Page 95 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

ENGLISH CAPTIVES IN ARABIA 95

hauled before it had got very far with the result that the
native nacodah, or master, resigned himseli to the inevitable
and agreed, for a consideration, to take the English fleet
into Aden.
Under the skilled guidance of the Indian pilot the journey
was continued, and on the evening of April 7, 1609, the
Ascension and the Union dropped anchor under the shadow
•of the frowning natural ramparts of Aden. If we may judge
by Jourdain’s diary, they were immensely impressed by the
aspect of this “ stronge place.” We have in the narrator’s
graphic words a detailed description of the fortress, which
might be adopted with very little change as a picture of it as
it is to-day. The town, he noted, “ is situated in a valley
environed about with great mountains, except on the north
side, where there are three gates. And on the mountains
there are castles and watchhouses round about, with
ordnance in them and a watch in all of them, though with
few men, for they are situated in such a strong place that
one may keep out twenty.” “ In this ruinated city,” con­
tinues Jourdain, “ there is no fresh water but some wells,
which are as brackish as the sea, where the common people
drink; and being so used unto it doeth them no hurt. It
is an inconsiderable city, for within the walls there is not
any green : only your delight must be in the cragged rocks
and decayed houses. It does seldom or never rain in this
city, which is the reason that there is nothing that groweth
within it. It was reported unto us that in seven years they
had seen no rain within the city.”
The far from cheerful first impressions of the visitors
were not removed by closer acquaintance with the town
and its inhabitants. Here, as at Surat, there was a pre­
siding genius who looked upon the strangers in the light of