VOYAGE OF THE ANN ROYAL, FROM SURAT TO MOKHA, IN 1618.[288]
The Ann Royal belonged to the fleet commanded by Martin Pring, of which
an ample relation has been given in the foregoing section. The present
section gives an account of a subordinate voyage, arising out of the
former, and intended for settling a trade in the Red Sea. The Ann Royal
was commanded by Captain Andrew Shilling, and this narrative is said by
Purchas, to have been extracted from the journal of Edward Heynes, who
appears to have been second merchant in the Ann.--E.
[Footnote 288: Purch. Pilgr. I. 622.]
* * * * *
Sir Thomas Roe, lord ambassador from his majesty to the Great Mogul,
having given certain articles of instruction to Captain Andrew Shilling,
commander of the Ann Royal, and Joseph Salbank, Edward Heynes, and
Richard Barber, merchants in that ship, for establishing and conducting
trade at Dabul or other places in the Red Sea, as they might see
convenient, it was thought meet by Captain Martin Pring the general,
Thomas Kerridge, and Thomas Rastell, on the 12th March, in a
consultation on board the James Royal, that we should sail direct for
the Red Sea, as the season was already too far gone for going to Dabul.
Sailing therefore from the road of Swally, we got sight of Aden on the
10th of April. The 13th, about seven in the morning, we passed the Bab,
or straits of Bab-al-Mandub, so named from an island at the entrance, or
mouth, of the Red Sea, and forming one side of the straits. About five
in the evening we came in sight of Mokha; and as night was coming on, we
cast anchor. Shortly after, a canoe came on board, sent by the governor
to enquire who we were, and what were our intentions; and having given
them an answer, they departed, having first begged a few biscuits. Next
morning we weighed, and came again to anchor a league and half from the
shore, when we saluted the town with nine guns. The water-bailey, or
shahbander, brought off, as a present from the governor, a young
bullock, two goats, with mangoes, limes, cucumbers, and water-melons. He
welcomed us in the name of the governor, and desired us to send some
persons on shore to inform the governor of the purpose of our arrival.
About three in the afternoon, there came aboard a Jew born in Lisbon,
together with an old renegado Venetian, who was in great favour with the
governor, and in his name assured us of meeting with good usage to our
content.
The 15th, Ali Asgee, the chief scrivano, sent a present of goats and
fruits, with a message of welcome, by two old men of good condition, who
were sent by the governor to remain aboard in pledge for such of us as
were to go on shore, with many protestations of good usage. Accordingly,
Mr Salbank and I went ashore, accompanied by two linguists and an
attendant, carrying as a present for the governor, six yards of stammel
broad cloth, six yards of green, a fowling-piece and a looking-glass.
Above a thousand people were on the shore expecting our arrival, and
several officers were in waiting to conduct us to the governor. His
house was large and handsome, built of brick and stone, having a fair
gate of entrance with a porter's lodge, and several servants in waiting.
From the gate, we went into a great court, whence a winding stair of
thirty steps led to a square terrace, from which we were conducted into
a large room, at one end of which was a great bow-window looking towards
the sea. The governor sat in this window, and there were others on the
sides of the room, which looked to the wharf or landing-place. The floor
of this room was all covered with fine mats, and towards where the
governor sat, with fine Turkey carpets and Persian felts. Where he sat,
there lay a party-coloured sattin quilt, with several rich cushions of
damask and others of velvet. He was dressed in a violet-coloured vest of
sattin, under which were garments of fine India muslin or calico, having
on his head a sattin cap, wreathed round by a white sash. He was
attended by the chief scrivano, the principal officers of the customs,
some Turks of importance, many Indian merchants, and about an hundred
servants. He seemed about fifty years of age, and his name was Mahomet
Aga.
