Introduction

To the merchants and mariners of the seventeenth century, the wide waters of the Indian Ocean appeared of vast, even colossal scale. An eternity was spent crossing it and there were myriad perils to be overcome during journeys that adversity could extend from months to years—truly, like those braved by the gallant Sindbad. The Indian or Arab dhows, frail vessels, would linger in their ports of call for months to wait for next year’s favorable monsoon. It might easily take them two or three years to traverse the entire ocean round trip.