remains of the walls from the days of our ancestors, for thus it was
found written upon the stones. About 300 Jews dwell there. It was
formerly a very great city; at a distance of two miles there is a
large Jewish cemetery[92].

Thence it is five parasangs to Y[=a]fa or Jaffa, which is on the
seaboard, and one Jewish dyer lives here. From here it is five
parasangs to Ibelin or Jabneh, the seat of the Academy, but there are
no Jews there at this day. Thus far extends the territory of Ephraim.

From there it is five parasangs to Palmid, which is Ashdod of the
Philistines, now in ruins; no Jews dwell there. Thence it is two
parasangs to Ashkelonah or New Askelon, which Ezra the priest built by
the sea.

[p.44]

It was originally called Bene Berak. The place is four parasangs
distant from the ancient ruined city of Askelon. New Askelon is a
large and fair place, and merchants come thither from all quarters,
for it is situated on the frontier of Egypt. About 200 Rabbanite Jews
dwell here, at their head being R. Zemach, R. Aaron, and R. Solomon;
also about forty Karaïtes, and about 300 Cuthim. In the midst of the
city there is a well, which they call Bir Abraham; this the Patriarch
dug in the days of the Philistines[93].

From there it is a journey of a day to St. George[94] of Ludd: thence
it is a day and a half to Zerin or Jezreel, where there is a large
spring. One Jewish dyer lives here. Three parasangs further is
Saffuriya or Sepphoris. Here are the graves of Rabbenu Hakkadosh, of