[p.18]

Some people say that they are Jews, and, in fact, they call the Jews their brethren, and when they meet with them, though they rob them, they refrain from killing them as they kill the Greeks.  They are altogether lawless[40].

From there it is two days’ journey to Gardiki, which is in ruins and contains but a few Greeks and Jews.  From there it is two days’ journey to Armylo, which is a large city on the sea, inhabited by Venetians, Pisans, Genoese, and all the merchants who come there; it is an extensive place, and contains about 400 Jews.  At their head are the chief rabbi R. Shiloh Lombardo, R. Joseph, the warden, and R. Solomon, the leading man.  Thence it is a day’s journey to Vissena, where there are about 100 Jews, at their head being the chief rabbi R. Sabbattai, R. Solomon, and R. Jacob.

From there it is two days’ voyage to the city of Salonica, built by King Seleucus, one of the four successors who followed after King Alexander.  It is a very large city, with about 500 Jews, including the chief rabbi R. Samuel and his sons, who are scholars.

[p.19]

He is appointed by the king as head of the Jews.  There is also R. Sabbattai, his son-in-law, R. Elijah, and R. Michael.  The Jews are oppressed, and live by silk-weaving.

Thence it is two days’ journey to Demetrizi, with about fifty Jews.  In this place live R. Isaiah, R. Machir, and R. Alib.  Thence it is two days to Drama, where there are about 140 Jews, at the head of them being R. Michael and R. Joseph.  From there it is one day’s journey to Christopoli, where about twenty Jews live.

A three days’ voyage brings one to Abydos, which is upon an arm of the sea which flows between the mountains, and after a five days’ journey the great town of Constantinople is reached.  It is the capital of the whole land of Javan, which is called Greece.  Here is the residence of the King Emanuel the Emperor.  Twelve ministers are under him, each of whom has a palace in Constantinople and possesses castles and cities; they rule all the land.  At their head is the King Hipparchus, the second in command is the Megas Domesticus, the third Dominus, and the fourth is Megaa Ducas, and the fifth is Oeconomus Megalus; the others bear names like these[41].

[p.20]

The circumference of the city of Constantinople is eighteen miles; half of it is surrounded by the sea, and half by land, and it is situated upon two arms of the sea, one coming from the sea of Russia, and one from the sea of Sepharad.

All sorts of merchants come here from the land of Babylon, from the land of Shinar, from Persia, Media, and all the sovereignty of the land of Egypt, from the land of Canaan, and the empire of Russia[42], from Hungaria, Patzinakia[43], Khazaria[44], and the land of Lombardy and Sepharad.  It is a busy city, and merchants come to it from every country by sea or land, and there is none like it in the world except Bagdad, the great city of Islam.  In Constantinople is the church of Santa Sophia, and the seat of the Pope of the Greeks, since the Greeks do not obey the Pope of Rome.  There are also churches according to the number of the days of the year.  A quantity of wealth beyond telling is brought hither year by year as tribute from the two islands and the castles and villages which are there.