is remarkably temperate and healthy, and the inhabitants are inclining to white.  Two days journey from Almacharam, is the city of Reame, containing 2000 houses.  The inhabitants are black, and are much addicted to commerce.  The country around is fertile in all things, except wood.  On one side of this city is a mountain, on which is a strong fortress.  At this place I saw a kind of sheep without horns, whose tails weigh forty or fifty pounds.  The grapes of this district have no stones or grains, and are remarkably sweet and delicate, as are all the other fruits, which are in great abundance and variety.  This place is very temperate and healthful, as may be conceived by the long life of its inhabitants, for I have conversed with many of them that had passed the age of an hundred and twenty-five years, and were still vigorous and fresh-coloured.  They go almost naked, wearing only shirts, or other thin and loose raiment like mantles, having one arm bare.  Almost all the Arabs wreath their hair in the shape of horns, which they think gives them a comely appearance.

Departing from thence, I came in three days journey to the city of Sanaa or Zenan, upon the top of a very high mountain, and very strong both by art and nature.  The Sultan had besieged this place for three months with a great army, but was unable to prevail against it by force, yet it was afterwards yielded on composition.  The walls of this city are eighteen cubits high and twenty in thickness, insomuch that eight camels may march abreast upon them.  The region in which it stands is very fertile, and resembles Italy, having abundance of water.  The city contains four thousand houses, all well built, and in no respect inferior to those in Italy, but the city is so large in circuit, that fields, gardens, and meadows are contained within the walls.  This city was governed by a Sultan, who had twelve sons, one of whom named Mahomet, was four cubits high, and very strong, of a complexion resembling ashes, and from some natural madness or grossly tyrannical disposition he delighted in human flesh, so that he used to kill men secretly to feed upon them.

Three days journey from thence I came to a city upon a mountain, named Taessa, well built, and abounding in all things necessary to man, and particularly celebrated for roses, of which the inhabitants make rose water.  This is an ancient city, having many good houses, and still contains several monuments of antiquity.  Its temple or chief mosque is built much like the church of Sancta Maria Rotunda at Rome.  The inhabitants are of an ash-colour, inclining to black, and dress much like those already mentioned.  Many merchants resort thither for trade.  Three days journey from thence I came to another city named Zioith or Zabid, half a days journey from the Red Sea.  This is a well built city, abounding in many good things, particularly in excellent white sugar and various kinds of delicious fruits.  It