"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" [‎٢‎٥‎٣] (٥٠٨/٢٧٤)

1
Into the EAST-INDIES. 253
allW
ry of the Covent very fumpcuoully : and with a great concourfe
of Chriftians both Europeans and Orientals of feveral Nations,
he celebrated the dedication of the faid Churchj intitling it
NoJtraSignorade 'i remcdii: The evening before, he had caufed
many Bone-fires to be made, all the Portugal Soldiers contribu
ting to the joy with many volleys of Arquebuffes. Moreover,
to honour the faid Father, the Bafha fent about five hundred
Moorifti Soldiers to the Covent to do the like, and caus'd many
great Pieces to be (hot off at the Caftle, fo that the Feaft was
celebrated generally by the whole City, both Chriftians and
Moors, with great concourfe and applaufe. The next night,the
Baftia himfelf with all his Court went to fee the Church and the
Covent 'where alfo at his departure he left an Alms, the Fa
ther receiv'd him with all due honour, and gave him a fumptu-
ous Banquet 5 with which, both as to the manner and ceremo
nies according to the fathion of the Country, both the Baftia and
all the reft were much fatisfiU The General of the Tortugals, /
with all the Captains of Ships, and moft principal Perfons of the
Fleet, and (in ftiorO all the Europeans then in Bajjbra^ were
prefent at this entertainment: only I, by reafon of an indifpofi-
tion, had the difpieafure to be abfent. Mafs was fung by the F.
Prior of the Augujiines, who affifted all the day to honour the
feaft-, and the F. Provincial of Maniglta, who was a Paifenger
with us, preacht. The fame day there came^to to the
Baftia a Ctyigi bomthe Serdarox V'ezir of ConfiantinofU newly
created (whole Predeceflor was faid to have been put to death
by the Great Turk for having us'd little diligence in the affairs of
Baghdad.) The faid Capigi brought the Baftia a Robe or Veft-
ment (as their cuftom is) as a Prefent from the Fez,ir, and news
that the Turkifti Army was already moving towards Baghdad,
and was very near it, having re-taken JMonJul &ud. Kierkuc, which \
are open places, and expos'd to the force of any Attempter. But
that thisfhould happen fo foon, to me feem'd very ftrange, espe
cially, if the new Serdar was lent from Conjtafitwofle the lame
year, as he could not be before May or ApriLat the fooneft j and
being of neceffity topafsby Aleppo, and get together not only
much provifion, but alfo Soldiers from very remote Countries,
and wait for them (befides 5 providing grafs and hay for the
as every year they are wont to do in May) it was not poluble
that he ftiould be fo foward by this time. Confidering too, that
in all the Expeditions of late years, it hath been feen that the
Turkifti Army never arrives at the Confines of Perfia the fame
year that it is difpatch 't from ConliafttinoplejDUt muft always win
ter the firft year either at Aleppo^ov 'wiMefopotawia^ov^t moftjwhen
it is neareft in Erzirna-jhe. fecond year it arrives at the confines of
Verim to make War 5 yea it oftentimes arrives there fo late in the
year, and fo near Winter, that it fcarce do's any thing. Now that
this new^er^rwas difpatcht from Conjiantinopk the fame yew>
and not the preceding,feem'd credible,becaufe 1 never^heard 01 his
- wmtnng