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CHAP. XXXII.
SVACHEN, on the red Sea, and the trade thereof.
SVACHEN is one of the richest Cities of the Orient, * 1.1 scituated within the Arabique Gulfe in the coast of Ethiopia sub Aegypto, and amongst all the famous Ci∣ties of trade in the Orient; this is accounted equall, if not superior to them in foure things; the first in * 1.2 •…•…he goodnesse and securitie of the Haven; the second in the faci∣•…•…tie and good service for lading and unlading of shippes; the third •…•…n the traffique with very strange and remote people and Coun∣•…•…ries, and of divers behaviours; the fourch in the strength and •…•…cituation of the Citie; as for the goodnesse and securitie of the Port, Nature hath so made it, that it is defended from all stormes whatsoever; the Haven is capacious and large, of smooth tydes, the ground good, and able in circuit to hold 300 great saile of burthen, with water at all times, from six to twelve fadome; the Shippes are laden round about the whole circumference of the Citie, casting onely a planke into the Merchants ware-houses where their wares are kept; and the Gallies fastning themselves to the stones and doores of their houses, set their prowes over the streets, and by them as by bridges they are commodiously laden or unladen; and secondly, as touching the traffique and na∣vigation thereof, few Cities can in these parts be compared with •…•…t, for this Citie is found to have traffique with all India intra and extra Gangem, that is, Cambaia, Tanacerim, Pegu, Mallacca, and with the Arabique, with Iudea Cairo and Alexandria, as I said a∣bove, and with all Ethiopia and the land of Abexi; from whence •…•…t gathereth great abundance of gold and Ivorie: thirdly, for the •…•…cituation of it, for it is such as if nature had framed it purposely for a Royall Mart, for it is an Iland round in forme, incompassed with many sholds and flats, for defence of the Port and the Citie, occupying and taking up the whole bodie of the Iland, so that it may as properly be termed an Iland of a Citie, as a Citie in an I∣land; for there is no one foote of wast ground upon the whole I∣land, but is imployed in housing and Magazins: the manner of trade here, as farre as I have gathered is thus:
It is now the principall port Towne in these Seas belonging to Prester Iean, from whose Court called Dombia, it is twenty-five dayes journey by Caravan, and the concourse of Merchants are here so great, that twenty caravans are yearly found to set out hence towards severall parts of the neighbouring Regions.