AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



c. 1580. 



so darke, that they can hardly see within for want of 

 light, not without an evill smell. Without the gate five 

 pases is the abovesayd pond Zun Zun, which is that 

 blessed pond that the angell of the lord shewed unto 

 Agar whiles she went seeking water for her sonne Ismael 

 to drinke. 



Of the ceremonies of the pilgrimes. 



IN the beginning we have sayd how the Mahumetans 

 have two feasts in the yeere. The one they call 

 Pascha di Ramazaco, that is to say, The feast of fasting, 

 and this feast of fasting is holden thirtie dayes after the 

 feast, wherein the Carovan travelleth to Mecca. The 

 other is called the feast of the Ramme, wherein all they 

 which are of abilitie are bound to sacrifice a Ramme, and 

 this they call Bine Bairam, that is to say. The great feast. 

 And as the Carovan departeth from Cairo thirtie dayes 

 after the little feast, so likewise they come hither five or 

 sixe dayes before the great feast, to the ende the pilgrimes 

 may have time before the feast to finish their rites and 

 ceremonies, which are these. Departing from the Caro- 

 van, and being guided by such as are experienced in the 

 way, they goe unto the citie twentie or thirtie in a 

 company as they thinke good, walking through a streete 

 which ascendeth by litle and litle till they come unto a 

 certaine gate, whereupon is written on each side in marble 

 stone. Babel Salema, which in the Arabian tongue signi- 

 fieth, the gate of health. And from this place is descried 

 the great Mosquita, which environeth the house of 

 Abraham, which being descried, they reverently salute 

 twise, saying, Salem Alech Jara sul Alia, that is to say. 

 Peace to thee, ambassadour of God. This salutation 

 being ended, proceeding on the way, they finde an arche 

 upon their right hand, whereon they ascend five steps, 

 upon the which is a great voyd place made of stone : 

 after, descending other five steps, and proceeding the 

 space of a flight-shoot, they finde another arche like unto 

 the first, and this way from the one arche to the other 



354 



