The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation Volume X Part 4

And we of our further Royall fauour and of our especiall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere motion haue graunted and by these presents for vs, our heyres and successors doe graunt to the sayd Gouernour and companie of Marchants of the Leuant, that the sayde landes, territories, and dominions of the sayde Grand Signor, or the dominions of the Signiorie of Venice, or any of them within the sayde Leuant or Mediterran seas shall not be visited, frequented, or haunted by the sayde Leuant sea by way of marchandize by any other our subiects during the saide terme of twelue yeeres contrarie to the true meaning of these presentes. And by vertue of our prerogatiue Royall, which wee will not in that behalfe haue argued or brought in question, wee straightly charge, commaunde and prohibite for vs, our heyres and successours all our subiects of what degree or qualitie soeuer they bee, that none of them directly or indirectly doe visite, haunt, frequent, trade, traffike or aduenture by way of marchandise into or from any of the sayd dominions of the sayd Grand Signor, or the dominions of the saide Segniorie of Venice, by or through the sayde Leuant sea other then the sayd Gouernour and companie of marchants of the Leuant, and such particular persons as be or shall be of that companie, their factors, agents, seruants and a.s.signes. And further for that wee plainely vnderstande that the States and Gouerours of the citie and Segniorie of Venice haue of late time set and raysed a newe impost and charge ouer and besides their auncient impost, custome, and charge of and vpon all manner of marchandize of our Realme brought into their dominions, and also of and vpon all marchandise caried or laden from their sayd Countrey or dominions by our subiectes or in the s.h.i.+ps or bottoms of any of our subiectes to the great and intollerable charge and hinderance of our sayd subiects trading thither, wee therefore minding the redresse thereof, doe also by these presents for vs, our heires and successors further straightly prohibite and forbid not onely the subiects of the sayde State and Segniorie of Venice, but also of all other Nations or Countries whatsoeuer other then the sayd Gouernour and companie of marchants of the Leuant, and such onely as be or shall be of that companie, their factors, agents, seruantes, and a.s.signes: That they or any of them during the sayde terme of twelue yeeres, shall bring or cause to be brought into this our Realme of Englande, or any part thereof anie manner of small fruites called corrants, being the raysins of Corinth, or wine of Candie, vnlesse it be by and with the licence, consent, and agreement of the sayde Gouernour and companie in writing vnder their sayd common seale first had and obteyned vpon paine vnto euery such person and persons that shall trade and traffike into any the sayde dominions of the State and Segniorie of Venice by sea, or that shall bring or cause to be brought into our saide Realme any of the said corrants being the raysins of Corinth, or wines of Candia, other then the sayd companie in paine of our indignation, and of forfaiture and losse as well of the s.h.i.+ppe and s.h.i.+ps with the furniture thereof, as also of the goods, marchandize, and thinges whatsoeuer they be of those which shall attempt or presume to commit or doe any matter or thing contrarie to the prohibition aforesayd.

The one half of all the saide forfeitures to be to vs, our heires and successours, and the other halfe of all and euery the sayde forfeitures we doe by these presents, of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere motion clearely and wholie for vs, our heires and successors, giue and graunt vnto the saide Gouernour and companie of marchantes of the Leuant.

And further all and euery the sayde offendours for their sayde contempt to suffer imprisonment during our pleasures, and such other punishment as to vs for so high a contempt shall seeme meete and conuenient, and not to be in any wise deliuered vntill they and euery of them shall be come bounde vnto the sayd Gouernour for the time being in the summe of one thousand poundes or lesse at no time, then after to sayle or traffike by sea into any the dominions aforesaide, or to bring or cause to be brought from any the places aforesayde any corrants, raysins of Corinth, or wines of Candia contrarie to our expresse commaundement in that behalfe herein set downe and published.

Prouided alwayes, and our expresse will is notwithstanding the premisses that if our sayde subiects shall at any time hereafter be recompensed of and for all such newe impostes and charges as they and euery of them shall pay, and likewise be freely discharged of and from the payment of all manner of newe imposte or taxe for any of their marchandise which they hereafter shall bring into or from any the dominions of the sayde State or Segniorie of Venice, and from all bondes and other a.s.surances by them or any of them to be made for or in that behalfe, that then immediatly from and after such recompence and discharge made as aforesayde our sayde prohibition and restraint in these presentes mentioned, shall not be of any strength or force against the sayde Citie or State of Venice, or any the subiects thereof, but for and during such time onely and in such case when hereafter the sayde State of Venice shall againe beginne to taxe or leuie any manner of newe imposte within the sayde dominions vpon any the goods or marchandizes of our sayde subiects heereafter to be brought into any the dominions of the said State or Segniorie of Venice. Any thing in these our letters Patents contayned to the contrarie thereof in any wise notwithstanding.

