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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries

R >> Richard Hakluyt >> The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries





De curia Scacatay, et quod Christiani non bibunt cosmos. Cap. 12.

Mane ergo obuiauimus bigis Scacatay onustis domibus. Et videbatur mihi quod
obuiaret mihi ciuitas magna. Mirabar etiam super multitudine armentorum
boum et equorum et gregum ouium: paucos videbam homines qui ista
gubernarent; vnde inquisiui quot homines haberet sub se? et dictum fuit
mihi, quod non plusquam quingentos, quorum medietatem transiueramus in alia
herbergia. Tunc incepit mihi dicere garcio qui ducebat nos, quod aliquid
oporteret Scacatay dare: et ipse fecit nos stare, et præcessit nuncians
aduentum nostrum. Iam erat hora plusquam tertia, et deposuerunt domos suas
iuxta quondam aquam. Et venit ad nos interpres ipsius, qui statim cognito,
quod nunquam fueramus inter illos, poposcit de cibis nostris, et dedimus
ei, poscebat etiam vestimentum aliquod, quia dicturas erat verbum nostrum
ante dominum suum. Excusauimus nos. Quæsiuit quid portaremus domino suo?
Accepimus vnum flasconem de vino, et impleuimus vnum veringal de biscocto
et platellum vnum de pomis et aliis fructibus. Sed non placebat ei, quia
non ferebamos aliquem pannum pretiosum. Sic tamen ingressi sumus cum timore
et verecundia. Sedebat ipse in lecto suo tenens citharulam in manu, et vxor
sua iuxta eum: de qua credebam in veritate, quod amputasset sibi nasum
inter oculos vt simior esset: nihil enim habebat ibi de naso, et vnxerat
locum ilium quodam vnguento nigro, et etiam supercilia: quod erat
turpissimum in oculis nostris. Tunc dixi ei verba supradicta. [Sidenote:
Nota diligenter.] Vbique enim aportebat nos dicere idem verbum. Super hoc
enim eramus bene præmoniti ab illis qui fuerant inter illos, quod nunquam
mutaremus verba nostra. Rogaui etiam eum vt dignaretur accipere munusculum
de manu nostra, excusans me, quia monachus eram, nec erat ordinis nostri
possidere aurum, vel argentum, vel vestes preciosas. Vnde non habebam
aliquid talium, quod possem ei dare: sed de cibis nostris acciperet pro
benedictione. Tunc fecit recipi, et distribuit statim hominibus suis qui
conuenerant ad potandum. Dedi etiam ei literas Imperatoris
Constantinopolitani: (Hoc fuit in octauis ascensionis). Qui statim eas
Soldaiam misit vt ibi interpretarentur: quia erant in Græco, nec habebat
secum qui sciret literas Græcas. Quæsiuit etiam à nobis, si vellemus bibere
cosmos, hoc est, lac iumentinum. Christiani enim Ruteni, Græci, et Alani,
qui sunt inter eos, qui volunt stricte custodire legem suam, non bibunt
illud: Imo non reputant se Christianos postquam biberunt. Et sacerdotes
eorum reconciliant eos, tanquam negassent fidem Christianam. Ego respondi,
quod habebamus adhuc sufficienter ad bibendum: et cum ille potus deficeret
nobis, oporteret nos bibere illud, quod daretur nobis. Quæsiuit etiam quid
contineretur in literis nostris, quas mittebatis Sartach. Dixi quod clausæ
erant bullæ nostræ; et quod non erant in eis nisi bona verba et amicabilia.
Quæsiuit et quæ verba diceremus Sartach? Respondi, Verba fidei Christianæ.
Quæsiuit quæ? Quia libenter vellet audire. Tunc exposui ei prout potui per
interpretem meum, qui nullius erat ingenij, nec alicuius eloquentiæ,
symbolum fidei. Quo audito, ipse tacuit et mouit caput. Tunc assignauit
nobis duos homines, qui nos custodirent, et equos et boues: et fecit nos
bigare secum, donec reuerteretur nuncius, quem ipse miserat pro
interpretatione, literarum imperatoris; et iuimus cum eo vsque in crastinum
Pentecostes.


