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2. SOCOTARA, the greatest Iland of these Shores, is situate, as before was said, against Cape Guar∣dafu, from which distant about 30 leagues; Abadalenry a small Iland lying in the middest, that is to say, 15 leagues from the Cape, and 14 from the Iland. The length here of 60 miles, 25 the breadth;
divided in the middle by craggy Mountains of great height, the top of which are for the most part covered with sands. The Iland extremely vexed with winds and molested with dryness, insomuch as it is destitute of most things necessary for the life of man; affording nothing towards it of the growth of the Earth, but some small quantity of Mill, Dates, and some kind of Fruits. Provided notwith∣standing of some good Pastures for the breed of Cattel, and liberally furnished with medicinal Drugs, as Cinnabar, Dragons blood, which is a Red gum issuing from the bark of a tree; and the best Aloes in the world, from hence called Aloes Socotrina.
The People of an Ash-colour, very rude and barbarous; their bread for the most part of Dates, the rest of their food being milk and butter; their hair long, and their clothing only enough to hide their nakedness. The Women as good Soldiers as the Men; countenancing or occasioning the tradi∣tion of the Arabians, that they came from the Amazons: And the better Husbands of the two, go∣verning all affairs both within and without. All of them by profession Christians, governed by a Bishop of their own, with some few Priests, but ignorant enough of all things which concern Religion. More generally Circumcised then Christened, though both used among them. Jacobites in Sect, as the Abassines their neighbours are; and zealous worshippers of the Cross, which they alwayes hang about their necks. So pertinaciously addicted unto Magick, and therein so expert, that they bring incredible things to pass: not to be weaned from those black Arts, though the Bishop excommuni∣cate all such as use them. They hold opinion that S. Thomas suffered shipwrack upon their Coasts, as he sailed towards India; and that his Ship being drawn to land, was turned into a Church: but it appeareth neither by their life or doctrines, that any Apostolical man hath set foot a∣mongst them.
They live for the most part in Caves, or Cabbins of no other stuffe then the boughs of trees; so that we are to look for few Towns among them. The principal, 1 Zocotara, giving name to the Iland, the place of the Kings residence, and a Bishops See. 2 Tamarind, and 3 Delisha, two Port-towns, and reasonably well traded, in the hands of the Natives: as 4 Coro, and 5 Benin, two other Ports, possessed and garrison'd by the Portugals. The King hereof a Vassal to the King of Fartac, one of the petit Princes of Arabia Felix, not far from Aden; in habit and Religion Turkish: At∣tended on when the Relater was there, An. 1614. by five Camels and five Horses only, yet those all in the Iland.
Nigh hereunto are two Islands, (those possibly which Ptolomie calleth Monan) the one inhabi∣ted by men only, and the other by women; who do meet at their accustomed times to preserve their kind, but make no long stay, the Air of the one being found unhealthy for the constitution of the other Sex. The other Ilands of these Coasts, scattered up and down in the Bay of Barbaria, (but not known by any name in the time of Ptolomie) as 1 Don Garcia, 2 the three Brethren, 3 S. Brandon, 4 Francis, 5 Mascadenna, 6 Comoro, and many others of as small note, are not worth the speaking of.