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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries

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





De fame et siti, et alijs miserijs quas sustinuerant in itinere. Cap. 24.

De fame et siti, frigore et fatigatione non est numerus. Non enim dant
cibum nisi in sero. In mane dant aliquid bibere, vel sorbere milium. In
sero dabant nobis carnes, scapulam arietis cum costis et de brodio ad
mensuram bibere. Quando habebamus de brodio carnium ad satietatem optimè
reficiebamur. Et videbatur mihi suauissimus potus et maximè nutriens. Feria
sexta permanebam ieiunus vsque ad noctem, nihil auriens. Tunc oportebat me
in tristitia et dolore comedere carnes. [Sidenote: Defectus materiæ ignis.]
Aliquando oportebat nos comedere carnes semicoctas vel ferè crudas propter
defectum materiæ ignis quando iacebamus in campis et de nocte
descendebamus: quia tunc non poteramus benè colligere stercora equorum vel
boum: aliam materiam ignis rarò inueniebamus; nisi fortè alicubi aliquas
spinas. In ripis etiam aliquorum fluminum sunt alicubi syluæ. Sed hoc rarò.
[Sidenote: Aliqua flumina.] In principio despiciebat nos multùm Ductor
noster, et fastidiebat eum ducere tam viles homines. Postea tamen quando
incepit nos melius cognoscere, ducebat nos per curias diuitum Moallorum: et
oportebat nos orare pro ipsis. Vnde si habuissem bonum interpretem, habebam
oportunitatem seminandi multa bona. [Sidenote: Vasta solitudo.] Ille
Chirigis primus Cham habuit quatuor filios, de quibus egressi sunt multi,
qui omnes habent modo magnas curias: et quotidiè multiplicantur et
diffunduntur per illam Vastam solitudinem, quæ est sicut mare. Per multos
ergò illorum ducebat nos Ductor noster. Et mirabantur supra modum, quia
nolebamus recipere aurum, vel argentum, vel vestes præciosas. Quærebant
etiam de magno Papa, si esset ita senex sicut audierant: audierant enim
quod esset quingentorum annorum. Quærebant de terris nostris si ibi essent
multæ oues, et boues, et equi. De Oceano mari non potuerunt intelligere,
quod esset sine termnino vel sine ripa. In vigilia omnium Sanctorum
dimisimus viam in Orientem, [Marginal note: Nota diligenter. Iter versus
mieridiem octo dierum.] quia iam populus descenderat multum versus
meridiem: Et direximus iter per quasdam Alpes rectè in meridiem continuè
per octo dies. In illa solitudine vidi multos asinos, quos vocant Colan,
qui magis assimilantur mulis: quos multum prosequuti [Footnote: sic.] sunt
Dux noster et socij eius, sed nihil profecerunt propter nimiam velocitatem
eorum. Septima die inceperunt nobis apparere ad meridiem montes altissimi:
et intrauimus planiciem, quæ irrigabatur sicut hortus, et inuenimus terras
cultas. [Sidenote: Asuni velocissimi. Montes Altissimi. Terræ cultæ.
Kenchat villa Saracenorum.] In octauis omnium Sanctorum intrauimus villam
quandam Saracenorum nomine Kenchat: cuius capitaneus occurrebat extra
villam duci nostro cum ceruisia et ciphis. Hic est enim mos eorum; quod de
omnibus villis subditis eis, occurratur nuncijs Baatu, et Mangu cham cum
cibo et potu. Tunc temporis ibant ibi super glaciem. [Sidenote: Septimo die
Nouembris ibant super glaciem.] Et prius à festo Sancti Michaelis
habueramus gelu in solitudine. Quæsiui de nomine Prouinciæ illius: sed quia
iam eramus in alio territorio nescierunt mihi dicere, nisi à nomine
ciuitatis, quæ erat valdè parua. [Sidenote: Ciuitas valdè parua. Magnus
Fluuius. Multæ Paludes. Vites.] Et descendebat magnus fluuius de montibus
qui irrigabat totam regionem, secundùm quod volebant aquam ducere: nec
descendebat in aliquod mare, sed absorbebatur à terra: et faciebat etiam
multas paludes. Ibi vidi vites, et bibi bis de vino.


