The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 3.5
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 3.5
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3.5.1
The true Course and distance from Cape Guardefuy to Abdalacora being E. by N. 18 leaugs. From the Wester end therof N.N.E. by the Compasse, 4 leaugs off, ther lyes a smale Island, showeing 3 whyte bankes. We stood alonge to the Eastward end of this Island from the West end, lowe ragged barren land but showeing higher and higher till we saw two high hills toward the Eastward end. About the middle theroff there are fine sandy bayes and I suppose good riding, we hauing had in the openings 12 & 14 fadome water, sandy ground. But the Dragon standing off we stood alongest till they tooke in all their sayles, and had an Anchor a Pike, but it seemes Could gett no ground; and supposing shee intended to Anchor, the fleete loofte vp Close aboord the shoare vnder the Eastermost high land, wher wee had ground in 18 fadome, shelly and foule. But all our Anchors tript, soe that wee were putt off twice apeece, except the Dragon, whose Anchor when shee Came into vs helde by a Rocke, and wee stood it off and on, with much foule weather all that night. But in the Morninge, having loste sight one of another, and beeing putt to leeward of the Island wee steered away E.S.E. At 6 a Clock the 20th day by 8 wee had sight of the Peppercorne, who had shippt a sea into her Mainetopp, and filled her betweene the decks that shee was in great perill. By 9 we sawe the Expedition alsoe ahead steering for Socatra, a Mightie sea on our starboord syde. The variation and all allowed wee made our way E. ½ N.
3.5.2
10 leaugs, being to the Northward of Abdalacora in the Morninge, when we stood off 3 leaugs, the wynd at S. by W. At 12 at Noone wee sawe the W. end of Socatra E. by the Compasse 3 leaugs off, soe that the true course and distance betweene them is E.N.E. 13 leaugs. From the W. end of Socatra 2 leaugs off N.W. by N. there showes a Rock like a saile or a Ruyned Church. At 5 of the Clock in the afternoone we Anchored in the seconnd baye from the W. end of the Island, wher we rode in 6 fadome water, grosse sand, and brought the Poynts the one East the other West, being a mightie highe Cliffe. This is in 12° 50', variation 17° 50'. At 8 at night the wynd Powred downe the hills with such violence that we droue into 15 fadome, our Anchor beinge broken, and having lett fall another our Cable broke, and then wee were forced to bend our sheate Anchor and lett it goe, and Ride by a whole shott, having strooke all our yeards and topmasts. We had much adoe to ride it out, havinge a wyndward shoar within a mile, but soe much wynd till morning as noe ould seaman in our fleete ever sawe or felt. August 21. — This day at 4 in the Afternoone the Admirall came into the Roade with soe much wynd that shee splitt her foresaile, wherby shee was putt to lewward, and Anchored in a baye at the East end of the bay wee rodd in against lowe whyte sand hills in 19 fadome water, shee having stayed at Abdala [cora] the 20th day hopinge we had been able to recouer againe the Island.
3.5.3
August 22. — We weyed with much adoe, having had the same violence of wynd the night past as wee had the first night, and Came to Anchor in the little baye by the Admirall in 13 fadome water, sandye ground, where we rode at ease this night, the wynd being dispersed by the lesser hills and valey betweene vs and the high land. Here we spake one with another and bemoned our losses, the Admirall having spent a Mayne and a fore Course, and bent a sheate Anchor streight out, we brake an Anchor and a Cable and bent another, and almost wore asunder a wholle shott, the Peppercorne lost 3 Anchors and 2 Cables and fretted another, the Expedition lost 4 Cables and Anchors; for both at Abdalacora and those high lands of Socatra the wyndes Power down with such impetuousnes and the Ground soe Rockye, that I advise all men to forbeare to Anchor vnder them, for if they be putt from their Anchors in the night they shall fall soe farr to Leward that they cannot recouer the Island but must loose Company. But if night or weather force them to Anchor, lett them Choose to ride where some lower land breakes the violence of the wynde from the hills. Wee Rodd in the second quarter of the encreasing Moone, which rose then aboue the Horizon about 12 at Noone and sett at Midnight, at which tyme these wyndes beginn to rage soe long as shee is vnder the earth, and rising againe it becomes temperate. The Moone is a great ladie of weather in these parts and requires much obseruation.
3.5.4
August 23. — We weyed togeather, and Came to Anchor afore Tamara, the kings towne, bringinge the lowe Poynte to the East of the high sandy hill without itt E. by N., in 10 fadome water, a Mile from the Towne. Here the Sultan sent vs woord the wynds were from the hills so forceable that we should hardly ride, but advised vs to goe to Baya Delicca, 2 leaugs to the East, where he would meete vs. It is a veary good Roade, deseruinge the name of delightfull for the Peaceablenes thereoff in respect of others. It is a valley of much lower hills, betweene the water and the Raggid Mountaines of Tamara. You may bringe the two little hamocks that lye on the lowe poynt without the high land to the Eastward, S.E. and the lowe land that was E. by N. in Tamara Road N.W. by W., and ride in 10 fadome within 1/2 of a mile of the shoare. The latitude is 12° 35', the variation 18° 20'. The Ground is whyte sand but Rockye, soe that you must wotch or boye your Cables. August 24. — We came to Anchor by 9 in the Morninge in Baya Delicia, where the Sultan Mett vs with all his Pompe. Socatra is an Island in the Mouth of the Red Sea, called Anciently Dioscuria or Dioscorida, standing in 12° 55' ; gouerned by a Sultan called Amar-ben-Seid, borne in the Island, the sonne of the king of Fartaque in Arabia Fœlix, called Sultan Seid-ben-Seid, who was Sultan of Socatra in the tyme of his grandfather, as this shalbe king after his father of Fartacque, and his sonne lefte at Socatra.
