‘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’ [‎86] (107/508)

I he Travels of Peter Delia Valic,
III.
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tidings^ the Bells of theirs^ and all other Churches of the City
ringing in the mean time for joy, being injoyn d thereunto by the
Bilhop's Order. At night themfelves, and divers of their
Friendsj made Fire-works throughout the City. • And in favour
of them the chief Tortugals^ went the fame night up and down
the ftreets in a great Troop, clad in feveral difguifes, after the
manner of a Mafcheradc. I alfo bore a part in the folemnity 3
out of my devotion to the new Saint 5 and according to the
liberty which every one took of habiting himfelf as hepleas*d 5
I put my felfinto the garb of an Arabian Gentleman of the De-
fart, which was accounted very brave and gallant 5 I accom-
pany'd with Sig: Antonino, Son of Sig: Antonio Varaccio, my
friend « a vouth of about twelve years old 3 who was one of
thofe wta) went in the day time to the Vice-Roy, and I cloth'd
him ijBT^rfian Habit of mine which I had brought from Terfta,
or ratner like a nohleChizilbafe Souldier, very odd and brave 5
fo that we two were a fufficiently delightful fpedtacle to the
whole City. May the one and twentieth. In the Morning the
Bare-footed Fathers fung in their Church a folemn Mafs ingrati-
Arum a&ionem for the above-faid Canonization of Santa Terefia,
upon whofe praifes an Anguftine Father made an eloquent Ser
mon j the Vice-Roy and a multitude of people being prefent
thereat. *
May the three and twentieth. The Sun entringinto
I obferv'd that the Rain begun in Goa , and it happens not alike
in all the Coaft of India 5 tor it begins firft in the more Souther*
ly parts of Capo Comorni^ and follows afterwards by degrees, ac
cording as places extend more to the North 5 fo that in Cambaia y
and other more northern parts, it begins later then in Goa 5 and
the further any place lyes North , the later it begins there.
Whence it comes to pafs that in the Terfian Ephemerides, or Al
manacks, they ufe to let down the beginning of Parfcecal^ or
the time of Rain in India^ at the fifteenth of their third moneth,
call d which falls upon the third of our Junej becaufe they
have obferv'd it in the more Northern parts of as in Cam-
haia^ Surkt^ and the like, where the Perjians have more com
merce then in other more Southern places. In likewife, for
the moft part the beginniiigof the Rain is inthefirft days of
P" e yet fometimes it anticipates, and fometimes falls fome-
thing later with little difference. Tis obferv'd by long expe-
ncnce that this Rain in India, after having lafted fome days at
nrlt, ceales, and there return I know not how many days of fair
weather j but thofe being pafs'd, it begins again more violent
then ever, and continues for a long time together. By this
Rain, as 1 obferv'd, the heat diminifheth, and the Earth which
before was very dry and all naked ,. becomes cloth'd with
n jw verdure, and various colours of pleafant flowers, and efpe-
cia!,\ the Air oecomes more healthful, fweet, and more benigne
both to found and infirm. The arm of the Sea^ or River, which
^ • encompafles
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