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.

§. V.

A Description of the Nooke or Bay beyond Toro, and how by it is vnderstood the Gulfe Elaniticus. Of Soez, and of their returne homewards. Of the Badois, and of their customes, and why this Sea is called Red.

TWentie leagues beyond Toro, and fiftie two from Alcocer, the Land of Egypt, or Coast [ 40] that commeth from Abexij, commeth out into the Sea with a very lowe and long Point, from the Coasts winding a great space inward to the Land, running very winding and more then any other crooked, after hauing made a very great and very faire Nooke, it entreth into the Sea with a mightie and great Point very high, from the which to Soez is three small leagues iourney, these two Points, betweene the which the Nooke is con∣tayned, stretcheth North-west and by North, and South-east and by South, the distance is fiue leagues, the Land by the Sea coast of this Nooke is most high and rough, and therewith it is barren and drie, within the Nooke it is so deepe, that if we come not very neere the shoare, with fiftie fathome we shall take no ground, which ground is a soft sand like Oze. This Nooke vn∣doubtedly, [ 50] I hold to be the Gulfe which the Cosmographers doe call Elaniticus. But Strabo a Ca∣padocian, * 1.1 and Ptolomie were deceiued in the knowledge and situation of it: for they placed it in the Coast of stonie Arabia, little more or lesse, where now stands the Towne of Toro; and that this is so, the words of Strabo, which I repeated a little before in the Description of the Towne of Toro, where the Arabicke Gulfe endeth, doe plainely say, to end in two Gulfes, one of them which standeth on the Arabian side, called Elaniticus, and the other on Egypt side where standeth the Citie of the Heroes. Ptolomie doth shew vs plainely the Gulfe Elaniticus to be in the Coast of Arabia, where now standeth the Towne of Toro, whereof I cannot but wonder euery time I doe remember how Ptolomie was borne in Alexandria, where he wrote his Historie, and dwelt in it all the dayes of his life, which Citie is very neighbouring to these places. [ 60]

The sixe and twentieth, weighing presently our Grapples, wee set sayle; at eleuen of the clocke of the day we were fast by the shoare, where we found all the Armie, and striking our sayles, wee rowed a little along the shoare, and cast anchor; but two houres before Sunne set we weighed againe, the wind was at North, wee rowed along the Coast, and before Sunne set

we tooke Hauen behind a Point which the Land of Arabia thrusteth out, where there is good being and harbour against the North winds: this day we went directly one league and an halfe, the points is short of Soez, three small leagues, it beareth with the North-west point of the great Nooke, which I said to be the Gulfe Elaniticus, East and West: there may be in the distance one league: from hence about halfe a league within the Land, standeth the Fountaine of Moses, of * 1.2 which I haue spoken alreadie, when I spake of Toro. And now, as soone as we were at anchor, we went on shoare, and we saw the end of this Sea, which seemed to vs alreadie infinite, and likewise the Masts of the Ships, and all things gaue vs great content, and ioyntly with it great care. By night the wind was at North very hard, we say all night at anchor till it was day.

The seuen and twentieth in the morning, the wind blew hard at North North-west, at ten [ 10] of the clocke we departed from this Point, and made ahead to Soez, and to the end of this Sea, going along rowing, and being about one league from it, I went before with two Catures to spie or view the situation of Soez, and the place of landing, and wee came thither at three of the clocke in the afternoone, where wee saw in the field many troopes of Horse-men, and in the Towne two great bands of Souldiers, they shot at vs many shots out of a Blocke-house. The * 1.3 Armie of the Turke was as followeth; that is, one and fortie great Galleys, and nine great Ships, hauing scene all these things, we went toward the Land of the Nooke, which is on the West side, and came to an anchor neere the shoare in fiue fathome water, the ground was a soft sand, and very small, a very good harbour for ships: this day at Sunne set we saw the Moone.

