קסח

Afterward — they took the captain and led him to the city. And also some of our ship's company went down to the city to speak there with the Consul [the ambassador]. And they came to the city and were at some Consul of some nation who drew them somewhat close. And it became known to them that the captain would be detained there with the ship. And for our sake he would hire us another ship. And so it was. And on that day — on holy Shabbas — the Consul mentioned above commanded our captain to return to us from the hire the sum of seventy taler. And he also said that the following day they would come to him and he would endeavor to return to us the ransom mentioned above. And we stood on the ship — our eyes spending all day to hear what became of them — and what the Consul mentioned above answered them. Toward evening — our men returned from the city and informed us of all mentioned above. On Sunday — Parshas Devarim — we returned and went into the city. And I too sailed with them. And we came to the city and stood there all day. In the end — they did not return to us the ransom. Only on that Sunday we hired another ship. And we went up onto it immediately. And we moved ourselves — all of us — from one ship to the second ship. On Sunday mentioned above — we returned from the city and came to the second ship mentioned above. On Monday — the ship began to go and travel in order to come to Alexandria — which was not far from there — only about two days when there was a favorable wind. But we had no favorable wind. And we were detained on the road until after Tisha b'Av — until Tuesday — Parshas Va'eschanan. And throughout all the road from Haifa to Alexandria — we had great suffering from the water. For in both ships mentioned above — which were of Arabs — they did not wish to give us water except in very great constraint — measured and calculated with great exactness. And generally the water was putrid. And also our sitting on the ship was in great constriction — and we had no proper resting place at all. And also I generally had sea-sickness. And I vomited many times. And even so — everything was in kindness. And Hashem Blessed be He expanded things for us in distress. And He helped us at every time. And it was impossible to explain in detail all that passed over us each day. We give thanks to You and so on — that at every time You are with us and so on. And through the kindness of Hashem Blessed be He — He helped us. And we came on Tuesday — Parshas Va'eschanan — to the holy community of Alexandria.