Their Water Is Kept In Cisterns, And Has To
Be Brought On Camels From A Place A Days Journey Distant, As There Are
No Wells Or Springs.
A days journey[242] inland from this place is a
large town named Medinah, or Medinat al Nubi, where is the sepulchre
of Mahomet, though commonly said to be at Mecca[243].
We remained at
Yamboa six days, and set sail at four o'clock on the 1st of May; but
after proceeding only 10 miles the wind became contrary, and we had to
anchor among some shoals, where we staid two days. During the 3d and
4th, we had to stand off and on, beating up against a contrary wind; and
so continued for six days, advancing only eight miles in all that
time. The 10th and 11th, the wind being still contrary, we made only 10
miles, and anchored in a different place. Proceeding along the coast on
the 13th, we came up with a galleon which left Zabid before the rest
of the fleet. The pilots name was Mikali, and some of those on board
belonged to the Venetian gallies of Alexandria.
[Footnote 241: Called Jombu in the edition of Aldus, and Jambut by
Rarmusio. This is Yembo, Yambo, or Yamboa, the Italians using the J
instead of the Y. Yamboa is the port of Medina, Medinah, or Medinat
al Nubi, signifying the city, or the city of the prophet. - Astl. I.
100. c.]
[Footnote 242: Medina is at least 90 miles inland from Yamboa, which
cannot be less than three ordinary days journeys. - E.]
[Footnote 243: This error has been long since corrected, yet many
travellers still persist in placing the tomb of Mahomet at Mecca. - Astl.
I. 100. d. - Christian travellers are debarred from visiting the holy
cities of Mecca and Medina. At Mecca the grand object of pilgrimage is
the Caaba or holy house, containing a black stone, the remains of
the ancient Pagan superstition of the Arabians: Perhaps the same with
the Lingam or Priapus of the Hindoos. - E.]
The 14th, we sailed 10 miles[244] along the coast, and cast anchor in 7
fathoms at a place named Sikhabo. The 15th we sailed 70 miles N.W. and
came to anchor in the open sea. The 16th, we sailed along the coast 30
miles, and anchored at a place named Buducktor or Bubuktor. The 17th
sailing 30 miles along the coast, we anchored in 20 fathoms in the open
sea, near an island called Yenamani. Going 20 miles along shore on the
18th, we anchored for the night off Khifate. We proceeded 50 miles
along shore on the 19th, and anchored at Molin. The 20th, we anchored
at sea 25 miles farther. Proceeding 48[245] miles on the 21st along
shore, we anchored in the evening out at sea. The 22d, after sailing 10
miles, we anchored again at sea. Being in a very bad anchorage, we
proceeded again on the 24th with a tolerably good wind.
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