It is to be held for certaine, Soez to be called in times past, The Citie of the Heroes, for it dif∣fereth [ 20] * 1.4 nothing in heighth, situation and confrontings, as we may see in Ptolomie Tab. 3. Africa, especially, Soez being seated in the vttermost Coasts of the Nooke where this Sea of Mecca en∣deth, in the which the Citie of the Heroes was seated, as it is read in Strabo the seuenteenth Booke, saying these words. The Citie of the Heroes and Cleopatra, which some doe call Arsinoe, are in the vttermost bounds or end of the Arabicke Sine, which is toward Egypt. Plinie in the sixth Booke of the Naturall Historie, seemeth to call the Port of Soez, Danao, by reason of the * 1.5 Trenches, which they opened from Nilus to this Sea; Soez hath of eleuation of the Pole, nine and twentie degrees three quarters, and it is the neerest Port and Towne of all the Streight to * 1.6 the great Citie of Cairo, called anciently Babylonia of Egypt, and from it to the Leuant Sea, where is one of the seuen Mouths of Nilus, called Pelusium, may bee fortie leagues iourney, [ 30] which place is called Isthmus, which is to say, A straight or narrow Land betweene two Seas. Touching this way, the words of Strabo in his seuenteenth Book, are these. The Isthmus that lieth betweene Pelusium and the Extreme, where the Citie of the Heroes standeth, is of nine hundred furlongs. This is the Port of the red Sea, whither Cleopatra Queene of Egypt commanded the ships to be carried by land from the Riuer Nilus, after the victorie gotten by Caesar against An∣thonie, for to flee in them to the Indians; And likewise Sesostris King of Egypt, and Darius King of Persia, did take in hand to open a Trench vnto the Riuer Nilus, to make the Indian Ocean na∣uigable with the Sea Mediterraneum, and none of them finishing the worke, Ptolomie made a Trench of an hundred foot broad, and thirtie foot deepe, which hauing alreadie almost finished, it is said, he left vnfinished the bringing of it to the Sea, for feare that the water of Nilus would [ 40] become salt, the water of the Streight mingling it selfe with it. Others doe say, that taking a leuell, the Architects and Masters of the worke, did find, that the Sea of the Streight was three cubits higher then the Land of Egypt, and feared that all the Land would bee drowned. The Authors, are Diodorus Siculus, Plinie, Pomponius Mela, Strabo of Capadocia, and many other Cosmographers. Although the Towne of Soez was in old time great in name, at this day it is small enough, and I beleeue it had alreadie beene vtterly lost, if the Turkish Armie had not lyne there. The situation of it is in this manner, in the front and face of the Land which is opposite * 1.7 to the South, where this Sea endeth, is opened a Mouth not very great, by the which a Creeke or Arme of the Sea entring a little space into the land, it windeth presently along the coast, toward the setting of the Sunne, till a little Mountaine doth oppose it selfe, which alone riseth in these [ 50] parts, from the which to the mouth and entring of the Creek, the Creek and firme Land remay∣ning on the North side, and the nooke and end of this Sea on the South side, and the little Moun∣taine to the West, all the space that is contained is a very long and narrow Tongue or Point of sand, where the Gallies and Nauie of the Turke lie aground; and the warlike and ancient Town of Soez is situated, in which appeareth at this day a little Castle, and without two high and an∣cient Towers, as ancient Reliques of the great Citie of the Heroes, which was there in times past. But on the Point of sand where the Creeke entreth, there standeth a great and mightie Bulwarke of moderne worke, which defendeth the entrie and mouth of the Riuer, and likewise * 1.8 scoureth the Coast by the sterne of the Galleys, if yee would land in that place: and besides, there runneth betweene the Galleys and the strand, a Trench with a Ditch cast vp, which ma∣keth [ 60] a shew like a Hill, in such sort that as well by mens worke, as by the situation and nature of the ground, the place is very strong and defensible. Now considering this landing of the place for to enter into it, it seemed to me not to be possible in any place, onely behind the little Moun∣taine and Westside, for here we shall be free from their Artillerie, and possessing the Mountaine,

it will bee a great meanes to get the victorie: but wee are to note, that along this Strand is shoaly about a Bow shot, and the ground a soft Clay and sticking Sand, which I perceiued, feeling the ground from within the Foyst, which is very troublesome and preiudiciall to them that are to Land; touching the Antiquities and things I could know of Soez, they were told mee by some men of the Streight, especially by the Moore that informed mee of the particu∣lars of Toro, and all of them are as followeth, that is, that three leagues from Soez towards Toro, was the Fountaine of Moses, and the Moores and Inhabitants doe confesse, that God gaue it vnto the Iewes by a Miracle; and also they haue in their memorie, that in this place there was a great Citie in old time, of the which they say, some buildings are yet to bee seene, they could not tell mee the name of it. They told me also that afore-time, the Kings of Egypt would haue made a Trench from Nilus, where the Citie of Cairo standeth vnto Soez, for to make [ 10] these Seas Nauigable, and that they are seene at this day, although the length of time had de∣faced * 1.9 them and stopped them vp, and that those which trauelled from Toro to Cairo of necessi∣tie should passe by them; some told mee that the occasion of this opening was not to ioyne the Straight with the Riuer Nilus, but to bring the Water to the Citie that was there. I asked them what Countrey was there betweene Soez and Cairo, they told mee that a very plaine Field, full of Sand and barren without any Water, and that from the one to the other was three dayes iourney going at leisure, which was about fifteene leagues, and that in Soez, and round about it, it rained seldome, and when it chanced, it held on much, and that all the yeare the North wind blew with great force.

