On The 26th, All The Gallies Being Hauled Up, The
Cables, Rigging, Tackle, Iron Work, Planks, Small Cannon, And All The
Other Stores Were Carried Into The Castle Of Suez.
[Footnote 247:
In Ramusio the Emin, who is an officer of the treasury,
or the pay-master. - Astley, I. 101. a. - Probably Al Emin, and
originally written in Italian L'Emin. - E.]
The Red Sea, from Suez to its mouth extends 1800 miles in length; the
coast running all the way from N.W. to S.E.[248] This gulf is 200 miles
broad, and in some places more. In its whole length it is full of banks,
shoals, and shelves, towards the land on both sides, so that it cannot
be navigated by night, except in the middle. These obstructions are so
intricately disposed that the channels can only be discovered by the
eye, nor can the proper course be taken except by means of an
experienced pilot standing constantly on the prow, and calling out
starboard or larboard[249] according to circumstances. Owing to
this, the return voyage does not admit of being described so accurately
as the outward bound. There are two distinct kinds of pilots for this
sea; the one being acquainted with the middle of the gulf, which is the
passage outwards; and the others, called Rubani, are for ships
returning from the ocean, and navigating within the shoals. These are
such excellent swimmers, that in many places where they cannot cast
anchor on account of foul ground, they will swim under water and fix the
gallies within the shoals, and will often even fasten the prows under
water, according to the nature of the place[250].
[Footnote 248: From Suez to the Straits of Bab-al-Mandub, the direct
distance is about 1590 statute English miles, or 1200 geographical
miles, 60 to the degree. From the Straits to Cape Guardafu is about
433 English miles farther, or 375 geographical: Making in all 1825 of
the former and 1575 of the latter. The direction is S.S.E. - E.]
[Footnote 249: In the original Italian, Orza and Poggia, being the
names of the ropes at the yard-arms which are hauled when these words
are pronounced. - Astl. I. 101. b.]
[Footnote 250: The expression in the text is not very obvious, but seems
to indicate that these Rubani are such excellent divers as to be able
to fasten ropes or hausers to the rocks below water. - E.]
On the 28th. of November 1539, the Christians belonging to the Venetian
gallies left Suez, and arrived at Cairo on the 1st of December, where
they were lodged in the same house that they had formerly occupied. Each
of them was allowed half a maidan daily for subsistence, which is
equal to about twopence of Venice. They here suffered great affliction
and fatigue, as whatever laborious work was to be performed was devolved
upon them. Clearing out the water-cisterns, levelling hills, putting
gardens in order, new buildings, and such like, all fell to their share.
On the 25th of March 1540, many of the Christians went from Cairo with a
guard of Turks to a hill or mount two miles from the Nile, which seemed
to have been a burying-place like the Campo Santo, where every year,
on the Friday before our Lady of August[251], a vast number of people
assemble to see dead bodies rise out of the ground.
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