236
 

CHAPTER XL

Pilgrims leave Jaffa.—Casola's Bargain with his Mule
Driver.—Ride from Jaffa to Rama.—Hostel at
Rama.—Sermon Preached by the Prior of Mount
Sion.—Visit to Lydda.—Christians of the Girdle.—
Description of Rama.—Death of Cypriano de
Porri.—Ride from Rama.—Casola's Adventure.—
Arrival at Jerusalem. — The Pilgrims' Quarters
there.—The Captain's Lodgings.—Father Fran.
Trivulzio Attacked by Fever.—The Prior of
Mount Sion and His Treatment of the Pilgrims.

At Vespers, with great shouting from the Moors and
Christians, the pilgrims mounted—some on asses, some on
mules, some on horses, and each beast had a pack saddle on
its back and a cord or chain round its neck. These animals
were all provided by that Abrayno Grasso named above,
in accordance with the agreement he had made with the
captain of the galley. The captain paid him so much a
head for the pilgrims, and he furnished the animals for
them. In addition, the pilgrims had to give something
to the owners of the animals; otherwise they cause you
many annoyances, and are very disagreeable. Sometimes
they make a rider tumble off his animal and then extort
several marchetti^ before they will help him up.

Chance gave me a mule, and as I was advised to do so
by the captain, I bargained with the owner of the mule
to give him a ducat extra as a gratuity,^ for the whole
journey, with the understanding that I was not to pay him

1.    The Marchetto was coined by Francesco Dandolo about 1330. It was worth twelve
piccoli, and was also called a soldo.   ^GalliccioUi, i. p. 580.)

2.    Casola uses the word " Cortesia."