The same in English.

Of the hunger, and thirst, and other miseries, which wee sustained in our
iourney. Chap. 24.

Of hunger and thirst, colde and wearinesse, there was no end. For they gaue
vs no victuals, but onely in the euening. In the morning they vsed to giue
vs a little drinke, or some sodden Millet to sup off. In the euening they
bestowed flesh vpon vs, as namely, a shoulder and breast of rams mutton,
and euery man a measured quantitie of broath to drinke. When we had
sufficient of the flesh-broath, we were maruellously wel refreshed. And it
seemed to me most pleasant, and most nourishing drinke. Euery Saterday
[Footnote: Friday (?).], I remained fasting vntil night, without eating or
drinking of ought. And when night came, I was constrained, to my great
grief and sorow, to eat flesh. Sometimes we were faine to eate flesh halfe
sodden, or almost rawe, and all for want of fewel to seethe it withal:
especially when we lay in the fields, or were benighted before we came at
our iourneis end: because we could not then conueniently gather together
the doung of horses or oxen: for other fewel we found but seldome, except
perhaps a few thornes in some places. [Sidenote: Certaine riuers.] Likewise
vpon the bankes of some riuers, there are woods growing here and there.
Howbeit they are very rare. In the beginning our guide highly disdained vs,
and it was tedious vnto him to conduct such base fellowes. Afterward, when
he began to know vs somewhat better, he directed vs on our way by the
courts of rich Moals, and we were requested to pray for them. Wherefore,
had I caried a good interpreter with me, I should haue had opportunities to
haue done much good. The foresaid Chingis, who was the first great Can or
Emperour of the Tartars, had foure sonnes, of whome proceeded by natural
descent many children, euery one of which doeth at this day enioy great
possessions: and they are daily multiplied and dispersed ouer that huge and
waste desert, which is, in dimensions, like vnto the Ocean Sea. Our guide
therefore directed vs, as we were going on our iourney, vnto many of their
habitations. And they marueiled exceedingly, that we would receiue neither
gold, nor siluer, nor precious and costly garments at their hands. They
inquired also, concerning the great Pope, whether he was of so lasting an
age as they had heard? For there had gone a report among them, that he was
500 yeeres olde. They inquired likewise of our countreis, whether there
were abundance of sheep, oxen, and horses or no? Concerning the Ocean sea,
they could not conceiue of it, because it was without limits or banks. Vpon
the euen of the feast of All Saints, we forsook the way leading towards the
East, (because the people were now descended very much South) and we went
on our iourney by certaine Alpes, or mountaines directly Southward, for the
space of 8. dayes together. [Sidenote: Eight dayes iourney southward. Asses
swift of foote.] In the foresaid desert I saw many asses (which they cal
Colan) being rather like vnto mules: these did our guide and his companions
chase very eagerly: howbeit, they did but lose their labour: for the
beastes were too swift for them. [Sidenote: High mountaines. Manured
grounds.] Vpon the 7. day there appeared to the South of vs huge high
mountaines, and we entred into a place which was well watered, and fresh as
a garden, and found land tilled and manured. [Sidenote: Kenchat a village
of the Saracens.] The eight day after the feast of All Saints, we arriued
at a certain towne of the Saracens, named Kenchat, the gouernour whereof
met our guide at the townes end with ale and cups. For it is their maner at
all townes and villages, subiect vnto them, to meet the messengers of Baatu
and Mangu Can with meate and drinke. At the same time of the yere, they
went vpon the yce in that countrey. And before the feast of S. Michael
[Sidenote: The 7. day of Nouember.], we had frost in the desert. I enquired
the name of that prouince but being now in a strange territorie, they could
not tell mee the name thereof, but onely the name of a very smal citie in
the same prouince. [Sidenote: A great riuer.] And there descended a great
riuer [Footnote: The Terek is probably alluded to.] downe from the
mountaines, which watered the whole region, according as the inhabitants
would giue it passage, by making diuers chanels and sluces: neither did
this riuer exonerate it selfe into any sea, but was swallowed vp by an
hideous gulfe into the bowels of the earth: [Sidenote: Many lakes. Vines.]
and it caused many fennes or lakes. Also I saw many vines, and dranke of
the wine thereof.