On our approach, and doing reverence, he bowed to us, and desired us to
sit down, demanding who we were, and what was our business. We answered
that we were Englishmen and merchants from London, who, by command of
the ambassador of the king of England to the Great Mogul, with whom we
had a league of peace and amity, had come to this place to treat for
liberty of trade. That we were in friendship with the Grand Signior, and
had free trade at Constantinople, Aleppo, and other places in the
Turkish dominions, and hoped to enjoy the same here; for which purpose
we were come to desire his and the pacha's phirmauns, giving us such
privileges as we already had in other parts of the dominions of the
Grand Signior, both for the present time and in future, as we meant to
visit his port yearly with plenty of English and Indian commodities. We
said likewise that we were commanded to say by the lord ambassador, that
hearing there were sundry pirates, English, Dutch, French, Portuguese,
Malabars and others, who infested the trade of this port, and
principally that carried on by the Guzerats, who were our friends, we
had his orders to free the seas of all such incumbrances, protecting all
honest merchant ships and junks from injury. These, we said, were the
true causes of our coming here.
The governor then rose up and bid us welcome, applauding our declared
purposes, but asked why we were so fearful as not to come on shore
without pledges. We answered, that about six years before, some of our
countrymen being here, were enticed on shore by fair promises of good
usage, who were betrayed and imprisoned by the then governor, and
several of them murdered. For these reasons, we were under the necessity
of being careful of our safety. We said moreover, that he would shortly
be certified we were exactly what we professed, by means of two junks of
Guzerat, one of which had not come this year, but for the pass and
promise of the ambassador that they were to be protected in the voyage
home by our ship, against the enterprizes of any pirates who might be in
these seas, as one had been last year by some of our ships, which came
opportunely to their rescue, and conducted her safely to their port, and
had sent the chief commanders to England, to be tried and punished for
their wrongs against the friends of our sovereign.
The governor acknowledged the friendly conduct of our nation in that
affair, promising that we should live as safely on shore, and conduct
our business with as much freedom and security, as in our own country,
for which we should have his phirmauns, which he would procure to be
confirmed by the pacha to our entire contentment. He said likewise that
the former governor was a bad man, long since deposed, and now living at
Constantinople in disgrace; and swore by his beard, and by Mahomet, that
not a hair of our heads should be diminished, nor any wrong offered to
us, as he should make proclamation of our liberties, that no one might
pretend ignorance and do us harm or discourtesy. He desired us,
therefore, to look out for a house for ourselves and our goods,
commanding two of his chiauses to attend upon us, and recommended us to
lodge with the Jew merchant till we could fit ourselves better, desiring
him to assist us in all things.
After giving many thanks for his kindness, and delivering the present as
from our captain, we went, by the advice of the Jew, to visit the
scrivano, who is likewise chief customer or shahbander; and as he was
not at home, his servant received and entertained us with much civility.
They conducted us into an handsome room, not much inferior in building
and furniture to that of the governor, where we had left their master,
who soon came home and welcomed us with much politeness, assuring us
that all the governor had promised should be faithfully performed, as he
himself should see all executed, and had also power to see us righted.
We were informed that this man's power was as great in Mokha as that of
the governor, who was directed by him in all matters of importance. This
officer seemed a hearty old man. After making us drink coffee and
sherbet, we took our leaves, and remained all night with the Jew.
Next morning we spent an hour in viewing the town, and observing the
countenances of the people towards us, whom we found gentle and
courteous, especially the Banians and Guzerats, many of whom reside here
as merchants, shopkeepers, and mechanics, having neatly-built shops and
warehouses. Their market or bazar seemed well furnished with all manner
of necessaries, among which were plenty of fruits, which are brought
daily from the country. Most of the town is built of brick and stone,
neatly plastered over with Paris plaster, some of the houses being two
stories high, and all flat-roofed, with terraces on the top, on which in
summer they construct lodges of canes and mats, in which they sleep and
spend the first quarter of the day, having at that time a fresh breeze
from the sea. All the rest of the day at that season is so hot that they
can hardly endure even a shirt. Mokha lies quite level along the
sea-shore, being about two miles from north to south, and contains many
good-looking houses, with three principal mosques. The streets are kept
clean, every person having to sweep and water before his door every
morning and evening, so that they resemble sandy alleys for bowling,
more than streets. No filth is allowed to be thrown into the streets,
but must all be carried to an appointed place, where it is scoured out
by the sea. In fine, I have never seen a sweeter, cleaner, or better
ordered town any where.
