We set sail, and steered our course towards the East Indies,
through the Persian Gulf, which is formed by the coasts of Arabia
Felix on the right, and by those of Persia on the left, and,
according to common opinion, is seventy leagues across at the
broadest part. The eastern sea, as well as that of the Indies, is
very spacious: it is bounded on one side by the coasts of
Abyssinia, and is 4,500 leagues in length to the isles of Vakvak.
At first I was troubled with sea-sickness, but speedily recovered
my health, and was not afterwards troubled with that disease.
In our voyage we touched at several islands, where we sold or
exchanged our goods. One day, whilst under sail, we were becalmed
near a little island, almost even with the surface of the water,
which resembled a green meadow. The captain ordered his sails to be
furled, and permitted such persons as had a mind to do so to land
upon the island, amongst whom I was one.
But while we were diverting ourselves with eating and drinking, and
recovering ourselves from the fatigue of the sea, the island on a
sudden trembled, and shook us terribly.
They perceived the trembling of the island on board the ship, and
called us to re-embark speedily, or we should all be lost, for what
we took for an island was only the back of a whale.
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