a voyage to abyssinia-第6章
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hly laden are the ships that come hither； that when the Indians would express a thing of inestimable price； they say； 〃It is of greater value than a ship of Jodda。〃 An hundred and eighteen leagues from thence lies Toro； and near it the ruins of an ancient monastery。 This is the place； if the report of the inhabitants deserves any credit； where the Israelites miraculously passed through the Red Sea on dry land； and there is some reason for imagining the tradition not ill grounded； for the sea is here only three leagues in breadth。 All the ground about Toro is barren for want of water； which is only to be found at a considerable distance； in one fountain； which flows out of the neighbouring mountains； at the foot of which there are still twelve palm…trees。 Near Toro are several wells； which； as the Arabs tell us； were dug by the order of Moses to quiet the clamours of the thirsty Israelites。 Suez lies in the bottom of the Gulf； three leagues from Toro； once a place of note； now reduced； under the Turks； to an inconsiderable village； where the miserable inhabitants are forced to fetch water at three leagues' distance。 The ancient Kings of Egypt conveyed the waters of the Nile to this place by an artificial canal； now so choked with sand； that there are scarce any marks remaining of so noble and beneficial a work。
The first place to be met with in travelling along the coast of Africa is Rondelo； situate over against Toro； and celebrated for the same miraculous passage。 Forty…five leagues from thence is Cocir。 Here ends that long chain of mountains that reaches from this place even to the entrance of the Red Sea。 In this prodigious ridge； which extends three hundred leagues； sometimes approaching near the sea； and sometimes running far up into the land； there is only one opening； through which all that merchandise is conveyed； which is embarked at Rifa； and from thence distributed through all the east。 These mountains； as they are uncultivated； are in some parts shaded with large forests； and in others dry and bare。 As they are exceedingly high； all the seasons may be here found together； when the storms of winter beat on one side； on the other is often a serene sky and a bright sunshine。 The Nile runs here so near the shore that it might without much difficulty be turned through this opening of the mountains into the Red Sea； a design which many of the Emperors have thought of putting in execution； and thereby making a communication between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean； but have been discouraged either by the greatness of the expense or the fear of laying great part of Egypt under water； for some of that country lies lower than sea。
Distant from Rondelo a hundred and thirty leagues is the Isle of Suaquem； where the Bassa of that country chooses his residence； for the convenience of receiving the tribute with greater exactness； there being a large trade carried on here with the Abyssins。 The Turks of Suaquem have gardens on the firm land； not above a musket shot from the island； which supply them with many excellent herbs and fruits； of which I doubt whether there be not a greater quantity on this little spot than on the whole coast of Africa besides； from Melinda to Suez。 For if we except the dates which grow between Suez and Suaquem； the ground does not yield the least product； all the necessaries of life； even water； is wanting。 Nothing can support itself in this region of barrenness but ostriches； which devour stones； or anything they meet with； they lay a great number of eggs； part of which they break to feed their young with。 These fowls； of which I have seen many； are very tame； and when they are pursued； stretch out their wings； and run with amazing swiftness。 As they have cloven feet； they sometimes strike up the stones when they run； which gave occasion to the notion that they threw stones at the hunters； a relation equally to be credited with those of their eating fire and digesting iron。 Those feathers which are so much valued grow under their wings： the shell of their eggs powdered is an excellent remedy for sore eyes。
The burning wind spoken of in the sacred writings； I take to be that which the natives term arur； and the Arabs uri； which blowing in the spring； brings with it so excessive a heat； that the whole country seems a burning oven； so that there is no travelling here in this dreadful season； nor is this the only danger to which the unhappy passenger is exposed in these uncomfortable regions。 There blows in the months of June； July； and August； another wind； which raises mountains of sand and carries them through the air； all that can be done in this case is when a cloud of sand rises； to mark where it is likely to fall； and to retire as far off as possible； but it is very usual for men to be taken unexpectedly； and smothered in the dust。 One day I found the body of a Christian； whom I knew； upon the sand； he had doubtless been choked by these winds。 I recommended his soul to the divine mercy and buried him。 He seemed to have been some time dead； yet the body had no ill smell。 These winds are most destructive in Arabia the Desert。
Chapter IV
The author's conjecture on the name of the Red Sea。 An account of the cocoa…tree。 He lands at Baylur。
To return to the description of the coast： sixty leagues from Suaquem is an island called Mazna； only considerable for its ports； which make the Turks reside upon it； though they are forced to keep three barks continually employed in fetching water； which is not to be found nearer than at a distance of twelve miles。 Forty leagues from hence is Dalacha； an island where many pearls are found； but of small value。 The next place is Baylur； forty leagues from Dalacha； and twelve from Babelmandel。
There are few things upon which a greater variety of conjectures has been offered than upon the reasons that induced the ancients to distinguish this gulf； which separates Asia from Africa； by the name of the Red Sea； an appellation that has almost universally obtained in all languages。 Some affirm that the torrents； which fall after great rains from the mountains； wash down such a quantity of red sand as gives a tincture to the water： others tell us that the sunbeams being reverberated from the red rocks； give the sea on which they strike the appearance of that colour。 Neither of these accounts are satisfactory； the coasts are so scorched by the heat that they are rather black than red； nor is the colour of this sea much altered by the winds or rains。 The notion generally received is； that the coral found in such quantities at the bottom of the sea might communicate this colour to the water： an account merely chimerical。 Coral is not to be found in all parts of this gulf； and red coral in very few。 Nor does this water in fact differ from that of other seas。 The patriarch and I have frequently amused ourselves with making observations； and could never discover any redness； but in the shallows； where a kind of weed grew which they call gouesmon； which redness disappeared as soon as we plucked up the plant。 It is observable that St。 Jerome； confining himself to the Hebrew； calls this sea Jamsuf。 Jam in that language signifies sea； and suf is the name of a plant in Aethiopia； from which the Abyssins extract a beautiful crimson； whether this be the same with the gouesmon； I know not； but am of opinion that the herb gives to this sea both the colour and the name。
The vessels most used in the Red Sea； though ships of all sizes may be met with there； are gelves； of which some mention hath been made already； these are the more convenient； because they will not split if thrown upon banks or against rocks。 These gelves have given occasion to the report that out of the cocoa…tree alone a ship may be built； fitted out with masts； sails； and cordage； and victualled with bread； water； wine； sugar； vinegar； and oil。 All this indeed cannot be done out of one tree； but may out of several of the same kind。 They saw the trunk into planks； and sew them together with thread which they spin out of the bark； and which they twist for the cables； the leaves stitched together make the sails。 This boat thus equipped may be furnished with all