From Toro to Soez is eight and twentie leagues Iourney, without any Iland, Banke, or Shoald, [ 20] that may hinder or doe any harme to the Nauigators, these eight and twentie leagues, lye in this * 1.10 manner: departing from Toro, through the midst of the Current, yee run about sixteene leagues North-west and by North, and South-east and by South, and hitherto the Coast commeth in an equall distance and separation, hauing from the one to the other, the space of three leagues, but in the end of these sixteene or seuenteene leagues, the Lands begin to close very much, and to ioyne in such sort, that from Coast to Coast there is but one league, and continueth this nar∣rownesse two leagues, and presently the Land that commeth from the Abexij withdraweth it selfe, making the great and faire Nooke aboue said; treating of the situation and place of the Gulfe called Elaniticus, the Channell in the middle distance, from the end of the sixteene or seuenteene leagues till as farre as the North-west Point which commeth out of this Nooke, [ 30] lyeth North North-west South South-east, the distance is eight leagues, in this place the Lands doe Neighbour very much againe, for the Land of the Arabian thrusting out a verie long and low Point outward, and the Land that commeth from the Abexij, comming forth with another bigge and high Point, at the end of the Nooke on the North-west side, there re∣mayneth from Land to Land one leagues iourney or little more, and from these Points to Soez, and the end of this Red Sea, the Coast on each side doe wind, and make another Nooke, which * 1.11 hath in length little more then two leagues and a halfe, and in breadth one and an halfe, where this Sea so celebrated in the holy Scripture, and spoken of by Writers, doth finish and make an end; this Nooke is extended through the midst North and South, and taketh somewhat of the [ 40] North-west and South-east; the distance is two leagues and an halfe: as touching the Land that commeth a long the Coast from Toro to Soez; wee must note, that a Caleeuer-shot beyond Toro on the Arabian shoare, there ariseth a Hill very neere the Sea-side, which is all bespotted with certaine red streakes, which goe from one side to the other of it; giuing it a great grace, this Hill runneth still along the Coast about fifteene or sixteene leagues, but it hath not these workes, and red streakes; more then sixe leagues space beyond Toro, and in the end of these fifteene or sixteene leagues, the Hill maketh a great knob and high, and from thence by little and little, the Hill doth forsake the Coast, and goeth into the Land till it come within a league short of Soez, where it endeth, and there remayneth from this bigge and high knob vn∣to Soez, betweene the Hill and the Sea, a very plaine and low ground, which in places hath [ 50] a league in breadth, and in others neerer to Soez, a league and an halfe: By this Hill towards Toro, I saw great heapes of Sand along to the top of the Hill, reaching the highest of it, ha∣uing no sandie places betweene the Hill and the Sea, and likewise, by the Clifts and Breaches many broken Sands were driuen; whence I gathered, how great the force and violence is heere of the crosse winds, seeing they snatch and driue the Sand from out of the Sea, and lift it so high; these crosse windes, as I noted, the Sands did lye and were driuen, are Wests and West North-wests.

But as touching the description of the Land, that goeth along the Sea, on the Coast of A∣bexij, from as farre as Toro, wee must note, that there runne certaine great and high Hils or Mountaines very high, and ouer-appearing the Coast of the Sea, the which about seuen∣teene [ 60] leagues beyond Toro toward Soez, doe open in the midst, and descend equall with the Field, and presently they rise againe very high and continually along the Sea, till they come a league short of Soez, where they stay and passe no further.

I considering with great diligence, the fluxes and refluxes of the Sea that lyeth from Toro * 1.12 to Soez, found them to bee no greater nor samller then the other of these Coasts of the Streight, but after the same manner. Whence appeareth the falshood of some Writers, which said the pathes were not opened to the Iewes through this Sea, but that the Water ebbed so much in this place, that it remained all dry, the which the Iewes tarrying for, had the passage free to the other side.

