[p.84]

They have no noses, and in lieu thereof they have two small holes, through which they breathe.  They eat animals both clean and unclean, and they are very friendly towards the Israelites.  Fifteen years ago they overran the country of Persia with a large army and took the city of Rayy[168]; they smote it with the edge of the sword, took all the spoil thereof, and returned by way of the wilderness.  Such an invasion had not been known in the land of Persia for many years.  When the king of Persia heard thereof his anger was kindled against them, and he said, “Not in my days nor in the days of my fathers did an army sally forth from this wilderness.  Now I will go and cut off their name from the earth.”  A proclamation was made throughout his Empire, and he assembled all his armies; and he sought a guide who might show him the way to their encampment.  And a certain man said that he would show him the way, as he was one of them.  And the king promised that he would enrich him if he did so.  And the king asked him as to what provisions they would require for the march through the wilderness.

[p.85]

And he replied, “Take with you bread and wine for fifteen days, for you will find no sustenance by the way, till you have reached their land.”  And they did so, and marched through the wilderness for fifteen days, but they found nothing at all.  And their food began to give out, so that man and beast were dying of hunger and thirst.  Then the king called the guide, and said to him, “Where is your promise to us that you would find our adversaries?” To which the other replied, “I have mistaken the way.”  And the king was wroth, and commanded that his head should be struck off.  And the king further gave orders throughout the camp that every man who had any food should divide it with his neighbour.  And they consumed everything they had including their beasts.  And after a further thirteen days’ march they reached the mountains of Naisabur, where Jews lived.  They came there on the Sabbath, and encamped in the gardens and plantations and by the springs of water which are by the side of the river Gozan.  Now it was the time of the ripening of the fruit, and they ate and consumed everything.  No man came forth to them, but on the mountains they saw cities and many towers.

[p.86]

Then the king commanded two of his servants to go and inquire of the people who lived in the mountains, and to cross the river either in boats or by swimming.  So they searched and found a large bridge, on which there were three towers, but the gate of the bridge was locked.  And on the other side of the bridge was a great city.  Then they shouted in front of the bridge till a man came forth and asked them what they wanted and who they were.  But they did not understand him till an interpreter came who understood their language.  And when he asked them, they said, “We are the servants of the king of Persia, and we have come to ask who you are, and whom you