"رحلات السيد بيترو ديلا فالي، وهو نبيل روماني، إلى الهند الشرقية وصحراء الجزيرة العربية. وفيها يصف بدقة البلدان المختلفة، وكذلك العادات، الأعراف، التجارة، الطقوس الدينية والمدنية، لهؤلاء الأمراء وتلك الأمم الشرقية: في رسائل وديّة إلى صديقه السيد ماريو سكيبانو. وتم إضافة سرد عن رحلة السير توماس رو إلى جزر الهند الشرقية" [‎٢‎٣‎٠] (٥٠٨/٢٥١)

The Travels Peter Delia Valle,
almoft Nortbweft ^ having firfV rehears'd the Litanies of our La-
dy 3 and invok'd the Divine Affifl:ance 5 and her'Sj propitious to
our Voyage.
December the twenty third^aving hithertofail'd prorperouOy,
we came to the altitude of twenty three degrees and a half, un
der the Tropick of Cancer> leaving the Torrid Zone, under
which I had been travelling in fundry parts for about a year and
ten Months. Here the wind fail'd us, and we had as quiet a Sea
as ufes to be at the ftiores of Italy in the Month of Augufi. We
began to find the Sky 3 which hitherto we had feen conftantly
cleatj ("as it ufes to be in India during thefe Months) now inter-
ftinguifh 'd with clouds: and 5 in fbort 5 the mutation of the Climate
was manifeft. The Coaft of Arabia^ for which we were bound,
could not be far off 5 but we could not get to difcover it for want
of wind.
December the twenty feventh. Having hitherto b^en becalm'd,
without advancing but rather being driven backwards, by the
contrary current of the water 5 the Portugah, as their cuftom
is 5 after reciting the Litanies, and praying to God, and Sant 1
Antpnio of Padua, (to whom they bear great devotion) to ^ive
us a good windj intended to bind a little Image of the faid S.
Anthony which they carry'd in the Ship, as if to imprifon it: for
thus they ufe to do, when they would obtain any favour^ as if
rhey meant to force it,threatning not to loofe it till he grant them
what they demand. They intended, I fay, to bind S. Anthony
that he might give us a good wind 5 but forbore to do it upon the
Pilot's infVance,who pafs'd his word for theSaint,telling them that
he was io honeft that without being bound w captivated, he
would do what they defir'd. This manner of demanding of fa
vours of S. Antonio of Paduajs much in ufe amongfl: the Porta-
gals, efpecially the meaner fort of ignorant and fuperftidous
Mariners 5 though amongft us 'tis a vain thing. A barbarous Su-
perftition indeed 5 but yet fuch asfometimes, through the faith
and fimplicity of thofe that pradife it, ufes to be heard.
December the twenty eighth. We had a wind fufiiciently brisk
and impetuous, yet not only not favourable but altogether con
trary 5 lo that we could neither bear up againft it, nor yet cafi:
anchor becaufe we were in the main Sea, which growing rough
and tempeftuous, we were forc't to furl our fails, and fuffer the
^nip to be driven whither the wind pleas'd, which was South
wards, not without fear falling upon Mombaza, or fome other
remote Coaft of Africk^ and confequently fuffering fhipwrack,
andathoufandotherDyfafters.
December the twenty ninth. The Captain, with the others of
^ ^ u ' l ^ ^ ^ length to bind S. Anthony, and as chance
would have it, it prov'd well > for the wind chang'd, and we
lail d prolperoufly in our right courfe all day, and part of the
mgnt. A little before mid-night we difcover'd the Coaft of A-
r 10 neer that we caft anchor in hafte for fear of the Shallows
which