3S8 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



will to put them in execution. Such were the plans of a 

 joint army, to attack Arabia, and to conquer it down to Je- 

 rufalem. The Turks* were on their progrefs fouthward 

 in great force ; they had conquered Arabia in lefs than half 

 the time Don Roderigo had fpent quarrelling with the king 

 about pepper and mtiles ; and a ftorm was ready to break 

 in a quarter leaft expefted. 



In the gentle reigns of the Mamalukes, before the con- 

 queft of Egypt and Arabia bySelimf, a caravan conflantly 

 let out from Abyflinia diredlly for Jerufalem. They had 

 then a treaty with the Arabs. This caravan rendezvoufed 

 at Hamazen, a fmall territory abounding in provifions, a- 

 bout two days journey from Dobarwa, and nearly the fame 

 from Mafuah ; it amounted fometimes in number to a thou- 

 fand pilgrims, ecclefiaftics as well as laymen. They tra- 

 velled by very eafy journies, not above fix miles a-day, halt- 

 ing to perform divine fervicc, and fetting up tlieir tents 

 early, and never beginning to travel till towards nine in the 

 morning. They had, hitherto, palTed in perfeft fafety, with 

 drums beating and colours flying, and, in this way, traver- 

 fcd the defert by the road of Suakem,. 



The year after Selim had taken pofleflion of Cairo, Abba 

 Azerata Chriflos, a monk famous for holinefs, had conduc- 

 ed fifteen hundred of thefe pilgrims with him to Jcrufa- 

 icm, and they had arrived without accident ; but, on their 

 return, they had fallen in v/ith a body of Selim's troops, 

 who Hew a great part of them, and forced others to take 



refuge 



* Canfo el ^'i"rj., JSfl Ter.iura Bey. -f Seliral. emperor of the Ottomans, 



