Shipwreck and survival in Oman, 1763

Thirty seamen survived the shipwreck of a Dutch East Indiaman on the south coast of Oman. They walked hundreds of kilometers in the burning sun, barefoot and almost naked, in the hope of reaching civilisation. Their journey through the desolate wilderness was agonising. Some of the men did not make it, while the fate of others remained uncertain. Cornelis Eyks, third mate on the Amstelveen, and over twenty other castaways, finally reached Muscat. Never before had anyone undertaken such a journey. Eyks started his report on the shipwreck and the journey to Muscat a few weeks after his arrival. It is the oldest surviving European account of the desert coast of Oman and the people who lived there. Eyks' logbook was recently found in France. It has been used gratefully in the retelling of this incredible VOC story.