CAESAR FREDERICK a.d. 



1563-81. 

 were marchants, and consorted to go with them to Ormus, 

 and wee departed from Alepo, and in two dayes journey 

 and a halfe, wee came to a city called Bir. 



Of the city called Bir. 



BIr is a small city very scarse of all maner of victuals, 

 and nere unto the walks of the city runneth the 

 river of Euphrates. In this city the marchants divide 

 themselves into companies, according to their merchandise 

 that they have, and there either they buy or make a 

 boat to carry them and their goods to Babylon downe 

 the river Euphrates, with charge of a master and mariners ^he rwer 

 to conduct the boat in the voyage : these boats are in ^^^P^^^^^^- 

 a maner flat bottomed, yet they be very strong : and 

 for all that they are so strong, they will serve but for 

 one voyage. They are made according to the sholdnesse 

 of the river, because that the river is in many places full 

 of great stones, which greatly hinder and trouble those 

 that goe downe the river. These boats serve but for 

 one voyage downe the river unto a village called Felu- 

 chia, because it is impossible to bring them up the river 

 backe againe. At Feluchia the marchants plucke their 

 boats in pieces, or else sell them for a small price, for 

 that at Bir they cost the marchants forty or fifty chickens 

 a piece, and they sel them at Feluchia for seven or Feluchia a 

 eight chickens a piece, because that when the marchants ^^^^^'■"^y^^^ 

 returne from Babylon backe againe, if they have mar- 

 chandise or goods that oweth custome, then they make 

 their returne in forty dayes thorow the wildernesse, 

 passing that way with a great deale lesser charges then 

 the other way. And if they have not marchandise that 

 oweth custome, then they goe by the way of Mosul, Mosul. 

 where it costeth them great charges both the Carovan 

 and company. From Bir where the marchants imbarke [II. i. 214.] 

 themselves to Feluchia over against Babylon, if the river 

 have good store of water, they shall make their voyage 

 in fifteene or eighteene dayes downe the river, and if 

 the water be lowe, and it hath not rained, then it is 



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