neere vnto a towne called Heit, as we crosse the riuer Euphrates by boates,
about 3. miles from the town there is a valley wherein are many springs
throwing out abundantly at great mouths, a kinde of blacke substance like
vnto tarre, which serueth all the countrey to make stanch their barkes and
boates: euery one of these springs maketh a noise like vnto a Smiths forge
in the blowing and puffing out of this matter, which neuer ceaseth night
nor day, and the noise may be heard a mile off continually. This vale
swalloweth vp all heauie things that come vpon it. The people of the
countrey call it in their language Babil gehenham, that is to say, Hell
doore. As we passed through these deserts, we saw certaine wild beasts, as
wild asses all white, Roebucks, wolfes, leopards, foxes, and many hares,
whereof we chased and killed many. Aborise the king of the wandring
Arabians in these deserts hath a dutie of 40. s. sterling, vpon euery
Camels lode, which he sendeth his officers to receiue of the Carauans, and
in consideration hereof, he taketh vpon him to conduct the sayd Carauans if
they need his helpe, and to defend them against certaine prowling thieues.
[Sidenote: William Barret Consul in Aleppo.] I and my companion William
Shales came to Aleppo with the Carauan the eleuenth of Iune, 1584. where we
were ioyfully receiued 20. miles distant from the towne by M. William
Barret our Consull, accompanied with his people and Ianissaries, who fell
sicke immediately and departed this life within 8. dayes after, and elected
before his death M. Anthonie Bate Consul of our English nation in his
place, who laudably supplied the same roome 3. yeeres. [Sidenote: Two
voyages more made to Babylon.] In which meane time I made two voyages more
vnto Babylon, and returned by the way aforesayd, ouer the deserts of
Arabia. And afterwards, as one desirous to see other parts of the countrey,
I went from Aleppo to Antioch, which is thence 60. English miles, and from
thence went downe to Tripolis, where going aboord a small vessell, I
arriued at Ioppe, and trauelled to Rama, Lycia, Gaza, Ierusalem, Bethleem,
to the riuer of Iordan, and the sea or lake of Zodome, and returned backe