סן

TURKISH EXPEDITION TO AFRICA.

3

countries, whose king was a greatly honored Arab*, a confederate of all the uncircumcised at that time. And the pasha sent unto him, saying, “ Come down to me, tarry not for the king, because the Great Turk has sent me to thee to deliver thee this day from the hands of these uncircumcised." Then the king answered, " Who is he that maketh bold to say to me, ‘Come down ?' Let him come up to my house, for I am a king; yea, and the son of a king!” And the wrath of the pasha was kindled against him ; and he sent to the king with subtlety, and slew him, and plundered the country.

But the Venetian rebuked him, and said, “ Why hast thou done thus, to make me stink before the inhabitants of the country ?t for they will not again assist us, neither will they give us any provision, and we shall die of hunger.” And as the Venetian spake, so it was : for the kings of those cities

“ Is it not better to serve the uncircumcised, than to die by the hand of this cruel man?” So they hated him, and turned their backs to him, and not their faces, though at first they favored him. And the Turks were forced to retreat without

And it came to pass, when they were in Egypt, that the Venetian told one of his friends what had befallen him; and that man told his

said,

said,

66

were

words to the pasha, and he hated the Venetian in his heart. And the Venetian desired to return to his master; but the pasha intreated him, and

No; thou shalt come with us.” And they went their way. And it came to pass, when they

near Constantinople, that the janissaries strave among themselves and slew the Venetian; so that he died before he returned to his master. It was not known who had slain him; and it grieved the Turk exceedingly.

590. There was a man in Castile, which is in Spain, Americo by name, who had a great ship, and he stored it plentifully with provisions, according to his heart's desire; and his heart impelled him also* to go forth in person to take spoil wherever he could find it, and even to extend his voyage

far from the borders of landt. And there gathered themselves unto him vain fellows, who embarked with him and went their way. And they continued their voyage many days, in a tract by which no man had passed, from the day that the Almighty created earth and heaven. And they went on even until they could no longer see the star

סן

CRUELTY OF THE SPANIARDS.

7

that they had done, and all the travail with which they had met on the way. And many envied them. From that day forward, many of the lowest people of the country became likewise disposed to go thither to the place of gold. But some of them found nothing, save a place of briers and thorns, and died on the way of hunger and thirst, and for want of every thing. And many reached their deired haven*, and returned home with joy, and alth, and riches, and plenty of every thing. 1 it came to pass, as often as the Spaniards thither, that they took captive the inhabitants t country to be unto them servants, and hands, and tributaries, unto this day. The Is took also of their daughters some to be ners, and cooks, and bakers; and there to deliver out of their hands. And the nhabitants of that country went up unto

were

words to the pasha, and he hated the Venetian in his heart. And the Venetian desired to return to his master; but the pasha intreated him, and said, “No; thou shalt come with us.” And they went their way. And it came to pass, when they

near Constantinople, that the janissaries strave among themselves and slew the Venetian; so that he died before he returned to his master. It was not known who had slain him; and it grieved the Turk exceedingly.

590. There was a man in Castile, which is in Spain, Americo by name, who had a great ship, and he stored it plentifully with provisions, according to his heart's desire; and his heart impelled him also* to go forth in person to take spoil wherever he could find it, and even to extend his voyage far from the borders of landt. And there gathered themselves unto him vain fellows, who embarked with him and went their way. And they continued their voyage many days, in a tract by which no man had passed, from the day that the Almighty created earth and heaven. And they went on even until they could no longer see the star

סן

DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.

5

Tramontana, by which the mariners and seafaring men are guided and direct their way; and they reeled to and fro, and staggered like a drunken man*; and they went on from deep to deep, and were confounded by the springs of the seat during many days. And the food which they had with them failed, and the men prayed that their souls might die, and every one cried unto his Godt at that time. And they made up their minds to return, and they knew not that the ship-master was in perplexitys not discerning between right and left; and they said, “ While their soul fainted within them, let us cast lots|l, and upon whomsoever the lot shall fall, we will eat his flesh that we may live and not die.” While they were yet speaking, the watchman lifted up his

eyes, a place afar off, and cried, Ah, my brethren! Land! Land!” And the men rejoiced much, and rowed towards the dry land, and went on shore. And they came into a small city, whose inhabitants were few and naked; yet they were not ashamed. And the Spaniards spake unto them, but they understood nothing except a little of the language of Ishmael. And the Spaniards asked for bread.

and saw