De interfectione Ban et habitatione Teutonicorum. Cap. 25.

[Sidenote: Casale Montes Caucasi contiguantur mari Orientali Talas, vel
Chincitalas ciuitas. Frater Andreas.] Sequenti die venimus ad aliud casale
propinquius montibus. Et quæsiui de montibus, de quibus intellexi, quòd
essent montes Caucasi: qui contiguantur ex vtraque parte maris ab Occidente
vsque ad Orientem: et quod transiueramus mare supradictum, quod intrat
Etilia. Quæsiui etiam de Talas ciuitate, in qua erant Teutonici serui Buri,
de quibus dixerat frater Andreas, de quibus etiam quæsiueram multum in
curia Sartach et Baatu. Sed nihil poteram intelligere, nisi quod Ban
dominus eorum fuerat interfectus tali occasione. Ipse non erat in bonis
pascuis. Et quadam die dum esset ebrius, loquebatur ita cum hominibus suis.
Nonne sum de genere Chingis can sicut Baatus (Et ipse erat nepos Baatu vel
frater) quare non vadam super ripam Etiliæ, sicut Baatu, vt pascam ibi? Quæ
verba relata fuerunt Baatu. Tunc ispse Baatu scripsit hominibus illius, vt
adducerent ei dominum ipsorum vinctum quod et fecerunt. [Sidenote: Casale.]
Tunc Baatu quæsiuit ab eo si dixisset tale verbum: et ipse confessus est,
tamen excusauit se, quia ebrius erat: (quia solent condonare ebrijs:) et
Baatu respondit: Quomodo audebas me nominare in ebrietate tua? Et fecit ei
amputari caput. De illis Teutonicis nihil potui cognoscere vsque ad curiam
Mangu. Sed in supradicto casali intellexi, quod Talas erat post nos iuxta
montes per sex dietas. [Sidenote: Bolac villa. Aurifodinæ.] Quando veni ad
curiam Mangu cham, intellexi quod ipse Mangu transtulerat eos de licentia
Baatu versus Orientem spacio itineris vnius mensis à Talas ad quandam
villam quæ dicitur Bolac: vbi fodiunt auram, et fabricant arma, Vnde non
potui ire nec redire per eos. Transiui eundo satis prope, per tres dietas
fortè ciuitatem illam: sed ego ignoraui: nec potuissem etiam declinasse
extra viam, si benè sciuissem. [Sidenote: Intrat ditionem Mangu cham.] A
prædictos casali iuimus ad Orientem iuxta montes prædictos: et tunc
intrauimus inter homines Mangu cham, qui vbique cantabant et plaudebant
coram ductore nostro: quia ipse erat nuncius Baatu. Hunc enim honorem
exhibent sibi mutuo, vt homines Mangu cham recipiant nuncios Baatu prædicto
modo: Et similiter homines Baatu nuncios Mangu. Tamen homines Baatu
superiores sunt, nec exequuntur ita diligenter. [Sidenote: Alpes in quibus
habitabant Caracatay. Magnus fluuius.] Paucis diebus post hoc intrauimus
Alpes, in quibus solebant habitare Caracatay: et inuenimus ibi magnum
fluuium, [Footnote: The River Roup.] quem oportuit nos transire nauigio.
Post hæc intrauimus quandam vallem, vbi vidi castrum quoddam destructum,
cuius muri non erant nisi de luto, et terra colebatur ibi. [Sidenote: Terra
culta. Equius villa boua, longissimè à Perside.] Et pòst inuenimus quandam
bonam villam quæ dicitur Equius, in qua erant Saraceni loquentes Persicum:
longissimè tamen erant à Perside. [Sidenote: Lacus quindecem dietarum
circuitu.] Sequenti die transgressis illis Alpibus quæ descendebant à
magnis montibus ad meridiem, ingressi sumus pulcherrimam planiciem habentem
montes altos à dextris, et quoddam mare à sinistris, siue quendam lacum qui
durat quindecem dietas in circuitu. Et illa planicies, tota irrigabatur ad
libitum aquis descendentibus de montibus, quæ omnes recipiuntur in illud
mare. In æstate rediuimus ad latus Aquilonare illius maris, vbi similiter
erant magni montes. In planicie prædicta solebant esse multæ villæ: sed pro
maiori parte omnes erant destructæ, vt pascerent ibi Tartari: quia optima
pascua erant ibi. [Sidenote: Cailac magna villa et plena mercatoribus.]
Vnam magnam villam inuenimus ibi nomini Cailac, in qua erat forum, et
frequentabant eam multi mercatores. In illa quieuimus quindecem diebus,
expectantes quendam scriptorem Baatu, qui debebat esse socius ducis nostri
in negotijs expediendis in curia Mangu. [Sidenote: Contomanni.] Terra illa
solebat dici Organum: et solebant habere proprium idioma, et propriam
literam: Sed hæc tota erat occupata à Contomannis. Etiam in literatura illa
et idiomate solebant facere Nestorini de partibus illis. Dicuntur Organa,
quia solebant esse optimi Organistæ vel Citharistæ, vt dicebatur mihi. Ibi
primo vidi Idolatrias, de quibus noueritis, quod sunt multæ sectæ in
Oriente.