And further wee straightly charge and commaunde, and by these presentes prohibite all and singular Customers and Collectors of our Customes, pondage, and subsidies, and all other Officers within our porte and Citie of London and else where, to whom it shall appertaine and euery of them, That they or any of them by themselues, their clarkes, or subst.i.tutes shall not receiue or take, or suffer to be receiued or taken for vs in our name, or to our vse, or in the name, or vnto the vse of our heires or successors of any person or persons, any summe or summes of money, or other consideration during the sayde terme of twelue yeeres for any custome, pondage, taxe or subsidie of any corrants, raysins of Corinth, or wines of Candie aforesayd saue onely of and in the name of the sayde Gouernour and companie of marchantes of the Leuant, or of some of that companie without the consent of the sayde Gouernour and companie in writing vnder their sayd common seale, first had and obteyned, and vnto them shewed for the testifying their sayd consent. And for the better and more sure obseruation thereof wee will and graunt for vs, our heires or successors by these presentes, that our Treasurour and Barons of the Exchequer for the time being by force of these presentes, and the inrollment thereof in the sayde Court of our Exchequour, at all and euery time and times during the sayde terme of twelue yeeres, at and vpon the request of the sayde Gouernour and companie, their Attourney or Attourneys, Deputies or a.s.signes, shall and may make and direct vnder the seale of the sayde Court one or more sufficient writte or writtes close or patent, vnto euery or any of the sayd Customers, or other Officers to whom it shall appertaine, commaunding them and euery of them thereby, that neither they nor any of them at any time or times during the sayd s.p.a.ce of twelue yeeres shall take entrie of any corants, raisins of Corinth, or wines of Candia, or take or make any agreement for any custome, pondage, or other subsidie for any of the sayd corants, raisins of Corinth, or wines of Candie, with any person or persons whatsoeuer, other then with, or in the name and by the priuitie of the sayd gouernour and company or some of the same company.

And further of our special grace, certaine knowledge, and meere motion we haue condescended and graunted, and by these presents for vs our heires and successours doe condescend and graunt to the sayd Gouernour and company of merchants of Leuant, that wee, our heires and successours, during the sayd terme, will not graunt libertie, licence, or power to any person or persons whatsoeuer contrary to the tenour of these our letters patents, to saile, pa.s.se, trade, or traffique by the sayd Leuant Sea, into, or from the sayde dominions of the sayd Grand Signior or the dominions of the State of Venice or any of them, contrary to the true meaning of these presents, without the consent of the sayd Gouernour and Companie or the most part of them.

And whereas Henry Farrington and Henry Hewet haue not yet a.s.sented to bee incorporated into the sayd societie of Gouernour and companie of marchants of Leuant, neuerthelesse sithence, as we be informed, they haue bene traders that way heretofore; our will and pleasure is, and we doe hereby expressely commaund and charge that if it happen at any time within two moneths next following after the date hereof, the sayd Henry Farrington and Henry Hewet or either of them, do submit themselues to be of the sayd companie, and doe giue such a.s.surance as the sayd Gouernour and companie, or the more part of them shall allow of, to beare, pay, and performe such orders, const.i.tutions, paiments and contributions, as other of the sayd company shall be ordered to beare, pay, and performe, that then euery of the sayd Henry Farrington and Henry Hewet so doing and submitting himselfe, shall vpon his or their request vnto the sayd Gouernour bee admitted into the sayd companie and corporation of Gouernour and companie of marchants of Leuant, and haue and enioy the same, and as great liberties, priuileges, and preheminences, as the rest of the sayde corporation or companie may, or ought to haue by vertue of this our graunt. Any thing in these presents contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

And our will and pleasure is, and hereby wee doe also ordaine that it shall and may bee lawfull, to, and for the sayde Gouernour and company of marchants of Leuant or the more part of them, to admit into, and to be of the sayd companie, any such as haue bene or shall bee employed as seruants, factors, or agents in the trade of marchandise by the sayd Leuant seas, into any the countreys, dominions or territories of the sayd Grand Signior or Signiorie or State of Venice, according as they or the most part of them shall thinke requisite.

