of the Governorship of Jafampatas and four of that of Beligas, with the faculty of making all [appointments] therein during his lifetime. [This inscription was raised] A.d. 1639, when Pedro de Silvoa was Viceroy."

"We have still to show how the authority of the Arabian princes of Omân first rose, and gradually replaced that of the Portuguese along the East-African coast. Omân comprises the north and south-eastern portions of Arabia, which lie on the Gulf of Persia and the Indian Ocean. In the year 1624, after great disorders and dissensions, Omân and its inhabitants became subject to the rule of a sagacious and energetic Imâm, Nasir bin Murshid, the Yä'arabite. After establishing his sovereignty in Omân, he planned the complete expulsion of the Portuguese from their Arabian and African possessions. His victories over the Portuguese were continued by his cousin and successor, Sultân bin Seif bin Mâlik, who took Máskat in 1658, leaving the Portuguese then no seaport of any consequence on the coast of Arabia. His second son, Sultân Seif, who defeated his brother Bel'arab and usurped the throne, at the request of the people of Mombâsa, sent a fleet to Eastern Africa, captured Mombasa, Zanzibar, and Kîlwah, and laid siege to Mozambique in 1698. He placed a governor in Mombasa who was nominally subject to Omân. After the fall of Mombâsa, the Portuguese on the East-African coast were everywhere massacred or expelled; and there was an end of their sovereignty from Cape Delgado to Cape Gardafui. Even the town of Mukdîshu, which had retained its independence during the period of the Portuguese rule, placed itself under the protection of the princes of Omân.”1

The different towns and forts on the coasts, together with the adjacent islands, from Cape Delgado 1 KRAPF's Travels and Missionary Labours in Eastern Africa, pp. 521-29.

to Mukdîshu, still remain in the hands of the 'Ammân Seyyeds or Sultans; but by a recent arrangement the African territories have been detached from the parent state, and placed under the sovereignty of Seyyed Mâjid, a younger son of the late Seyyed Sä'îd, known to Europeans as the Imâm of Máskat, his eldest brother Seyyed Thoweynee retaining possession of 'Ammân.

But it is high time to rejoin our party whom we left at Mozambique. During their fifteen days' residence at that island, they made several trips on the mainland, and Varthema gives a graphic description of the physiognomy of the aboriginal Makuas, their strange jargon, and peculiar and scanty costume. The excursionists carried torches to frighten the elephants which abounded in the neighbourhood, but, notwithstanding this precaution, they were chased by three dams followed by their young, and only escaped by running up a mountain. On this occasion also, they met some natives who dwelt in caves, and our author's account of their bartering with them reveals the cupidity of the foreigners and the simplicity of the barbarians. The former had the dishonesty to demand thirty bullocks for a bombardier's rasor and a little bell, with the addition of a shirt which Varthema incontinently divested himself of for the sake of obtaining a meal of fresh meat. They were eventually content with fifteen head of cattle, on the understanding, however, that the owners should conduct the animals to the top of the mountain. On the way, and while these Christians were exulting over their

extortionate bargain, a great noise was heard which was supposed to arise from a warm discussion among the natives, as to which of their number should become the happy possessor of the little bell. What a picture of civilized and uncivilized humanity! Europe and Africa!

Madagascar, or the Island of San Lorenzo, as it was then called, was sighted on the voyage to the Cape, beyond which the vessels composing the fleet were scattered by a furious storm, and did not meet again till they reached Portugal. That in which our author sailed passed under St. Helena and Ascension, at which latter place he notices the swarms of boobies which alighted on the deck, and were easily taken with the hand. Next, they reached the Azores, remaining for two days at the island of Terceira, and finally arrived at Lisbon,-in Varthema's case, after an absence from Europe of about five years. He leaves to the conception of his readers the delight which he experienced at being once more within easy reach of home, while he himself sets off on a visit to Don Emanuel of Portugal. That deservedly "Fortunate" monarch welcomed the enterprising traveller to his court, where he detained him several days listening with pleasure to the interesting tale of his discoveries and adventures, and was graciously pleased to confirm the honour of knighthood which had been conferred upon him by the Viceroy of India after the battle of Ponani. Receiving his Majesty's permission to depart, Varthema hurried away to the land of his birth, and takes leave of us from the city of Rome as abruptly as I bring my following him to a close.

In the annotations on the text, I have specified my obligations to Professor Owen, to J. J. Bennett, Esq., and to R. H. Major, Esq., of the British Museum, and also to C. R. Markham, Esq., for their prompt aid where my own knowledge was at fault. A similar recognition is due to J. Winter Jones, Esq., my colleague in the preparation of this work, for his uniform kindness in aiding me in my part of the task. To J. Crawfurd, Esq., whose learned researches into the history of that region were my principal guide in tracing our author's route through the Indian Archipelago, I owe my best thanks. And last, though not least, I feel deeply indebted to my friend Colonel H. Yule, C.B. for many useful suggestions, and, moreover, for having volunteered to compile the Table of Contents, and also the valuable Index at the end of this volume, which may justly elicit the encomium, finis coronat opus.

I had designed to write an Introduction, but have, I fear, written a book. The mistake will be unaccompanied with regret, if the attempt be found useful to the Members of the HAKLUYT SOCIETY in illustrating the early and wonderful travels of old LUDOVICO DI VARTHEMA.

GEORGE PERCY BADGER.

London,

7, Dawson Place, Bayswater,

November 1863.

POSTSCRIPT.

ON THE SITE OF THE ANCIENT CITY OF BENGALA.

I AM surprised to find that in transcribing a quotation from Barbosa respecting the City of Bengala, (note 3 on p. 210,) I omitted a part of his account which, had the passage been more carefully studied, might have prevented my erroneous identification of Varthema's Banghella with the capital of Gour, and afforded me at the same time a clue to the position of the former town. Premising that Barbosa was travelling from west to east, and had just before described the kingdom of Orixa, (Orissa,) and the Guengua, or Ganges, whereby the Hoogly branch is clearly indicated, he proceeds to say:

"Beyond the Ganges, onward towards the East, is the kingdom of Bengala, wherein there are many places and cities, as well inland as on the sea-coast. Those in the interior are inhabited by Gentiles, who are subject to the king of Bengala, who is a Moor; and the stations on the coast are full of Moors and Gentiles, among whom are many merchants and traders to all parts. For this sea forms a gulf which bends towards the north, at the head of which is situated a great city inhabited by Moors, which is called Bengala, with a good port. The inhabitants thereof are white men, who are well-disposed. In the same city there are many foreigners from all parts, including Arabia, Persia, and Abyssinia. The country being very extensive, and the