The same in English.

How Ban was put to death: and concerning the habitation of the Dutch men.
Chap. 25.

[Sidenote: A cottage. The mountains of Caucasus are extended vnto the
Easterne Sea.] The day following, we came vnto another cottage neere vnto
the mountains. And I enquired what mountains they were, which I vnderstood
to be the mountains of Caucasus, which are stretched forth, and continued
on both parts to the sea, from the West vnto the East: and on the East part
they are conioyned vnto the foresaid Caspian sea, whereinto the riuer of
Volga dischargeth his streams. I enquired also of the city of [Sidenote:
The citie of Talas or Chincitalas. Friar Andrew.] Talas, wherein were
certaine Dutchmen seruants vnto one Buri, of whom Frier Andrew made
mention. Concerning whom also I enquired very diligently in the courts of
Sartach and Baatu. Howbeit I could haue no intelligence of them, but onely
that their lord and master Ban was put to death vpon the occasion
following: This Ban was not placed in good and fertile pastures. And vpon a
certain day being drunken, he spake on this wise vnto his men. Am not I of
the stocke and kinred of Chingis Can, as well as Baatu? (for in very deede
he was brother or nephew vnto Baatu). Why then doe I not passe and repasse
vpon the banke of Etilia, to feed my cattel there, as freely as Baatu
himselfe doeth? Which speeches of his were reported vnto Baatu. Whereupon
Baatu wrote vnto his seruants to bring their Lorde bound vnto him. And they
did so. Then Baatu demanded of him whether he had spoken any such words?
And hee confessed that he had. Howbeit, (because it is the Tartars maner to
pardon drunken men) he excused himselfe that he was drunken at the same
time. Howe durst thou (quoth Baatu) once name mee in thy drunkennesse? And
with that hee caused his head to be chopt off. Concerning the foresaid
Dutchmen, I could not vnderstand ought, till I was come vnto the court of
Mangu-Can. [Sidenote: The village of Bolac.] And there I was informed that
Mangu-Can had remoued them out of the iurisdiction of Baatu, for the space
of a moneths iourney from Talas Eastward, vnto a certaine village, called
Bolac: where they are set to dig gold, and to make armour. Whereupon I
could neither goe nor come by them. I passed very neere the saide citie in
going forth, as namely, within three dayes iourney thereof: but I was
ignorant that I did so: neither could I haue turned out of my way, albeit I
had knowen so much. From the foresaide cottage we went directly Eastward,
by the mountaines aforesaid. [Sidenote: He entreth into the territories of
Mangu Can.] And from that time we trauailed among the people of Mangu-Can,
who in all places sang and daunced before our guide, because hee was the
messenger of Baatu. For this curtesie they doe affoord eche to other:
namely the people of Mangu-Can receiuing the messengers of Baatu, in maner
aforesaide: and so likewise the people of Baatu intertaining the messengers
of Mangu-Can. Notwithstanding the people of Baatu are more surlie and
stoute, and shewe not so much curtesie vnto the subiectes of Mangu-Can, as
they doe vnto them. [Sidenote: Certain Alpes wherein the Cara Catayans
inhabited. A mighty riuer.] A fewe dayes after, wee entered vpon those
Alpes where the Cara Catayans were woont to inhabite. And there wee found a
mightie riuer: insomuch that we were constrained to embarke our selues, and
to saile ouer it. Afterward we came into a certaine valley, where I saw a
castle destroyed, the walles whereof were onely of mudde: and in that place
the ground was tilled also. [Sidenote: Ground tilled. Equius.] And there
wee founde a certaine village, named Equius, wherein were Saracens,
speaking the Persian language: howbeit they dwelt an huge distance from
Persia. [Sidenote: A lake of fifteene dayes iourney in compasse.] The day
following, hauing passed ouer the foresaide Alpes which descended from the
great mountains Southward, we entered into a most beautiful plaine, hauing
high mountaines on our right hande, and on the left hande of vs a certaine
Sea or lake, [Footnote: Lake Erivan.] which containeth fifteene dayes
iourney in circuite. All the foresayde plaine is most commodiously watered
with certaine freshets distilling from the said mountaines, all which do
fall into the lake. In Sommer time wee returned by the North shore of the
saide lake, and there were great mountaines on that side also. Vpon the
forenamed plaine there were wont to be great store of villages: but for the
most part they were all wasted, in regarde of the fertile pastures, that
the Tartars might feede their cattel there. [Sidenote: Cailac a great city,
and full of merchants.] Wee found one great citie there named Cailac,
wherein was a mart, and great store of Merchants frequenting it. In this
citie wee remained fifteene dayes, staying for a certaine Scribe or
Secretarie of Baatu, who ought to haue accompanied our guide for a
despatching of certaine affaires in the court of Mangu. All this countrey
was wont to be called Organum: and the people thereof had their proper
language, and their peculiar kinde of writing. [Sidenote: Contomanni.] But
it was altogether inhabited of the people called Contomanni. The Nestorians
likewise in those parts vsed the very same kinde of language and writing.
They are called Organa, because they were wont to be most skilfull in
playing vpon the Organes or citherne, as it was reported vnto me. Here
first did I see worshippers of idoles, concerning whom, bee it knowen vnto
your maiestie, that there be many sects of them in the East countries.


Quod Nestorini et Saraceni sunt mixti et Idolatræ. Cap. 26.

