Marco Polo's Voyage to Indian Seas: 39: City & Kingdom of Aden

Aden is subject to a lord called Sultan. The people are Saracens, adoring Mohammed, and wishing the greatest mischief to Christians. There are many cities and castles; for Aden is the port to which the Indian ships bring all their merchandise.  It is then placed on board other small vessels, which ascend a river about seven days, at the end of which it is disembarked, laden on camels, and conveyed thirty days farther. It then comes to the river of Alexandria and is conveyed down to that city.  By this route alone
its inhabitants receive their pepper, spices and costly goods.  From Aden too ships sail for India with various goods, specifically very fine and valuable horses, which as you know are sold there for full a hundred marks of silver.  The Sultan draws a great revenue from the duties of these cargoes; and is thus one of the richest princes in the world.  But, I assure you, he did great injury to the Christians; for when the governor of Babylonian attacked and took the city of Acre, committing much devastation, he was assisted by this prince with 30000 horses and 40000 camels.  This aid was given rather out of hatred to believers than goodwill to the prince.  But now I will tell you of another great city.

Notes:-
1. Aden: Aden is on the northern shore of Gulf of Aden, a port of Yemen. From here the ships were directed through the Red Sea upto Alexandria, the river mentioned here in fact is Red Sea. India mentioned here is not a specific geographical area, and it may stretch from Makran coast to east African coast.

Acre or Akko is a port city in the northwest Israel. The river of Alexandria is Nile river.

End of the Section 

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