_ 128 _ Some of them cost a hundred cruzados or more. A little removed from the city, near the entrance, are some caves and tents in which many gipsy women live, who live by their persons and kindness, something which is not permitted anywhere else. All kinds of men go to them without penalty, Moors and Christians; and they enjoy this privilege on account of a certain tribute which they pay to the sanjak. There is much good fish in the city from the River Euphrates, which is two days’ journey beyond towards the west. It is very productive in livestock and fruit, vineyards and provisions, which come from the great plains and the province, where there are many villages peopled by Armenians and Turkmens. There is such plenty that a load of wheat of perhaps twenty-four alqueires is worth one cruzado. All this is sent to the city of Aleppo and to others. We stayed here from 5 January, when we arrived, to the 7th, a Monday The tax-collectors of Urfa on this day collected the dues of five xains per load. On 8 January, together with another caravan which had joined us, we left to the west-north-west or west, which was the same direction we had been following during the days before. We passed an Armenian monastery destroyed and abandoned, which appeared to have been very
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