_ 191 _ coming from Cambay, the Malabar, Ceylon, Choramandel, Bengal, Sumatra, Pegu, Malacca and China stop over there before entering the Strait, and thereafter proceed to Aden, some to Barbora(A) and Zeila, but mostly to Iudda. Nowadays (i.e, in the mid-sixteenth century) our fleets await these ships at the Cape and capture them if they do not carry a permit from the Viceroy, or whoever is authorized to give them. Cape Guardafui lies Ethiopia (nowadays in Somalia), and on the opposite side, namely the side of Arabia, there is another cape, which is called Fartaq(B). Between these two capes lies the island of Socotra, at a distance of 30 leagues from each. It has three tips which are called Calancea, Soco and Deberum, and possesses very tall mountain ranges. One can find there plenty of meats, milk and dates which provide good nourishment for the people, both men and women are dark-skinned, and they were once Christian, although the teachings of the Church were gradually lost because there was little contact with the outside world. Nowadays they are Christian only in name, but they are not baptized although they worship the Cross and have (A) On a modern map spelt Berbera. (B) " Ras Fartak" to the South East of Aden not to be confused with that at the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba.
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