Considering also, whereby Sesostre King of Egypt, and afterward Ptolomie could make the Trenches and Channels from Nilus to this Sea, for to make it nauigable with the Easterne Sea. I saw it was not possible except by two places, which stand from Toro to Soez. The first, by the Breach which the Hils doe make that runne along the Sea, by the Coast that commeth from Ab∣bexi, which Breach is seuenteene leagues beyond Toro, and eleuen before yee come to Soez. [ 10] The second, by the end of this Sea and Nooke, where the Towne of Soez standeth. For in this place the Hils on both sides doe end, and remaine all on Land and Field very low, without Hillocks or high Hils, or any other impediment. And in this place it seemeth to me more cer∣taine and conuenient for to take so great a worke in hand, then by the breach I spake of, be∣cause in this place the Land is very low, and the way shorter, and hath an Hauen heere: and besides these two places, any where else I thought it impossible, because as well on the one Coast as on the other, the Mountaines are so great and so high, the which are all, or the greatest part of a Rock and hard stone, that it is not in the iudgement of men they may be cut, and bring through them a Channell or Trench that might be Nauigable. Whence it must remaine mani∣fest, Soez to be the Port where Cleopatra commanded the Ships to bee brought by Land from [ 20] Nilus, crossing the Isthmus, howsoeuer that a thing of so much labour and importance, in the which the breuitie was the greatest part of the Nauigation. It was manifest that they would seeke the shortest, neerest, and easiest way they could find of them all. And because this is that which commeth from Nilus, and the Citie of Cayro to Soez. Wee must make no doubt that this Nauy of Cleopatra was brought hither; and likewise the Trenches from Nilus, whereby * 1.13 they would communicate these Seas, especially considering, how from as farre as Toro, all the Coast of Egypt is waste, and without any Port, except this of Soez, which stands in the vt∣most end of this Sea.

Considering also in the dayes we spent betweene Toro and Soez, I saw that the Heauen was very close ouer-cast with very thicke and blacke Clouds, which seemed contrary to the nature [ 30] and condition of Egypt: for in it, as all men affirme, it raineth not, neither doe the Heauens or the Ayre permit any Clouds, nor Vapours, but it may be that the Sea of his owne nature doth raise here these Vapours, and into the Land the Heauen may be free, and void of them, as we see in Portugall, that in the Citie of Lisbon the daies being cleere and pleasant, and in Sintra, which is foure leagues from thence, are great ouer-castings, mists, and shewers. Now this Sea contained from Toro to Soez, is very tempestuous and suddaine, for whensoeuer it beginneth to blow from the North, which is the Wind that raineth in this place, though his force be not ve∣ry great, presently the Sea is raised so high, and proud, that it is a wonder, the Waues being euery where so coupled and like to breake, that they are much to bee feared. And this hap∣neth not because of the little depth heere, for all this Sea is very deepe, and onely along the [ 40] Coast that commeth from the Abexi, close with the shoare it is a little shoally. About this Sea, I saw certaine Sea-foames, which by another name are called, Euill Waters, the greatest that I haue seene, for they were of no lesse bignesse then a Target, their colour a whitish dun. These Sea-foames doe not passe from Toro downe-ward, as not willing to trouble or occupie a strange Kingdome, but contenting themselues with their ancient habitation, which is from Toro to Soez. And presently going out of this place or bounds, there are infinite small ones, and like the other, and they are bred and goe about the Sea; in the daies that I was in this Sea, * 1.14 contained from Toro to Soez, I felt by night the greatest colds I can remember to haue past, but when the Sunne came, the heate was vnsufferable.

