The 23d May I sent on shore to weigh aloes, and received on board 1250 pounds, which cost 250 dollars, for the company.  We bought in all 1833 pounds neat.  The chief sent to borrow 500 dollars, which I refused to lend, but sent him two yards of fine coloured kersey, and a knife of my own.  I sent again on shore, and bought 575 pounds of aloes for 115 dollars.

The 24th I was informed that the west monsoon began in this year on the 30th April, coming every year eleven days later; so that in thirty-three years they begin again on the same day of the month, which I conceive cannot be true.[166] I was farther informed, that the east monsoon will begin this year on the 13th October, both monsoons falling yearly eleven days later.  They have only two monsoons yearly.  That this year, called Neyrocze,[167] begins with the first of the east monsoon.  The west monsoon here blows all south, and the east monsoon all north.  After the 20th September, ships cannot depart from the Red Sea to the eastward.  Chaul, Dabul, and Danda Rajipuri are good and safe ports, and rich trading towns on the coast of India.  At Saada, Ilbookie, Anzoane, and Mootoo,[168] four of the Comora islands, there is abundance of cheap rice, and the people are good.  Inghezeegee and Malala,[169] two others of the Comoras, have very little rice, and the people are very treacherous; and they report that about sixteen years ago an English ship lost many men by treachery on that island, which surely was James Lancaster in Raimond’s voyage.[170]

[Footnote 166:  This must be the case where they reckon by lunar months, as is done every where by the Mahometans.—­ASTL.  I. 318. c.]

[Footnote 167:  This should be Neuruz, which in Persian signifies New-year’s day.—­ASTL.  I. 318. d.]

[Footnote 168:  Probably St Christopher’s, St Esprit, Hinznan, and Mayotta,—­E.]

[Footnote 169:  Probably Gazidza or Angazezio, and Molalio, Moelia, or Senbracas.—­E.]

[Footnote 170:  In the account of that voyage, as already given in Chap.  IX.  Sect. 6. of this book, which was in 1591, Lancaster was said to have been lost in a storm.  He may have got on shore in this island, and been massacred by the natives.—­E.]

We were farther informed, that this day, 26th May, 1608, was the 224th from the Neyrooze, or new-year’s-day, according to their account:  That there is no rain on the coast of Arabia till the 70th day of this monsoon:  That the 305th day from Neyrooze is the best time for going to Surat; and that in ten or twelve days they get to that port.  Burrom, Mekella, and Cayxem, [Keyshem, Kashin, Kasseen, Kassin, or Kushem,] on the coast of Arabia, are good harbours for shelter in both monsoons; but are places of no trade.  Xael or Xaer[171] has no harbour or road for any season, yet might be a vent for iron or lead.  This place is commanded by a Turkish Aga, and they send thence for commodities to Keyshem, a day’s journey