The wharf is situated between the governor's house and that of the
scrivano, and is about twelve score square.[289] Near this, and
adjoining the governor's house, there is a platform or fort, built of
hewn stones, having battlements towards the sea, being about forty paces
square, in which there are thirteen or fourteen pieces of ordnance of
little value. Over against the landing-place two fair brass cannons are
planted, above five feet long. At the other end, is the Alfandica, where
there is a brass gun six feet long, carrying a large ball. Besides these
defences, there is a stone house at the north end of the town, built
like a sconce or redoubt, with a few pieces of ordnance; but they trust
little in their ordnance, relying mostly on their soldiers, of whom they
have always 200 in the town, and about 300 more in the country, within a
day or two days march, who are all constantly in readiness for service.
[Footnote 289: This is obscure, as it is not said whether it be 240
feet, yards, or paces.--E.]
The son of Cojah Nassan, the principal India merchant of the town, whom
we waited upon at his house, promised us all kindness, and regaled us
with tobacco and coffee, as is usual among these people. We went
afterwards to wait upon the governor before we returned on board. He
rose up at our entry to meet us, causing us to sit down by him, and
repeated all the fair promises of free trade he had given the day
before, declaring that he would deny us nothing that was reasonable. He
then told us there was another governor shortly to succeed him, who was
as his brother, and honester even than himself, who would faithfully
perform every thing he had promised. At our request, the governor
ordered the water-bailiff to furnish us at all times with boats, either
for our conveyance, or to carry water to the ship. From the governor, we
again went to visit the scrivano, who received us with much civility,
promising to come aboard to visit our ship, and compliment our captain.
After treating us with coffee, we took leave, and returned to the ship,
when the pledges were dismissed, acknowledging the good treatment they
had received, and were saluted on going ashore with five guns.
On the 17th, the scrivano, with our two pledges, our Jew friend, and
twenty other persons, came aboard, bringing a bullock, with bread,
quinces, and other fruits, a great round cake or pasty, like puff-paste,
in which were several fowls and chickens, well seasoned and baked, and
most excellent eating. We also, with a large quince pye, and many crabs,
together with sack and cordials, added our best welcome. The scrivano
was so well pleased with his reception, that he insisted upon becoming
the sworn brother of our captain, which was accordingly celebrated with
a cup of sack; and, after much mirth, and having taken a view of our
ship, he departed highly gratified.
We were well supplied with water by several poor people of Mokha, who
brought it off to the ship at a reasonable rate. Also, with the
concurrence of the governor and scrivano, we made every junk that
arrived anchor under our guns, and to ride in that situation till they
discharged their cargo; which indeed the governor wished us to do,
because some junks passed by that port to trade at others, to the injury
of Mokha At six in the evening of the 21st of April, we had a violent
storm of wind off the land, accompanied by much thunder and lightning,
but no rain, which continued for half an hour, all the rest of the night
being extremely hot. Although we rode above a league from the shore,
this tempest brought great quantities of dust, and even sand on board.
The 25th, we had a message from the scrivano, saying that the governor
and he had received letters from the pacha at Sinan, commanding them to
entertain us with all manner of kindness, and to give us free trade,
with liberty to reside among them in all quietness and security.
