Departing thus from Mombaza, the fleet continued its voyage along the coast to the north-east, and having very light wind, was obliged to come to anchor in the evening near the shore, about eight leagues from Mombaza.  Towards the dawn of next day, two sambuccos, or little pinnaces, were seen about three leagues to the leeward of the fleet, and out at sea; on which, in hope of procuring some pilots who could carry him to Calicut, the general ordered the anchors to be weighed, and he and the other captains gave chase to the sambuccos the whole of that day.  Towards vespers, the general came up with and captured one of these pinnaces, but the other escaped to the land.  In the captured pinnace there were seventeen Moors, among whom was an old man who seemed master over the rest, and had his young wife along with him.  In this boat there was great store of silver and gold, and some victuals.  On the same evening the fleet came to anchor off Melinda, which is eighteen leagues from Mombaza, and is in lat. 3 deg.  S. This place has no good harbour, being only an almost open roadstead, having a kind of natural pier or reef of rocks on which the sea beats with much violence, owing to which the ships have to ride at a considerable distance from the shore.  The city stands in a broad open plain, along the shore, surrounded with many palms, and other sorts of trees, which are green the whole year.  It has also many gardens and orchards, abounding with all kinds of herbs and fruits, and many fountains of good water.  Their oranges are particularly excellent, very large and sweet.  They have also abundance of millet and rice, plenty both of cattle and sheep, and great store of fine poultry, which are very cheap.  Melinda is a large city, with fair streets, and many good houses of stone and lime, containing several storeys, with windows, and having terraced roofs made of lime and earth.  The native inhabitants are black, of well proportioned bodies, having curled hair; but many strangers resort thither and dwell in the city, who are Moors from Arabia, who conduct themselves in a commendable manner, especially the gentlemen or better sort.  These, from the girdle upwards, go naked; but below the girdle they are dressed in silk, or fine stuffs of cotton, though some wear short cotton cloaks, after the old fashion.  On their heads they wear certain cloths embroidered with silk and gold.  They wear also rich daggers, ornamented with silken tassels of many colours, and very handsome swords.  They are all left-handed, and go constantly armed with bows and arrows, taking great delight in archery, at which they are very expert.  They account themselves good horsemen; yet there is a common saying on this coast, the horsemen of Mombaza, and the women of Melinda, as in Mombaza they are excellent horsemen, and the women of Melinda are very handsome, and dress richly.