AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



c. 1580. 



the like at the enterance into Medina. The Camell afore- 

 sayd which carrieth the chest, is compassed about with 

 many Arabian singers and musicians, alwayes singing 

 and playing upon instruments. After this folow fifteene 

 other most faire Camels, every one carying one of the 

 abovesayd vestures, being covered from toppe to toe with 

 silke. Behind these goe twentie other Camels which 

 Carrie the money, apparell, and provision of the Amir el 

 Cheggi captaine of the Carovan. After foloweth the 

 royall Standard of the grand Signior, accompanied con- 

 tinually with the musicians of the captaine, and five 

 and twentie Spachi archers, with a Chaus before them, 

 and about these marveilous things goe all the people 

 and Camels which follow the Carovan. Behind these, 

 lesse then a mile, foloweth the rereward, whereof the 

 greater part are pilgrimes : the occasion whereof is, for 

 that the merchants seeke alwayes to be in the foreward 

 for the securitie of their goods, but the pilgrimes which 

 have litle to loose care not though they come behind. 

 Behind these alwayes goe five and twentie other Spachi 

 well armed with another Chaus their captaine, and fortie 

 Arabians all Archers for guard of the rereward. And 

 because the Carovan goeth alwayes along the red sea 

 banke, which in going forth they have on their right 

 hand, therfore the two hundred Janissaries parted into 

 three companies goe upon their left hand well armed and 

 mounted upon Camels bound one to another, for upon 

 that side is all the danger of thieves, and on the other no 

 danger at all, the captaine of the Carovan alwayes going 

 about his people, sometimes on the one side, and some- 

 times on the other, never keeping any firme place, being 

 continually accompanied with a Chaus and 25. Spachi, 

 armed and mounted upon Dromedaries, and 8. musicians 

 with violes in their handes, which cease not sounding 

 till the captaine take his rest, upon whom they attend, 

 till such time as he entreth his pavillion, and then 

 licencing all his attendants and folowers to depart, they 

 goe each man to their lodging. 



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