Purchas his pilgrimes. part 1 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

[ 20]

§. I. Their comming to Saint Augustine, Mohelia, and diuers parts of Arabia.

THe seuenth of Ianuarie we set saile from Grauesend for the East-India, in the good ship, the Expedition of London, being about the burthen of two hundred and sixtie tunnes · which carryeth in her fiftie sixe persons, besides the Persian Ambassa∣dour and his followers, who aue in number fifteene, which we had order to re∣ceiue into our ship, to be transported in••o the K••ngdome of Persia, at the costs [ 30] and charges of the Wor••hipfull Company aforesaid. The names of the Am∣bassadour, and his people, are these. Sir Robert Sherley, the Ambassadour. Teresha, his Ladie, a Circasian. Sir Thomas Powell. Tomasin his Ladie. Leylye, a Persian Woman. Morgan Powell, Gentleman. Captaine Iohn Ward. Francis Bubb, Secretarie. Iohn Barbar, Apothecarie. Iohn Herriot, Musitioner. Iohn Georgson, Goldsmith and Hollander. Gabriel, an olde Armenian. Nazerbege, Scanderbege, Molhter, all Persians.

The sixe and twentieth of Aprill, 1613. in the morning, wee fell with a part of the land of Aethiopia, whereunto, close adioyning, is an Iland of small compasse, called Connie Iland, beeing a very low land,* 1.1 and inuironed about with many dangerous Rockes, to Sea-ward: and standeth in the latitude of thirtie three degrees, and thirtie minutes. The wind taking vs short, we were inforced to come to an anchor betwixt this Iland and the Maine: where wee had very good [ 40] ground in nineteen or twentie fathom water. Here we sent our Schiffe ashore to the Iland, where we found Penguins, wild Geese, and other Fowles, & Seale-fishes in great abundance, whereof we tooke for our refreshing, as much as we would. By a carued boord, wee perceiued the Hollanders had beene there, who made great store of the ••raine Oyle of the Seales, as it should seeme, for their necessary spending, outward bound. They left their Implements wherewith they wrought, and a grea•• Copper Caldron, standing vpon a Furnace, full of traine: all which wee left as wee found. Thus hauing spent two dayes at an anchor, and the wind fauouring vs to proceed, we set saile from hence for Caput Bonae Spei.

The thirtieth day, by Gods grace, we arriued at Saldanha, where wee found riding at an an∣chor [ 50] sixe ships,* 1.2 whereof two English, namely, the Hector and the Thomas, the other foure were Hollanders: all bound homeward. Here we watered and refreshed our selues very well, with reasonable store of that Countrey sheepe, and Bullockes, which we bought; and fresh fish which we caught with our Sayne.

The tenth of May, 1613. the Pepper-corne arriued heere at Saldanha, also bound homewards. Shee hauing beene long out, was not very well fitted with necessaries, which wee supplyed out of our small store, so much as we could spare: who also dispatched and was readie to set saile with the first faire wind, which was, on the fifteenth of May, from whence we set saile all to∣gether, out of the Bay, taking our leaue each of other, according to the common fashion of the Sea,* 1.3 directing our course for Saint Augustine. And in our way we had sight of Cape do Arecife, [ 60] being part of the mayne land of Aethiopia; and standeth in the latitude of thirtie three degrees twentie fiue minutes, the Compasse varying there sixe degrees and nine minutes, which was on the foure and twentieth of this present.

The fifteenth of Iune, we had sight of Saint Laurence Iland, and on the seuenteenth day, we

came to an anchor, by Port Augustine of purpose, to search the sounding and way into the Bay, before we entred; because there was none in our ship well acquainted therewith.* 1.4 Which be∣ing done, wee entred and came to an anchor, on the eighteenth day in ten fathome water: but our ship roade in fortie fathomes. Heere we had wood and water, and great abundance of fresh fish, which we tooke with our Sayne, sufficient to haue satisfied halfe a doozen ships men, if they had beene there. But for flesh, we could get none of the Countrey people, they being as it seemed, fearefull of vs, who came to vs once, and promised to bring vs Cattell, the next day in the morning: which, I thinke, was rather in policie to carrie away their Cattell, wherein they imployed themselues in the meane time, for they neuer returned to vs againe. We marched [ 10] vp into the Woods, with about fortie shot, to see if we would haue met with any of them, to buy some of their Cattell: but wee found none but emptie houses made of Canes,* 1.5 where wee perceiued that people had beene not long before, by the fires which were yet burning, and scales of fish which had beene broyled thereon. Also we perceiued the footing, and tracing of many Cattell, which had beene there not long before: so wee returned emptie as wee came. This Port Augustine, standeth in the latitude of twentie three degrees and thirtie minutes. The va∣riation of the Compasse is fifteene degrees fortie minutes.* 1.6

The entrance into this Port resembleth Dartmouth, and to goe in there, you must bring that which is called Westminster-Hall, being not vnlike, North-east by East off you, and so steere in due East, borrowing a little to the South-side of the Bay, where you shall haue sounding thir∣teene, [ 20] nine, eight, and seuen fathomes water, good ground, till you bee shut within the shoale: and then you haue deepe water, vntill you come to the Road, and then you haue seuen, eight, and ten fathomes water. But if you goe in too farre behind the hill on your larboord side (which resembleth an old Barne) then you shall haue thirtie fiue or fortie fathomes. From hence wee set saile, on the three and twentieth of this present, directing our course for the Iland of Mohelia.

