i$8 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 toje- 

 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 mules ; and a ftorm was ready to break 

 in a quarter leaft expected. 



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

 quell of Egypt and Arabia by Selim f , a caravan conflantly 

 let out from Abymnia directly 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- 

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

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

 ing to perform divine fervice, and fetting up their tents 

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

 morning. They had, hitherto, palled in perfect fafety, with 

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

 sed the defert by the road of Suakem. 



The year after Selim had taken poiTemon of Cairo, Abba 

 Azerata Chriftos, a monk famous for holinefs, had conduct- 

 ed fifteen hundred of thefe pilgrims with him to Jerufa- 

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

 return, they had fallen in with a body of Seiim's troops, 

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



refuge 



* Canfa el Gauri, ^:d Tomura Bey. -j- Selim I. emperor of the Ottomans. 