On the 27th the new governor arrived, when the ordnance of the town, and
of our ship and the several junks in the road, all fired to welcome his
arrival. He sent the former pledges on board to return thanks for our
salute, accompanied by a present of plantains, limes, mangoes, melons,
and bread, with one bullock, promising, in the name of the pacha, as
free trade as our nation had in Constantinople. The pledges remained all
night aboard, and went ashore with us next day, when we found the new
and the old governors sitting together at the end of a large room, much
in the same way as we had found the old one at our first arrival. The
new governor was named Regib Aga, and was accompanied by several
principal Turks, and by all the principal merchants from Surat, Diu,
Dabul, Scindy, Calicut, and Cananore. On our approach, he and the other
Turks only moved their bodies, but all the merchants rose up to salute
us. He made us sit down beside him, and told us that the pacha had
commanded him to give us satisfaction in all things; and that he knew
besides, we were of a nation in friendship with the Grand Signior, and
had free trade in Constantinople, Aleppo, and other parts of the Turkish
empire, being a nation of a friendly and honest disposition, and we
should therefore always find him disposed to give us free trade, and
every other courtesy In reply, we told him we proposed, at our next
coming to Mokha, if our reasonable requests of a free trade were
granted, to settle a permanent factory at this place, and to come yearly
to the port, with plenty of English and India goods, and should defend
the trade against pirates. We even distantly hinted, that it was
needless to deny us a free trade, being in a condition to force it if
refused, and to hinder all others from coming hither, the fear of which
had already caused some junks to pass by Mokha to Jidda, the port of
Mecca, a town of great trade, 150 leagues farther up the Red Sea, and to
other places.
The new governor replied, that we should be made as welcome as in any
place of our own country; and swore by God, and Mahomet, and by his own
beard, that we should live as free from all injury as in our own land.
We asked what security he would give us besides his word, when he said
we should have his phirmaun under his _chop_, or seal, and would procure
us the same from the pacha. With this we seemed satisfied, and gave him
many thanks; and indeed they all seemed perfectly willing to give us
every satisfaction, yet, in my opinion, not from good-will or justice,
but from fear, as they knew we were able to intercept their whole trade.
After some conversation about our ambassador, who now resided at
Constantinople, and about the Portuguese and Spaniards, whom Rajib said
were proud and faithless nations, we spoke of Sir Henry Middleton,
asking the cause of their treacherous conduct to him and his people. He
answered, that the then Vizier was a bloody, cruel, and ill-minded man,
and made worse by the instigation of the Turks and Arabs of Mokha, who
were enraged by the uncivil behaviour of our people, who made water at
the gates of their mosques, forced their way into the houses after the
citizens wives, and being daily drunk in the streets, would fight and
quarrel with the people,[290] things hateful in their eyes. These were
only in part the cause, for the covetousness of the governor, hoping to
have got their ship and goods, was the main cause of that scandalous
conduct, for which he was soon afterwards sent to Constantinople to
answer for his crimes.
[Footnote 290: Let English Christians read, blush, and amend--_Purch._]
We dined that day with the scrivano, and hired a house of Hassan Aga,
one of our pledges, at seventy dollars the monsoon, or yearly rent, it
being all the same. The scrivano insisted to swear himself our friend on
his Koran, yet denied the present governor to be the person who captured
Sir Henry Middleton, which we afterwards found to be Turkish faith, or
absolute falsehood. We now agreed to pay at the rate of three in the
hundred, _ad valorem_, both inwards and outwards, though the scrivano
swore that all others paid five; all money, with silver and gold in
bullion, to pass free of duty. We remained this night with the scrivano
to supper, and gave him a present.
