THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA ad. 



c. 1580. 

 met, and therefore at this day they adore her, reverence 

 her, and finally have canonized her for a Saint, affirming 

 that shee did many miracles. The third is called Zavia 

 della Innachari, who was one of the foure Doctors in the 

 law. The fourth is called Imamsciafii, where is buried 

 Sciafii the second Doctor of this law. Of the other two 

 Doctors one is buried in Damasco, the other in Aleppo. 

 The fift & last famous monument is Giamalazar, that 

 is, the house of Lazarus : and this is the generall Uni- 

 versity of the whole kingdome of Egypt. In this place 

 Anno 1566 in the moneth of January by misfortune of 1566. 

 iire were burned nine thousand bookes of great value, 

 as well for that they were written by hand, as also [II, i. 201.] 

 wrought so richly with golde, that they were worth 300 

 and 400 ducats a piece, one with another. And because 

 it could never be knowen yet how this fire beganne, 

 they have and doe holde the same for a most sinister 

 augurie, and an evident and manifest signe of their 

 utter ruine. The houses of Cairo without are very 

 faire, & within the greater number richly adorned with 

 hangings wrought with golde. Every person which 

 resorteth to this place for traffiques sake, is bound to 

 pay halfe a duckat, except the gentlemen Venetians, 

 Siotes, and Rhaguseans, because they are tributarie to 

 the Grand Signior. Cairo is distant from the river Nilus T^h^ descrip- 

 a mile and more, being situate on a plaine, save that ^^^^ of Cairo, 

 on the one side it hath a faire little hill, on the toppe 

 whereof stands a faire castle, but not strong, for that 

 it may be battered on every side, but very rich & large, 

 compassed about with faire gardens into the which they 

 conveigh water for their necessitie out of Nilus, with 

 certaine wheeles & other like engines. This magnificent 

 citie is adorned with very fruitfull gardens both pleasant 

 and commodious, with great plenty of pondes to water the 

 same. Notwithstanding the great pleasures of Cairo are 

 in the moneth of August, when by meanes of the great 

 raine in Ethiopia the river Nilus overfloweth and watereth 

 all the countrey, and then they open the mouth of a 



335 



