AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



c. 1580. 



The offering of the vestures unto the sepulchres. 



THe Carovan being come to Medina two houres before 

 day, and resting there till the evening, the captaine 

 then with his company and other pilgrims setteth forward, 

 with the greatest pompe possible : and taking with him 

 the vesture which is made in maner of a pyramis, with 

 many other of golde and silke, departeth, going thorow 

 the midst of the city, untill he come to the Mosquita, 

 where having praied, he presenteth unto the tombe of his 

 prophet (where the eunuchs receiving hands are ready) 

 the vesture for the sayd tombe : and certaine eunuchs 

 entring in take away the old vesture, and lay on the new, 

 burning the olde one, and dividing the golde thereof into 

 equall portions. After this are presented other vestures 

 for the ornament of the Mosquita. Also the people 

 without deliver unto the eunuchs ech man somewhat to 

 touch the tombe therewith, which they keepe as a relique 

 with great devotion. This ceremony being ended, the 

 captaine resteth in Medina two dayes, to the end the 

 pilgrims may finish their devotion and ceremonies : and 

 after they depart to Jambor. A good dayes journey 

 thence is a steepe mountaine, over which is no passage, 

 saving by one narrow path called Demir Capi, which was 

 in times past called the yron gate. Of this gate the 

 Mahumetans say, that Ally the companion and sonne in 

 law of Mahumet, being here pursued by many Christians, 

 and comming unto this mountaine, not seeing any way 

 whereby to flee, drew out his sword, and striking the said 

 mountaine, divided it in sunder, and passing thorow saved 

 his life on the other side. Moreover, this Alii among 

 the Persians is had in greater reverence then Mahumet, 

 who affirme, that the sayd Alii hath done greater things 

 and more miraculous then Mahumet, and therefore they 

 esteeme him for God almighty his fellow. But to re- 

 turne to our matter, the captaine with the carovan within 

 two dayes after returneth for Cairo, and comming to 

 Ezlem, findeth there a captaine with threescore horses 



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