'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.' [‎35] (56/448)

S ocotora. <iA
planted this place, u Geop-apkNuh. fay true, for he reports (by what authority I know
not) th&t Alexander the Great returning by Sea from made this his way to Bah
Ion, and being here met by Ariftoth, according to his Mafters advice planted a Coloiw
of Greeks there i who afterwards, fome fay by the preaching of Saint 7W the
Apoftle of the Orient, others fay Bartholomew, and fome the men-
noned m the 8. and 27. of the Jch of the the third year after our Saviours
death, were converted unto the Chriltian Profeffion; and how dubious foever the Con
vertor be, that they were Chriftians is evident in Ecclefiaftick ftories, albeit infeded
with the Errours of the iW/.W and Jacobs, which laft nfedboth Circumcifion and
Baptifm : Iheir Churches exprefs no lefs^ being built in the form of a Crofs; a Patri
arch or Pnmas they had till of late there refident •, and other Clergy whom thev reve-
rence, to whom they chearMy pay their Tythes, by whom they are inftruded in the
Worflup of God, and how to obferve both Fafts and Feftivals *, Elders fhev highly re
gard •, humility is both commanded and commended. Second Marriages (except where
Ilfue is wanting) they approve not of*, in Baptifm they ufe the Sign of the Crofs, par-
take of both Sacraments^ the Dead they wafh, and being wound in clean Linen burv
with their heads towards Jemfalem, Cufum-barrec call'd here, but exprefs little mourn
ing. Of late years they were fubjeded by Emir-ben [aid King or rather Governour of
Fmatjue, but expulft by D' Cugea the Vortugal^ whofe Fire-locks made the Snake e (fo is
the Prince ftil d) flye to Caejhem, where at a fafe diftance he durft hifs at the Vidor ;
who in the hrlt place reftored the Chriftians their liberty both of body and confcience;
and then by their help built a Caftle for defence, and planted a Colony : but about
five years alter Albuquerque the Admiral fleightedit, pretending that the Merchandife
of the place proved not equivalent to the Charge incumbent, which reduced the
poor indefennve Natives to frefh thraldom. John de Cajiro for many days found it
[high water here at the Moons riling, and as the Moon afcended the tide decreaft • fo
as it was low water when the Moon was higheft, contrary to what we obferve in moll
other places.
Men, a Town upon the Arabian Continent (from whofe Cabobarra Socotora may be
leen) has 12 degrees 35 minutes North latitude, the variation is 19 degrees Weft - of
oid known by the name of Madena, of Madoca to John de Caftro, called Adana by Ca-
Ujius, Adedt and Achanv by Eupolemus: not unlike to be that Eden which is enumera
ted with other Arabian Cities in Ez.ek, 27. 23. oppofite to Azana, firft forcibly taken
by Lopez. Suartm a Portuguife, and after fnatcht by the Turks out of the Arabian power
Amo Domm 1458. commanded by Solyman Bajfa and a Regiment of obfcure people,
who like Locufts about that time fwarmed thither out of Trepiwnd. This, though it be
a much frequented Road, .is none of thebefl, for atthechange it flowsnot above 8. foot
Water, where a South-Eaft and North-Weft Moon make a full Sea i from Babmandel
(which Ptol. lib. .]., cap. 1. and Arrian in Periylo call Diodori infula, though I rather take
Socotora to be it) is diftant 18 leagues*, from Mocho which fome call Moha, others
Mojcha, 32. ATownlow inits fcituation and fulphureoufly lhadedby the high and bar
ren Mountain Cabobarra, whofe Brazen front fo fcorches this miferable place, that it
gives a lively charader or reprefentation of Turkifh bafenefs; the Sea fo circles there
that it becomes a Cherfonefs, and as it were for breath thrufts its head a good way into
the blufhin^ Sea •, the circuit of the Town is large enough, but fparingly built ^ thofe that
are, by their outfides difcovering an inward difcontent of outward flavery •, fo as 'tis
much changed fitice thofe were there who gave Oforim and Munfter occafion to blaze it
tor a City of great commerce and magnificence : Of moft note is the Caftle built near
the Sea to command the Road, which is ftrong in its fcituation, but more by thofe many
Pieces of Cannon planted upon the Bulwarks, having withal a large Graft and Counter-
icarp, not to be entred fave by a long and narrow Path i fo as one would think it pre
pared to fafeguard the whole Treafure of Arabia, whereas within are only ftore of Iron
.lets. Arms, and a Company of miferable raggamuffians who both fecure the Turkifh
intereft in that place, and extort Contribution from all that South part of Ajaman. Never
confidenng that Goldexaded by tyranny, becomes lefs valuable than Iron ^ for as one
obierves, being wet with the juft owners Tears it rufts and is accurfed.
Being now in the Red-fea', by the colour it bears, the greater credit may be given to
ole who lay the name was miftaken, for it is verbum aquhocum^ and albeit 'tis true,
tnat as it is called Mare I dime urn or the Sea of Edom, and Mare Erythreum, the Septuaaint
nugju warrantably tranflate it Rubrum or Red', yet 'tis likely the Sea rather took
is denomination from the Country of Edom upon which it verges, or from King Eru-
threw, both which fignifie Red: A King, whofe Tomb, albeit ereded at the other end
F 2 * of