AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



c, 1580. 



foorth one, two, and oft-times three at a birth. Five 

 miles southwarde of Cairo is a place called Matarea, 

 where the balme is refined : and therefore some will 

 say, that the trees which beare the balme growe in the 

 said place, wherein they are deceived : for the sayde trees 

 growe two dayes journey from Mecca, in a place called 

 Bedrihone, which yeeldeth balme in great plenty, but 

 salvage, wilde, and without vertue, and therefore the 

 Moores carying the same within litle chests from Bedri- 

 hone to Matarea, where the trees being replanted (be 

 it by vertue of the soyle, or the water, aire, or any other 

 thing whatsoever) it sufficeth that here they beare the 

 true balme and licour so much in these dayes esteemed 

 of. In this place of Matarea there are certaine little 

 houses, with most goodly gardens, and a chappell of 

 antiquity, where the very Moores themselves affirme, that 

 the mother of the blessed Christ fleeing from the fury of 

 wicked Herode there saved her selfe with the childe, 

 wherein that saying of the Prophet was fulfilled. Ex 

 j^gypto vocavi filium meum. The which Chappell in 

 the yeare of our Lorde one thousand five hundred and 

 foure, the Magnifico Daniel Barbaro first Consull of that 

 place went to visite, and caused it to be renued and 

 reedified, so that in these dayes there resort thither many 

 Christians, who oftentimes bring with them a Priest, to 

 say masse there. Also about an Harquebuz-shotte from 

 Matarea is a spire of great height like to that at Rome, 

 and more beautifull to beholde. Neere unto the olde 

 Cairo are yet twelve storehouses of great antiquitie, but 

 now very much decayed, and these till late dayes served 

 to keepe corne for behoofe of the kingdome, concerning 

 which many are of opinion, that the founder hereof was 

 Joseph the sonne of Jacob, for consideration of the seven 

 deare yeeres. Also passing higher up by the banke of 

 Nilus, there is to bee scene a fayre Citie overflowed with 

 water, the which at such time as Nilus floweth lyeth under 

 water, but when the water returneth to the marke, there 

 plainely appeare princely palaces, and stately pillars, being 



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