The third of Iuly 1613. we had sight of an Iland called Iuan, being to the East-ward of Mohe∣lia some nine or ten leagues, and beareth from it East and by South. Also this day we came to an anchor at Mohelia, betwixt broken land (which lyeth on the Souther side) and the Iland.* 1.7 Here we had great store of refreshing and very cheape, for we bought fiue Bullockes in trucke of [ 30] one Leuant Sword: also we bought Goates, Hennes, Pines, Cocker Nuts, Plantanes, Oranges, Limons, and Limes, for Trifles or little Money. One Riall of Plate we paid for a Bullocke, or else ten pieces of foure pence halfe-penie, and so we bought about fortie one head of Cattle, be∣sides other refreshing aforesaid.

The fifth, the Inhabitants of this Iland, are chiefly Moores: but there are Arabians, Turkes and other Nations amongst them, and are in Warre with the people of Iuan, and Comora Ilands neere adioyning. They told vs that the King of Mohelia dyed the same day, that we came into the Roade: and Phanehomale his sonne succeeded in his place, being as yet but of tender yeeres, was to raigne vnder protection of his Mother Queene. His Brother-in-law came downe (as chiefe man accompanyed with diuers other men of sort) to speake with vs, who bad vs very [ 40] kindly welcome.* 1.8 Both he and many other of the same Iland do speake reasonable good Portuguse Language, by reason whereof I had great conference with them, and was resolued in any thing I demanded.

They build Barkes vpon this Iland, and trade with them, alongst the Coast of Melinde, and Arabia, with slaues and fruits, whereby they furnish themselues with Royals of Plate, and o∣ther necessaries. Also I thinke, they haue some Trade with the Portugals, but they will not bee a knowne thereof, because we should not suspect any treacherous dealings amongst them. They told vs, that we were very welcome, and that the whole Iland was at our command: but if we had beene Portugals, they told mee, that they would haue put vs all euery man to the Sword. But howsoeuer, I hold it not good to repose too much confidence in them. The Kings Brother [ 50] shewed me a Letter of commendations of the place, left there by an Hollander, which was writ∣ten in Dutch: and withall desired vs to leaue another to the same effect, thereby to specifie their honest and kind dealings towards vs, and to shew it vnto others of our Nation, which should come thither after vs: to which we consented, and I made them a Writing accordingly, which was sealed by the Captaine of our ship, expressing therein our good entertainment, and the pri∣ces of victuals. But neuerthelesse, with such a Prouiso, that our Nation should not trust them any further then in their discretions they should thinke requisite for their owne safeties. They speake a kind of Morisco Language, which is somewhat difficult to learne, and our c••ntinuance there short: so that I only tooke notice of these few words following, which are sufficient to call for victuals and fruits, when Portuguse Language is wanting; and to speake to any of the [ 60] Countrey people, who vnderstand not the Portuguse. viz.

Gumbey, a Bull••cke. Buze, a Goat. Coquo, an Henne. Tudah, Oranges. Demon, Limons. Mage, Water. Surra, a kind of Drinke. Quename, a Pine. Seiauoye, Cocker Nuts. Figo, Plan∣tans. Cartassa, Paper. Sinzano, a Needle. Arembo, Bracelets. Soutan, the King.

This Iland standeth in the latitude of twelue degrees ten minutes,* 1.9 and in the Road is good

ground in forty fathomes water. From hence we set sa••le on the tenth day (hauing watered, and refreshed our selues very sufficiently, God be thanked) directing our course for the Iland of So∣catora.

The nineteenth, we passed vnder the Equinoctiall line: and on the twentie fifth day, wee had sight of land, which we supposed to haue been Cape Guardafuy, which lieth at the entrance of the Red Sea: and so thinking to steere for Socotora, found it not. Whereupon we were inforced to bethinke our selues, where to goe that wee might shelter our selues from the cruelty of the Winter in those parts, and also to refresh vs againe. So we determined to saile for the Ilands of Curia Muria, the bodies whereof lie in the latitude of about eighteene degrees to the North∣ward of the Equinoctiall,* 1.10 ouer against the wast of Arabia Foelix. In our way, we neuer had other [ 10] weather then fogges, which were so thicke, that we could not discry halfe an English mile be∣fore vs (being a thing vsuall euery yeare in Iuly, August, and part of September.) In all this time, both the Sunne and the Starres were so obscured, that we could not helpe our selues any way by obseruation: but God being our guide, at length we groaped out the land by our lead, well per∣ceiuing the colour of the water to be changed white, and many yellow grassy weeds swimming thereon; we sounding still as we sailed, and our first ground was fortie three fathomes. So as we neered the land, our sounding lessened to twenty two fathomes, where we anchored in very good ground, but could see no land (although we heard the rut of the shoare not to be farre off) vn∣till the next day, which was somewhat cleare weather. And then we sent our Skiffe ashoare, to see if they could discouer a place of more securitie for our ship to ride in: but by reason of the [ 20] great Seas which came rowling into the Bay, there went so great a seidge that they could not come neere the shoare, and therefore returned as they went: onely they had descried a situation of faire houses, built of stone, hard by the Sea side, which prooued to be the Cit••e of Doffar in A∣rabia Foelix.* 1.11 When God had sent vs a little clea•••• weather, we perceiued an high Cape land, on the Wester side of the Bay, the which we discouered with our Skiffe (at the second time of her going) to be a very good road for all winds, except from East to the South by East (God make vs thankfull) for thither we warped in our ship, although with much toyle of our men, beeing distant sixe or seuen leagues from the place where we were.

