_ 247 _ or forty days. The boats are towed by ropes, because it is against the currents, and it is so quick that the journey takes ten to twelve days. From Baghdad to Tabriz it is a safe, quick journey of twenty-three to twenty-five days, and from there to Aleppo the same. But the best and shortest route is from Basra across the desert, and this way caravans pass in September of every year and at other times, in twenty-five to thirty days, to Damascus, Aleppo and Hamah, a city three or four days journey from Aleppo. This is the shortest and most reliable route. From these cities many caravans also go to Basra every year. This was the route I should have taken if Basra had been at peace, as I have said. If this route cannot be taken because of some misadventure, and you are obliged to make it through Persia, take the road to Lar, which is six days journey from Bandar Abbas through here caravans go all the time and are never lacking, through places inhabited by Persian people. They have no fruits other than dates. in great abundance on which to sustain oneself. From Lar go to Binaru, an ancient city, but much destroyed and broken down, two good days journey, where the domain of Lar comes to an end. From there go to Juyom, a large city, formerly in the domain of Shiraz. It has great water channels, where many mills grind. It is very well
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