A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



c. 1580. 



square Mosquita, not so great as that of Mecca, but 

 more goodly, rich, and sumptuous in building. Within 

 the same in a corner thereof is a tombe built upon foure 

 pillers with a vault, as if it were under a pavement, which 

 bindeth all the foure pillers together. The tombe is so 

 high, that it farre exceedeth in heighth the Mosquita, 

 being covered with lead, and the top all inamelled with 

 golde, with an halfe moone upon the top : and within the 

 pavement it is all very artificially wrought with golde. 

 Below there are round about very great staires of yron 

 ascending up untill the midst of the pillers, and in the 

 very midst thereof is buried the body of Mahomet, and 

 not in a chest of yron cleaving to the adamant, as many 

 affirme that know not the trueth thereof. Moreover, 

 over the body they have built a tombe of speckled stone 

 II Or, a a II brace and an halfe high, and over the same another of 



fathom. Legmame fouresquare in maner of a pyramis. After this, 



round about the sepulture there hangeth a curtaine of 

 silke, which letteth the sight of those without, that they 

 cannot see the sepulture. Beyond this in the same 

 Mosquita are other two sepulchres covered with greene 

 cloth, and in the one of them is buried Fatma the 

 daughter of Mahomet, and Alii is buried in the other, 

 who was the husband of the sayd Fatma. The attendants 

 upon these sepulchres are fifty eunuches white and tawny, 

 neither is it granted to any of them to enter within the 

 tombe, saving to three white eunuches the oldest and best 

 of credit ; unto whom it is lawfull to enter but twise in 

 the day, to light the lamps, and to doe other services. 

 All the other eunuchs attend without to the service of the 

 Mosquita, and the other two sepulchres of Fatma, and 

 Alii, where every one may go and touch at his pleasure, 

 and take of the earth for devotion, as many do. 



[II. i. 212.] Of things v^ithout the City. 



Ithout the city and on every side are most faire 



gardens, with many fountaines of most sweet 



water, infinite pondes, abundance of fruit, with much 



362 



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