[p.107]

Men suppose that it is the sepulchre of a king who lived in early times before the Deluge.  The length of the sepulchre is fifteen spans, and its breadth is six spans.  There are about 3,000 Jews in Alexandria.

Thence it is two days’ journey to Damietta which is Caphtor, where there are about 200 Jews, and it lies upon the sea.  Thence it is one day’s journey to Simasim; it contains about 100 Jews.  From there it is half a day to Sunbat; the inhabitants sow flax and weave linen, which they export to all parts of the world[199].  Thence it is four days to Ailam, which is Elim[200].  It belongs to the Arabs who dwell in the wilderness.  Thence it is two days’ journey to Rephidim where the Arabs dwell, but there are no Jews there[201].  A day’s journey from thence takes one to Mount Sinai.  On the top of the mountain is a large convent belonging to the great monks called Syrians[202].  At the foot of the mountain is a large town called Tur Sinai; the inhabitants speak the language of the Targum (Syriac).  It is close to a small mountain, five days distant from Egypt.  The inhabitants are under Egyptian rule.  At a day’s journey from Mount Sinai is [[203]the Red Sea, which is an arm of the Indian Ocean.  We return to Damietta.  From there it is a day’s journey to] Tanis, which is Hanes, where there are about 40 Jews.  It is an island in the midst of the sea[204].

[p.108]

Thus far extends the empire of Egypt.

Thence it takes twenty days by sea to Messina, which is the commencement of Sicily and is situated on the arm of the sea that is called Lipar[205], which divides it from Calabria.  Here about 200 Jews dwell.  It is a land full of everything good, with gardens and plantations.  Here most of the pilgrims assemble to cross over to Jerusalem, as this is the best crossing.  Thence it is about two days’ journey to Palermo, which is a large city.  Here is the palace of King William.  Palermo contains about 1,500 Jews and a large number of Christians and Mohammedans[206].  It is in a district abounding in springs and brooks of water, a land of wheat and barley, likewise of gardens and plantations, and there is not the like thereof in the whole island of Sicily.  Here is the domain and garden of the king, which is called Al Harbina (Al Hacina)[207], containing all sorts of fruit-trees.  And in it is a large fountain.  The garden is encompassed by a wall.  And a reservoir has been made there which is called Al Buheira[208], and in it are many sorts of fish.  Ships overlaid with silver and gold are there, belonging to the king, who takes pleasure-trips in them with his women[209].

[p.109]

In the park there is also a great palace, the walls of which are painted, and overlaid with gold and silver; the paving of the floors is of marble, picked out in gold and silver in all manner of designs.  There is no building like this anywhere.  And this island, the commencement of which is Messina, contains all the pleasant things of this world.  It embraces Syracuse, Marsala, Catania, Petralia, and Trapani, the circumference of the island being six days’ journey.  In Trapani coral is found, which is called Al Murgan[210].