CHAPTER XII

Departure from Cairo.—Alexandria.—The voyage to Cyprus.—Nicosia.
—A Rising.—The King's person.—Departure for Rhodes.—A
narrow escape from the Turks.—A great Storm.—Arrival at
Rhodes.—Death of the Grand MaSler.—Eledion of his successor,

I REMAINED at Babylonia thirty days and then departed,
taking leave of the Sultan and of Nicolo de' Conti,
who gave me letters for Venice, and also of my hoft,
the chief interpreter, and his wife and children, who
had treated me as if I had been one of them. They
gave me presents which I took with me, namely, two
Indian cats, two parrots, perfumes and other things,
including a turquoise which I ftill have. They gave
me also victuals for my journey. I left Babylonia
and travelled by the Lower Nile, and when I arrived
at the place where the two arms parted, I left the right
arm, which goes to Damietta, where I had already been,
and came by the other to a place close to Alexandria,
which they call Rosetta, and from there I reached the
city of Alexandria. It is a very notable city and I
remained there three days, wondering at the holy houses
where St. Catherine was born and martyred. Here
there is also a covered vault where, they say, is the
wheel on which they put her. This city is a great
sea port, and a great place of loading and unloading
for the Chriftians, and when I had seen it thoroughly
I went by land to Damietta, but I did not find there
the ship which the King of Cyprus had given me,
I had to wait there eight days until it arrived, for it
had been sailing along the coaft as far as Jerusalem.

I was received with much honour by the Governor
of Damietta, to whom I carried letters from the Sultan's
chief interpreter, and I sent to enquire if he had a

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