ar and of
the land of the north, as well as with the bordering tribes of the
land of El-Yemen near them, which latter country is on the confines of
India[149]. Returning from their land, it is a journey of twenty-five
days to the river Virae, which is in the land of El-Yemen, where about
3,000 Jews dwell[150], and amongst them are many a Rabbi and Dayan.

[p.73]

Thence it takes five days to Basra (Bassorah) which lies on the river
Tigris. Here there are 10,000 Jews, and among them are scholars and
many rich men. Thence it is two days to the river Samara, which is the
commencement of the land of Persia. 1,500 Jews live near the sepulchre
of Ezra, the priest, who went forth from Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes
and died here. In front of his sepulchre is a large synagogue. And at
the side thereof the Mohammedans erected a house of prayer out of
their great love and veneration for him, and they like the Jews on
that account. And the Mohammedans come hither to pray[151]. Thence it
is four days to Khuzistan, which is Elam. This province is not
inhabited in its entirety, for part of it lies waste. In the midst of
its ruins is Shushan (Susa), the capital, the site of the palace of
King Ahasuerus. Here are the remains of a large structure of great
antiquity. The city contains about 7,000 Jews and fourteen synagogues.

[p.74]

In front of one of the synagogues is the sepulchre of Daniel of
blessed memory. The river Tigris divides the city, and the bridge
connects the two parts. On the one side where the Jews dwell is the
sepulchre of Daniel. Here the market-places used to be, containing
great stores of merchandise, by which the Jews became enriched. On the
other side of the bridge they were poor, because they had no
market-places nor merchants there, only gardens and plantations. And
they became jealous, and said "All this prosperity enjoyed by those on
the other side is due to the merits of Daniel the prophet who lies
buried there." Then the poor people asked those who dwelt on the other
side to place the sepulchre of Daniel in their midst, but the others
would not comply. So war prevailed between them for many days, and no
one went forth or came in on account of the great strife between them.
At length both parties growing tired of this state of things took a
wise view of the matter, and made a compact, namely, that the coffin
of Daniel should be taken for one year to the one side and for another
year to the other side. This