The preface runs as follows:—"This is a book of travels which was compiled by Rabbi Benjamin, the son of Jonah, of the country of Navarre.
"The said Rabbi Benjamin set forth from Tudela, his native city, and passed through many countries, as is related in his book. In every place where he entered he made a record of all that he saw, or was told of by trustworthy persons—matters not previously heard of in Spain. He gave an account of some of the sages and illustrious men residing in each place. He brought this book with him on his return to the country of Castile, in the year 4933 (a.d. 1173). The said Rabbi Benjamin was a wise and understanding man, learned in the written and the oral law, and wherever we have tested his statements we have found them consistent and true to fact."
The book commences as follows:—"I journeyed from my native town to the city of Saragossa, and thence by the way of the River Ebro to Tortosa. From there I went a journey of two days to the ancient city of Tarragona, which was built by the giant sons of Greece. And there is not found the like thereof among any of the buildings of the country of Spain. It is situate by the sea, and is distant two days' journey from the city of Barcelona.... To this city there come for the purpose of traffic merchants from every part, from the land of Greece, from Pisa and Genoa, from Sicily, and from Alexandria of Egypt, also from the land of Israel, and from Africa and all its coasts. From Barcelona it is a journey of a day-and-a-half to Gerona, which contains a small congregation of Jews. Thence it is a journey of three days to Narbonne. This city is pre-eminent for learning, and from it the law goes forth to all lands. In it there dwell great sages and illustrious men, at whose head is Rabbi Kalonymos, the son of the great prince, Rabbi Todros, who is of the seed of the house of David, as is proved by his genealogy. He holds from the lords of the city large estates, of which nobody has the power to dispossess him.... Marseilles is a great city of traffickers on the sea-coast, and from there men proceed in ships to the city of Genoa, which is situate on the coast, being four days' journey by sea.... Genoa is surrounded by walls, and no king governs it, but it is ruled by judges whom the people set over themselves, according to their choice. Each house has its tower, and in times of dissension the people fight with each other from the tops of these towers. They are masters of the sea, and build ships that are styled 'galleys' which go forth to make raids as far as Greece and Sicily, and they bring back to Genoa the spoil they have taken. They are at war with the men of Pisa, and between the two cities is a distance of two days' journey. Pisa is a very large city containing about 10,000 houses with towers, used for purposes of fighting in time of civil war. All its people are men of valour, and no king or prince rules over them, but they are governed by judges whom they appoint over themselves home is a great city, the capital of Christendom. The 200 Jews who live there are honoured and pay tribute to no one. Some of them are in the service of the Pope Alexander, who is at the head of
