A Relation of a Journey begun An: Dom: 1610…Containing a Description of the Turkish Empire, of Ægypt, of the Holy Land. 3rd edition

1632

De Beer Ec 1632 S

London: Printed for [Robert] Allot

In 1610, faced with claims of estate mismanagement and a bad marriage, George Sandys (1578–1644) decided that overseas travel was his best way out. He travelled to France, Italy, and then on to Turkey, Egypt, and Palestine. While in the Middle East he rode camels; survived attacks from desert Arabs; described religious services in Jerusalem and pigeon postal services between Aleppo and Babylon; and was one of the first Englishmen to mention coffee. Sandys was an observant traveller, and his account, enhanced by numerous engravings, was exceedingly popular. Indeed, it is regarded as one of the first important travel accounts to the East in English. Here is his description of the pyramids at Giza, the ‘chiefe of the worlds feuen [seven] wonders’. This is the third edition.