And where Anthony Ratcliffe, Steuen Some, and Robert Brooke Aldermen of the saide Citie of London, Simon Laurence, Iohn Wattes, Iohn Newton, Thomas Middleton, Robert c.o.xe, Iohn Blunt, Charles Faith, Thomas Barnes, Alexander Dansey, Richard Aldworth, Henry Cowlthirste, Caesar Doffie, Martine Bonde, Oliuer Stile and Nicholas Stile Marchants of London for their abilities and sufficiencies haue bene thought fit to be also of the sayd Company of the saide gouernour and Company of Marchants of Leuant: Our will and pleasure and expresse commaundement is, and wee doe hereby establish and ordeine, that euery such of the same Anthony Radcliffe, Steuen Some, Robert Brooke, Simon Laurence, Iohn Wattes, Iohn Newton, Thomas Midleton, Robert c.o.xe, Iohn Blunt, Charles Faith, Thomas Barnes, Alexander Dansey, Richard Aldworth, Henry Cowlthirste, Caesar Doffie, Martine Bonde, Oliuer Style, and Nicholas Style, as shall pay vnto the saide Gouernour and company of Marchants of Leuante the summe of one hundred and thirtie poundes of lawfull English money within two monethes next after the date hereof towards the charges that the same Company haue already bene at in and about the establis.h.i.+ng of the sayde trades shall from hencefoorth bee of of the same company of the Marchants of Leuant as fully and amply and in like maner, as any other of that societie or Company.

Prouided also, that wee, our heires and successours at any time during the sayd twelue yeeres may lawfully appoynt and authorize two other persons exercising the lawfull trade of marchandize, and being fit men to bee of the sayd companie of Gouernour and companie of marchants of Leuant, so that the sayd persons to bee nominated or authorized, shall aide, doe, beare, and paie such payments and charges touching and concerning the same trade and Companie of marchants of Leuant, ratablie as other of the sayd Companie of marchants of Leuant shall, and doe, or ought to beare and pay: and doe also performe and obserue the orders of the sayd Companie allowable by this our graunt, as others of the same doe or ought to doe; And that such two persons so to bee appoynted by vs our heires or successours, shall and may with the sayd Company vse the trade and feate of marchandise aforesayd, and all the liberties and priuileges herein before granted, according to the meaning of these our letters patents, any thing in these our letters patents contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

Prouided also, that if any of the marchants before by these presents named or incorporated, to bee of the said fellows.h.i.+p of Gouernour and companie of the merchants of Leuant, shall not bee willing to continue or bee of the same companie, and doe giue notice thereof, or make the same knowen to the sayd Gouernour, within two moneths next after the date hereof, that then such person so giuing notice, shall no furthur or any longer be of that companie, or haue trade into those parties, nor be at any time after that of the same corporation or companie, or vse trade into any territories or countries aforesayd.

Prouided alwayes neuerthelesse, that euery such person so giuing notice and hauing at this present any goods or marchandises in any the Territories or countreys of the sayd Grand Signior, or Segniorie or State of Venice, may at any time within the s.p.a.ce of eighteene moneths next, and immediately following after the date hereof, haue free libertie, power and authoritie to returne the same or the value thereof into this Realme, without vsing any traffique there, but immediately from thence hither, paying, bearing, answering, and performing all such charges, dueties, and summes of money ratably as other of the same corporation or company doe or shall pay, beare, answere, or performe for the like.

Prouided also, that if any of the persons before by these presents named or incorporated to bee of the sayd fellows.h.i.+p of Gouernour and Companie of the marchants of Leuant, or which hereafter shall bee admitted to bee of the sayde Corporation or Companie, shall at any time or times hereafter refuse to be of the sayd Corporation or Companie, or to beare, pay or be contributorie to, or not beare and pay such ratable charges and allowances, or to obserue or performe such ordinances to bee made as is aforesayd, as other of the same company are, or shall bee ordered, to beare, paie, or performe, that then it shall and may bee lawfull for the rest of the sayd Gouernour and companie of marchants of Leuant, presently to expell, remooue, and displace euery such person so refusing, or not bearing or paying out, of, and from the sayd Corporation, and companie, and from all priuilege, libertie, and preheminence which any such person should, or might claime, or haue by vertue of this our graunt, and in place of them to elect others exercising the lawfull trade of marchandise to bee of the sayd Company. And that euery such person so expelled, remooued, or displaced by consent of the sayd Gouernour and companie of marchants of Leuant, or the more part of them, shall bee from thencefoorth vtterly disabled to take any benefite by vertue of this priuilege, or any time after to bee admitted or receiued againe into the same, any thing in these presents contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

