[351] Ramusio adds: “There are also horses as with us, and they are highly valued by Christians and Moors alike”. Peutinger and the Paesi say the same.
[352] Ramusio says: “silk-stuffs and bocassins”. He does not mention the colours.
[353] Peutinger adds: “They are decent, quiet (fromm) people at his court, and dress according to their condition and rank (adel)”.
[354] Jubbi (Arabic) is a long coat or caftan; the balandrau (Portuguese) is a surtout worn by the Brothers of Mercy in Portugal. Ramusio calls the latter garments palascani.
[355] The actual distance is about 10,500 nautical miles, or 3,060 Portuguese leagues.
[356] In his second letter the writer recurs to this subject.
[357] These are the Laccadive islands, fourteen in number: but, as their name implies (Laksha Dwipa = the Hundred Thousand Islands), supposed to be much more numerous. Mr. Sneyd’s Codex says there were 11,000 of these islands. The Maldives were known as Narikela Dwipa.
[358] That is the West Indies!
[359] Ramusio adds: “through vessels which go to Mecca”.
[360] Ramusio adds: “benzoin”.