A Description of the Coasts of East Africa and Malabar in the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

38253

Title

A Description of the Coasts of East Africa and Malabar in the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This historical itinerary details Portuguese trade routes along East Africa and Malabar in the early 16th century, blending geographical observation with accounts of piracy, cultural encounters, and the economic dynamics of the Indian Ocean.

Summary up to 500 words

Translated from a Spanish manuscript dating to the beginning of the sixteenth century, this text serves as a comprehensive itinerary describing the coasts of East Africa and Malabar. The narrative chronicles Portuguese voyages and interactions with local kingdoms, detailing specific ports such as Aden, Ormuz, and Diu. It provides extensive information on trade goods including spices, cotton, jewels, and horses, alongside descriptions of local customs, diets, and political structures. The author notes the flourishing state of coastal towns before Portuguese interference and describes military encounters, such as the capture of fortresses and the suppression of local resistance. The text also includes observations on geography, from the Strait of Mecca to the Moluccas, and offers insights into the flora, fauna, and precious stones of the region, reflecting a period of intense exploration and colonial expansion. The work details the trade dynamics at Aden, a bustling hub where ships from Jiddah, Bengal, and Malacca exchanged copper, silk, and spices for cotton cloths and jewels. The narrative describes the strategic importance of these ports, noting how Portuguese fleets arrived to burn merchant vessels and assault fortified towns, often breaking scaling ladders under vigorous Moorish defense. Moving eastward, the text outlines the kingdom of Fartach and Cape Fartach, leading to the Strait of Mecca, forty leagues wide, which served as a critical passage for maritime travel. Further exploration covers the island of Sacotora, inhabited by people described as deficient in Christian law yet possessing crosses, and noted for dragon's blood and aloes. The Portuguese are recorded as building fortresses there to subjugate the locals. The itinerary continues through the kingdom of Ormuz, listing numerous towns like Calhat and Curiat, which were centers for horse breeding and trade. The text provides a vivid account of local life, mentioning Beduins in the interior, the cultivation of cotton by Arab traders centuries prior, and the specific flora and fauna encountered. It also includes an appendix on precious stones, listing prices and varieties such as rubies and zircons, offering a snapshot of the economic value placed on these commodities during this era of global discovery.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38253.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg38253.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-08-20 13:34 UTC

Categories

• Classics
• Travel