When the illustrious Padishah was holding his court at Aleppo, in
Ramazan of the year 960 (1552), I was commanded to join the army.
I celebrated Ramzam-Bairam in attendance on his Majesty, later on,
however, I went to Sidi-Ghazi, made a pilgrimage in Konia to the tomb
of Molla-i-Rumi, and visited the shrines of the Sultan ul-Ulema, and
Shemsi Tebrizi, and of the Sheik Sadr-ed-din-Koniavi; at Kassarie I
made a pilgrimage to the graves of the Sheiks Awhad-ed-din Kirmani,
Burham-ed-din, Baha-ed-din Zade, Ibrahim Akserayi, and Davud Kaissari.
Returned to Haleb (Aleppo), I visited the graves of Daud, Zakeriah, and
Balkiah, as also those of Saad and Said, companions of the Prophet. The
Kurban-Bairam I spent again in attendance on the Sultan.
I must here mention that Piri Bey, the late Admiral of the Egyptian
fleet, had, some time previous to this, been dispatched with about 30
ships (galleys and galleons) from Suez, through the Red Sea, touching
Jedda and Yemen, and through the straits of Bab-i-Mandeb, past Aden
and along the coast of Shahar.[60] Through fogs and foul weather his
fleet became dispersed, some ships were lost, and with the remainder
he proceeded from Oman to Muscat, took the fortress and made all the
inhabitants prisoners; he also made an incursion into the islands of
Ormuz and Barkhat, after which he returned to Muscat. There he learned
from the captive infidel captain that the Christian (Portuguese) fleet
was on its way, that therefore any further delay was inadvisable, as
in case it arrived he would not be able to leave the harbor at all.
As a matter of fact it was already too late to save all the ships; he
therefore took only three, and with these just managed to make his
escape before the arrival of the Portuguese. One of his galleys was
wrecked near Bahrein, so he brought only two vessels back to Egypt. As
for the remainder of the fleet at Basrah, Kubad Pasha had offered the
command of it to the Chief Officer, but he had declined, and returned
to Egypt by land.
When this became known in Constantinople the command of the fleet had
been given to Murad Bey, formerly Sanjakbey of Catif, then residing
in Basrah. He was ordered to leave two ships, five galleys, and one
galleon at Basrah, and with the rest, _i.e._, 15 galleys (one galley
had been burned in Basrah) and two boats, he was to return to Egypt.
Murad Bey did start as arranged, but opposite Ormuz he came upon
the infidel (Portuguese) fleet, a terrible battle followed in which
Suleiman Reis, Rejeb Reis, and several of the men, died a martyr's
death. Many more were wounded and the ships terribly battered by the
cannon-balls. At last, night put a stop to the fight. One boat was
wrecked off the Persian coast, part of the crew escaped, the rest were
taken prisoners by the infidels, and the boat itself captured.
When all this sad news reached the capital, toward the end of Zilhija
of the said year 960 (1552), the author of these pages was appointed
Admiral of the Egyptian fleet.
I, humble Sidi Ali bin Husein, also known as Kiatibi-Rumi (the writer
of the West, _i.e._, of Turkey), most gladly accepted the post. I had
always been very fond of the sea, had taken part in the expedition
against Rhodes under the Sultan (Suleiman), and had since had a share
in almost all engagements, both by land and by sea. I had fought under
Khaireddin Pasha, Sinan Pasha, and other captains, and had cruised
about on the Western (Mediterranean) sea, so that I knew every nook
and corner of it. I had written several books on astronomy, nautical
science, and other matters bearing upon navigation. My father and
grandfather, since the conquest of Constantinople, had had charge
of the arsenal[61] at Galata; they had both been eminent in their
profession, and their skill had come down to me as an heirloom.
The post now entrusted to me was much to my taste, and I started from
Aleppo for Basrah, on the first of Moharram of the year 961 (7 Dec.
1553). I crossed the Euphrates at Biredjik and when in Reka (_i.e._,
Orfah), I undertook a pilgrimage to the tomb of Abraham, having visited
on the way between Nisebin and Mossul the holy graves of the prophets
Yunis and Djerdjis and of the sheiks Mohammed Garabili, Feth Mosuli,
and Kazib-elban-Mosuli. On the way to Bagdad I made a little detour
from Tekrit to Samira, and visited the graves of Iman Ali-el-Hadi and
Iman Haman Askeri, after which I came past the towns of Ashik[62] and
Maashuk, and through Harbi, past the castle of Semke, on to Bagdad.
We crossed the Tigris near Djisr and, after visiting the graves of
the saints there, I continued my journey past the fortress of Teir,
to Bire, and crossing the Euphrates near the little town of Masib, I
reached Kerbela (Azwie), where I made a pilgrimage to the graves of
the martyrs Hasan and Husein. Turning into the steppe near Shefata, I
reached Nedjef (Haira) on the second day, and visited the graves of
Adam, Noah, Shimun, and Ali, and from there proceeded to Kufa, where I
saw the mosque with the pulpit under which the prophets of the house
of Ali are buried, and the tombs of Kamber and Duldul. Arrived at the
fortress of Hasinia, I visited the grave of the prophet Zilkefl, the
son of Aaron, and in Hilla I made pilgrimages to the graves of Iman
Mohammed Mehdi and Iman Akil, brother of Ali, and also visited there
the mosque of Shem. Again crossing the Euphrates (this time by a
bridge), I resumed my journey to Bagdad and went from there by ship to
Basrah. On the way we touched Medain, saw the grave of Selmas Faris,
admired Tak Kesri and the castle of Shah Zenan, and went past Imare
Bugazi, on the road of Vasit to Zekya, past the strongholds of Adjul
and Misra to Sadi-es Sueiba and on to Basrah, where I arrived toward
the end of Safar of the said year (beginning of February, 1554).