On the 29th of April we expected to have had our phirmaun publicly read
before all the merchants, and proclaimed to the people; but most part of
the day was spent in ceremony by the governor and other chiefs at the
mosque, on account of the death of Sultan Achmet, the Grand signior,
and the accession of his brother to the throne. They came riding past
our house while we were sitting at a window which opened to the street,
whence we made our obeisance to them, and they bowed in return. They
were all in grand gala, having their horses richly caparisoned. At four
in the afternoon we were sent for, but our linguist had got to a Jew
house and was drunk with arrack, so we sent an apology, under pretence
that Mr Salbank was indisposed, and promised attendance next day. On the
31st, the governor sent for us, and made our welcome known to all the
merchants, causing his scrivano draw up a phirmaun as full as we could
have wished, which he signed with his chop or seal in the afternoon at
the house of the principal scrivano, entirely according to what was
before agreed upon, by which we were to pay three per cent. for all we
landed, excepting money, and the same for all we took on board, except
victuals. We got afterwards a similar phirmaun from Mahomet, the pacha
of Sinan: and Rejib Aga gave us a particular safe conduct for Mr Salbank
and the rest.[291]
[Footnote 291: Copies, or translations rather, from the Arabic, are
given in the Pilgrims of all these three phirmauns, which it was not
thought necessary to insert.--E]
It was now agreed among ourselves that Mr Salbank and I were to remain
ashore to conduct the business of sales and purchases, while Mr Barber
staid on board to prepare and send such goods as we required. The 5th of
May we went to the scrivano to get leave to make arrack for the use of
our sick men; because, since our linguist and several of our people had
got drunk in the house of a Jew, we had complained, and procured an
order prohibiting the Jews from selling them any, and the governor had
even strictly enjoined the Jews and Turks not to sell any more arrack or
wine in the town. At our request through the scrivano, the governor
granted leave for a Jew, nominated for the purpose to brew arrack at our
house, but forbid any to be made elsewhere.
In the afternoon of the 8th, learning that the governor and principal
men were sitting in form at the Alfandica, to receive the Surat captain
who was then coming on shore, we went also to see the ceremonial of his
reception. We found the governor at the upper end of a long room,
sitting on a stone bench spread with carpets, having on the same bench
with him various merchants and Turks of quality, to the number of about
twenty. Opposite to him sat about as many in chairs, forming a lane down
the room to a square platform raised three steps from the floor, railed
in and matted, in which the scrivano and other officers of the customs
sat on carpets. The governor bid us welcome, saying he had given orders
to the chief broker to examine our goods and promote their sale. He then
desired us to sit down, two merchants offering us their places, and
called for coffee and tobacco to regale us.
About half an hour after, the nokhada, or captain of the Surat ship,
came ashore. His boat was curiously painted, having a tilt of red silk,
with many streamers, and sails of fine white calico. He was rowed by
twenty of his servants, all dressed in fine white calico, and he was
accompanied by a wretched band of music, consisting of drums, waits, and
bad trumpets, the noise from which was augmented by the discharge of
guns from his own great junk and those belonging to the town. Attended
by a few slaves, decked out in silks and coarse sattins, he entered the
lone room where we were, when the governor rose and saluted him, and
placed him next himself on the stone bench. Many compliments of welcome
passed between the nokhada and the other merchants; but in the height of
his pride he overlooked us, and we him accordingly. Yet we thought he
might have shewn us more respect, considering that Captain Shilling had
sent his long-boat and men to free his junk of 400 or 500 tons, when
aground, and had entertained him with much civility aboard our ship.
After some time spent in compliments, coffee was again brought in for
all the company; after which six vests were produced, two of which were
given to the Surat captain, and one each to his four principal
merchants. When these were put on, and mutual _salams_ or reverences
given, they again sat down, like so many painted images, dressed up in
coats of coarse gold and silver velvet. We here observed one usual
custom of this town, at the arrival of any junk, and the landing of her
nokhada or captain, that free liberty is given to all the mariners and
passengers to bring ashore as much goods as each man can carry on his
back, without payment of any duty; accordingly, at this time, about 300
persons belonging to this junk passed with their luggage to the
captain's residence, unmolested.
On the 9th, our landlord and the scrivano told us that three junks from
Diu, and four Malabar vessels, were at Aden, whence they were afraid to
proceed without our pass or licence. Accordingly we sent them a free
pass, signed by our captain and three merchants. In this, after reciting
that we had found good usage from the governor and merchants at Mokha,
we engaged to give them all freedom to pass quietly, assuring them of
kind usage, provided they were not enemies to our sovereign or his
subjects. A more general pass was afterwards granted by us for the quiet
and free departure of all junks and other vessels, with their cargoes,
mariners, and passengers.
