course to take to get out of the current, which was very swift setting to the south, as keeping mid-channel may endanger us upon In. de Nova;[163] and in keeping near shore God knows what danger may befal, as it is indiscreet to continue where the wind does not stem the current.  The 17th we were in, lat. 14 deg. 57’ S. so that we have got 25 leagues farther north, and the main power of the current seems now lessened.  My master is of opinion that the age of the moon may have peculiar influence over the currents, causing them to be strong till three or four days after the full:  but I rather think that the deep bay between Cape Corientes and Mozambique causes an indraught or eddy of some stream or current, coming either from the N.E. or more easterly, and entering the channel of Mozambique at the N.W. of Madagascar, and so along the land to Cape Corientes; or else the stream from the N.W. of Madagascar, meeting with the land of Mozambique, may be drawn that way by the falling in of the land.  If this supposition be true, we committed an error in falling in with the land till we had got to the north of Mozambique point, which bends far into the sea.[164]

[Footnote 163:  This I understand to be the island of Juan de Nova, in the narrowing between Madagascar and the coast of Africa towards Mozambique.—­ASTL.  I.317.]

[Footnote 164:  This is by no means the case, and we may therefore conjecture that Cape St Andrew in Madagascar is here meant, which is of that description, and is in some measure opposite Mozambique.—­E.]

* * * * *

“Their sailing along the islands, and trucking at Tamara, with other occurrences, I have left out, as being more fully known by later experience.  Leaving Abdalcuria they were forced to ride in Delisa road to the north of Socotora, till the monsoon freed them; at which time Captain Keeling set sail for Bantam with the Dragon, and Captain Hawkins in the Hector for Surat, as shall after follow."[165]

[Footnote 165:  This latter paragraph is a side-note in the original by Purchas.—­E.]

Sec. 3. Instructions learnt at Delisa respecting the Monsoon, from the Moors and Guzerates; with the Arrival of the Dragon at Bantam.

The Moors of Delisa affirm that pieces of ambergris are some years found weighing 20 quintals, and so large that many men may take shelter under their sides without being seen.  This is upon the coast of Mombaza, Magadoxa, Pata, Brava, &c. which indeed are all one coast.  From Delisa they make yearly voyages to the Comora islands to buy slaves; and they report that the natives there are very treacherous, having sometimes slain fifty persons by treason; for which reason they trade always afloat, and do not venture ashore.  They affirmed that eight Hollanders had been three or four years in Pemba, two of whom had become Mahometans.  According to their reckoning the southern monsoon begins yearly on the 1st May, the extremity of it continuing 100 days, and the most wind being in June and July.  On the 10th August the south wind diminishes; and soon after the wind comes from the north, with much rain, and so continues for three or four months more.  At this time they make most of the aloes on the island, being the juice of an evergreen, put into goats skins and dried.