The eight and twentieth of Aprill, in the morning we departed from before Soez, toward [ 50] Maçua. At Sunne set, we were one league short of a sharpe and red Pike, which stands ouer the Sea. This day we went about twentie leagues. By night wee tooke in our Sailes, and ran along the shoare with our fore-sailes onely, the Wind blew hard at North North-west: Two houres within night we came to an Anchor neere the shoare, in three t••thome water, the Hea∣uen was very darke, and couered with many thicke and blacke clouds. The nine and twenti∣eth in the morning, we set Sayle. At nine of the clocke in the morning, we entred in Toro, and came to an Anchor, but within a little while we weighed againe, and went to an Hauen about a league from thence, which is called, The Watering of Suliman, where wee tooke in Water, * 1.15 digging pits in the Sand, a stones cast from the Sea, in which pits we found much water, though brackish. [ 60]

The thirtieth, in the morning wee departed from the watering of Suliman: halfe an * 1.16 houre past ten, we tooke Hauen in the first of the three Ilands which stand two leagues to the North-west of the Iland of Xeduam, and presently I went a shoare with the Pilot, and we tooke

the Sunne, and in his greatest height it rose ouer the Horizon eightit degrees, a little scant. The declination of this day was seuenteene degrees, sixe and thirtie minuts, whence it followeth, this Iland to stand in twentie seuen degrees & two third parts. The first of May, the sun being vp we set sayle. About Euen-song time we were with a great Iland, which hath in length two leagues, & thrusteth out a Point very close to the firme Land, where betweene the firme Land and the Iland, is a singular good Harbor for al weathers, for all the ships of the world. The second of May, at Sun set, we came to an Anchor in the Port of Goelma, a Port onely for small Vessels, safe from the North, and North-west. Within the Land a little space, is a dry Brook, whereby in Winter the water of the floods, which descend from the Mountaines doth auoid, where digging a little, ye finde fresh water, and heere is a Well, though not very plentifull of water. This Port was [ 10] called Goelma, which in Arabique, is to say, The Port of water, it lyeth to the North North-west of Alcocer, the distance is foure leagues.

The fourth of May, we rowed along the shoare: almost Sunne set, we came to an Anchor in a Port, which is called Açallaihe, which standeth beyond Xacara toward the South-east two * 1.17 leagues. By night the wind was at North North-west, we lay all night at Anchor.

Acallaihe is a small Port, but very good, betweene Xacara and the blacke Hillocke.

Bohalel Xame is a great Port, wherein may harbour many Shippes, it is very deepe within. * 1.18 This place was called Bohalel Xame, because within the Land dwelt a Badoil, very rich, which was called Bohalel, the which came or sent to sell Cattell to the Ships, which did take or come into that Hauen, and Xame, is to say, Land. And ••heere wee found an honourable Toombe [ 20] within a house like a Chappell, where was hanging a Guidon or Ancient of Silke, and many Arrowes or Darts round about the Graue, and about the Wals and Cords a great quantitie of * 1.19 Bulls did hang. At the head of the Graue there was a Table standing vpright, with a great Epitaph, and about the house, many Waters and Fragrant smelling things.

I enquiring of the Moores and Arabians of such a thing, I learned that here lay buried a ve∣ry honourable Arabian, of the Linage of Mahomet, which crossing these Coasts, fell very sicke, and in this Port ended his daies: and they made him this Graue as a man of so high a Genealogie. Where the Xarifes Iuda and great Prelats gaue Indulgences, and granted par∣dons to euery one that should visite this house. But the offerings and reuerence which the Portugals did vnto it, was to sacke the house, and afterward for to burne it, that no [ 30] signe was left where it had beene. In this Port wee found great footing of Tygres, and wilde Goats, and other Beasts which came all to the Sea, as though they came to seeke water for to drinke.

The many times that I bring to the field the name and memorie of the Badois, and likewise * 1.20 the trauelling by their Coasts and Countries, doth binde me to speake some thing of them. Ba∣doil, in good Arabique, signifieth a man that liueth onely by Cattell: these men, called Badoies, is properly the people of the Troglodithas, Ophiotofagis, of the which Ptolomie, Plinie, Pom∣ponius Mela, and other Authors doe write: the which Troglodithas or Badoies, doe liue in the Mountaines, and coasts of the Sea, which are contayned from the coast of Melinde and Ma∣gadoxa, to the Cape of Guardafui, and from thence going inward to the Streight, they doe [ 40] begirt and occupie all her Coasts, as well on the one side as on the other, and turning againe outward on the Arabian side, they runne along the Sea to the Streight of Ormuz, and all these Lands may rather be affirmed to be occupied by them then inhabited.

The Badoies are wilde men, amongst whom is no ciuill societie, no truth nor ciuilitie vsed: * 1.21 They worship Mahomet, and are very bad Moores, aboue all other People they are giuen to Stealths and Rapine; they eate raw flesh, and drinke milke; their habite is vile and filthy, they are greatly endued with swiftnesse and nimblenesse; they fight on foote and horse-backe, their weapons are Darts, they neuer haue peace with their Neighbours, but continually haue warre, and fight with euery one.

