קמב

And behold — Hashem Blessed be He bestowed kindness upon me — what had not risen in my mind at all. For the wealthy patron himself — gave for all three of us — namely us two together with the guest who came on Shabbas — he gave fifty Egyptian taler. And from all the rest of the city they also collected forty-two taler. And the rav gave to our portion sixty-two taler. And also the rav bought from me books for the sum of forty taler — among them a volume of Likutay Moharan and the volume of the Aleph-Beis [Sefer HaMidos]. And this was precious in my eyes greatly — that I had merited to leave the books of Rabbainu zichrono livracha in such a far land. And also Rabbi Aharon mentioned above bought from me two volumes of Likutay Moharan and two volumes of Aleph-Beis — to take with him to Salonika — which was a great city of thousands in the Ishmaelite lands — and more Israelites lived there than in Istanbul. And behold — I began to seek a ship. And since I had no one who knew me there — and did not know any language — it was very difficult for me to find a ship. And also in myself I did not well know where my correct road was — whether to Acco or to Sidon or to Jaffa. And behold — everything Hashem Blessed be He arranged with us in those days — it was impossible to explain all. But in the end — it had not been in my mind to leave from there with such alacrity before Shabbas. But Hashem Blessed be He had pity on me and arranged several circumstances for good. And Rabbi Yehuda mentioned above came to my house on Thursday toward evening — and brought with him an Arab who informed him there was a ship going to Sidon — and commanded me to go immediately to the Consul — for the captain said it was impossible to board the ship until I received a document called there Tiskire from the Consul. And immediately I went to the rav and to the wealthy patron and to the Consul — and he wrote under the tickets immediately. And I paid him six taler for this. But the Tiskire was delayed until tomorrow — after midday.