Purchas his pilgrimes. part 2 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.

§. III.

Mountaines of Sand on the Coasts of Dradate, Doroo, Fuxaa, Arequea, Farate, Quilfit and Igidid.

THE eleuenth, the Winde was at North, and it blew so hard that it was a storme, it raised along the Sea Coasts great Mountaines of Sand toward heauen, and after they [ 40] were very high it brake them, and the ayre remained as though it were a great mist or smoake; all this day we lay at an Anchor.

The twelfth, we went out of this Channell, two leagues beyond Suaquen, and being without we set saile, and being about a league and a halfe from the Coast, we met so many Rocks, Shoalds * 1.1 and Flats, whereon the Sea did breake very much, that wee were forced to take in our Sayles, and to row the space of three houres, till we were free from these Shoalds, and presently we set sayle againe. At Euen, we came to an Anchor within the Banke, entring a very narrow Chan∣nell, this Channell is one league beyond the other whence we parted, & three from Suaquen, it is great and spacious within, the ground is very cleane, there can no Sea come in nor doe any hurt.

The thirteenth, we went an houre before day out of the Channell, and to the Sea of vs about [ 50] a Canon shot, we saw a very long ranke of Shoalds breake, which seemed to beare the same course that the Coast. At eleuen of the clock, the wind scanted and blew from the North North-west, for the which not being able to make any way, we were forced to fasten our selues to the Rockes of the Shoalds, and being here about three houres, at two of the clocke afternoone we set sayle, the wind was very much fresher, and about North North-east, we sayled North-west, and when we were with the banke of the Land, we tooke in the Sayle, and rowing, we entred a Channell, and well within the banke we harboured. This Channell and place is from Suaquen about seuen leagues, the Channell is very narrow, and windeth in many Crookes, the Coast from Suaquen hither, stretcheth North and South, and North & by West, and South and by East. * 1.2

The fifteenth, I went a shoare, and obseruing the order of the flowing and ebbing of the Sea, [ 60] I found that after the morning was ouer the Horizon, two houres it was full Sea, and thence it began to ebbe till two houres afternoone, at which time it was dead low water, and presently it began to flow till the Moone was set, and two houres after: Now measuring the quantitie, the tide did arise, I found two and twentie cubits. * 1.3

The sixteenth, we went out of this Channell, that is seuen leagues from Suaquen, the winde was at North, halfe a league at Sea we cast Anchor. The seuenteenth, wee entred into a very good harbour, called Dradate: the Coast from the Port of Suaquen vnto Dradate, lieth North and by West, and South and by East: It is distant ten leagues, the Land ouer the Sea is all very low, and three leagues within the Maine, are great and high Mountaines.

The Port of Tradate, with great reason ought to bee placed among the great and famous Ports, it hath eleuation of the Pole, nineteene degrees fiue sixth parts, and is beyond Suaquen ten leagues. The mouth and entry hath in bredth, about a small Faulcon shot, and entring with∣in, presently it beginneth to narrow, and close more and more, but in all his length, the depth of water is twentie fathome, the ground is mud. About a quarter of a league within the Land, [ 10] there is a great watering place of Wels, where is the best and greatest quantitie of water, that * 1.4 is knowne in all these Coasts.

The nineteenth, the Sunne being vp, we set sayle: we iournyed this day about three leagues and a halfe at Sea off vs wee saw many Shoalds, the Coast stretched these three leagues and a halfe North and South. The twentieth, at Sunne rising the wind blew at North, and troubled the Sea: wherefore we were forced to seeke harbour within the Shoald, entring by a very narrow and troublesome Channell: after wee were within, the wind came North North-east, we lay all day at an Anchor. The one and twentieth, we went out of the Shoald, the wind was West North-west faire weather, we sayled to the North, distant from the Land about halfe a league: an houre after Sunne rising, we were with a very long and faire point, which Ptolomie [ 20] calleth the Promontorie of Diogenes.