Those that dwell along the Red Sea, from as farre as Zeila vnto Suaquen, doe fight with the [ 50] Abexijs; and those from Suaquen to Alcocer, haue warre with the Nobijs; and those which inhabite from Alcocer to Soez, and end of this Sea, doe molest continually the Aegyptians. But returning by the Arabian side, by all the Coast of the Sea, that lyeth from Soez to the Streight of Ormuz, doe contend with the Arabians. Among the Badois there is no King or great Lord, but liue in Troopes or Factions; they permit no Towne in their Fields, neither haue they any certaine Habitation, for their custome is to be Vagabonds, from one place to an∣other, with their Cattell. Not onely doe they abhor Lawes and Ordinances, but also the Sutes and Differences that arise amongst them, they will not haue them iudged by any Custome, and they are content that their Xeque doe determine them as he list; their dwelling is in Caues and Holes, and other such like habitations, but the greatest part doe helpe themselues with Tents [ 60] and Boothes; their colour is very blacke, their language the Arabian, the rest of their Custome and Life, I omit.

The tenth of May, by day, we weighed anchor from the Port of Igidid. An houre before Sun set we fastned on a Shoald, which stood about foure leagues from Farate toward the South. In

this Shoald is an excellent Hauen, and it is so great, that wee could not discerne with our sight the end of it, it lyeth almost East South-east, and West North-west, but it is very crooked and winding. The two and twentieth of May, 1541. by breake of day, we were one league short * 1.22 of the great Groue, that standeth foure leagues from Maczua, the wind was of the Land. About nine of the clocke it began to blow from the North North-east, a faire gale. We entred at noone into the Port of Maczua, where we were receiued with great ioy and feast of our Armie. From the day wee entred in Maczua, which was the two and twentieth of May, to the fifteenth of Iune, the winds blew alwaies at North, North North-east, and North North-west: but from the fifteenth of Iune, to the seuenth of Iuly, they blew Easterly, that is; East, East South-east, and South-east, many times they brought great stormes. The last day of Iune at * 1.23 [ 10] night, we had a storme from the South-east of so much winde, that it droue the Gallions and they passed great danger of striking a ground. This storme brought much Raine and fearefull Thunders, and there fell a Thunder-bolt from Heauen vpon a Gallion, and comming downe by the Mast, it raced it all: and likewise the second of Iuly, wee had another storme from the East * 1.24 very great, which vnfastned many ships, and lasted the most part of the day. From thence to the seuenth of Iuly, although we had other stormes, they were but small: From the seuenth of Iuly, to the ninth of the same, the Wind came to the Land and brought two stormes from the West, but the wind was not ouer-much.

The ninth of Iuly, 1541. one houre after Sunne rose, wee set sayle from Maczua. The ele∣uenth of Iuly, by breake of day, we were two or three leagues short of the Point of Dallaqua, [ 20] that lyeth on the North-side, and betweene certaine 〈…〉〈…〉at Ilands which haue some Woods, and doe lye scattered on this side of the Iland; wherefore wee set all Sayles and went aloofe all that wee could to goe betweene two of these Ilands, the wind was almost North-west verie faire, we sayled North-east and by North, hauing doubled a Shoald we came to an Anchor and two houres after noone we set sayle againe, the wind about North North-east faire, wee sayled along the shoare of the Iland of Dallaqua. An houre before Sunne set, we were with an of Iland Sand very flat, which is called Dorat Melcuna, from the which to all parts there came out great * 1.25 Shoalds: Sunne altogether set, wee were a league short of the Iland of Xamoa, and from the Point of Dallaqua, which stands on the West side, and opposite to the firme Land of the Abexi, betweene the which and the Iland of Xomoa, is the most frequented Channell of those which [ 30] sayle to Maczua. All the Coast of Dallaqua which we saw this day, is coasted North North-west, and South South-east, and it is all wonderfully low. The eighteenth, by breake of day, we saw the mouth of the Streight, and we might be from it three leagues, and we saw all the Ar∣mie lye at Hull, and presently we set sayle altogether.

