CAESAR FREDERICK ad. 



1563-81. 



wash the walles of the city. These Raffes are bound 

 fast together, and then they lay boards on the aforesayd 

 blowen skinnes, and on the boards they lade the com- 

 modities, and so come they to Babylon, where they 

 unlade them, and being unladen, they let out the winde 

 out of the skinnes, and lade them on cammels to make 

 another voyage. This city of Babylon is situate in the 

 kingdome of Persia, but now governed by the Turks. 

 On the other side of the river towards Arabia, over 

 against the city, there is a faire place or towne, and in 

 it a faire Bazarro for marchants, with very many lodgings, 

 where the greatest part of the marchants strangers which 

 come to Babylon do lie with their marchandize. The 

 passing over Tygris from Babylon to this Borough is 

 by a long bridge made of boates chained together with ^ bridge 

 great chaines : provided, that when the river waxeth ^^'^^ of boats. 

 great with the abundance of raine that falleth, then they 

 open the bridge in the middle, where the one halfe of 

 the bridge falleth to the walles of Babylon, and the 

 other to the brinks of this Borough, on the other side 

 of the river : and as long as the bridge is open, they 

 passe the river in small boats with great danger, because 

 of the smalnesse of the boats, and the overlading of 

 them, that with the fiercenesse of the streame they be 

 overthrowen, or els the streame doth cary them away, 

 so that by this meanes, many people are lost and 

 drowned : this thing by proofe I have many times 

 scene. 



Of the tov^er of Babylon. 



THe Tower of Nimrod or Babel is situate on that 

 side ot Tygris that Arabia is, and in a very great 

 plaine distant from Babylon seven or eight miles : which 

 tower is ruinated on every side, and with the falling 

 of it there is made a great mountaine : so that it hath 

 no forme at all, yet there is a great part of it standing, 

 which is compassed and almost covered with the afore- 

 sayd fallings : this Tower was builded and made of 

 V 369 2 A 