The same in English.

Of the court of Scacatai: and how the Christians drinke no Cosmos. Chap.
12.

On the morrowe after we met with the cartes of Scacatai laden with houses,
and me thought that a mighty citie came to meete me. I wondered also at the
great multitude of huge droues of oxen, and horses, and at the flockes of
sheepe. I could see but a fewe men that guided all these matters: whereupon
I inquired how many men he had vnder him, and they told me that he had not
aboue 500. in all, the one halfe of which number we were come past, as they
lay in another lodging. Then the seruant which was our guide told me, that
I must present somwhat vnto Scacatay: and so he caused vs to stay, going
himselfe before to giue notice of our comming. By this time it was past
three of the clocke, and they vnladed their houses nere vnto a certain
water: And there came vnto vs his interpreter, who being aduertised by vs
that wee were neuer there before, demanded some of our victuals, and we
yeelded vnto his request. Also he required of vs some garment for a reward,
because he was to interpret our sayings vnto his master. Howbeit we excused
our selues as well as wee could. Then he asked vs, what we would present
vnto his Lord? And we tooke a flagon of wine, and filled a maund with
bisket, and a platter with apples and other fruits. But he was not
contented therewith, because we brought him not some rich garment.
Notwithstanding we entred so into his presence with feare and bashfulnes.
He sate vpon his bed holding a citron in his hand, and his wife sate by
him: who (as I verily thinke) had cut and pared her nose betweene the eyes,
that she might seeme to be more flat and saddle-nosed: for she had left her
selfe no nose at all in that place, hauing annointed the very same place
with a black ointment, and her eye browes also: which sight seemed most
vgly in our eies. Then I rehearsed vnto him the same wordes, which I had
spoken in other places before. For it stoode vs in hand to vse one and the
same speech in all places. [Sidenote: A caueat right worthy the noting.]
For we were wel forewarned of this circumstance by some which had been
amongst the Tartars, that we should neuer varie in our tale. Then I
besought him, that he would vochsafe to accept that small gifte at our
hands, excusing my selfe that I was a Monke, and that it was against our
profession to possesse gold, or siluer, or precious garments, and therefore
that I had not any such thing to giue him, howbeit he should receiue some
part of our victuals instead of a blessing. Hereupon he caused our present
to be receiued, and immediately distributed the same among his men, who
were mette together for the same purpose, to drinke and make merrie. I
deliuered also vnto him the Emperor of Constantinople his letters (this was
eight dayes after the feast of Ascension) who sent them forthwith to
Soldaia to haue them interpreted there: for they were written in Greeke,
and he had none about him that was skilfulle in the Greeke tongue. He asked
vs also whether we would drink any Cosmos, that is to say mares milke? (For
those that are Christians among them, as namely the Russians, Grecians, and
Alanians, who keep their own law very strictly, wil in no case drinke
thereof, yea, they accompt themselues no Christians after they haue once
drunke of it, and their priests reconcile them vnto the Church as if they
had renounced the Christian faith.) I gaue him answere, that we had as yet
sufficient of our owne to drinke, and that when our drinke failed vs, we
must be constrained to drink such as should be giuen vnto vs. He enquired
also what was contained in our letters, which your Maiestie sent vnto
Sartach? I answered: that they were sealed vp, and that there was nothing
conteined in them, but good and friendly wordes. And he asked what wordes
wee would deliuer vnto Sartach? I answered: the words of Christian faith.
He asked again what these words were? For he was very desirous to heare
them. Then I expounded vnto him as well as I could, by mine interpretor,
(who had no wit nor any vtterance of speech) the Apostles creed. Which
after he had heard, holding his peace, he shooke his head. Then hee
assigned vnto vs two men, who shoulde giue attendance vpon our selues, vpon
our horses, and vpon our Oxen. And hee caused vs to ride in his companie,
till the messenger whome hee had sent for the interpretation of the
Emperours letters, was returned. And so wee traueiled in his companie till
the morowe after Pentecost.