On the 10th, the captain of the Dabul junk invited us to a banquet at
his house, where we found the governor with about fifty principal
persons, besides attendants, all of whom rose up to bid us welcome.
Coffee, sherbet, and tobacco, were served round, with various fruits, as
plums, apricots, and mangoes, and thinking these had been the feast, we
were about to depart; but the governor and the Dabul captain desired us
to remain, that we might _eat bread and salt with them_, which we did.
The feast at last made its appearance, though late, being about sixty
dishes of meats, baked, roasted, broiled, stewed, and boiled, but all
mingled with rice and various kinds of sallads, in the fashion of India.
Our cargo consisted mostly of bad wares, which had lain in India till
they were nearly spoiled, and so hung long upon our hands; wherefore we
importuned the governor to dispeed our sales, which he charged the
broker to do with all expedition. We also had leave granted to come and
go between the ship and the shore at our pleasure, without demanding
leave, contrary to the usual custom of the port, the water bailiff being
ordered to give us no molestation. On the 20th, it was noticed that the
monsoon had changed. The 24th, the scrivano observed to us that our
sailors, on coming ashore, were in the custom of selling _baftas_ and
sword-blades in the bazar. He said the governor had promised liberty for
the goods of these poor fellows to pass free of custom, and therefore
they might freely bring them ashore for sale, but must sell them at our
house, and not in the public bazar, which was a disgrace to us and our
nation.
On the 31st, our ship was in great danger of being burnt. Some one
happened to be smoking on the spritsail yardarm, when the burning
tobacco fell out unobserved into a fold of the sail, where it burnt
through two or three breadths, and was long smelt before it could be
found. After this, smoking was strictly prohibited, except in the
cook-room or the captain's cabin. At this time, for the recovery of our
sick men, the exploration of the coast, and procuring ballast instead
of lead taken out of the ship for sale, it was concluded to send the
ship over to Assab; on the African coast, on which occasion Mr Baffen,
the master's mate, was sent before to sound and discover the passage.
On the 10th of June we had a conference with the governor, and, among
other discourse, he told us that he was governor of Aden when the
Ascension was there, when he imprisoned the captain and Mr Joseph
Salbank for two days, suspecting them to be freebooters, and not
merchants, as he alleged. He said also that he was governor here at
Mokha when Sir Henry Middleton was apprehended, but laid the whole blame
of that transaction on the then pacha, whose servant he was, and who had
given orders for that and much more, which he called God to witness was
much contrary to his inclination, and declared that these things were
past, and we had now nothing to fear. By this avowal, we had a clear
evidence how far he and the scrivano were to be trusted. The governor
sent for us again on the 13th, saying that he had acquainted the pacha
with our purpose of sending to him for his phirmaun, and that he had
promised a hearty welcome and full contentment, whether we went
personally or sent a messenger; but the governor advised that one of us
should go up to Sinan, for which purpose he would provide us with
horses, camels, and attendants, and should write in our behalf to the
pacha.
The 19th a junk arrived from Jiddah, with many passengers from Mecca,
bringing camblets, bad coral, amber beads, and much silver, to invest in
spices and India cotton goods. She brought news of a ship, laden last
year from Mokha for Grand Cairo, which had lost her monsoon, and was
forced to wait till next year, at a place only a little way beyond
Jiddah. By this ship, the governor had letters informing him that the
Grand Signior had sent various state ornaments to the pacha of Sinan,
whom he had confirmed in his government for seven years longer, and
appointing himself to continue governor of Mokha for the like time, of
which he seemed not a little proud.
As I was constantly indisposed, it was thought fit that Mr Salbank
should go up to Sinan to wait upon the pacha with a present, and to
carry up some goods also with him for sale at that place. On this
occasion, the scrivano offered him his own mule to ride upon, which he
thankfully accepted. He was furnished with two camels, a cook, a
horsekeeper, and three servants belonging to the governor, all of whose
wages he agreed to pay at certain fixed rates, and was also accompanied
by a linguist named Alberto. Taking leave of the governor, who gave him
letters for the pacha, he departed from Mokha about six in the evening
of the 23d June, the nights being the accustomed time of travelling.
