‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎233] (254/508)

Into the EAST-INDIES.
ciatc^
is of Auguftine Fryers 3 where live about'four of that Order;,
and both are dedicated toourLadyj with feveral Titles 5 to
wit ? that of the Fryers Delia Gratia ^ and the other 3 DelKofario.
The Captain lives not always in the Caftlc by reafon of the incon
venience of its fituation-j but oncly during the hotter monthes
of Summer for coolneis^ for upon the lower ground the heat is
infupportable 5 both becaufe the Climate is of it felf hot 3 and
becaufe the dwellings lie in a low and inclos d place, encompaf-
fed;, as I faid 5 with Mountains 3 whichkeepofi'allwind, and re
verberate the Sun more ftrongly ^ befides that, the Soil is dry
andfaltifh, which confequcntly increafes the heat. The Cap
tain whom I found there., was call d Sig: Martino Alfonjb ae Melo.
I alfo found dwelling here a Nephew, or Brothers Son of the aj
Captive King of Ormuz,, whofe Father was alto Ring of the '■
fame place before this Brother of his, who is dt this day prifoner
in Perfta. This Nephew, they told me, was call'd after his
Uncle's Name Muhhamed-Sciah 5 and the P^«g4/s make him
be acknowledged Prince in Arabia by all the Arabians that were
lately fubjed to the King of Ormut, and are now exempt from
the oppreffion of thePerfianf or Rebellion, as neareft Rinfman
and lawfulleft Heir(ofany now at liberty)to the imprifon'd King.
At the fame time of our Arrival, there was alfo at Mafcat upon
his journey Hhabefe-ChaH ^ Ambaflador of the King of Dacan^
Nizam-Sciah) who was returning to his Mafter from Verfia^hexe
he had been many years,with Sciah-Abbas. It being night when
we arriv'd at Mafcat^ we went not afhore 5 onely the Captain
of the Ship was fent for by the Governour to (peak with him^
and give him account of his purpofes. #
Remaining in the Ship this night, and for tny Recreation ob-
ferving the Stars a little before day, I beheld (as I had at other
times in India) the Aujiral Crofi 0 which the Spaniards call Crncero,
and is the nearefi: vifible Conftellation to the Southern Pole, fer-
ving in the other Hemifphere as the Pole-Star of the North
in ours 5 fo that this Crofsis dilcerned even in the parallel 01
Mafcat) which is inthe Elevation ofa^ derees 36 / . 7^. Indeed
it appears low, but a little above the Horizon.^ I noted here
that in thefe Indian Seas this Crofs is feen at the time above-faid,
(^to wit, a little before day, very eredt? for it rifes late in the
night, and at firfl: appears a^thwart, till the Heaven wheeling
about with a fhort circle, a little before day it appears in its
*•
cred Figure, which is of this form, * ^ * confifting of 4 ftars
difpos'd in this manner, three of which are greater and more
luminous, and one, to wit, that of the Weftern arm, is lefs and
moreobfeure when the Crofs iseredt. The Can op us which
vidbleinour Countries, we had hero very high above the Hon-
zon, and it appear'd in the beginning of the night. ^
January the fourteenth. Having procur a Lodging, about
h noon
S 1'
VIII.
iff'
HI
fSi'V