Qualiter Alani venerunt ad eos in vigilia pentecostes. Cap. 13.

In vigilia Pentecostes venerunt ad nos quidam Alani, qui ibi dicuntur
[Marginal note: Vel Akas.] Acias, Christiani secundum ritum Græcorum;
habentes literas Græcas et sacerdotes Græcos: tamen non sunt schismatici
sicut Græci; sed sine acceptione personarum venerantur omnem Christianum:
et detulerunt nobis carnes coctas, rogantes vt comedremus de cibo eorum, et
oraremus pro quodam defuncto eorum. Tunc dixi quod vigilia erat tantæ
solennitatis, quod illa die non comederemus carnes. Et exposui eis de
solennitate, super quo fuerunt multum gauisi; quia omnia ignorabant quæ
spectant ad ritum Christianum, solo nomine Christi excepto. Quæsiuerunt et
ipsi et alij multi Christiani, Ruteni et Hungari, vtrum possent saluari,
quia oportebat eos bibere cosmos, et comedere morticinia et interfecta à
Saracenis et alijs infidelibus: quæ etiam ipsi Græci et Ruteni sacerdotes
reputant quasi morticinia vel idolis immolata: quia ignorabant tempora
ieiunij: nec poterant custodire etiam si cognouissent. Tunc rectificabar
eos prout potui, docens et confortans in fide. Carnes quas detulerant
reseruauimus vsque ad diem festum: nihil enim inueniebamus venale pro auro
et argento, nisi pro telis et alijs [Marginal note: Nota diligentissime.]
pannis: et illos non habebamus. Quum famuli nostri offerebant eis
ipperpera, ipsi fricabant digitis, et ponebant ad nares, vt odore,
sentirent, vtrum essent cuprum. Nec dabant nobis cibum nisi lac vaccinum
acre valde et foetidum. Vinum iam deficiebat nobis. Aqua ita turbabatur ab
equis, quod non erat potabilis. Nisi fuisset biscoctum quod habebamus, et
gratia Dei, forte fuissemus mortui.


The same in English.

Howe the Alanians came vnto vs on Pentecost or Whitson euen. Chap. 13.

Vpon the euen of Pentecost, there came vnto vs certaine Alanians, wno are
called [Marginal note: Or Akas.] Acias, being Christians after the maner of
the Grecians, vsing greeke bookes and Grecian priests: howbeit they are not
schismatiques as the Grecians are, but without acception of persons, they
honour al Christians. And they brought vnto vs sodden flesh, requesting vs
to eat of their meat, and to pray for one of their company being dead. Then
I sayd, because it was the euen of so great and so solemne a feast day,
that we would not eate any flesh for that time. And I expounded vnto them
the solemnitie of the sayd feast, whereat they greatly reioyced: for they
were ignorant of all things appertayning to Christian religion, except only
the name of Christ. They and many other Christians, both Russians, and
Hungarians demanded of vs, whether they might be saued or no, because they
were constrained to drinke Cosmos, and to eate the dead carkases of such
things, as were slaine by the Saracens, and other infidels? Which euen the
Greeke and Russian priests themselues also esteeme as things strangled or
offered vnto idoles: because they were ignorant of the times of fasting,
neither could they haue obserued them albeit they had knowen them. Then
instructed I them as well as I could and strengthened them in the faith. As
for the flesh which they had brought we reserued it vntill the feast day.
[Sidenote: Cloth is the chiefe marchandise in Tartarie.] For there was
nothing to be sold among the Tartars for gold and siluer, but only for
cloth and garments of the which kind of marchandise wee had none at all.
When our seruants offered them any coine called Yperpera, they rubbed it
with their fingers, and put it vnto their noses, to try by the smell
whether it were copper or no. Neither did they allow vs any foode but cowes
milke onely which was very sowre and filthy. There was one thing most
necessary greatly wanting vnto vs. For the water was so foule and muddy by
reason of their horses, that it was not meete to be drunk. And but for
certaine bisket, which was by the goodnes of God remaining vnto vs, we had
vndoubtedly perished.


