A Momentous Journey

38 of the mountains (the city lays beneath) there are many beautiful small castles. These can be seen form the sea. There is no water in the city, it must be supplied from outside. There is a large house (towards the interior), where they bring water from another mountain-range. This is a fair way away, so far that there is a large portion of grassland between the two. Both Moors and Jews are principal merchants in this city. They are white men, some are black. They wear cotton cloths: some of them camlets and scarlet. Their clothes are long gowns, with caps on their heads and they wear a kind of slipper to their feet. Their diet is made of very good meat as well as wheat bread and rice that comes from India. All the fruits that are to be found in Portugal can be found here, as well as many horses and camels. The King is always inland. He appoints a governor here who is trustworthy. This port is demanded by ships from all parts, especially from the port of Jeddah. From hence they bring much copper, quicksilver, vermillion, coral and many wool and silk cloths. They exchange these trades against a lot of spices and medecines, cotton cloths and other goods. The great Kingdon of Cambay sends many ships here as well as from Zayla and Berbera. They carry many provisions, amongst which the Cambay ones come carrying cloths and there is an infinite number of these ships. As mentioned before, they bring cotton, medecines, bright stones, a lot of seed-pearls, carnelians. They return to Cambay with lots of rubia, opium, raisins, copper, quicksilver, vermillion as well as a great number of rose-waters that they make here. They also take many woolen cloths; coloured velvets from Mecca; gold pieces; coins and bullion either in chains or in camlets. It does not seem possible to use as many cotton cloths as these ships bring from Cambay. Many other ships demand this

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy