eturne to our purpose, the
pilgrimes during their abode there goe to visite these three pillers,
throwing away the little stones which before they gathered, whiles they
repeat the same words which they say, that Ismael said to the diuell, when
he withstoode him. From hence halfe a mile is a mountaine, whither Abraham
went to sacrifice his sonne, as is abouesaid. In this mountaine is a great
den whither the pilgrims resort to make their prayers, and there is a great
stone naturally separated in the midst; and they say, that Ismael, while
his father Abraham was busie about the sacrifice, tooke the knife in hand
to prooue how it would cut, and making triall diuided the stone in two
parts. The fiue dayes being expired, the captaine ariseth with all the
Carouan, and returneth againe to Mecca, where they remaine other fiue
dayes. And while these rest, we will treat of the city and port of Grida
vpon the Red Sea.

Of Grida.

[Grida a port neere Mecca.] Therefore wee say that from Mecca to Grida they
make two small dayes iourney: and because in those places it is ill
traueiling in the day-time by reason of the great heat of the Sunne,
therefore they depart in the euening from Mecca, and in the morning before
Sunne-rising they are arriued halfe way, where there certaine habitations
well furnished, and good Innes to lodge in, but especially women ynough
which voluntarily bestowe their almes vpon the poore pilgrims: likewise
departing the next euening, the morning after, they come vnto Grida. This
citie is founded vpon the Red Sea banke, enuironed with wals and towers to
the land-ward, but through continuance of time almost consumed and wasted:
on the side to seaward it stands vnwalled. Grida hath three gates, one on
eche side, and the thirde in the midst towarde the lande, which is called
the port of Mecca, neere vnto which are 6. or 7. Turks vpon the old towers
for guard thereof with foure faulcons vpon one of the corners of the city
to the land-ward. Also to sea-ward where the wall ioyneth with the water,
there is lately made a fort like vnto a bulwarke, where they haue planted
25 pieces of the best ordinance that might be had, which are very well kept
and guarded. More outward towards the sea vpon the farthest olde tower are
other fiue good pieces with 30 men to guard them. [Sidenote: The Portugals
greatly feared in the Red Sea.] On the other side of the city at the end of
the wall there is lately builded a bulwarke strong a