3.5.5
The kingdom of Fartacque lies from 15° to 18° alonge the Coast of Arabia, and to the North to the Mountayns. Hee is at Peace with the Turke (who houldes all Arabia in Tribute, except this Cuntrie) on this Condition to send 5000 Menn in ayde of the Turke, if he requir it, to be paid by the Turke, without other acknowledgment. Thear lyes Neare the sea a Petty king about Dofar with whom he dare not Meddle, being in the Grandsignior's protection. This is the relation of Amar-Ben-Seid of Socatra. The Sultan of Socatra mett our fleete with 300 or thereabouts, havinge sett vp a tent at Baya Delecia. He rode vpon a horse, and 3 of his Chiefe seruants on two horses and one Camell, the People Marching before and behinde him, shouttinge after the Turkish manner, with two Guardes, one of souldiers which are his Cuntrimen, and 12 of his priuat Guard, hiered Gusaratts, some with Turkish bowes, some with Pistolls, some with Musketts all with good swoordes. He had a few kettell drums and one Trumpett. When the Generall went ashoar he receiued him with state and Curtesie. Hee is a subtile man, of good vnderstanding, as appeares by his gouerment and diuers answers. He Raignes soe absolutely that noe man can sell any thing but him selfe. His People sitt aboute him with great respect ; his officers standing by, who take account of trade, and receiue and paye.
3.5.6
His Clothes are of Suratt stuffs, after the Arabes Manner, with a Cassocke of wrought velvett, red and whytt, and another the ground gould, a very good Turbant, but barefooted. Euery night at sunne sett they stand or kneele all toward the sunn and pray, the Xeriff throweinge water on their heades. Their Religion is Mahometan. The Kings Towne of Tamara is built of lyme and stone whyted ouer, Battled and Pinnacled, the howses being flatt at the top. It showes faire in the Road, but when one is there, is but poore. Master Boughton borrowed the kings horse, and obtayned leaue to see his house, the king sendinge a Sheck with him. Hee found it not answerable to the apperances, yet such as an ordinary gentellman might make a shifte with in England. His lower roomes were vsd as warehowses, one as a wardrope, wher hung along the walls some Changes of robes and 25 bookes of their law, religion, story, and Saints liues (of which I could obteyne non) ; but aboue noe man may Come, to see his wifes, which are 3, nor other weomen (but the ordinary are seene in the Townes, with their ears full of siluer rings). In the Church the Preist was at seruice, butt seeing Master Boughton take out his watch he soone finished, and Came and woondred. Ther was prouided 3 henns for their dinner with rise, and for drink water and Cohu, blake liquor taken as hotte as may be endured.
3.5.7
At his returne the king in Complement said hee had seene a poore Place, but desired him to accept it Ther is a Castell four square on a hill a Mile from Tamara, but hee could not gett licence to see it. The People are of 4 sorts : Arabs his cuntrimen, who it seemes are his strength and such as are not the Ancient inhabitans but Come in with the Conquest of his Ancesters, and these obey him and dare not speake without lycence (as apeared when one seemed of quallity spake, he asked him how he durst open his Mouth in his presence), but aproching kisse his hand A seconnd sort are slaues who, when they Come to him, kisse his foote, and those doe all his worke and make his Aloese. A theird sort are, as I suppose, the ould inhabitants of the Country (but not the eldest) called Bedwynes, the same which other historians haue called Jacobits, Christians that have longe dwelt there ; with these he hath had a warr (as the Arabs report), and dwell in the Mountayns, very Populus, but are now at Peace, on condition to liue quietly, and to breed their Children Mahometans, which I perceiue they doe not, having noe manner of conuersation with the Arabs. The reason why I take them to be the ould Jacobite Christians mentioned by Maginus, Purchase, and others, is because Master Boughton sawe an ould Church of theirs in the way to Tamara, left desolate, the doore shutt but only tyde. Beeing desierous to enter yt, the Shecke his guide tould him it was full of spiritts ;
3.5.8
yet hee adventured in, and found an Alter with Images and a Crosse vpon yt, which he brought out. Then the Shecke tould him they were a people of another religion, but very loath to haue them much enquired after ; as I suspect (knoweing them to be a kind of Christians) doubting wee would eyther wish them better, or not suffer them to be oppressed. The 4 sortt are a Sauage People, poore, leane, naked, with long hayer, eating nothing but rootes, hidinge in Bushes, conuersing with none, afrayd of all, without howses, and almost as Sauadge as beasts; and by conjecture the true ancient naturalls of this Island.