[p.24]

The one exception is R. Solomon Hamitsri, who is the king’s physician, and through whom the Jews enjoy considerable alleviation of their oppression.  For their condition is very low, and there is much hatred against them, which is fostered by the tanners, who throw out their dirty water in the streets before the doors of the Jewish houses and defile the Jews’ quarter (the Ghetto).  So the Greeks hate the Jews, good and bad alike, and subject them to great oppression, and beat them in the streets, and in every way treat them with rigour.  Yet the Jews are rich and good, kindly and charitable, and bear their lot with cheerfulness.  The district inhabited by the Jews is called Pera.

From Constantinople it is two days’ voyage to Rhaedestus[49], with a community of Israelites of about 400, at their head being R. Moses, R. Abijah, and R. Jacob.  From there it is two days to Callipolis (Gallipoli), where there are about 200 Jews, at their head being R. Elijah Kapur, R. Shabbattai Zutro, and R. Isaac Megas, which means “great” in Greek.  And from here it is two days to Kales.

[p.25]

Here there are about fifty Jews, at their head being R. Jacob and R. Judah.  From here it is two days’ journey to the island of Mytilene, and there are Jewish congregations in ten localities on the island.  Thence it is three days’ voyage to the island of Chios, where there are about 400 Jews, including R. Elijah Heman and R. Shabtha.  Here grow the trees from which mastic is obtained.  Two days’ voyage takes one to the island of Samos, where there are 300 Jews, at their head being R. Shemaria, R. Obadiah, and R. Joel.  The islands have many congregations of Jews.  From Samos it is three days to Rhodes, where there are about 400 Jews, at their head being R. Abba, R. Hannanel, and R. Elijah.  It is four days’ voyage from here to Cyprus, where there are Rabbanite Jews and Karaites; there are also some heretical Jews called Epikursin, whom the Israelites have excommunicated in all places.  They profane the eve of the sabbath, and observe the first night of the week, which is the termination of the sabbath[50].

[p.26]

From Cyprus it is four days’ journey to Curicus (Kurch), which is the beginning of the land called Armenia, and this is the frontier of the empire of Thoros[51], ruler of the mountains, and king of Armenia, whose dominions extend to the province of Trunia[52], and to the country of the Togarmim or Turks.  From there it is two days’ journey to Malmistras, which is Tarshish, situated by the sea; and thus far extends the kingdom of the Javanim or Greeks[53].