% TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
the capacity of its port, which is diftributed into three divi-. 
fions. The ifland itfelf is very fmall, fcarce three quarters 
of a mile in length, and about half that in breadth, one- 
third occupied: by houfes, one by cifterns to-receive the: 
rain-water, and the laft is referved for burying the dead.. 
Masvuau, as we have already obferved, was one of thofe: 
towns on the weft of the Red Sea that followed the con-. 
queft of Arabia Felix.by Sinan Bafha,. under Selim emperor 
of Conftantinople. At that time it was a place of great com-. 
merce, pofleffing a fhare of the Indian trade in common 
with the other ports of. the, Red Sea near the mouth of the 
Indian Ocean. It had a confiderable quantity of exports. 
brought to it from a great tract of mountainous country. 
behind it, in all ages very unhofpitable, and almoft inac- 
ceflible to ftrangers. Gold and ivory, elephants and buffa- 
foes hides, and, above all, flaves, of much greater value, as 
being more fought after for their perfonal qualities than’ 
any. other fort, who had the misfortune to be reduced to. 
that condition, made the principal articles of exportation 
from this port. Pearls, confiderable for fize, water, or colour, 
were found all along its coaft. The. great convenience of: 
commodious riding for veflels, joined to thefe valuable ar=. 
ticles of trade, had overcome the inconvenience of. want of 
water, the principal neceflary. of. life, to-which.it had been: 
fubjected from its creation.. 
Masvau continued a place of much _refortas long as coms- 
merce flourifhed, but it fell into obfcurity very fuddenly. 
under the oppreflion of the Turks, who put the finifhing=. 
hand’to the ruin of the India trade in the Red Sea, begun. 
fome years. before by the difcovery of the Cape of Good. 
DSi ls Lope, 
