many times each day, making as great a noise by the ship’s sides as if she ran at the rate of five leagues in a watch, even when she hardly made any way a-head.  We were much alarmed by them, not knowing whence they proceeded, and seeing no land.  We now supposed ourselves near the easternmost of the islands which are off the northern end of Madagascar. [The Maha or Sechelles, to the eastwards of the Almirante islands.] We had here much rain, with thunder and lightening, and sudden gusts of wind, which did not continue long.

On the 25th of December, it was just a month and five days since we reached the equator, having been one minute north close to the shore, since which we have been forced back to 5 deg. 25’ S. Wherefore, those bound for Socotora at this time of the year must hold 200 leagues to the eastwards of Pemba, which will enable them to get to the northward.

The 1st of January, 1612, in lat. 3 deg. 58’ N. we made the land, being the main of Magadoxa, Cape das Baxas bearing N.N.E. eight leagues distant.[404] The whole coast seemed low, sandy, and barren.  The 18th, in lat. 6 deg. 27’ N. we again got sight of the main land of Africa called Doara, at about eight leagues distance, seemingly not high, but sandy and barren.  The 1st February we made Cape Dorfuy[405] about seven leagues off, having soundings in twenty-seven and twenty-eight fathoms, soft sand.  The land at this cape is very high and barren close to the sea.  The 10th, in lat. 11 deg. 20’, about eight leagues off the high land of Cape Gardafui,[406] we had ground in forty-five fathoms on small black sand, and found the current setting N. by E. Towards evening we had sight of Abdal Kuria, bearing E.N.E. about ten leagues off, being high land rising in two parts, so as to seem two islands at a distance.  The 17th at night we came to anchor on the coast of Socotora, one and a half league to the westwards of the king’s town called Tammarin, two miles from shore, in twenty fathoms water, small white sand.  The 18th we came to anchor in nine fathoms on fine sand in the road of Tammarin, a league from shore, and right over against the king’s house.

[Footnote 404:  Cape das Baxas, on the coast of Samhar, is in lat. 5 deg.  N. so that the latitude in the text must be too short by about thirty-eight minutes.—­E.]

[Footnote 405:  Cape Orfui is in lat. 11 deg.  N.]

[Footnote 406:  Cape Guardafui is in lat. 12 deg. 24’ N.]

Sec. 2. Occurrences at Socotora and in the Red Sea.

I sent ashore Mr Richard Cockes, our cape merchant, well accompanied, to wait upon the king of Socotora, to acquaint him who we were and the cause of our coming, and to procure cattle and fish to refresh our men.  Mr Cockes was received and entertained in a friendly manner, and came back with a present of fresh provisions, together with a letter left there by Sir Henry Middleton, dated 1st September, 1611, aboard the Trades-increase