ABSTRACT
After this small refection, whose quality I have described, we had to set out again immediately because of the infestation of that region with the Gala brigands, who, knowing that place to be a necessary stopping place for travellers, there being no other water there with which to restore themselves, come there to attack from time to time; and we did not want to experience so unlucky a fate, especially since we knew of spies being nearby. In addition to this, it was necessary to leave immediately so we could reach the passage of a plain where these barbarians are frequently found and a few days before had attacked a caravan, as I shall relate further on; and it was necessary to continue all night at a good pace in order to be out of that plain and its danger by dawn. We therefore hurried our journey. And although we kept constantly alert, we found nothing remarkable all the way. The sun was rising as we came to the entrance to the plain. We were truly very tired, for we had been travelling for two nights and almost two days with the difficulties I have just described. And so, partly from our past sufferings, partly from fear and news of what had happened a few days before to other travellers, we entered that plain with no great feelings of happy anticipation or expectations of great good fortune. We put our trust however in God. The camel drivers kept close to their camels ready to cut their girths and flee with them if they could, with all the more certainty of having to meet the bandits since we suspected that they had sent word to them to come and rob us, partly as vengeance for what I have related earlier, and partly to share safely in the spoils; for, as they were inhabitants of lands dependent upon the Emperor, they did not want to rob us with the danger of being discovered, but wished rather to do their dirty work as secretly as possible, covering their wickedness with the smoke-screen of the highwaymen.