Provided alwayes, that if it shall hereafter appears to vs, our heires and successours, that this graunt or the continuance thereof in the whole or in any part thereof, shall not bee profitable to vs, our heires and successours, or to this our realme, that then and from thencefoorth, vpon and after eighteene moneths warning to bee giuen to the sayd companie by vs, our heires and successours, this present graunt shall cease, bee voyd, and determined to all intents, constructions and purposes.

And further of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere motion, we haue condescended and graunted, and by these presents for vs, our heires and successors, doe condescend and graunt to the sayde Gouernour and companie of marchants of Leuant, that if at the ende of the sayd terme of twelue yeeres it shall seeme meete and conuenient to the sayde Gouernour and Companie, or any the parties aforesayd, that this present graunt shall bee continued: And if that also it shall appear vnto vs, our heires and successours, that the continuance thereof shall not bee preiudiciall or hurtfull to this our realme, but that wee shall finde the further continuance thereof profitable for vs, our heires and successours and for our realme with such conditions as are herein mentioned, or with some alteration or qualification thereof, that then wee, our heires and successours at the instance and humble pet.i.tion of the sayde Gouernour and Companie, or any of them so suing for the same, and such other person and persons our subiectes as they shall nominate and appoint, or shall bee by vs, our heires and successours newly nominated, not exceeding in number twelue, new letters patents vnder the great seale of England in due forme of lawe with like couenants, graunts, clauses, and articles, as in these presents are contained, or with addition of other necessarie articles or changing of these in some partes, for, and during the full terme of twelue yeeres then next following. Willing now hereby, and straightly commannding and charging all and singular our Admirals, Vice-admirals, Iustices, Maiors, s.h.i.+riffes, Escheators, Constables, Bailiffes, and all and singular other our Officers, Ministers, Liege-men and subiects whatsoeuer, to bee aiding, fauouring, helping, and a.s.sisting vnto the sayd companie and their successours, and to their Deputies, Officers, Factors, seruants, a.s.signes and ministers, and euery of them, in executing and enioying the premisses as well on land as on Sea, from time to time, and at all times when you or any of you shal thereto bee required, any Statute, Acte, ordinance, Prouiso, Proclamation or restraint heretofore had, made, set foorth, ordained or prouided, or any other matter, cause or thing whatsoeuer to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

Although expresse mention of the true yeerely value or certaintie of the premisses, or any of them, or of any other gifts or graunts by vs, or any of our progenitours to the sayde Gouernour and Companie of the marchants of Leuant before this time made, in these presents is not made: Or any Statute, Acte, Ordinance, prouision, proclamation or restraint to the contrary thereof before this time had, made, done, or prouided, or any other matter, thing or cause whatsoeuer, in any wise notwithstanding. In witnesse whereof we haue caused these our letters to be made patents.

Witnesse our selfe at Westminster the seuenth day of Ianuarie in the foure and thirtieth yeere of our raigne.

Per breue de priuato Sigillo.

Bailie.

Voyage D'outremer et Retour de Jerusalem en France par la voie de terre, pendant le cours des annees 1432 et 1433, par Bertrandon de la Brocquiere, conseiller et premier ecuyer tranchant de Philippe-le-bon, duc de Bourgogne; ouvrage extrait d'un Ma.n.u.script de la Bibliotheque Nationale, remis en Francais Moderne, et publie par le citoyen Legrand d'Aussy.

Discours Preliminaire.

Les relations de voyages publiees par nos Francais remontent fort haut.

Des les commencemens du V'e siecle, Rutilius Claudius Numatia.n.u.s en avoit donne une, qui ne nous est parvenue qu'incomplete, parce que apparemment la mort ne lui permit pas de l'achever. L'objet etoit son retour de Rome dans la Gaule, sa patrie. Mais, comme il n'avoit voyage que par mer, il ne put voir et decrire que des ports et des cotes; et de la necessairement a resulte pour son ouvrage, une monotonie, qu'un homme de genie auroit pu vaincre sans doute, mais qu'il etoit au dessus de ses forces de surmonter.

