_ 192 _ many altars like our own. The women have names such as Maria, Isabel and Ana. (Mary, Elizabeth, Anne) and the men have the sane names as the Apostles. They don't trade with other people, don't go abroad, have their own language, and both men and women go about naked, covering their shameful parts with cotton cloth which they buy from some of the ships which stop there on their way to the Red Sea. These ships come in search of dragon's blood (?), of which there is plenty in the island, as well as aloe (which is called Socotrine, after the island where it is reaped), amber and seashells. The Arabs say that this island was once Inhabited by the Amazons, among whom men later came to live. There seems to be some truth in this, since it is the women who look after affairs and the men are very soft and not very capable. When the King of Fartaq, who is an Arab, knew of this, he conquered, then and built a fortress at Soco, entrusting its command to a son of his, whose name is Coje Abraham and who is a very valiant knight, fearing nothing. He has 120 soldiers at his service, all of whom are Fartaqis. They are famous there and elsewhere for their bravery and people are glad to have them on their side. They were always ready for war, with their coats of mail, swords, daggers, lances, darts, stones and arrows.
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