THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA ad. 



c. i$8o. 



the limmes of giants. Neare to these piramides ap- 

 peareth out of the sand a great head of stone somewhat 

 like marble, which is discovered so farre as the necke 

 joyneth with the shoulders, being all whole, saving that 

 it wanteth a little tippe of the nose. The necke of this 

 head contayneth in circuit about sixe and thirty foot, 

 so that it may be according to the necke considered, 

 what orreatnesse the head is of. The river Nilus is a 



o 



mile broad, wherein are very many great Croccodiles 

 from Cairo upward, but lower then Cairo passeth no 

 such creature : and this, they say, is by reason of an 

 inchantment made long since which hindereth their pas- 

 sage for comming any lower then Cairo. Moreover of 

 these creatures there are sometimes found some of an 

 incredible bignesse, that is to say, of fourtie foot about. 

 The males have their members like to a man, and the 

 females like to a woman. These monsters oftentimes 

 issue out of the water to feede, and finding any small 

 beasts, as sheepe, lambes, goates, or other like, doe great 

 harme. And whiles they are foorth of the water, if they 

 happen at unwares upon any man, woman or childe, 

 whom they can overcome, they spare not their lives. 

 In the yeere of our Lorde one thousand five hundred 

 and sixtie it happened, that certaine poore Christians 

 travelling by Cairo towardes the countrey of Prete Janni 

 to rescue certaine slaves, were guided by a Chaus, and 

 journeyed alongst the banke of the said river. The 

 Chaus remained lingering alone behinde to make his 

 prayers (as their custome is) at a place called Tana, 

 whom being busie in his double devotion one of these 

 Crocodiles ceazed by the shoulders, and drew him under 

 water, so that he was never after scene. And for this 

 cause they have made in sundry places certaine hedges 

 as bankes within the water, so that betwixt the hedge 

 and banke of the river there remaineth so much water, 

 that the women washing may take water without danger 

 at their pleasure. This countrey is so fruitfull, that it [II. i. 202.] 

 causeth the women as also other creatures to bring 

 V 337 Y 



