_ 132 _ the stronghold fell into the hands of the sailors, who found 27 iron artillery pieces in it, among them there were a few which could fire stone balls the size of those fired by our "camels". When the governor finished the council meeting, in which he had decided to capture the stronghold, he found that it had already been captured and was very happy; he praised and honoured Alvaro Marreiro and those who had gone with him and ordered the artillery to be brought to the ships. After the capture of this stronghold why they call it the gates of the strait. To the south lies Abyssinia, the land of the Prester, which the Arabs call Ajem, and which is in Ethiopia. The desert of Arabia stretches to the north of it; it is also known as Petrea, and the Arabs tall it the island of Arabia. At the mouth or "gates" to the strait, there is an island which the Arabe tall Mihum; it lies across the mouth on the Arabian side, and it consists wholly of rock or of small loose stones; there is no water in it, nor can one find any trees or vegetation, and it rains seldom, Between this island and the mainland there is a channel, through which all Arab ships sailing into the Red Sea pass. Opposite this island there is another islet, where there is also no water, and which is inhabited by the pilots who take ships to Iudda: the Arabs call them Ribens and they
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