_ 160 _ Along the riverbank it was surrounded by a very wide double wooden stockade, filled with sand in between the two sides. It had doors which were very well equipped with artillery, and was surrounded by a moat. At the entrance to the bar there was a very strong bastion with artillery. There is a sand ridge in the river which extends into the middle of it towards the north side, and when the tide is low this ridge stays above the surface. As a result, anyone who enters it moors his ship on the south side. Apart from the city fortress, the Hidalcan, Lord of Balagate, to whom the city belonged, also had a very brave Arab knight staying there with 500 Turkish fighting-men. Besides these, there were a further 6000 native soldiers, most of them archers. There were also four large ships. which belonged to the King of Cambay in the harbour, which carried many fighting men as well. There are many orchards and groves in the city, as well as many streams. which descend from the mountains, and which provide excellent water. There are many noble buildings in Dabul, houses built of stone and lime, and mosques. It is inhabited by many merchants and is therefore a very busy trading port, it possesses an abundance of provisions which are brought into the city from outside, since they are not available locally, on account of the
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