460 Translation of the Mohit, [Aug. 



seven inches and a half, then you steer true east to Sdjer 1 *, the moun- 

 tains of Dain*i are visible on the right ; at this time of the year it 

 is better to see them than to see Fartak, because the wind coming 

 from N. N. E. is to be feared, which at this time of the year (it 

 being winter) is much to be feared, as it raises great dust and waves. 

 If you cannot attain Sdjer you pass Meshkdss ; if the polar star is 

 seven inches and the ship at sea with a strong wind, turn again its 

 head to the sea one or two days, according to the strength or the weak- 

 ness of the wind ; after the winterly wind sets in the monsoon A«ib, 

 and in this case you go back as much as you are come. If you 

 start from Diu on the 70th or 80th day of the Yazdajerdian year (6th 

 — 16th Jan.) your way lies then in the direction W. S. W. till you 

 come opposite the Cape of Fartak, which is the 300th day from the 

 Jelalian Nawrtiz or the 310th. From opposite the cape Fartak 

 you go true east ; if the winterly wind blows, you haul down the 

 sails and lay to, if possible ; if not, you go with as little sail as possible 

 to get the ship free of the waves. After the ceasing of the winterly 

 wind the monsoon Azib sets in, in which case you measure back your 

 steps as much as you have gone, and this season is better than the 

 former. Some years the winterly winds blow till to the hundredth 

 day of the Yazdajerdian year, which is the 330th day of the Jelalian 

 (14th Feb.) particularly from Fartak to Zofdr ; the signs of land 

 being near are the birds Dhofaik 3 and Koraik*, and of the sea beasts 

 or fishes ; the Tabbdka 5 and Lezdk 6 , and of the maritime plants the 

 KirmithP ', and Kelhaf. 



Seventeenth Voyage, from Diu to Shehr and Aden. 

 The course lies first W. S. W. till opposite Fartak, from thence 

 true east till land is in sight ; this voyage is performed within the 

 tenth day of the Yazdajerdian year, and the sixtieth, that is to say, 

 within the 240th and 290th of the Jelalian (7th Nov. — 27th Dec.) 

 if it is performed within the 80th or 90th day of the Yazdajerdian 

 year, answering to the 310th or 320th of the Jelalian (16th Jan. — 

 26th Jan.) the course to be held is W. S. W. till the pole is six 

 inches and a quarter or six inches, then true west. If you set out 

 from Diu on the 110th day of the Yazdajerdian year, which answers 

 to the 340th day of the Jelalian year (15th Feb.), the course to 

 Meshkass and Shehr is W. S. W. and S. W. by W. till the pole is 

 marked by five inches and a quarter ; from thence you run true west ; 

 at your right the island of Socotra is near in sight ; as soon as you 



* Seger. f Doan near Fartak. 



