charged they open their skinnes and carry
them backe by Camels, to serue another time. Babylon in times past did
belong to the kingdome of Persia, but nowe is subiecte to the Turke. Ouer
against Babylon there is a very faire village from whence you passe to
Babylon vpon a long bridge made of boats, and tyed to a great chaine of
yron, which is made fast on either side of the riuer. When any boates are
to passe vp or downe the riuer, they take away certaine boates vntill they
be past.

[Sidenote: The tower of Babel.] The tower of Babel is built on this side
the riuer Tygris, towardes Arabia from the towne about seuen or eight
miles, which tower is ruinated on all sides, and with the fall thereof hath
made as it were a litle mountaine, so that it hath no shape at all: it was
made of brickes dried in the sonne, and certain canes and leaues of the
palme tree layed betwixt the brickes. There is no entrance to be seene to
goe into it. It doth stand vpon a great plaine betwixt the riuers of
Euphrates and Tygris.

[Sidenote: Boyling pitch continually issuing out of the earth.] By the
riuer Euphrates two dayes iourney from Babylon at a place called Ait, in a
fielde neere vnto it, is a strange thing to see: a mouth that doth
continually throwe fourth against the ayre boyling pitch with a filthy
smoke: which pitch doth runne abroad into a great fielde which is alwayes
full thereof. The Moores say that it is the mouth of hell. By reason of the
great quantitie of it, the men of that countrey doe pitch their boates two
or three inches thicke on the outside, so that no water doth enter into
them. Their boates be called Danec. When there is great store of water in
Tigris you may goe from Babylon to Basora in 8 or 9 dayes: if there be
small store it will cost you the more dayes.

Basora in times past was vnder the Arabians, but now is subiecte to the
Turke. But some of them the Turke cannot subdue, for that they holde
certaine Ilandes in the riuer Euphrates which the Turke cannot winne of
them. They be theeues all and haue no setled dwelling, but remoue from
place to place with their Camels, goates, and horses, wiues and children
and all. They haue large blew gownes, their wiues eares and noses are
ringed very full of rings of copper and siluer, and they weare rings of
copper about their legs.

Basora standeth neere the gulfe of Persia, and is a towne of great trade of
spices, and drugges which come from Ormus. Also there is great sto