The Indian Ocean is one of the four great oceans of theworld. Located close to the equator， the Indian Ocean ishot and volatile. Sometimes the clear sky spreads over tenthousand miles and the sea is smooth as a mirror； othertimes， the whole sky is covered with black clouds andthe sea turns ferocious with waves reaching enormousheights. Zheng He，s fleet was hit by a hurricane on itsway to Hormuz. Surging waves rushed Zheng He，s fleetlike monsters. The sea water became pitch black. Roaringthunder and lightning hit the fleet in the face. Some of themasts broke and some of the ship plates rattled - the shipswere in danger of capsizing at any minute. Although thefleet had met a lot of fierce storms in previous voyages，none was as ferocious as this one. Zheng He did not panic；he was calm and collected. He knew the power of thegods could help clear the horror and restore confidencewhen people were terrified by unknown terror.
With this idea in mind， he ordered a red light be puton top of the ship. The red light shimmered in the storm，looking very attractive in the dark. Zheng He shouted，“Goddess Tianfei is here！” Everyone in the fleet fixed their
齐向郑和船队扑来，海水霎时变得墨黑，巨雷夹着闪电劈头盖脸地轰将过来。有的桅杆被折断了，有的船板发出嘎嘎的响声，随时有被风浪掀翻沉海的危险。虽说前几次航行狂风恶浪经历不少，可都没有这次来得猛烈。郑和不慌不乱，表现沉着。他知道，当人们面对一种不可知的恐怖而心慌意乱时，最好的办法是借助神的力量，使大家清除恐怖，恢复信心。想到此，他差人在船的最高处点起一盏红灯。这红色灯光在风暴中闪烁不定，在黑暗中极富诱惑力。他大喊一声，“天妃娘娘显灵啦！”随着他的呐喊，船上所有人的目光都集中到这神秘的红灯上，一种得救的心情弥漫开来。好多人跪下来向天妃膜拜。甚至有人说，自己不但看到了神灯，还影影绰绰地看到了天妃。“天妃娘娘显灵”这一振奋人心的喜讯，随着船上全体人员的欢呼，由近及远，传遍整个船队。郑和抓住时机，用坚定和充满信心的声调，向全体人员喊道：“天妃娘娘最喜欢勇敢的弄潮人，我们应该尽快行动起来，抗击风暴，报答天妃娘娘的庇佑！”人们的信心恢复了，腿脚也不软了，各就各位，投入抗击风暴的战斗。这时虽大雨滂沱，但风势却逐渐减弱，浪也
eyes on the mysterious red light at Zheng He，s shout andthey saw the light of hope shining. Many knelt down andprayed to the Goddess Tianfei. Some even said that theysaw not only the heavenly light but also a vague imageof the Goddess herself. The good news about the arrivalof Goddess Tianfei spread across the entire fleet as crewmembers shouted and acclaimed. Zheng He took theopportunity and said to everyone in a firm and confidentvoice， “Goddess Tianfei prefers sailors who are brave.Let，s work together to fight against the storm and repaythe blessings bestowed unto us by Goddess Tianfei！” Thesailors， confidence was restored， and they regained theirstrength. Everyone assumed his own position and threwhimself into the fight against the hurricane. The rainremained heavy， but the wind and the waves began to diedown. Zheng He，s fleet braved the storm and traveled25 days and nights without stopping. Eventually， theycrossed the Arabian Sea， entered the Persian Gulf， andreached their destination， Hormuz (Kishm， the biggestisland in the Strait of Hormuz； today，s Iran port).Hormuz was a big country near the Arabian Peninsula.It had become an important trade port since the secondhalf of the 13 th century. People traveling between the eastand the west， be they traveling by land or by sea， had topass through Hormuz. The Hormuz people， includingthe king， were all believers in Islam. Mosques were found
小多了。郑和船队顶风冒雨，战风斗浪，昼夜兼程，经过25个昼夜，穿过阿拉伯海进入波斯湾，最后到达目的地忽鲁谟斯（霍尔木兹海峡中最大的岛格什姆岛，今伊朗海港）。
忽鲁谟斯（霍尔木兹）是郑和越过阿拉伯海到达的阿拉伯半岛附近的一个西洋大国。从13世纪下半叶以来，这里就是重要贸易港口。往来于东西交通的人们，不论是陆路或是海港，都要由此通过。这里上自国王、下至百姓都崇奉伊斯兰教，国内清真寺众多，其文武医卜和各色技艺都很发达，胜过其他西洋国家。
almost everywhere and the country had better culture，medicine and craftsmanship than any other country in thewestern ocean.