Before we departed from the Arabique Gulfe, or Streight of Mecca, which is all one, it will * 1.26 be iust to speake something of my opinion, and of that which I haue seene, touching the reason that mooued the ancient men to call all this Sea, the Red Sea: and likewise, whether her colour doth differ from the other of the great Ocean, or not. Plinie in the sixt Booke of the Natu∣rall Historie, Cap. 23. rehearseth many opinions, whereby the people called this Streight the Red Sea. The first is, that it tooke this name of a King that reigned in it, called Erithra, because [ 40] Erithros in the Greeke, is to say, Red. Another opinion was, that of the reflection of the Sun∣beames, there grew in this Sea reddish colour. Some held, that of the Sand and Ground that runneth alongst it. Others also beleeued, that this water was Red of his owne Nature, where∣by all this Sea got this name. Of these opinions the Writers chose them that they liked best, and seemed most certaine. Now the Portugals that haue Nauigated this way in times past, af∣firmed this Sea to be all spotted with certaine red strakes: the cause they attributed vnto it, is this. They said, the Coast of the Arabian was naturally verie red, and that as in this Coun∣trey there arose many stormes, and did raise great dusts toward the skies, after they were verie high, driuen with the force of the Winds, they fell in the Sea, and this Dust being red, it did Dye the water of it, whereby it was called the Red Sea. When I came to Socatora, till I past [ 50] all the Coasts of this Sea, and set my selfe before Soez, I neuer left by day nor night, to consider of these Waters, and viewing the colour and manner of the Countrey that goeth along the shoare: and certainly, I was not so troubled for any thing, as for the bestowing my labour in obtaining the truth of the things, and to search out the occasion of them, and that I got of mine owne Industrie, and most clearely haue I seene many times, is as followeth. First, it is false to say, that the colour of this Sea is Red, for it hath no difference from the colour that all the other Water of the Sea doth shew vs, and to say that the dusts which the winds doe snatch from the Land and driue into the Sea, doe staine the Water where they fall, till now wee saw no such thing, seeing many stormes raise great dusts, and driue them into the Sea, but not to change th•• colour of the Waues thereof. And to say that the Land ouer the Sea Coast is Red, they obser∣ued [ 60] not well the Coasts and Strands: for generally on the one side, and on the other, the Land by the Sea is browne, and verie darke, and seemeth scortcht: and in some places it shewes blacke, and in others white, and the Sands hath their owne colour, but onely in three places there are certaine pieces of Mountaines which haue certaine veines of Red, where Portugals

neuer came, except these which now are here-away, which places are all farre beyond Suaquen, that is, toward Soez, and the end of this Sea; but the three hils that shew this red colour, are of a verie hard Rocke, and then all the Land round about that we can see, is of the common and accustomed colour. But the truth of these things is, that the Water of this Sea taken substanti∣ally, hath no difference of his colour; but in many places of it, the waues thereof came by acci∣dent to seeme very red, which is caused in this manner. From the Citie of Suaquen vnto Alco∣cer, which is, one hundred thirtie sixe leagues iourney, the Sea is all thicke with Shoalds and Shelues, whose ground is of a stone, called Corall-stone, which groweth in certaine Trees and Clusters, spreading one way, and another way certaine braunches, properly as the Corall doth, and this stone is so like vnto it, that it deceiueth any person that is not very skilfull in the [ 10] growth and nature. The colour of this stone is of two sorts: the one wonderfully white, and the other very red. In some places this stone lies couered with very greene Ozies; and in other free from this Herbe, which Slime or Ozies in some places, is very Greene; and in others it maketh a colour very like Orange-tawny. Now we must presuppose, that the water of this Sea is clearer, especially from Suaquen vpward, then euer was any, in sort, that in twentie fathome water ye may see the ground in many places. This presupposed, we are to note, that wheresoe∣uer that these Shoalds and Shelues did appeare, the water ouer them was of three colours, that is, Red, Greene, or White, the which proceeded of the ground that was vnder, as many times I saw by experience; for if the ground of these Shoalds was Sand, it caused that the Sea ouer it appeared white; and the ground where the Corall-stone lay couered with Greene Ozies, the [ 20] water that couered it did giue a colour greener then the Weeds: but wheresoeuer the Shoalds were of red Corall, or of Corall-stone couered with red Weeds, it made all the Sea that was ouer it seeme very red; and because this red colour comprehended greater spaces in this Sea, * 1.27 then the Greene or the White, because the stone of the Shoalds was the greatest part of red Corall. I beleeue it was the reason whereby it receiued the name of Red Sea, and not of Greene nor White Sea: Notwithstanding, this Sea doth represent these colours most perfectly. The meanes that I had to obtaine this secret, was to fasten many times. vpon the Shoalds, where I saw the Sea looke red, and commanded diuers to bring me of the stones that lay in the bottome, and the most times it was so shallow, that the Foyst did touch: and other-whiles, that the Mari∣ners went on the Shoalds halfe a league with the water to the breast, where it happened that al [ 30] or the greatest part of the stones they pulled vp were of Red Corall, and others couered with weeds like Orange-tawny, and the practise I had whereseouer the Sea seemed Greene, & found beneath White Corall, couered with Greene Weeds: and in the White Sea I found a verie white Sand without any thing else whereof it might proceede. For some Saylers giuing relati∣on of the Red colour that they saw in this Sea, as of the greater and most compendious of all, be∣ing ignorant of the cause, or not being willing to offer it, for to increase admiration to their Na∣uigations and Trauels: and seeing that men do not only know this Sea by the name of Red Sea, but doe beleeue that the waters are naturally red. I haue talked many times with Moorish Pi∣lots, and curious persons of Antiquities, which dwelt in some places of this Streight, about the name of this Sea: euery one did say to me, they knew no other name then the Sea of Mecca, [ 40] and they wondred very much at vs, to call it the Red Sea. I asked of the Pilots, if they found sometimes the Sea stained red with the dusts that the winds brought of the Land, they told me, they saw no such thing. With all this, I reproue not the opinion of the Portugals, but I affirme, that going through this Sea more times then they did, and seeing all the length thereof, and they onely one piece, I neuer saw in the whole, that which they say to haue seene in the part.

