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



to Ormus : But with this difference, that there is no ftirring from Suratt after the 

 end of February j but you may Sail from Ormas till the end of March, or the fif- 

 teenth of April : For then the Weftern- winds, that bring rain along with them 

 into India, begin to blow. During the firft four Months there blows a North-eaft- 

 wind, which carries them from Sur at t to Ormtis m fifteen or twenty days. Then 

 veering a little to the North, it ferves as'well for thofe that are bound for Suratt, 

 as thofe that are bound from thence. Then the Merchants generally provide for 

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

 to Suratt in fourteen or fifteen days, they muft take Shipping either in March, or 

 at the beginning of April; for then the Weftern-wind blows full in their 

 Stern. 



The Veflels which Sail from Ormus run within fight of Mafcate upon the Coaft 

 of Arabia, bearing off to Sea for fear of coming too near the Perfian 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 Cuftoms to an 

 Arabian Prince, who took that place from the Portugais. 



Mafcate is a City fituated juft by the Sea-fide, over againft three Rocks that 

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

 upon which the Portugais have three or four Forts. It is obferved that Mafeate, 

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

 fupportable. Formerly only the Hollanders and Englijh underftood this Courte 

 of Navigation ; but fome years after the Armenians, Mahometans, Indians, and 

 Banians, have built them Veflels. But it is not fo fafe to Embark in them, for 

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



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

 Great Mogul, Sail within fight of Diu, and the Point of St. fohn, and come to an 

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

 Suratt, and two frcm 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 Veflels 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 Couali, and fo" do the Englijh, it not being permitted to either tc 

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

 to Winter in., during the rainy Seafons. 



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

 foot whereof you muft pafs, whither you go by Land or by Water. It has foui 

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

 Guns are planted upon woodden-Scaffolds. The Governour of the Fort only com- 

 mands the Souldiers in the Fort, but has no Power in the City, which has a par- 

 ticular Governour to receive the King's Cuftoms, and other Revenues through 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 voie 

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

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

 whereof the Cha-Ur.der, or chief of the Merchants has two or three. The 

 reft belong to the Mahumetan Merchants j nor are thofe, wherein the Englijk 

 and Hollanders dwell, lefs beautiful 5 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 differing any Frank 

 to have an Houie 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 which, I furnifh'd 

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

 of a Maronite Merchant of Aleppo, whofe Name was Çhelebi, of whom I have 

 fpoken in my Perfian Relations. 



CHAP 



