Though the pledges did not come off next morning, the 4th of April, yet Captain Towerson was so desirous of learning the orders of the pacha that he went ashore, considering that the two India ships, being absolutely in our power, were sufficient pledges if any injury should be offered.  The governor used him kindly, and presented him with a handsome vesture; but nothing was effected in the business on which he went, the Turks not performing their promise.  The governor however sent word, that it would be proper to send two of our men of consequence to wait upon the pacha at Zenan, with the king’s letter and a present; after which we might depend upon speedy dispatch to our entire satisfaction.  I approved of this, and even intended next day to have looked out a proper present; but next day, being the 5th April, the captain of the gallies sent aboard three letters, which the governor had received the night before, written by Sir Henry Middleton and Captain Sharpey, who were then at anchor at Bab-al-Mondub.  The purport of these was, that Sir Henry had come from Surat, where he had little or no trade:  That Captain Hawkins, disgusted with Agra, was aboard with his wife; and that Sir Henry had brought all the English away, except one man who had gone for England by land:  And, finally, that Sir Henry was come back to be revenged of the Turk, and wished me to get off my people and goods in all haste.  I therefore altered my determination of last night, and immediately sent off one of my merchants with a letter to Sir Henry, giving an account of the proceedings of my voyage, and of our entertainment here; and if he had not come thus to the Red Sea, I meant to have sent two of my principal men up to Zenan.

It may be proper to note, that the two India ships, formerly mentioned, discharged the following goods at Mokha.  Lignum aloes, 60 quintals:  Indigo, 600 churles, out of both ships:  Sashes of all sorts, or Jong narrow cloths for turbans, a great quantity:  Cinnamon of Ceylon, 150 bahars, each bahar being three churles and a half:  Osfar, which is a red dye, a large quantity:  A great store of cloves:  A great quantity of bastas, or white calicos, from 20 to 40 dollars the corge, a corge being twenty pieces.  The price of indigo was from as low as 30, to 35, 40, and 50 dollars the churle.

I wrote on the 7th to the captain of the town, Mahomet Bey, desiring him to induce the India merchants to barter with me at reasonable rates, for such commodities as suited us, so as to load one of our ships; by which Sir Henry Middleton would be satisfied they now meant to deal in a friendly manner with us, and would be induced to forbear hostilities.  At this time there was a report in the town, that Sir Henry had taken a jelba or two, coming over with provisions from the Abyssinian side, so that we durst hardly venture our skiff and gang on shore.  This day I had a letter from the Mami, or captain of