places. Mean while he does good service to those that
have occasion to travel into the _East-Indies_ mostly by Land, by
describing the passage, they took thither; which was, That they embarqued
at _Marseilles_, in _September_, the most convenient and favourable season
for that Voyage; whence Ships do ordinarily pass every Month from _Syria_,
reckoning one Month for the time of Sayling, to _Alexandretta_. Thence to
_Aleppo_, counting one Month more for the Stay, to be made there to meet
the _Caravane_ for _Babylon_, and six weeks more for the march from
_Aleppo_ to _Babylon_, where a fortnight will pass before an opportunity
happen to embarque upon the _Tyger_ for _Balsora_; which Journey will
require a fortnight more: And about this time it will be about the end of
_January_. Thence is always conveniency to pass from _Congo_, 4 days
Journey from _Comoron_ or _Gombroun_, to which latter part there is also
frequent occasion to pass by Sea from _Balsora_, which will take up some 15
or 16. days Sail. There (vid. at _Comoron_) you will every year meet with
_English_, _Portugal_, _Dutch_, and _Moorish_ Vessels, from _Surat_, from
_October_ till the end of _April_, for they are obliged to be at _Surate_,
before the end of _May_, because all the ports of those {328} _Indies_ are
shut the 4. ensuing months, by reason of the danger of that _Sea_.

But besides this Direction, the Book is not quite destitute of _Natural_
Observations. It relates, 1. How Diamonds are found and separated in
_Golconda_; They take of the Earth, held to be proper to form them, which
is reddish, and distinguish'd with white veins, and full of flints and hard
lumps. Then they put near the places, which they will digge, a close and
even Earth; and to it they carry those Earths, they have digg'd out of the
Mine, and gently spread it abroad, and leave it exposed to the Sun for two
days. Then being dryed enough they beat it, and sifting this Earth, they
find the Diamonds in ashes of Flints, in which Nature hath set them. Here
he adds, that the King of that Country farms out these Diamond-Mines for
600000. Crowns _per annum_, reserving to himself the right of all the
Diamonds, that exceed ten _Carats_ in weight. There are Diamonds, that
mount to 35. and 40. _Carats_. And this is the great Treasure of that
Prince.

2. That the most esteemed fruit in those parts; the _Durion_ (of the
bigness and shape of an ordinary _Melon_) has a very unpleasing and uneven
unt