AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1583-91. 



and dates growing thereabout, wherewith they serve |p 

 Babylon and all the countrey, Ormus, and all the partes ii ' 

 of India. I went from Basora to Ormus downe the gulfe ' * 

 of Persia in a certaine shippe made of boordes, and sowed n ' 

 together with cayro, which is threede made of the huske | ' 

 of Cocoes, and certaine canes or strawe leaves sowed upon 

 the seames of the hordes which is the cause that they 

 leake very much. And so having Persia alwayes on the 

 left hande, and the coast of Arabia on the right hande 

 we passed many Ilandes, and among others the famous 



[II. i. 252.] Hande Baharim from whence come the best pearles which 

 be round and Orient. 



Ormus. Ormus is an Island in circuit about five and twentie 



or thirtie miles, and is the driest Island in the world: 

 for there is nothing growing in it but onely salt ; for their 

 water, wood, or victuals, and all things necessary come 

 out of Persia, which is about twelve miles from thence. 

 All the Hands thereabout be very fruitfull, from whence 

 all kinde of victuals are sent unto Ormus. The Portu- 

 gales have a castle here which standeth neere unto the 

 sea, wherein there is a Captaine for the king of Portugale 

 having under him a convenient number of souldiers, 

 wherof some part remaine in the castle, and some in the 

 towne. In this towne are marchants of all Nations, and 

 many Moores and Gentiles. Here is very great trade of 

 all sortes of spices, drugs, silke, cloth of silke, fine tapes- 

 trie of Persia, great store of pearles which come from the 

 Isle of Baharim, and are the best pearles of all others, and 

 many horses of Persia, which serve all India. They have 

 a Moore to their king, which is chosen and governed by 

 the Portugales. Their women are very strangely attyred, 

 wearing on their noses, eares, neckes, armes and legges 

 many rings set with jewels, and lockes of silver and golde 

 in their eares, and a long barre of golde upon the side h 

 of their noses. Their eares with the weight of their ■ 

 jewels be worne so wide, that a man may thrust three of 

 his fingers into them. Here very shortly after our arrival! ,. 

 wee were put in prison, and had part of our goods taken 



468 