De Saraceno qui dixit se velle baptizari, et de hominibus qui apparent
leprosi. Cap. 14.

In die pentecostes venit ad nos quidam Saracenus, qui cum loqueretur
nobiscum, incepimus exponere fidem. Qui audiens beneficia Dei exhibita
humano generi in incarnatione Christi, et resurrectionem mortuorum, et
indicium futurum, et quod ablutio peccatorum esset in baptismo: dixit se
velle baptizari. Et cum pararemus nos ad baptizandum eum, ipse subito
ascendit equum suum, dicens se iturum domum et habiturum consilium cum
vxore sua. Qui in crastino loquens nobiscum, dixit quod nullo modo auderet
accipere baptisma, quia tunc non biberet cosmos. Christiani enim illius
loci hoc dicebant, quod nullus verus Christianus deberet bibere: et sine
potu illo non posset viuere in solitudine illa. A qua opinione nullo modo
potui diuertere illum. Vnde noueritis pro certo quod multum elongantur à
fide propter illam opinionem quæ iam viguit inter illos per Rutenos, quorum
maxima multitude est inter eos. Illa die dedit nobis ille capitaneus vnum
hominem, qui nos deduceret vsque ad Sartach et duos qui ducerent nos vsque
ad proximam herbergiam; quæ inde distabat quinque dietas prout boues
poterant ire. Dederunt etiam nobis vnam capram pro cibo et plures vtres
lactis vaccini, et de cosmos parum: quia illud preciosum est inter illos.
Et sic arripientes iter recte in aquilonem, visum fuit mihi quod vnam
portam inferni transissemus. Garciones qui ducebant nos, incipiebant nobis
audacter furari, quia videbant nos parum cautos. Tandem amissis pluribus
vexatio dabat nobis intellectum Peruenimus tandem ad extremitatem illius
prouincæ, quæ clauditur vno fossato ab vno mari vsque ad aliud: extra quam
erat herbergia eorum apud quos intrassemus: videbantur nobis leprosi omnes:
[Sidenote: Salinæ.] quia erant viles homines ibi collocati, vt reciperent
tributum ab accipientibus sal a salinis superius dictis. Ab illo loco, vt
dicebant, oportebat nos ambulare quindecim diebus, quibus non inueniremus
populum. Cum illis bibimus cosmos: et dedimus illis vnum veringal plenum
fructibus et panem biscoctum. [Sidenote: Decem dietæ.] Qui dederunt nobis
octo boues, vnam captram pro tanto itinere, et nescio quot vtres plenos
lacte vaccino. Sic mutatis bobus arripuimus iter, quod perfecimus decem
diebus vsque ad aliam herbergiam: nec inuenimus aquam in ilia via nisi in
fossis in conuallibus factis, exceptis duobus paruis fluminibus. Et
tendebamus rectè in orientem ex quo exiuimus prædictam prouinciam Gasariæ,
habentes mare ad meridiem et vastam solitudinem ad aquilonem: quæ durat per
viginti dietas alicubi in latitudine; In qua nulla est sylua, nullus mons,
nullus lapis. Herba est optima. In hac solebant pascere Comani, qui
dicuntur Capchat. A Teutonicis verò dicuntur Valani, et prouincia Valania.
Ab Isidoro vero dicitur à flumine Tanai vsque ad paludes Meotidis et
Danubium Alania. Et durat ista terra in longitudine à Danubio vsque Tanaim;
qui est terminus Asiæ; et Europæ, itinere duorum mensium velociter
equitando prout equitant Tartari: [Sidenote: Comania longitudo.] Quæ tota
inhabitabatur à Comanis Capchat, et etiam vltra à Tanai vsque [Marginal
note: Etilia quæ et Volga flumen.] Etiliam: Inter quæ flumina sunt decem
diete magnæ. [Sidenote: Russia.] Ad aquilonem verò istius prouinciæ iacet
Russia, quæ vbique syluas habet, et protenditur à Polonia et Hungaria vsque
Tanaim: quæ tota vastata est à Tartaris, et adhuc quotidie vastatur.
Præponunt enim Rutenis, quia sunt Christiani, Saracenos: et cum non possunt
amplius dare aurum vel argentum, ducunt eos et paruulos eorum tanquam
greges ad solitudinem vt custodiant animalia eorum. [Sidenote: Prussia.]
Vltra Russiam ad aquilonem est Prussia, quam nuper subiugauerunt totam
fratres Teutonici. Et certe de facili acquierent Russiam, si apponerent
manum. Si enim Tartari audirent, quod magnus sacerdos, hoc est, Papa
faceret cruce signari contra eos, omnes fugerunt ad solitudines suas.


