Ibn Battuta — "I was given a sword as a gift, and it was made of very fine steel."

"I saw a river in this land that flowed with milk and honey. It was a miraculous sight, though I suspect it was a trick of the light."

"The women of this land wear veils that cover their entire faces, so I could not see their beauty."

"On the bank of the Nile opposite Old Cairo is the place known as The Garden, which is a pleasure park and promenade, containing many beautiful gardens, for the people of Cairo are given to pleasure an…"

"I saw a mountain in this land that was made entirely of salt. It was a truly astonishing sight."

"I saw a bird in this land that was as big as an ostrich, but it had a long neck like a giraffe. It was a most peculiar creature."