Thence it is three miles to the city of Kotsonath, where there are 300 Jews.  Here are the sepulchres of Rab Papa, Rab Huna, Joseph Sinai, and Rab Joseph ben Hama; and before each of them is a Synagogue where the Israelites pray every day.  Thence it is three parasangs to Ain Siptha, where there is the sepulchre of the prophet Nahum the Elkoshite.  Thence it is a day’s journey to Kefar Al-Keram, where are the sepulchres of Rab Chisdai, R. Azariah, R. Akiba, and R. Dosa.  Thence it is a half-day’s journey to a village in the desert, where there are buried R. David and R. Jehuda and Abaji, R. Kurdiah, Rab Sechora, and Rab Ada.

[p.69]

Thence it is a day’s journey to the river Raga, where there is the sepulchre of King Zedekiah.  Upon it is a large cupola.  Thence it is a day’s journey to the city of Kufa, where there is the sepulchre of King Jeconiah.  Over it is a big structure, and in front thereof is a Synagogue.  There are about 7,000 Jews here.  At this place is the large mosque of the Mohammedans, for here is buried Ali ben Abu Talib, the son-in-law of Mohammed, and the Mohammedans come hither....

Thence it is a day and a half to Sura, which is Mata Mehasya, where the Heads of the Captivity and the Heads of the Academies dwelt at first[142].  Here is the sepulchre of R. Sherira, and of R. Hai his son of blessed memory, also of R. Saadiah Al-Fiumi, and of Rab Samuel the son of Hofni Hacohen, and of Zephaniah the son of Cushi the son of Gedaliah, the prophet, and of the Princes of the House of David, and of the Heads of the Academies who lived there before the destruction of the town.[143]

Thence it is two days to Shafjathib.  Here is a Synagogue which the Israelites built from the earth of Jerusalem and its stones, and they called it Shafjathib, which is by Nehardea.[144]

Thence it is a day and a half’s journey to El-Anbar, which was Pumbedita in Nehardea.[145] About 3,000 Jews dwell there.  The city lies on the river Euphrates.  Here is the Synagogue of Rab and Samuel, and their house of study, and in front of it are their graves.

[p.70]

Thence it is five days to Hillah.  From this place it is a journey of twenty-one days by way of the deserts to the land of Saba, which is called the land El-Yemen, lying at the side of the land of Shinar which is towards the North.[146]

Here dwell the Jews called Kheibar, the men of Teima.  And Teima is their seat of government where R. Hanan the Nasi rules over them.  It is a great city, and the extent of their land is sixteen days’ journey.  It is surrounded by mountains—­the mountains of the north.  The Jews own many large fortified cities.  The yoke of the Gentiles is hnot upon them.  They go forth to pillage and to capture booty from distant lands in conjunction with the Arabs, their neighbours and allies.  These Arabs dwell in tents, and they make the desert their home.  They own no houses, and they go forth to