The same in English.

Of a Saracen which said that he would be baptized: and of certaine men
which seemed to be lepers. Chap. 14.

Vpon the day of Pentecost there came vnto vs a certain Saracen, vnto whome,
as hee talked with vs, we expounded the Christian faith. Who (hearing of
God's benefits exhibited vnto mankind by the incarnation of our Sauior
Christ, and the resurrection of the dead, and the iudgement to come, and
that in baptisme was a washing away of sinnes) sayd that hee would be
baptized. But when we prepared our selues to the baptising of him, he
suddenly mounted on horsebacke, saying that he would goe home and consult
with his wife what were best to be done. And on the morrow after he told
vs, that he durst in no case receiue baptisme, because then he should
drinke no more Cosmos. For the Christians of that place affirme that no
true Christians ought to drinke thereof: and that without the said liquor
he could not liue in that desert From which opinion, I could not for my
life remoue him. Wherefore be it knowen of a certainty vnto your highnes,
that they are much estranged from the Christian faith by reason of that
opinion which hath bin broached and confirmed among them by the Russians,
of whom there is a great multitude in that place. The same day Scacatay the
captaine aforesayd gaue vs one man to conduct vs to Sartach, and two other
to guide vs vnto the next lodging, which was distant from that place fiue
dayes iourney for oxen to trauell. They gaue vnto vs also a goate for
victuals, and a great many bladders of cowes milke, and but a little
Cosmos, because it is of so great estimation among them. And so taking our
iourney directly toward the North, me thought that wee had passed through
one of hell gates. The seruants which conducted vs began to play the bold
theeues with vs, seeing vs take so little heed vnto our selues. At length
hauing lost much by their theeuery, harme taught vs wisdome. And then we
came vnto the extremity of that prouince, which is fortified with a ditch
from one sea vnto another: without the bounds wherof their lodging was
situate. Into the which, so soone as we had entred, al the inhabitants
there seemed vnto vs to be infected with leprosie: [Sidenote: Salt pits.]
for certain base fellowes were placed there to receiue tribute of al such
as tooke salt out of the salt pits aforesaid. From that place they told vs
that we must trauel fifteen daies iourney, before we shuld find any other
people. With them wee dranke Cosmos, and gaue vnto them a basket full of
fruites and of bisket. And they gaue vnto vs eight oxen and one goate, to
sustaine vs in so great a iourney, and I knowe not how many bladders of
milke. [Sidenote: Ten dayes iorney.] And so changing our oxen, we tooke our
iourney which we finished in tenne dayes, arriuing at another lodging:
neither found wee any water all that way, but onely in certane ditches made
in the valleys, except two small riuers. And from the time wherein wee
departed out of the foresaid prouince of Gasaria, we trauailed directly
Eastward, hauing a Sea on the South side of vs, and a waste desert on the
North, which desert, in some places, reacheth twenty dayes iourney in
breadth, and there is neither tree, mountaine, nor stone therein. And it is
most excellent pasture. Here the Comanians, which were called Capthac, were
wont to feede their cattell. Howbeit by the Dutch men they are called
Valani, and the prouince it selfe Valania. [Sidenote: The length of
Comania.] But Isidore calleth all that tract of land stretching from the
riuer of Tanais to the lake of Mæotis, and so along as farre as Danubius,
the countrey of Alania. And the same land contunueth in length from
Danubius vnto Tanais (which diuideth Asia from Europe) for the space of two
moneths iourney, albeit a man should ride poste as fast as the Tartars vse
to ride: and it was all ouer inhabited by the Comanians, called Capthac:
yea and beyond Tanais, as farre as the riuer Edil or Volga: the space
betweene the two which riuers is a great and long iourney to bee trauailed
in ten dayes. [Sidenote: Russia.] To the North of the same prouince lieth
Russia, which is full of wood in all places, and stretcheth from Polonia
and Hungaria, euen to the riuer of Tanais: and it hath bene wasted all ouer
by the Tartars, and as yet is daily wasted by them. They preferre the
Saracens before the Russians, because they are Christians, and when they
are able to giue them no more golde or siluer, they driue them and their
children like flockes of sheepe into the wildernes, constraining them to
keepe their cattell there. [Sidenote: Prussia.] Beyond Russia lieth the
countrey of Prussia, which the Dutch knights of the order of Saint Maries
hospitall of Ierusalem haue of late wholly conquered and subdued. And in
very deede they might easily winne Russia, if they would put to their
helping hand. For if the Tartars should but once know, that the great
Priest, that is to say, the Pope did cause the ensigne of the crosse to bee
displaied against them, they would flee all into their desert and solitarie
places. [Footnote: There is some confusion in original edition, which I
have here corrected.]