D'ailleurs, il a voulu donner un poeme: ce qui l'oblige a prendre le ton poetique, et a faire des descriptions poetiques, ou soi-disant telles.

Enfin ce poeme est en vers elegiaques. Or qui ne sait que cette sorte de versification, dont le propre est de couper la pensee de deux en deux vers et d'a.s.sujettir ces vers au retour continuel d'une chute uniforme, est peut etre celle de toutes qui convieent le moins en genre descriptif? Quand l'imagination a beaucoup a peindre; quand sans cesse elle a besoin de tableaux brillans et varies, il lui faut, pour developper avantageus.e.m.e.nt toutes ses richesses, une grande liberte; et elle ne peut par consequent s'accommoder d'une double entrave, dont l'effet infaillible seroit d'eteindre son feu.

Payen de religion, Rutilius a montre son aversion pour la religion chretienne dans des vers ou, confondant ensemble les chretiens et les Juifs, il dit du mal des deux sectes.

C'est par une suite des memes sentimens qu'ayant vu, sur sa route, des moines dans lile Capraia, il fit contre le monachisme ces autres vers, que je citerai pour donner une idee de sa maniere.

Processu pelagi jam se Capraria tollit; Squalet lucifugis insula plena viris.

Ipsi se monachos, Graio cognomine, dic.u.n.t, Qud, soli, nullo vivere teste, volunt.

Munera fortunae metuunt, dum d.a.m.na verentur: Quisquam sponte miser, ne miser esse queat.

Quaenam perversi rabies tam crebra cerebri, Dum mala formides, nec bona posse pati?

[Footnote: "He afterwards," says Gibbon, "mentions a religious madman on the isle of Gorgona. For such profane remarks, Rutilius and his accomplices, are styled, by his commentator, Barthius, rabiosi canes diaboli."]

Son ouvrage contient des details precieux pour le geographe; il y en a meme quelques uns pour l'antiquaire et l'historien: tels par exemple, que sa description d'un marais salant, et l'anecdote des livres Sibyllins brules a Rome par l'ordre de Stilicon.

[Footnote: The verses relating to Stilicho are very spirited and elegant. I will transcribe them.

Quo magis est facinus diri Stilichonis acerb.u.m, Proditor arcani qui fuit imperii, Romano generi dum nit.i.tur esse superstes, Crudelis summis miscuit ima furor.

Dumque timet, quicquid se fecerat ipse timeri, Immisit Latiae barbara tela neci.

Visceribus nudis armatum condidit hostem, Illatae cladis liberiore dolo.

Ipsa satellitibus pellitis Roma patebat, Et captiva prius, quam caperetur, erat.

Nec tantum Geticis gra.s.satus proditor armis: Ante Sibyllinae fata cremavit opis.

Odimus Althaeam consumti funere torris: Niseum crinem flere putantur aves: At Stilicho aeterni fatalia pignora regni; Et plenas voluit praecipitare colus.

Omnia Tartarei cessent tormenta Neronis, Consumat Stygias tristior umbra faces.

Hic immortalem, mortalem perculit ille: Hic mundi matrem perculit, ille suam.

Claudian draws a very different portrait of Stilicho. Indeed, as Gibbon observes, "Stilicho, directly or indirectly, is the perpetual theme of Claudian."]

Enfin on y remarque quelques beaux vers, et particulierement celui-ci sur une ville ruinee.

Cernimus exemplis oppida posse mori.

Mais il peche par la composition, Ses tableaux sont secs et froids; sa maniere pet.i.te et mesquine. Du reste, point de genie, point d'imagination, et par consequent, point d'invention ni de coloris. Voila ce qu'il presente, ou au moins ce que j'ai cru y voir; et ce sont probablement ces defauts qui ont fait donner a son poeme le nom degradant d'Itineraire, sous lequel il est connu.

Nous en avons une traduction Francaise par le Franc de Pompignan.

[Footnote: Melanges de litter. de poes. et d'hist. par l'Acad. de Montauban. p.81.]

