issives one to the other, saying, "Be ye strong
in the law of Moses, and do ye mourners for Zion and ye mourners for
Jerusalem entreat the Lord, and may the supplication of those that
wear the garments of mourning be received through their merits." In
addition to the several cities which we have mentioned there are
besides] Strassburg, Wuerzburg, Mantern, Bamberg, Freising, and
Regensburg at the extremity of the Empire[212]. In these cities there
are many Israelites, wise men and rich.

Thence extends the land of Bohemia, called Prague[213]. This is the
commencement of the land of Slavonia, and the Jews who dwell there
call it Canaan, because the men of that land (the Slavs) sell their
sons and their daughters to the other nations. These are the men of
Russia, which is a great empire stretching from the gate of Prague to
the gates of Kieff, the large city which is at the extremity of that
empire[214]. It is a land of mountains and forests, where there are to
be found the animals called vair[215], ermine, and sable.

[p.112]

No one issues forth from his house in winter-time on account of the
cold. People are to be found there who have lost the tips of their
noses by reason of the frost. Thus far reaches the empire of Russia.

The kingdom of France, which is Zarfath, extends from the town of
Auxerre[216] unto Paris, the great city--a journey of six days. The
city belongs to King Louis. It is situated on the river Seine.
Scholars are there, unequalled in the whole world, who study the Law
day and night. They are charitable and hospitable to all travellers,
and are as brothers and friends unto all their brethren the Jews. May
God, the Blessed One, have mercy upon us and upon them!

Finished and completed.

INDEX

The references in this Index are made to the pages of _Asher's
Edition_, which are marked in the margin of the foregoing English
translation.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: Tudela was called in Benjamin's time _Tuteila_.
Sepharad is Spain.]

[Footnote 2: There is a considerable difference of opinion
as to the exact dates at which Benjamin began and completed
his journey. In my opinion, the period can be placed within
a very narrow compass. Early in his journey he visited Rome,
where he found R. Jechiel to be the steward of the household
of Pope Alexander. This can be no other than Pope Alexander
III, who played so important a p