* 1.12The third of August, we came to an anchor in the said roade, and went ashoare with our Skiffe at a little Village, called Resoit, standing close by the Sea side. The Inhabitants thereof are Ara∣bians, [ 30] and for the most part fishermen, who gaue vs very kind intertainment, and told vs all con∣cerning the Countrey, that we desired. Also the chiefe Gouernour of Doffar came downe to vs (whose name is Meir hahamud Madoffar) and bade vs very kindly welcome, and presented vs with three Bullocks, Sheepe, Goates, Sugarcanes, Hennes, Plantans, and Coco-ntus, and such like. For requitall whereof, we presented him againe, with a fine piece of Damaske double lockt, which was greatly by him esteemed: he desiring our friendship as much, as we desired his, and gaue vs licence forthwith to come ashoare when we would. Also he gaue order to haue a Market kept at this little Village of Resoit, purposely for vs to buy any kind of victualls which the Countrey did affoard. Their catt••ll are both deare and leane, and their fresh water is very scarce and bad, and very hard to come by: so that we were inforced to hire people to bring it downe to the sea [ 40] side in skinnes, paying therefore twenty foure shillings sterling, for euery fiue pipes filling. Be∣fore our departure from hence, Meir hahamud Madoffar desired vs to leaue a writing of commen∣dations in his behalfe, specifying the good and kind entertainment we had receiued there; which was graunted: and I made it in parchment, begun with great letters, the effect whereof beeing correspondent to the other writing, before left at Mohelia, also signed by the Captaine. And the Gouernour sent vs three notes, by him signed, to the end we might send them in seuerall ships, if they should happen to come vpon that coast (as we did perforce) whereby he might know our ships from others, and to giue them intertainment accordingly. This Cape Resoit standeth in the latitude of sixteene degrees,* 1.13 and thirty eight minutes, to the Northward of the Equinoctial line, and is good anchorage, in fiue and an halfe or sixe fathomes water. [ 50]

The eight and twentieth, we set saile from hence, directing our course for the coast of Persia. still coasting alongst the Arabian shoare: for there were our cheifest hopes fixed, in setting the Lord Embassadour ashoare. By reason of the * 1.14 newes, and aduises wee heard and receiued at the Cape Bona Esperanza, our expectations were frustrated, both of Surat, Dabull, and all other parts thereabouts.

The second of September, we sailed close by an Iland, lying alongst the Arabian shoare called Macyra, the body of which standeth in twentie degrees thirtie minutes, North latitude, the variation of the Needle being twenty degrees tenne minutes.

The fourth day, we passed the Eastermost part of the Arabian land, called Cape Rasalgat, standing in the latitude of twenty two degrees, and thirty foure minutes, and nineteene degrees [ 60] twenty minutes variation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Connie Iland.
• * 1.2

  The Bay of Saldanha.
• * 1.3

  Cape do Arecife. Variation sixe deg. nine min.
• * 1.4

  Port de S. Au∣gustine.
• * 1.5

  Houses made of Canes.
• * 1.6

  Fifteene degr. 40. minutes variation.
• * 1.7

  Mohelia Iland neere vnto Co∣moro.

  Great store of refreshing.
• * 1.8

  The largenesse of the Portugal Tongue.
• * 1.9

  Mohelia in 12. deg. 10. min.
• * 1.10

  The Ilands of Curia Muria.
• * 1.11

  Doffar a Citie on the Coast of Arabia.
• * 1.12

  August. 3. Resoit a small Village.
• * 1.13

  Sixteene de∣grees, thirtie eight min.
• * 1.14

  For Captain Hawkins com∣ming away in distast, and de∣nied trade, the English wron∣ged by the Mo∣gol in often breaking pro∣mise (as before is shewed) for∣ced ••rade at the Red Sea on his Subiects: which after (least the Sea and Merchandizing should be shut vp to them) procured the Priuiledges obtained by Captaine Best, especially seeing the English able to withstand the Portugals, whose sea-forces held the Guzerats in Marine subiection, and made them afraid of trading with Englishmen. The Ile de Macyra, in 20. degr. 10. min. variation. Cape 〈◊〉〈◊〉.