and to capture
booty in the land of Shinar and El-Yemen. All the neighbours of these
Jews go in fear of them. Among them are husbandmen and owners of
cattle; their land is extensive, and they have in their midst learned
and wise men. They give the tithe of all they possess unto the
scholars who sit in the house of learning, also to poor Israelites and
to the recluses, who are the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and who
do not eat meat nor taste wine, and sit clad in garments of black.

[p.71]

They dwell in caves or underground houses, and fast each day with the
exception of the Sabbaths and Festivals, and implore mercy of the Holy
One, blessed be He, on account of the exile of Israel, praying that He
may take pity upon them, and upon all the Jews, the men of Teima, for
the sake of His great Name, also upon Tilmas the great city, in which
there are about 100,000 Jews[147]. At this place lives Salmon the
Nasi, the brother of Hanan the Nasi; and the land belongs to the two
brothers, who are of the seed of David, for they have their pedigree
in writing. They address many questions unto the Head of the
Captivity--their kinsman in Bagdad--and they fast forty days in the
year for the Jews that dwell in exile.

There are here about forty large towns and 200 hamlets and villages.
The principal city is Tanai, and in all the districts together there
are about 300,000 Jews. The city of Tanai is well fortified, and in
the midst thereof the people sow and reap. It is fifteen miles in
extent. Here is the palace of the Nasi called Salmon. And in Teima
dwells Hanan the Nasi, his brother. It is a beautiful city, and
contains gardens and plantations.

[p.72]

And Tilmas is likewise a great city; it contains about 100,000 Jews.
It is well fortified, and is situated between two high mountains.
There are wise, discreet, and rich men amongst the inhabitants. From
Tilmas to Kheibar it is three days' journey. People say that the men
of Kheibar belong to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, whom
Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, led hither into captivity. They have
built strongly-fortified cities, and make war upon all other kingdoms.
No man can readily reach their territory, because it is a march of
eighteen days' journey through the desert, which is altogether
uninhabited, so that no one can enter the land.

Kheibar is a very large city with 50,000 Jews[148]. In it are learned
men, and great warriors, who wage war with the men of Shin