THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA ad. 



c. 1580. 

 Hand, because a litle point or corner thereof toucheth 

 the firme lande, and therefore may be called Peninsula, 

 that is to say, almost an Hand. Hereupon are builded 

 many houses of the Jewes, in respect of the aire. This 

 Peninsula is situate betweene two very good ports, one 

 of them being much more safe then the other, called The 

 old port, into the which only the vessels of Barbarie, and 

 the sixe Gallies of the Grand Signior deputeth for the 

 guard of Alexandria doe enter. And this port hath upon 

 the right hand at the mouth or enterance thereof a castle 

 of small importance, and guarded but with iifteene men 

 or thereabouts. On the other side of this Hand is the 

 other called The new port, which name is not unfitly 

 given unto it, for that in all mens judgement in times 

 past there hath not beene water there, because in the 

 midst of this port, where the water is very deepe, there 

 are discovered and found great sepulchres and other 

 buildings, out of the which are dayly digged with engines 

 Jaspar and Porphyrie stones of great value, of the which 

 great store are sent to Constantinople for the ornament 

 of the Mesquitas or Turkish Temples, and of other 

 buildings of the Grand Signior. Into this port enter 

 all such vessels as traffique to this place. This port hath 

 on ech side a castle, whereof that upon the Peninsula is 

 called Faraone, upon the toppe whereof every night there 

 is a light set in a great lanterne for direction of the ships, 

 and for the guard thereof are appointed 200 Janizaries : 

 the other on the other side is but a litle castle kept by 

 18 men. It is certaine, that this haven of Alexandria is 

 one of the chiefest havens in the world : for hither come 

 to traffique people of every Nation, and all sorts of vessels 

 which goe round about the citie. It is more inhabited 

 by strangers, marchants, and Christians, then by men of 

 the countrey which are but a few in number. Within Fontecho signi- 

 the citie are five Fontechi, that is to say, one of the fi^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ 

 Frenchmen, where the Consul is resident, & this is the fhl^^^Tar/^ 

 fairest and most commodious of all the rest. Of the 

 other foure, two belong to the Venetians, one to the 



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