Doroo, is a very great and faire Bay, it is fifteene leagues beyond Suaquen, and a halfe: this * 1.5 Bay on the South side thrusteth a verie large and bare point into the Sea, where there is built a great and round Turret in manner of a Pillar, Ptolomie calleth this Point, the Promontorie of Diogenes. Through this Channell, presently at the entrie, there is sixe fathome Water, and * 1.6 from hence it goeth diminishing till it come to three, and thence doth not descend; the ground is a verie hard Clay, the Bay is so great, and maketh so many Creekes and Nookes, and within it lye so many Ilands, and the firme Land is cut with so many Creekes, which doe penetrate so farre into the Land, that in euery place there may be many Vessels hidden, without any no∣tice of them. A quarter of a league to the Sea of this Bay, there lyeth a Shoald that doth gird [ 30] and compasse it in such sort at the mouth thereof, that no Sea can come into it, because it is al∣waies aboue water, without hauing any entrance, except the mouth which aboue I haue rehear∣sed. This entry or mouth stretcheth East and by North, and West and by South. A Cannon * 1.7 shot from this Bay, is a Well, of great quantitie of water, but it is very brackish and salt. The two and twentieth, when it was day, wee departed, and made our way Rowing, the Sea see∣med to be very full of Rockes, and getting free of some, we encountred with others; halfe an houre past ten of the clocke, we made vs fast to the stones of them. About Euensong time, we were with the Land, and hauing doubled a low point, we entred into a very great Bay, which is called Fuxaa, there is betweene Doroo and Fuxaa three leagues and a halfe, the Coast stretch∣eth North and South, and seemeth to take something of North-West and South-East. The Bay * 1.8 [ 40] of Fuxaa, is made Noble or famous, by a verie high and sharpe Pike, and in it the Pole of the North doth rise twentie degrees and a quarter. In the entry and mouth of this Bay, there are two verie low points: they lye North and by East, and South and by West, the distance is one league and a halfe. No great Sea doth enter heere, and for this cause heere is a good harbour, where there is ten and twelue fathome water, and the ground is mud, euery where else it dimi∣nisheth, till it come to fiue fathome. Along the Land of the Bay that goeth on the South side, there lyeth nine little Ilands on a row, and in other places are some other scattered, all of * 1.9 them are small, low, and compassed with Shoalds: In this Bay there is not any water, the Land is verie dry and barren.

The fiue and twentieth, wee iournyed along the Coast to the Sea off vs, about a league wee * 1.10 [ 50] saw many Rockes: at ten of the clocke we entred into an harbour, verie great, which is called Arequea. There is betweene the Bay of Fuxaa and this Hauen foure leagues, the Coast run∣neth North and South, and taketh something of the North-west and South-east. Arequea is the strongest and most defenceable Hauen that hitherto I haue seene, it is beyond Suaquen two and twentie leagues. In old time it was called Dioscori, as wee may see in Ptolomie; in the midst of the entry and mouth of this Port, lyeth a great Iland, which hath in length about a Crosse-bow shot, and almost as much in breadth, and there runneth from it to the firme Land, on the South side a Shoald and a Banke, that ioyneth with the Land, in such sort, that not any thing can passe ouer it: but from the same Iland to the Land on the North side, which is a∣bout a Crosse-bow shot distance, there goeth a Channell-that hath fifteene fathome water, it [ 60] runneth North-west and South-east, and both neere the Land, and neere the Iland it is verie shallow and full of Rockes, so that the way lyeth in the very midst; the Chaneell hath in length about a Caliuer shot, and presently the Coasts on euery side winding, doe make within

a great and very faire Hauen, in which there is no feare of danger. This Port hath in length a∣bout one league, and halfe in breadth, it is deep in the midst, and neere the Land full of Shoalds, there is no water in it. The token we haue to know when we are as farre as it, is, that the Pike abouesaid remaineth to the West South-west. Here we agreed to send all the Armie to Maçua, and to goe forward onely with sixteene small Gallies.

The thirtieth at noone, we set sayle from the Port of Arequea, we came to an Anchor in a Hauen, which is called Salaqua, beyond Arequea foure leagues, and from Suaquen sixe and * 1.11 twentie: the Coast North and South, and taketh somewhat of the North-east and South-west. The Land which is ouer the Sea, maketh many risings and hillocks, and behind them there a∣rise great Mountaines: and we are here to note, that the Land by the Sea from Arequea, begin∣neth [ 10] to make this shew forward, for hitherto it is all very plaine and low, till it reacheth to the Mountaines that are within the Maine. The one and thirtieth, we set sayle from the Port of Salaqua: an houre before Sunne set, we fastned our selues to a Shoald, that is a league from the shoare, we might goe this day about seuenteene leagues, and were beyond Suaquen three and fortie.

