The beginning of the voyage.
THE feast before the Carovan setteth forth, the Captaine
with all his retinue and officers resort unto the castle of
Cairo
before the Basha, which giveth unto every man a
garment, and that of the Captaine is wrought with golde,
and the others are served according to their degree.
Moreover he delivereth unto him ye Chisva Talnabi,
which signifieth in the Arabian tongue, The garment of
the Prophet: this vesture is of silke, wrought in the
midst with letters of gold, which signifie: La illa ill' alla
Mahumet Resullala: that is to say, There are no gods
but God, and his ambassadour Mahumet. This garment
is made of purpose to cover from top to botome a litle
house in Mecca
standing in the midst of the Mesquita,
the which house (they say) was builded by Abraham or
by his sonne Ismael. After this he delivereth to him a
gate made of purpose for the foresaid house of Abraham
wrought all with fine golde, and being of excellent workmanship, and it is a thing of great value. Besides, he
delivereth unto him a covering of greene velvet made in
maner of a pyramis, about nine palmes high, and artificially wrought with most fine golde, and this is to cover
the tombe of their prophet within Medina, which tombe
is built in manner of a pyramis : and besides that covering
there are brought many others of golde and silke, for
the ornament of the sayde tombe. Which things being
consigned, the Basha departeth not from his place; but
the Captaine of the Carovan taketh his leave with all his
officers and souldiers, and departeth accompanied with all
the people of Cairo
orderly in manner of a procession,
with singing, shouting and a thousand other ceremonies
too long to recite. From the castle they goe to a gate
of the citie called Bab-Nassera, without the which
standes a Mosquita, and therein they lay up the sayd
vestures very well kept and guarded. And of this ceremony they make so great account, that the world commeth
to see this sight, yea the women great with childe, and
others with children in their armes, neither is it lawfull
for any man to forbid his wife the going to this feast,
for that in so doing the wife may separate her selfe from
her husband, and may lie with any other man, in regard
of so great a trespasse. Now this procession proceeding
from the castle towardes the Mosquita, the Camels which
bring the vestures are all adorned with cloth of golde,
with many little belles, and passing along the streete you
may see the multitude casting upon the said vestures
thousands of beautifull flowers of divers colours, & sweete
water, others bringing towels & fine cloth touch the same,
which ever after they keepe as reliques with great reverence. Afterward having left the vesture in the Mosquita,
as is aforesaid, they returne againe into the citie, where
they remaine the space of 200 dayes, and then the captaine
departeth with his company, and taking the vestures out
of the Mosquita, carieth the same to the foresaid place of
Birca, where the Captaine having pitched his tent with
the standard of the grand Signior over the gate, & the
other principall tents standing about his, stayeth there
some tenne dayes and no more: in which time all those
resort thither that meane to follow the Carovan in this
voyage to Mecca
. Where you shall see certaine women
which intend to goe on this voiage accompanied with
their parents and friends mounted upon Camels, adorned
with so many tryfles, tassels, and knots, that in beholding
the same a man cannot refraine from laughter. The last
night before their departure they make great feasting and
triumph within the Carovan, with castles and other
infinite devises of fireworke, the Janizaries alwayes standing round about the tent of the Captaine with such
shouting and joy, that on every side the earth resoundeth,
and this night they discharge all their ordinance, foure
or sixe times, and after at the breake of the day upon
the sound of a trumpet they march forward on their
way.