Vers 505, Arculfe, evoque Gaulois, etoit alle en pelerinage a Jerusalem. A son retour, il voulut en publier la relation; et il chargea de cette redaction un abbe ecossais, nomme Adaman, auquel il donna des notes tant ma.n.u.scrites que de vive voix. La relation composee par Adaman, int.i.tulee: De locis sanctis, est divisee en trois livres: a ete imprimee par Gretser, puis, plus complete encore, par Mabillon. [Footnote: Acta ord. S. Bened.

sec. 3.1.2 p. 502.]

Arculfe, apres avoir visite la Terre Sainte, setoit embarque pour Alexandrie. D'Alexandrie, il avoit pa.s.se a l'ile de Cypre, et de Cypre a Constantinople, d'ou il etoit revenu en France. Un pareil voyage promet a.s.surement beaucoup; et certes l'homme qui avoit a decrire la Palestine, l'Egypte et la capitale de l'Empire d'Orient pouvoit donner une relation interessante. Mais pour l'execution d'un projet aussi vaste il falloit une philosophie et des connoissance que son siecle etoit bien loin d'avoir.

C'est un pelerinage, et non un voyage, que publie le prelat. Il ne nous fait connoitre ni les lois, ni les moeurs, ni les usages des peuples, ni ce qui concerne les lieux et la contree qu'il parcourt, mais les reliques et les objets de devotion qu'on y reveroit.

Ainsi dans son premier livre, qui traite de Jerusalem, il vous parlera de la colonne ou Jesus fut flagelle, de la lance qui lui perca le cote, de son suaire, d'une pierre sur laquelle il pria et qui porte l'empreinte de ses genoux, d'une autre pierre sur laquelle il etoit quand il monta au ciel, et qui porte l'empreinte de ses pieds, d'un linge tissu par la Vierge et qui le represente: du figuier ou se pendit Judas; enfin de la pierre sur laquelle expira saint Etienne, etc etc.

Dans son second livre, ou il parcourt les divers lieux de la Palestine que visitoient les pelerins, il suit les memes erremens. A Jericho, il cite la maison de la courtisane Raab; dans la vallee de Mambre, les tombeaux d'Adam, d'Abraham, d'Isaac, de Jacob, de Sara, de Rebecca, de Lia; a Nazareth, l'endroit ou l'ange vint annoncer a Marie qu'elle seroit mere en restant vierge; a Bethleem, la pierre sur laquelle Jesus fut lave a sa naissance; les tombeaux de Rachel, de David, de saint Jerome, de trois des bergers qui vinrent a l'adoration, etc.

Le troisieme livre enfin est consacre en grand partie a Constantinople; mais il n'y parle que de la vraie croix, de saint George, d'une image de la Vierge, qui, jettee par un Juif dans les plus degoutantes ordures, avoit ete rama.s.see par un chretien et distilloit une huile miraculeuse.

Pendant bien des siecles, les relations d'outre mer ne continrent que les pieuses et grossieres fables qu'imaginoient journellement les Orientaux pour accrediter certains lieux qu'ils tentoient. d'eriger en pelerinages, et pour soutirer ainsi a leur profit l'argent des pelerins. Ceux-ci adoptoient aveuglement tous les contes qu'on leur debitoit; et ils accomplissoient scrupuleus.e.m.e.nt toutes les stations qui leur etoient indiquees. A leur retour en Europe, c'etoitla tout ce qu'ils avoient a raconter; mais cetoitla aussi tout ce qu'on leur demandoit.

Cependant notre saint (car a sa mort il a ete declare tel, ainsi que son redacteur Adaman) a, dans son second livre, quelques phrases historiques sur Tyr et sur Damas. Il y parle egalement et avec plus de details encore d'Alexandrie; et je trouve meme sous ce dernier article deux faits qui m'ont paru dignes d'attention.

L'un concerne les crocodiles, qu'il represente comme si multiplies dans la partie inferieure du Nil, que des l'instant ou un boeuf, un cheval, un ane, s'avancoient sur les bords du fleuve, ils etoient saisis par eux, entraines sous les eaux, et devores; tandis qu'aujourd'hui, si l'on en croit le rapport unanime de nos voyageurs modernes, il n'existe plus de crocodiles que dans la haute Egypte; que c'est un prodige d'en voir descendre un jusqu'au Caire, et que du Caire a la mer on n'en voit pas un seul.