ven' it felf alfo feeming to bear a part in that threnody i at that very inftant diftillmg fo
abundantly, that to the beft of my remembrance I never faw a fadder and fuddamer
ftower of Rain than that was, or of lefs continuance, which indeed made me take the
greater notice of it. By this failer the Mafter of our Ship had a remove into the Vicc-
Admiral, and into the Rere-Admiral Captain Malm was tranflated from the Hafemll,
who lived but few days to joy his advancement, a Perfon fo civil in his nature, fo care
ful in his charge, fo expert in his vocation, and fo valiant in fight (as well witnelfes
that memorable conflid he maintained againft the Turkjm the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. , which honours
him to pofterity} that in his behalf 1 may properly attribute that out of the Prince of
Poets,
Fafta Ducis vivunt, operofaque gloria rerum — The Heroic^, deeds of all
Hxc manet. — Brave Men,are mitten in Fames glorious Roll.
The wind here added to our afflidion, for growing high and contrary to our courfe,
the waves broke boifteroufly too often upon our broad-fides, but being clofe hail'd,
were patient in all thofe Checks fo as though the Ships cut their way (lowly they paf-
fed fecurely \ and at length palling by the Cape called Babmandell, brought us near the
Ifle Socotora into the OftinmOf theRed-fea; where let usrepofe a while, till the wind be
more favourable. Socotora is an Ifle well known to former Ages •, to fome by the name
of Diofcorida, ofSnccabato others, and as otherfome cOnjedure that fame Ifle Pliny in
his 6 Jib. Nat. Hifl. calls Topazo, deriving its name from the plenty of thofe precious
ftones found there; like as the neighbouring Ifle Saphyrina, upon the like occafion:
the Turks call it Catuchomor ; the Perflans, Cabar by the Spaniard 'tis called Atehar;
and by others Aceur. It elevates the Artique Pole 13 degrees, is near 15 leagues long
and 10 broad, and about an hundred of our miles about v and though in its pofition feems
nearer neighbouring to Afrique than Afiatftt is challenged, and accordingly reputed an
Appendix to Ajaman or Arabia the happy. It affords fufficient for fupply of the Inhabi
tants, as Corn, Fruit, and Cattle*, and for Olives, Cocos, Dates, Piftachoes, Oren-
ges. Lemons, Pomgranates, Pomcitrons, Melons, Sugar-canes, and like Fruit j as alfo
Aloes which it hath with an emphafis, as calfd in Syain, Semper-vivum & fangms Draco-
mm, a fmall Tree which being cut, fweats out the red Gum it has to fpare for ftrangers
Civet Cats alfo, which inrichthe owners, though fold at eafie prices. The Inhabitants
are a mixture of Chriftians and Mahometans* their complexions black, the Sun twice
every year darting his fiery Rays perpendicularly amongfl; them, and then no place is
hotter in the World; their natures be reafonably civil. 2000. years ago the Greeks
planted