e called Mina, that is to say, The hauen, and a litle from thence are
4. great pillars, of which hereafter we will speake. Now first touching the
mountaine of Pardons, which is rather to be called a litle hill, then a
mountain, for that it is low, litle, delightful and pleasant, containing in
circuit two miles, and enuironed round about with the goodliest plaine that
euer with mans eie could be seen, and the plaine likewise compassed with
exceeding high mountains, in such sort that this is one of the goodliest
situations in the world: and it seemeth verily, that nature hath therein
shewed all her cunning, in making this place vnder the mountaine of pardons
so broad and pleasant. Vpon the side towards Mecca there are many pipes of
water cleare, faire, and fresh, and aboue all most wholesome, falling down
into certaine vessels made of purpose, where the people refresh and wash
themselues, and water their cattel. And when Adam and Euah were cast out of
paradise by the angel of the Lord, the Mahumetans say, they came to
inhabite this litle mountaine of pardons. Also they say, that they had lost
one another, and were separated for the space of 40. yeeres, and in the end
met at this place with great ioy and gladnesse, and builded a litle house
vpon the top of this mountaine, the which at this day they call Beyt Adam,
that is to say, the house of Adam.

Of the three Carouans.

The same day that the Carouan of Cairo commeth to this place, hither come
2. Carouans also, one of Damasco, the other of Arabia, and in like maner
all the inhabitants for ten dayes iourney round about, so that at one time
there is to be seene aboue 200000. persons, and more then 300000. cattell.
Now all this company meeting together in this place the night before the
feast, the three hostes cast themselues into a triangle, setting the
mountaine in the midst of them: and all that night there is nothing to be
heard nor seene, but gunshot and fireworkes of sundry sortes, with such
singing, sounding, shouting, halowing, rumors, feasting, and triumphing, as
is wonderfull. After this, the day of the feast being come, they are all at
rest and silence, and that day they attend on no other thing, then to
sacrifice oblations and prayers vnto God, and in the euening all they which
haue horses mount thereon, and approch as nigh vnto the mountaine as they
can, and those which haue no horses make the best shift they can on foote,
giuing euer vnto the captaine of Cair