From the Port of Salaqua forward, the Coasts doe begin to winde very much, and from Ra∣seldoaer * 1.12 forward, the space of a league, the Coast runneth very low to the North North-east, and in the end it maketh a point of Sand, where there are thirteene little hillockes or knobs of stone, which as the Moorish Pilots said, were Graues, and from this point of the Calmes a∣bout * 1.13 two leagues, the Coast runneth to the North North-west, and from thence as farre as this [ 20] Shoald, which is three and fortie leagues from Suaquen. It is the most famous and named point of all this Coast; because all that doe sayle from Maçua, Suaquen, and other places, to Iuda, Alcocer, and to Toro, must of force fetch this point. As touching the Sea that lyeth within * 1.14 these seuenteene leagues, I beleeue there can be no rules or experience to be securely sayled, but that as well the skilfull as the vnskilfull, must passe at all aduentures, and saue themselues by chance, for the Shoalds are so many, and so great, the Sea so sowed euery where with Rockes, the Bankes are so continuall in euery place, that it seemeth certainly rather that we may goe it on foote, then sayle it; yea, although it be in small Boats, in these spaces which are contained; betweene Salaqua and Raseldoaer, are three Ilands lying in tryangle, neerer to Raseldo••••r then to Salaqua. The greatest of them is called Magarçaon, it hath in length about two leagues, [ 30] * 1.15 the Land of it is verie high; and without water. This Iland beareth with Raseldoaer North and South, the distance is three leagues. The second Iland lyeth much to the Sea, and is called Elmante: the Land is likewise high, and without water; but the third Iland is very low, and all * 1.16 of Sand: it lyeth foure leagues from Salaqua, toward Raseldoaer, the name whereof is not yet come to my notice.

The second of Aprill, 1541. an houre before day, we loosed from the Shoald, that is three and fortie leagues beyond Suaquen, and went Rowing along the Coast, wee entred into a Riuer which is called Farate: there might be from the Shoald whence wee departed to this Riuer, foure leagues, and setting sayle a league from thence, wee entred into an Hauen very faire, which is called Quilfit. All this day we saw not to the Land of vs any Rocke, but to the Sea of [ 40] * 1.17 vs we did see a Shoald. Farate is a Riuer very great and faire, the Channell thereof hath of e∣leuation of the Pole one and twentie degrees, and two third parts, that separates two low Points; at the entrance are a small Caliuer shot, and from each of them commeth a Shoald to∣ward the mouth of the Riuer, so that the Channell or entry is in the very midst; this Riuer runneth East and West. The Land of euery side of the Riuer is very low, without Bush or any Trees of any other kind; in the mouth of the Riuer is thirtie fathomes water, and from thence it diminisheth till it remaineth in eighteene.

Quilfit, is an Hauen no lesse faire and noble, then very sure and profitable, because being once * 1.18 within, we need to feare no winde or any misfortune. There are at the entrie of this Port two very low Points, which are coasted North-west and South-east, a quater North and South. The [ 50] distance is almost a quarter of a league. All the Hauen round about, may comprehend more then three leagues, and wee may lye at Roade in any place of it, and bee safe. In all this Hauen is twelue fathome water, along the Shoare the Coast is rockie, betweene this part and the Riuer of Farate, which is a great leagues iourney, there crosseth a ranke of Mountaynes, one higher then the rest.

The third, one houre before day, we came out of the Port of Quilfit, and went rowing along the Coast. An houre before Sunne set, we came to an anchor in an Hauen, which is called Rasil∣gid, which in the Arabian tongue is, The new Head. This day we went about nine leagues, to * 1.19 the Sea of vs, we saw some Shoalds, but fewer then we had seene before. Two leagues from Quil∣fit there is a very good Hauen, which is called Moamaa, and presently from this Point of the [ 60] * 1.20 Shrubs, vnto another Point of Sand very long, which is about two leagues, before the Port of Rasilgid, the Coast runneth North and South, and taketh somewhat of the North-west and South-east, the distance is about three leagues and a halfe.

