abouesayd kept by an Aga with fourtie men or thereabout.  More within the lande by the riuers side is Damiata an auncient citie enuironed with walles contayning fiue miles in circuit, and but of small strength.  For the gouernement of this place is a Sanjaco with all his housholde and no other companie.  This citie is very large, delightfull, and pleasant, abounding with gardens and faire fountaines.  Other fortie miles further is Latma, a castle of very small importance, and kept as other with fortie Turkes vnder an Aga.  In this place is no port, but a roade very daungerous, and without other habitation.  Passing this place we enter Iudea.  But because our intent is to reason simply of the voyage to Mecca, we will proceede no further this way, but returning to our first way, let it suffice to say, that from Alexandria to Cairo are two hundred miles, in which way I finde nothing woorthie of memorie.

Of the mightie Citie of Cairo.

Cairo containeth in circuit eighteene miles, being so inhabited and replenished with people, that almost it cannot receiue more; and therefore they haue begunne to builde newe houses without the citie and about the walles.  In Cairo are people of all Nations, as Christians, Armenians, Abexins, Turkes, Moores, Iewes, Indians, Medians, Persians, Arabians, and other sortes of people, which resort thither by reason of the great traffique.  This citie is gouerned by a Basha, which ministreth iustice, together with the Cadie throughout the whole kingdome.  Also there are two and twentie Saniackes, whose office is onely to ouersee and guarde the kingdome of euery good respect.  There are also seuen thousand Turkes in pay, to wit, three thousand Ianizaries, and foure thousand horsemen:  The rest of the people in Cairo are for the most part marchants which goe and come, and the remnant are Moores and other base people.  About two miles from Cairo there is another little Cairo called The olde Cairo, which containeth in circuit litle more then tenne miles, and the better halfe is not inhabited, but destroyed, whereof I neede not make any other mention.  The new Cairo answereth euery yeere in tribute to the grand Signior, 600000 ducates of gold, neat and free of all charges growing on the same, which money is sent to Constantinople, about the fine of September, by the way of Aleppo, alwayes by lande, vnder the custodie of three hundred horsemen, and two hundred Ianizaries footmen.  The citie of Cairo is adorned with many faire Mesquitas rich, great, and of goodly and gorgeous building, among which are fiue principall.  The first is called Morastano, that is to say, The hospitall, which hath of rent fiue hundred ducats of golde euery day left vnto it by a king of Damasco from auncient times; which king hauing conquered Cairo, for the space of fiue daies continually put the people thereof to the sword, and in the end repenting him of so great manslaughter, caused this cruelty to cease, and to obtaine remission for this sinne committed,