Paragraph comprehension

Paragraph

THERE was once a caliph of Cordova whose name was Al Mansour. One day a strange merchant came to him with some diamonds and pearls which he had brought from beyond the sea. The caliph was so well pleased with these jewels that he bought them and paid the merchant a large sum of money.

The merchant put the gold in a bag of purple silk which he tied to his belt underneath his long cloak. Then he set out on foot to walk to another city.

It was midsummer, and the day was very hot. As the merchant was walking along, he came to a river that flowed gently between green and shady banks.

Questions / Answers

Q1) What is Cordova?

Ans: The name of a place.

Q2) Who came to him?

Ans: A strange merchant.

Q3) What did he tie to his belt?

Ans: A bag of purple silk in which he put / had put his gold. (I'm confused; should it be the simple past or the past perfect)

Q4) What is the meaning of the phrase 'set out'?

Ans: start a journey etc

Q5) What is the season in the paragraph? (I couldn't make it a good sentence)

Ans: Midsummer.

Are these questions and their answers correct and natural? Please help me make them natural.