...and they make from it various types of soap which they trade throughout the land of Egypt. From there, they provision for all directions, and their soap is known for its cleanliness. From there, it goes to the city of Qus, on the eastern side of the Nile, about [number] miles away. The city of Qus is a large city with a minbar, congregational markets, trade, income, and expenditure. Many travelers go there, goods are in demand, profits are great, and blessings are apparent. Its people drink from the Nile water, and it has medicinal herbs and many kinds of grains. The meat of the *sadd talah* is good to look at, for eating, and for its abundance of blessings. Its inhabitants are mostly of a yellowish complexion, and rarely does a stranger enter it and escape illness, except rarely. From the city of Qus to Damayil, east of the Nile, is about 7 miles. The city of Damayil is well-defined, well-built, with good air, abundant agriculture, and capable of preserving all grains. Its people are a mix, with the majority being from the Maghreb and the West. They are honored and protected. The pasture is on the side, and its people are generally hospitable. From there to the village of Qumula is 5 miles, and it is like a fortified city with every blessing and virtue. Some trustworthy individuals in this era reported, saying: "I saw in it various types of fruits and the best of them in terms of produce. Among them is grapes, the like of which I never expected to find on earth in terms of sweetness, beauty, and size. My soul was drawn to it, so I weighed a single grape and found its adornment to be 12 dirhams. In this region, there are large quantities of *madlah* and types of bananas beyond the usual measure, as well as pomegranates, quinces, and other fruits that are only found in such places. Everything of that kind is abundant, sold at easy prices. To the north of this region is a mountain that extends from south to north until it approaches the city of Asyut. This mountain is called...