De tedijs quæ patiebantur, et de sepultura Comanorum. Cap. 15.

Ibamus ergo versus orientem, nihil videntes nisi coelum et terram, et
aliquando mare ad dextram, quod dicitur Mare Tanais, et etiam sepulturas
Comanorum, quæ apparebant nobis à duabus leucis secundum quod solebant
parentelæ eorum sepeliri simul. Quam diu eramus in solitudine bene erat
nobis: quòd tædium quod patiebar quum veniebamus ad mansiones eorum non
possem exprimere verbis. Volebat enim dux noster, quod ad quoslibet
capitaneos ingrederer cum xenio: et ad hoc non sufficiebant expensæ.
Quotidie enim eramus octo personæ comedentes viaticum nostrum exceptis
seruientibus, qui omnes volebant comedere nobiscum. Nos enim eramus
quinqui, et ipsi tres qui ducebant nos: duo ducentes bigas, et vnus iturus
nobiscum vsque ad Sartach. Carnes quas dabant non sufficiebant; nec
inueniebamus aliquid venale pro moneta. [Sidenote: Calor maximus ibi in
æstate.] Et cum sedebamus sub bigis notris pro vmbra, quia calor erat ibi
maximus illo tempore, ipsi ita importune ingerebant se nobis, quod
conculcabant nos, volentes omnia nostra videre. Si arripiebat eos appetitus
purgandi ventrem, non elongabant se à nobis, quam possit faba iactari. Imo
iuxta nos colloquentes mutuò faciebant immunditias suas: et multa alia
faciebant quæ erant supra modum tædiosa. Super omnia grauabat me, quod cum
volebam dicere eis aliquod verbum ædificationis, interpres meus dicebat,
non facietis me prædicare: quia nescio talia verba dicere. Et verum
dicebat. Ego enim perpendi postea, quum incepi aliquantulum intelligere
idioma, quod quum dicebam vnum, ipse totum aliud dicebat, secundum quod ei
occurrebat. Tunc videns periculum loquendi per ipsum, elegi magis facere.
[Sidenote: Tanais fluuius.] Ambulauimus ergo cum magno labore de mansione
in mansionem: ita quod paucis diebus ante festum beatæ Mariæ Magdalenæ veni
ad fluuium magnum Tanais: qui diuidit Asiam ab Europa, sicut Nilus fluuius
Ægypti, Asiam ab Africa. [Sidenote: Casale Rutenorum.] In illo loco quo
applicuimus fecerunt Baatu et Sartach fieri quoddam casale de Rutenis in
ripa orientali, qui transferant nuncios et mercatores cum nauiculis. Ipsi
transtulerunt nos primo et postea bigas ponentes vnam rotam in vna barca et
aliam in alia, ligantes barcas ad inuicem; et sic remigantes transibant.
Ibi egit dux noster valde stulte. Ipse enim credebat, quod illi de casali
deberent nobis ministrare equos, et dimisit animalia quæ adduxeramus in
alia biga, vt redirent ad dominos suos. Et quum postulauimus ab eis