Igidid, is a small Hauen, but a very pleasant one, it is beyond Suaquen seuen and fiftie leagues; * 1.21 the proportion thereof is like a great Cauldron, and within is so round, that it seemes a part of a Circular: in the mouth and entrie of the Port are two Points; which stretch North and South. Within this Port, onely the Easterne winde can doe some hurt, all the ground is very cleane: at the Mouth there is eighteene fathome water, and within thirteene; and halfe a league from it into the Land there is a Well of water, though little abounding, the water of it is very bitterish; the Port hath in compasse a great halfe league. It is a thing to be noted, that as well in this Port, as in all the rest, which I haue seene in this Coast, Riuers, or Harbours, none hath any Barre or Banke at the Entrie, but rather the greatest depth is at the Mouthes, rather then within. In this Port I found certaine Trees, which in the Trunke or Stock resembled the Corke * 1.22 [ 10] Trees, for the Trunkes and Boughes of them were couered with a kind of Barke or Corke, and very different in all the rest, for the leaues of them were very great and large, and wonderfully thicke and greene, hauing certaine bigge veines that did crosse them, these Trees were with Flowre, and the Flowre in the Bud resembled the Mallow flowre when it is in the Bud, but that this was very white; and after it openeth, the Bud it resembleth the white Cockle. Cut∣ting a little Bough or Leafe of these Trees, there runneth out a great streame of Milke, as if it were the dugge of a Goat. In all this coast I saw no other Trees but these, except a Groue that is a little beyond Maçua, hard by the Sea in the marish ground; besides these Trees, within the Land, there are some Valleyes where grow some Capers, the leaues of which the Moores * 1.23 doe eate. They say, that they be appropriated to the ioynts. [ 20]

The fourth, from Sunne rising till eleuen of the clocke, the winde blew so much at North-west, that it was a great storme; and from eleuen of the clocke, it began to thunder very hard, * 1.24 and it hayled with the biggest drops that euer I saw; with these thunders, the Winde ranne through all the Points of the Compasse, and at last it remayned North. This day I carried my instruments on Land, and found the variation one degree and a quarter to the North-east, and the Port in two and twentie, by many obseruations.

Notwithstanding, that these operations were made a shoare, and with so much heede in the setting of the Instrument, that after once placed I neuer stirre it, till the end of all the obserua∣tions, yet there cannot be but that some error may be in them and some difference, because the great heate and scorchings of the Sunne, did cracke the plate of Iuorie in the middest, and there * 1.25 remayned a great Clift as thick as a Portegue of gold, betweene the one halfe and the other. [ 30]

The sixth, an houre before day, we weighed from the Port of Igidid. All this dayes iourney might be three leagues and a halfe.

The seuenth, in the morning, the Winde blew fresh at North-west, we rowed to the shoare: and at eight of the clocke, in the morning, wee fastned our selues to certayne stones of a Shoald and a Shelfe, that lyeth before a long Point, which hereafter I will call Starta; we went in this * 1.26 space about three leagues; but about noone we departed, and set saile, being in no little doubt, because on the one side and on the other of vs, we saw so many Shelues that it was a wonderfull thing: we were forced to take in our sailes, and helpe our selues with the Oare. At Sunne set we * 1.27 came to an anchor in a good Hauen, which is called Comol. [ 40]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Many Rockes, Shoalds and Flats.
• * 1.2

  A Channell seuen leagues from Suaquen. Obseruation of the Tides.
• * 1.3

  Course of Tides.
• * 1.4

  A great wate∣ring place.
• * 1.5

  A Description of the Bay of Doroo.
• * 1.6

  Promontori•• of Diogenes.
• * 1.7

  A Brackish sal•• Well.
• * 1.8

  The Descripti∣on of the Bay of Fuxaa.
• * 1.9

  Nine little Ilands.
• * 1.10

  Arequea Har∣bour twentie two leagues from Suaquen. The Descripti∣on of the Port of Arequea. Dioscori Port.
• * 1.11

  Salaqua Hauen, foure leagues from Arequea.
• * 1.12

  The coasting of these seuen∣teene leagues.
• * 1.13

  The Point of the Calmes.
• * 1.14

  Toro.
• * 1.15

  Magarçaon.
• * 1.16

  Elmante.
• * 1.17

  Quilfit Hauen. The Descripti∣on the Riuer of Ferate.
• * 1.18

  A Description of the Port of Quilfit.
• * 1.19

  Rasilgid Ha∣uen.
• * 1.20

  Moamaa Ha∣uen.
• * 1.21

  A description of the Port of Igidid. Igidid Port, in proportion like a great Cauldron. A Well of wa∣ter very bitte∣rish.
• * 1.22

  Trees like Corke trees.
• * 1.23

  Trees of Ca∣pers.
• * 1.24

  Thunder and very great Hayle.
• * 1.25

  The exceeding heat of the Sunne.
• * 1.26

  Starta.
• * 1.27

  Comol, a good Hauen,