In the morning of the 23d, we had a letter from our captain; then at
Assab, informing of his safe arrival there, and the good health of the
people, and that he had procured ballast and provisions to his
satisfaction. On the 26th, the governor sent me a horse by one of his
servants, inviting me to accompany him to his banqueting house, about
half a mile out of town, there to spend the day in mirth along with
other merchants. About half an hour after, the chief scrivano came to
accompany me, with whom I went, joining the governor by the way, and
rode with him to the place. It was a fair house, in the middle of a
grove of date trees, beside a large tank or pond, having several rooms
handsomely fitted; up for sitting. After a little while, the governor
and several others went into the tank to bathe, where they sported
themselves for half an hour. Coffee was then handed round to the
company, after which grapes, peaches, and both musk and water; melons,
were brought in, together with blanched almonds and great quantities of
raisins, as there were between fifty and sixty guests, besides,
attendants; and always between whiles coffee, sherbet, and tobacco were
handed round. Thus, and with indifferent music, we spent the forenoon.
After prayers, the governor, went again into the tank, where he spent an
hour sporting with his company. In the sequel, the time was spent in
cards and chess, and in looking at various; jiggling tricks, till four
in the evening. At this time above an hundred dishes were served up, all
of good meat, but; cold, and ill dressed, each dish being sufficient to
have satisfied four hungry men. He treated me with much kindness, and
was earnest to have me go with him into the tank, but I excused myself;
on account of my late indisposition. He then said, if at any time I was
inclined to bathe, I might come to this place when I pleased, and he
would give orders to the keeper to admit me and use me well.
The 12th July, the Surat captain made a fine display of many artificial
fire-works before the governor, it being then new moon. The governor
sent for me to see them, and placed me in a chair beside himself,
telling me he had letters that day from Sinan, informing him that the
Pacha had granted a phirmaun for us before the arrival of Mr Salbank,
but hearing of his coming, had delayed sending it, and had since granted
another, according to his instructions, and had delivered it to Mr
Salbank with his own hand.
On the 13th there passed by the roads a junk of four or five hundred
tons from Jiddah, bound for _Kitchine_, a day's sail within the entrance
of the Red Sea, which I suppose is not far from Cape Guardafui, on the
coast of Africa.[292] She is said to contain great sums in gold and
silver, with much valuable merchandize. This ship comes yearly to Mokha
at the beginning of the western monsoon, bringing myrrh, and boxes for
_coho_ seeds, [coffee] and goes from hence to Jiddah or _Aliambo_, [Al
Yambo] where she sells her coffee and the India goods procured at
Kitchine; which last are brought thither by Portuguese barks from Diu
and other places. Her outward lading consists of indigo, all manner of
India cotton goods, gum-lac; and myrrh.[293] She is freighted by the
Portuguese, and the governor of Mokha wished much we had met with her,
which we had probably done, had not our ship been absent, which returned
into the road of Mokha on the 21st. I went aboard, and was told that the
king of Assab and his brother had been aboard, and were kindly
entertained, in return for which he promised to supply them with
abundance of beeves and goats; but that same evening, in consequence of
a signal of fire, he and all his people fled into the mountains,
pretending they were threatened by an attack from their enemies, and
never even gave thanks for their entertainment.
[Footnote 292: The only place resembling this name is Kissem, on the
oceanic coast of Yemen, or Arabia Felix, nearly due N. from Cape
Guardafui.--E.]
[Footnote 293: This must refer to her homeward lading, called outward in
the text in respect to India.--E.]
