1 6 An account of the Money of Asia. Part II, 



to Ormnr. Bfit with this difference, that there is no ftirring from Suratt after the 



end of February j but you may Sail from Ormus till the end of Adarch, or the fif- 

 teenth of April : For then the Wcltcrn-winds, that brine; rain along with them 

 in&> "India, begin to blow. During the fijfft four Months there blows a North-ealt- 

 wind, which carries them from Suratt to Ormui in frfte en or twenty clays. Then 

 veering a little to the North, it ferves as well for thofe hat are hound for Suratt, 

 as thole that are bound from thence. Then the Merchani generally provide for 

 a Voyage of thirty, or five and thirty days. But if they would Sail from Ormut 

 to Sirr.it t in fourteen or fifteen days, they muff take Shipping either in March, or 

 at the beginning of April', for then the Weitern-wind blows lull in their 

 Stern. 



The Veffels which Sail from Ormus run whhin light of Majc.it e upon the Goad 

 of Arabia, bearing off to Sea for fear of coming too near the Perjian Coaft. They 

 that come from Suratt 3 do the fame thing, to make the Entry of the Gulf. But 

 neither the one nor the other touch at Mafcate, to avoid paying Cultoms to an 

 Arabian Prince, who took that place from the Portugals. 



Mafcate is a City fituated juit by the Sea-lide, o^er againlt three Rocks that 

 make the Entry into the Harbour very difficult, and at the foot of a Mountain 

 upon which the Portugal* have three or four Forts. It is observed that Mafi*te t 

 Ormus, and Balfara, are the three places in the Kail where the heat is molt in- 

 fupportable. Formerly only the Hollanders and Englijh underftood this Courfj 

 of Navigation j but fbme years after the Armenians, Alahometa^s, Indians, and 

 Banians, have built them Veflcls. But it is not Co lafe to Embark in them, for 

 they neither underftand the Sea fo well, nor are they lo good Pilots. 



The Vellels that Sail to Suratt, which is the only Part in the Empire of the 

 Great Mogul, Sail within fight of Dih, and the Point of St. fthtr, and come to an 

 Anchor afterwards in the Road of CouaU, which is not above four Leagues from 

 Suratt, and two from the Mouth of the River toward the North. They tranfport 

 their Wares from one place to another, either by Waggons, or in Boats. For 

 great Veffels cannot get into the River of Suratt till they have unladen, by realbn 

 of the Sands that choak it up. -The Hollanders return as foon as they have landed 

 their Wares at CouaU, andfo do the FngUJh, it not being permitted to either to 

 enter into the River. But fome years lince, the King has given the Englijh a place 

 to Winter in., during the rainy Seafons. 



Suratt is a City of an inditferent bignefs, defended by a pittiful Fortrefs, by the 

 foot whereof you mult pals, whither you go by Land or by Water. It has four 

 Towers at the four Corners, and in regard there are no Platforms i poa the Walls, 

 Guns are planted upon woodden-Scarfolds. The Governour of the F :n only com- 

 mands the Souldiers in the Fort, but has no Power in the City, w] h has a {ar- 

 ticular Governour to receive the King's Cultoms, and other Revenues tl gh the 

 Extent of his Province. 



The Walls of the Town are only of Earth, and the generality of the Houfes 

 like Barns, being built of Reeds, plaiftered with Cow-dung, to cover the void 

 fpaces, and to hinder them without from difcerning between the Reeds what is 

 done within. In all Suratt there be but nine or ten Houfes which are well built : 

 whereof the Cha-bander ) or chief of the Merchants has two or three. The 

 reft belong to the Mahumet an Merchants; nor are thofe, wherein the Englijh 

 and Hollanders dwell, lefs beautiful ; every Prefident, and every Commander, be- 

 ing careful to repair them ; which they put upon the account of their Compa- 

 nies. However, they do but hire thofe Houfes ; the King not fuffering any Frank, 

 to have an Houfe of his own, for fear he mould make a Fortrefs of it. The Ca- 

 puchin Friars have built them a very convenient Convent, according to the Mode 

 our European Houfes, and a fair Church; for the building of whjch, I furnifh'd 

 them with good part of the Money. But the Purchafe was made in the Name 

 of a Maromte Merchant of Akppo> whofe Name was Qhekbi, of whom I have 

 fpoken in my Perfian Relations. 



CHAP, 



