AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



c. 1580. 



in more places, though not so good. It is also to bee 

 noted, that in this voiage it is needfull and an usuall 

 thing, that the captaine put his hand to his purse, in these 

 places, and bestow presents, garments, and turbants upon 

 certaine of the chiefe of the Arabians, to the ende they 

 may give him and his Carovan free passage : who also 

 promise, that their followers likewise shall doe no damage 

 to the Carovan, and bind themselves to accomplish the 

 same, promising also by worde of mouth, that if the 

 Carovan bee robbed, they will make restitution of such 

 things as are stollen : but notwithstanding the Carovan is 

 by them oftentimes damnified, and those which are 

 robbed have no other restitution at the Arabians handes 

 then the shewing of them a paire of heeles, flying into 

 such places as it is impossible to finde them. Nowe the 

 Carovan continuing her accustomed journeys, and having 

 passed the abovesayd castles, and others not woorthie 

 mention, at length commeth to a place called Jehbir, 

 which is the beginning and confine of the state and 

 realme of Serifo the king of Mecca : where, at their 

 approching issueth out to meete them the governour of 

 the land, with all his people to receive the Carovan, with 

 such shouting and triumph, as is impossible to expresse, 

 where they staie one whole day. This place aboundeth 

 with fresh and cleare waters, which with streames fall 

 downe from the high mountaines. Moreover, in this 

 place are great store of dates, and flesh great store and 

 good cheape, and especially laced muttons which willingly 

 fall downe, and here the wearie pilgrimes have com- 

 moditie to refresh themselves, saying, that this wicked 

 fact purgeth them from a multitude of sinnes, and besides 

 increaseth devotion to prosecute the voiage. Touching 

 the building in these places, it is to bee judged by the 

 houses halfe ruinated, that it hath bene a magnificent 

 citie : but because it was in times past inhabited more 

 with thieves then true men, it was therefore altogether 

 destroyed by Soldan Gauri king of ^gypt, who going on 

 pilgrimage unto Mecca, and passing by this place, there 



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