Before day of the 27th July, Mr Salbank returned from Sinan in perfect
health, and much satisfied with his phirmauns. He gave me an account of
his whole journey, having been respectfully treated every where; always
before entering any town, being met both by horse and foot to conduct
him to the different governors, by whom he was kindly received. All his
provisions were provided by their officers, but at his own expence; and
the servant of the governor of Mokha caused him every where to be well
used. He was met a mile from Sinan by forty or fifty Turks, well
mounted, sent by the Pacha to escort him to a well-furnished house
prepared for his reception. He was there kindly received and entertained
by the xeriffe and the pacha's chief treasurer, who were both deputed to
give him welcome in the name of the pacha. Two days afterwards, he had
audience of the pacha, from whom he received courteous entertainment,
receiving two phirmauns of the same tenor, one of which was much more
ornamentally written than the other, and intended for being shown to the
Grand Signior, if necessary.
According to his report, the city of Sinan and its neighbourhood will
give vent yearly for a good quantity of English cloth, as the weather
there is cold for three quarters of the year; and even while he was
there, though the height of summer, a person might well endure a furred
gown. Besides, there is a court at that place to which belongs _forty_
or _fifty_ thousand gallant Turks,[294] most of whom wore garments of
high-priced Venetian cloth. Not far from thence there is a leskar, or
camp, of 30,000 soldiers,[295] continually in the field against an Arab
king in the adjoining mountains, not yet conquered; all of which
soldiers are said to wear coats of quilted India chintzes, which are
dear, and of little service to defend them from the cold of that region,
which is there excessive. To this I may add the city or Teyes, near
which there is a _leskar_ of thirty or forty thousand soldiers,
commanded by a German renegado under the pacha of Sinan. That place,
though only about five days journey from Mokha, is very cold, and much
cloth is worn by the people about that place.
[Footnote 294: This is probably a vast exaggeration, though in words at
length in the Pilgrims; and we ought more likely to read _four_ or
_five_ thousand Turks.--E.]
[Footnote 295: A similar reduction to 3000 is probably needful for this
army.--E.]
On the 2d of August the governor sent a rich vest to our captain by the
chief shabander, attended by drums and trumpets, his boat being decked
out with flags and streamers. This was delivered with great ceremony,
and reverently received. The Dabul nokhada, Melic Marvet, and Roswan,
the nokhada of the Chaul ship, sent us letters of recommendation to
their kings, on the 11th August, according to our desire, certifying the
friendly usage they had experienced from us at Mokha, and our kind
offer to protect them on the homeward voyage, from pirates, and
entreating therefore for us freedom of trade and friendly usage in their
dominions. The 14th, as we had formerly done to others, we gave our
passes to two Malabar captains, Amet ben Mahomet of Cananore, under
Sultan Ala Rajah, and Aba Beker of Calicut, under the Zamorin.
This day there came a galley into the road from Cairo, having many Turks
and Jews as passengers, bringing great store of dollars, chekins, coral,
damask, sattin, camblet, opium, velvets, and taffetas. She had come down
the whole length of the Red Sea in thirty days. I had a conference with
the Jews, one of whom I had formerly known in Barbary. They reported
that the brother of the former Grand Signior, on being made emperor, had
imprisoned his two nephews, and put to death several of the grandees,
and had otherwise given great offence to the great men at
Constantinople, whereupon he was deposed and imprisoned, and his eldest
nephew made emperor in his stead. They said likewise that an army of
200,000 men was sent against the Persians, for the conquest of
Gurgistan, adding various other particulars, some of which turned out
true, and others false, like merchants news in general. Some Turks and
Jews desired to have passage for themselves and goods in our ship to
Surat; and it is likely, when they know us better, much profit may be
made in this way, as their junks are usually pestered with rude people.
Having sold and bartered our goods as well as we could have expected,
considering our cargo, and dispatched all our business, we visited the
governor, and desired to have his testimonials to the lord ambassador,
which he gave us. We took leave of him on the 19th of August, and of the
scrivano and other chief men of the town, from whom we received
protestations of continued kindness on all future occasions. We went
aboard that same day, proposing to sail the next day for India, taking
the Surat junk under our convoy, according to our instructions.