A.D. 1190. THE FLEET ENTEES THE STRAITS OF AFEICA. 151 on the arms, and the legs on the thighs, and soldered them with gold and silver of the finest and purest quality ; after which, they placed the image in an honored locality, and it is held in great veneration even to the present day. Immediately upon this, the famine ceased, and the earth yielded her increase. After this, they passed the castle which is called Merell, and : then the port of Hodiene ; they next passed the port of Calice,62 and then a mountain, which is called Montarne. They then passed a sandy piece of land projecting into the sea, which is called Cape AlmBan, and then a castle and port, the name of which is Saltis ; after which, they arrived before the Port of Seville, the name of which is Windelkebir ; between Seville and the Port there is a castle midway, which is called Captai. They now came to the Straits of Africa, and passed through these Straits on the first day of August, being- the feast of Saint Peter ad Yincula, and the fifth day of the week. Here the Mediterranean Sea begins, which Sea is so called, because it is surrounded by land on every side, with the exception of one inlet and one outlet ; the one of which is called the Straits of Africa, and the other the Arm of Saint George,63 at the city of Constantinople. It is also worthy of remark, that, from the entrance to the Straits of Africa, as far nearly as Ascalon, on the right-hand side of the ship [as it sails], He the territories of the pagans ; and on the opposite side, from the entrance of the Straits of Africa as far as the great mountain which is called Muncian,64 is Saracenic Spain, which you leave behind to the left of the ship. It is also worthy of observation, that, according to calculations made by mariners, the entry to the Straits of Africa, from one shore to the other, is not more than six miles in width, on each side of which there is a large mountain, the one in Spain, called Calpe, the other in Africa, opposite to it, called Atlas. At the entrance of these Straits there are several cities in Africa near the sea-shore, the names of which are Bethe, Dudenardi, Esparte, Thange, Cacummin, Muee, Botoos, and Seep,65 which is the most noble of aB the cities of Africa. In Spain, on. the opposite side, are several cities and castles, the names of which are Beche, Dudemarbait, Leziratarif, Gezehakazera,66 the island of Jubaltaria,67 MerteH, 6 2 Now Cadiz.» The Bosphc-rus, or Straits of Constantinople, 6 were so called from the church of Saint George, which was built on the shore in the suburbs of Constantinople. 8 4 Probably Montserrat. a Perhaps Ceuta. * By this and the preceding name, Algeziras and Tarifa are probably meant. e 7 Gibraltar.»»