The ninth of August, we entred in the Port of Angedina, and remained there till the one and twentieth of August, that we embarked in Foysts, and going directly to Goa, wee entred ouer the Barre thereof vnder Sayle: and our Voyage was ended, and this Booke. [ 50] [ 60]

Notes

• * 1.1

  This Nooke supposed to be the Gulfe Ela∣niticus.
• * 1.2

  Moses Foun∣t••ine. The end of this Sea, cal∣led by vs he red Sea, and by the Moores, Mecca. Soez kept by the Turke with Garrisons.
• * 1.3

  The Nauie of the Turkes.
• * 1.4

  Soez in times past called the Citie of the Heroes.
• * 1.5

  The Port of Danao.
• * 1.6

  The Citie of Heroes and Cleopatra, which some call Arsi∣noe in the end of the Arabike Sine Isthmo. Babylonia of E∣gypt, or Cairo the great City. Pelusio, one of 7. Mouthes of Nilus. Trenches which the Kings of Egypt made. Isthmo is the space of 40. leagues be∣tweene Soez and Pelusio.
• * 1.7

  The manner of the situation of Soez.
• * 1.8

  A mightie Bul∣warke of mo∣derne worke.
• * 1.9

  Cairo about fifteen leagues from Soez.
• * 1.10

  A description of the Sea and Land, that go∣eth from Toro to Soez.
• * 1.11

  The end of the Red Sea, or Sea of Meca.
• * 1.12

  The tides from Toro to Soez all equall with o∣ther Ports of the Sea.
• * 1.13

  Cleopatra com∣manded the ships to bee brought by Land to Zoez, from Nilus, crossing the Isthmus.
• * 1.14

  The end of the voyage to Soez.
• * 1.15

  Sulyman wate∣ring.
• * 1.16

  The height of an Iland that stands beneath the Toro.
• * 1.17

  Acallaihe Port, two leauges beyond Xacara.
• * 1.18

  A Description of the Port of Acallaihe. A Description of the Port Bo∣halel Xame.
• * 1.19

  The Tombe of an Arabian.
• * 1.20

  A Description of the Land of of Badois, and of their cu∣stomes & life. What Badoil•• signifieth. Troglodithas, or Badois.
• * 1.21

  The Badois, which is the generall name for the Ithio∣fagis or Eiosagis are wilde or sauage. They haue no King.
• * 1.22

  A great Grou•• foure lea••ues from Maczua.
• * 1.23

  They lay at Maczua thirtie two daies.
• * 1.24

  A thunderbolt.
• * 1.25

  Darat Melcuna, a flat Iland of Sand.
• * 1.26

  Whether this Sea of the Streight be red or no, and the causes wherefore they called it the Red Sea. Opinions of the Red Sea.
• * 1.27

  Red Corall stone.