After Zheng He arrived in Hormuz， the king held agrand welcome ceremony for him at the royal palace. Thehost and the guest exchanged gifts and had a friendly talk.To see for himself the beautiful scenery of the country andto learn about the local customs and products， Zheng He，smission paid a visit to the downtown areas. There theysaw magnificent mosques， luxurious streets and a richvariety of products which attracted visitors from all partsof the world. All kinds of food - roasted lamb， roastedchicken， roasted beef， thin pancakes， fried twists - wereon the shelves， but not a single wine shop was found，because drinking wine was prohibited in the country. Thepeople were simple and honest. If one family suffereddisasters or poverty， everyone would lend a helping handby offering food， clothes and money.
When the people of Hormuz heard about the arrival ofZheng He，s fleet from China， they ran around spreadingthe news， and sought to trade for China，s silk， chinawareand tea with amber， coral， opal， pearl and medicine.
When Zheng He started his trip back home， the kingof Hormuz loaded the ships with a lot of rare animals，including kylins (giraffes)， lions， ostriches， antelopes，zebras， as well as pearl and precious stones. He also sent
当郑和抵达忽鲁谟斯国时，国王在王宫里举行隆重的欢迎仪式，宾主双方互赠礼品，并进行了友好的会谈。
为一睹这西洋大国的旖旎风光和了解当地的物产民情，郑和使团特意到市内走访。只见这里有宏大的清真寺、繁华的街市，五光十色的商品吸引着各方游客。烧羊、烧鸡、烧肉、薄饼、哈喇馓等荤肴面食应有尽有，但没有一家酒店，因为这里法律规定禁止饮酒。这里民风淳朴，一家遇难致贫，众人齐助以粮食、衣服、钱财。
忽鲁谟斯人得知中国郑和船队到来，奔走相告，并用琥珀、珊瑚、猫眼石、宝石和药材等物，来交换丝绸、瓷器、茶叶等中国商品。
郑和回国时，忽鲁谟斯国王派使臣己即丁带着国王的亲笔信，用船装着麒麟（即长颈鹿）、狮子、鸵鸟、羚羊、斑马、珍珠、宝石等，随郑和船队回访中国。郑和船队回国途中顺访溜山国（今马尔代夫群岛）。溜山国盛产龙涎香、乳香、椰子等物，百姓信奉伊斯兰教。郑和船队在这里收购龙涎香、椰子等物带回国内。
an envoy with a personal letter to pay a return visit toChina with Zheng He，s fleet. On their way back home，Zheng He，s fleet dropped by the Country of Liushan(today，s Maldives Islands). The country was abundantwith ambergris， frankincense and coconut， and peoplethere believed in Islam. Zheng He，s fleet bought a lot ofambergris and coconut and brought them back to China.
The fourth voyage to the western oceans lasted ayear and a half. Zheng He，s fleet returned to Nanjingon August 12， 1415 (July 8 of the traditional Chinesecalendar).
Zheng He reported his mission in detail to EmperorYongle， including the fight against the hurricane. EmperorYongle spoke highly of the courage exhibited by themembers of Zheng He，s fleet who put an end to the civilstrife in Sumatra and fought against the hurricane in theIndian Ocean.
