This
Night I Sent Out Sixty Men, Along With Sixty Dutchmen, In Quest Of
Cattle, But They Returned Without Procuring Any.
We left Saldanha bay in the morning of the 6th June, with the wind at
S.S.E. The
21st, at six in the morning, we got sight of St Helena, and
about ten in the forenoon of the 22d, we anchored in Chappel Bay, half a
mile from the shore, in twenty-six fathoms. The 25th, we changed to the
valley leading to the lemon-trees, being the best in all the island for
refreshments. Having remained seven days at this island, where we filled
our water-casks, and got at least fifty goats and hogs, and above 4000
lemons, we weighed anchor on the 29th, at nine a.m. The 16th of August
we saw the high land of Pico, E.N.E. about 15 leagues off. The 15th
September we got sight of the land's end of England; and on Tuesday the
18th of that month we arrived in the Downs, having been absent on this
voyage, four years, seven months, and fourteen days.
SECTION XI.
VOYAGE OF THE ANN ROYAL, FROM SURAT TO MOKHA, IN 1618.[288]
The Ann Royal belonged to the fleet commanded by Martin Pring, of which
an ample relation has been given in the foregoing section. The present
section gives an account of a subordinate voyage, arising out of the
former, and intended for settling a trade in the Red Sea. The Ann Royal
was commanded by Captain Andrew Shilling, and this narrative is said by
Purchas, to have been extracted from the journal of Edward Heynes, who
appears to have been second merchant in the Ann. - E.
[Footnote 288: Purch. Pilgr. I. 622.]
* * * * *
Sir Thomas Roe, lord ambassador from his majesty to the Great Mogul,
having given certain articles of instruction to Captain Andrew Shilling,
commander of the Ann Royal, and Joseph Salbank, Edward Heynes, and
Richard Barber, merchants in that ship, for establishing and conducting
trade at Dabul or other places in the Red Sea, as they might see
convenient, it was thought meet by Captain Martin Pring the general,
Thomas Kerridge, and Thomas Rastell, on the 12th March, in a
consultation on board the James Royal, that we should sail direct for
the Red Sea, as the season was already too far gone for going to Dabul.
Sailing therefore from the road of Swally, we got sight of Aden on the
10th of April. The 13th, about seven in the morning, we passed the Bab,
or straits of Bab-al-Mandub, so named from an island at the entrance, or
mouth, of the Red Sea, and forming one side of the straits. About five
in the evening we came in sight of Mokha; and as night was coming on, we
cast anchor. Shortly after, a canoe came on board, sent by the governor
to enquire who we were, and what were our intentions; and having given
them an answer, they departed, having first begged a few biscuits. Next
morning we weighed, and came again to anchor a league and half from the
shore, when we saluted the town with nine guns. The water-bailey, or
shahbander, brought off, as a present from the governor, a young
bullock, two goats, with mangoes, limes, cucumbers, and water-melons. He
welcomed us in the name of the governor, and desired us to send some
persons on shore to inform the governor of the purpose of our arrival.
About three in the afternoon, there came aboard a Jew born in Lisbon,
together with an old renegado Venetian, who was in great favour with the
governor, and in his name assured us of meeting with good usage to our
content.
The 15th, Ali Asgee, the chief scrivano, sent a present of goats and
fruits, with a message of welcome, by two old men of good condition, who
were sent by the governor to remain aboard in pledge for such of us as
were to go on shore, with many protestations of good usage. Accordingly,
Mr Salbank and I went ashore, accompanied by two linguists and an
attendant, carrying as a present for the governor, six yards of stammel
broad cloth, six yards of green, a fowling-piece and a looking-glass.
Above a thousand people were on the shore expecting our arrival, and
several officers were in waiting to conduct us to the governor. His
house was large and handsome, built of brick and stone, having a fair
gate of entrance with a porter's lodge, and several servants in waiting.
From the gate, we went into a great court, whence a winding stair of
thirty steps led to a square terrace, from which we were conducted into
a large room, at one end of which was a great bow-window looking towards
the sea. The governor sat in this window, and there were others on the
sides of the room, which looked to the wharf or landing-place. The floor
of this room was all covered with fine mats, and towards where the
governor sat, with fine Turkey carpets and Persian felts. Where he sat,
there lay a party-coloured sattin quilt, with several rich cushions of
damask and others of velvet. He was dressed in a violet-coloured vest of
sattin, under which were garments of fine India muslin or calico, having
on his head a sattin cap, wreathed round by a white sash. He was
attended by the chief scrivano, the principal officers of the customs,
some Turks of importance, many Indian merchants, and about an hundred
servants. He seemed about fifty years of age, and his name was Mahomet
Aga.
On our approach, and doing reverence, he bowed to us, and desired us to
sit down, demanding who we were, and what was our business. We answered
that we were Englishmen and merchants from London, who, by command of
the ambassador of the king of England to the Great Mogul, with whom we
had a league of peace and amity, had come to this place to treat for
liberty of trade.
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