Page 140 - Arabiab Studies (IV)

130 Arabian Studies IV
to endure the Heat would jump into the Sea, and remain there
until the Heat of the Day be over’.
DELLON, Gabriel, Nouvclle relation d’un voyage fait aux
Indes Orientales, Amsterdam, 1699, 223. He saw this very
important town with its inaccessible castle from the sea.
ABBE CARRE, Travels, Hakluyt Series, London, 1947, i,
114-5. Sailed from Kung on St Francis, commanded by a very
dark Arab from Muscat who had been naturalized Portuguese
and become a Christian. He had been given the boat by the
Viceroy of Goa. Many Arabs were fleeing from Muscat as
they were tired of endless war with the Portuguese and
shortage of food. The Dutch had established an office in
Muscat for forwarding mail.
167? TAVERNIER, Jean-Baptiste, Travels in India, London, 1925,
ii, 86-8. It is ‘a petty Province, but the best in Arabia Felix*
with all necessities of life including excellent local wine. The
Imam has the most beautiful pearl in the world which was
practically transparent. The writer was present when the
Imam showed it to the Khan of Hormuz who offered 2,000
tomans (£7,000) for it. Later the Great Mogul offered 40,000
crowns (£9,000). He thought that the pearl was worth £30,000.
1677 FRYER, John, A New Account of East India and Persia,
London, 1698 reprinted in Hakluyt Series, London, 1912, ii,
155-7. Visited in March. ‘At night we saw Muschat whose
vast and horrid Mountains no Shade but Heaven docs hide,
though they cover the City with an horrid one; reflecting
thence the Heat scorching us at Sun-setting and aboard Ship;
within their fiery Bosom the Pilots find secure Harbour for
their weather-beaten Ships, the Water moderating the Air.’
The Imam is the Guardian of the tomb of the Prophet
Muhammad and is also the Caliph. Every year Indian Princes
send him money for the Tomb. Merchants come from Mokha
and Cairo: Muscat sells all drugs and horses and pays gold
for Indian commodities. ‘Here they keep safe those Ships they
steal or purchase for Wood, nor Timber growing here. They
are a Fierce, Treacherous People, gaining as much by Fraud
as Merchandize.’
1685 HEDGES, WILLIAM, Diary, Hakluyt Series, London, 1887,
i, 200. Visited the Governor and Hogea Ismail who was ‘the
only powerfull and eminent person in the place’ but when he
was ill the King seized part of his estates and his factors ran
away with the rest, ii, 327. We need to suppress Muscati
piracy or they will be most dangerous. They have four ships at
Bab al-Mandeb waiting to attack Mokha traders.
1695 Annals, iii, 169, 198. Fear that Muscat pirates will become as
much of a plague as the Algerians. They attacked Kung with
5 large ships and 1,500 men.
1696 OVINGTON, Rev. J., A Voyage to Surat, London, 1696,