animalia, ipsi respondebant quod habebant priuilegium à Baatu, quod non
tenerentur ad aliud, nisi transferre euntes et redeuntes: etiam à
mercatoribus accipiebant magnum tributum. Stetimus ergo ibi in ripa
fluminis tribus diebus. Prima die dederunt nobis magnam borbatam recentem:
secunda die panem de siligine et parum de carnibus, quas acceperat
procurator villæ ostiatim per diuersas domos. [Sidenote: Latitudo Tanais.]
Tertia die pisces siccos, quos habent ibi in magna multitudine. Fluuius
ille erat ibi tantæ latitudinus, quantæ est Sequana Parisijis. Et antequam
peruenissemus ad locum illum, transiuimus multas aquas pulcherrimas et
piscosissimas: Sed Tartari nesciunt eos capere, nec curant de pisce nisi
sit ita magnus, quod possunt comedere carnes eius, sicut carnes arietinas.
[Sidenote: Oceanus.] Ille fluuius est terminus Orientalis Russiæ; et oritur
de paludibus quæ pertingunt ad Oceanum ad aquilonem. Fluuius vero currit ad
meridiem in quoddam magnum Mare septingentorum millium, antequam pertingat
ad Mare Ponti: Et omnes aquæ quas transiuimus vadunt ad illas partes. Habet
etiam prædictum flumen magnam syluam in ripa Occidentali. Vltra locum illum
non ascendunt Tartari versus Aquilonem: quia tunc temporis [Marginal note:
Ad introitum Augusti redeunt ad meridiem.] circa introitum Augusti
incipiunt redire versus meridiem. Vnde aliud est casale inferius vbi
transeunt nuncij tempore hyemali. Eramus igitur ibi in magna angustia, quia
nec equos nec baues inueniebamus pro pecunia. Tandem postquam ostendi eis,
quod laboraui pro communi vtilitate omnium Christianorum, accommodauerunt
nobis boues et homines: nos autem oportebat ire pedibus. Tunc temporis
metebant siliginem: triticum non proficiebat ibi bene. Milium habent in
magna copia. Mulieres Rutenæ ornant capita sicut nostræ. Supertunicalia sua
exterius ornant vario vel grisio a pedibus vsque ad genua. Homines portant
capas sicut Teutonici: sed in capite portant pileos de filtro acutos in
summitate longo acumine. Ambulauimus ergo tribus diebus non inuenientes
populum. Et cum essemus valde fatigati et boues similiter, nec sciremus
quorsum possemus Tartaros inuenire, accurrerunt subito duo equi, quos
recepimus cum gaudio magno, et ascenderunt eos dux noster et interpres, vt
specularentur quorsum possemus populum inuenire. Tandem quarta die inuentis
hominibus gauisi sumus tanquam naufragi venientes ad portum. Tunc acceptis
equis et bobus iuimus de mansione ad mansionem donec peruenimus vsque ad
herbergiam Sartach secundo Calendas Augusti.

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