[Sidenote: Iugures populi, Idolatræ.] Primi sunt Iugures, quorum terra
contiguatur cum terra prædicta Organum inter montes illos versus Orientem:
Et in omnibus ciuitatibus eorum sunt mixti Nestorini et Saraceni. Et ipsi
etiam sunt diffusi versus Persidem in ciuitatibus Saracenorum. [Sidenote:
Cailac.] In prædicta ciuitate Cailac habebant etiam ipsi tres Idolatrias,
quarum duas intraui, vt viderem stultitias eorum. In prima inueni quendam,
qui habebat cruciculam de atramento super manum suam. Vnde credidi quod
esset Christianus: quia ad omnia quæ querebam ab eo, respondebat vt
Christianus. Vnde quæsiui ab eo: Quare ergo non habetis crucem et imaginem
Iesu Christi? Et ipse respondit, non habemus consuetudinem. Vnde ego
credidi quod essent Christiani: sed ex defectu doctrinæ omitterent. Videbam
enim ibi post quandam cistam, quæ erat eis loco altaris, super quam ponunt
lucernas et oblationes, quandam imaginationem habentem alas quasi Sancti
Michaelis: et alias quasi ipsorum tenentes digitos sicut ad benedieendum.
Illo sero non potui aliud inuenire. Quia Saraceni in tantum inuitant eos,
quod nec etiam volunt loqui inde eis. Vnde quando quærebam à Saracenis de
ritu talium, ipsi scandalizabantur. In crastino fuerunt kalendæ et pascha
Saracenoram et mutaui hospitium: ita quod fui hospitatus prope aliam
Idolatriam. Homines enim colligunt nuncios, quilibet secundum posse suum
vel portionem suam. Tunc intrans Idolatriam prædictam inueni sacerdotes
Idolorum. In kalendis enim aperiunt templa sua, et ornant se sacerdotes, et
offerunt populi oblationes de pane et fructibus. [Sidenote: Iugures secta
diuisa ab alijs Idolatris.] Primò ergo describo vobis ritus communes omnes
Idolatrarum: et postea istorum Iugurum; qui sunt quasi secta diuisa ab
alijs. Omnes adorant ad Aquilonem complosis manibus: et prosternentes se
genibus flexis ad terram, ponentes frontem super manus. Vnde Nestorini in
partibus illis nullo modo iungunt manus orando: sed orant extensis palmis
ante pectus. Porrigunt templa sua ab Oriente in Occidentem: et in latere
Aquilonari faciunt cameram vnam quasi eorum exeuntem: vel aliter, Si est
domus quadrati, in medio domus ad latus aquilonare intercludunt vnam
cameram in loco chori. Ibi ergo collocant vnam arcam longam et latam sicut
mensam vnam. [Sidenote: Fuit apud Caracarum frater Wilhelmus.] Et post
illam arcam contra meridiem collocant principale idolum: quod ego vidi apud
Caracarum, ita magnum sicut pingitur Sanctus Christopherus. Et dixit mihi
quidam sacerdos Nestorinus, qui venerat ex Cataya, quod in terra illa est
Idolum ita magnum, quod potest videri a duabus dietis. Et collocant alia
idola in circuitu, omnia pulcherrime deaurata: Super cistam illam, quæ est
quasi mensa vna, ponunt lucernas et oblationes. Omnes portæ templorum sunt
apertæ ad meridiem contrario modo Saracenis. Item habent campanas magnas
sicut nos. Ideo credo quod orientales Christiani noluerunt habere eas.
Ruteni tamen habent et Græci in Gasaria.


The same in English.

How the Nestorians, Saracens, and Idolaters are ioyned together. Chap. 26.

[Sidenote: The people called Iugures idolaters.] The first sort of these
idolaters are called Iugures: whose land bordereth vpon the foresaid land
of Organum, within the said mountains Eastward: and in al their cities
Nestorians do inhabit together, and they are dispersed likewise towards
Persia in the cities of the Saracens. The citizens of the foresaid city of
Cailac had 3. idole-Temples: and I entred into two of them, to beholde
their foolish superstitions. In the first of which I found a man hauing a
crosse painted with ink vpon his hand, whereupon I supposed him to be a
Christian: for he answered like a Christian vnto al questions which I
demanded of him. And I asked him, Why therefore haue you not the crosse
with the image of Iesu Christ thereupon? And he answered: We haue no such
custome. Whereupon I coniectured that they were indeede Christians: but,
that for lacke of instruction they omitted the foresaide ceremonie. For I
saw there behind a certaine chest (which was vnto them in steed of an
altar, whereupon they set candles and oblations) an image hauing wings like
vnto the image of Saint Michael, and other images also, holding their
fingers, as if they would blesse some body. That euening I could not find
any thing els. For the Saracens doe onely inuite men thither, but they will
not haue them speake of their religion. And therfore, when I enquired of
the Saracens concerning such ceremonies, they were offended thereat. On the
morrow after were the Kalends, and the Saracens feast of Passeouer. And
changing mine Inne or lodging the same day, I tooke vp mine abode neere
vnto another idole-Temple. For the citizens of the said citie of Cailac doe
curteously inuite, and louingly intertaine all messengers, euery man of
them according to his abilitie and portion. And entring into the foresaid
idole-Temple, I found the Priests of the said idoles there. For alwayes at
the Kalends they set open their Temples, and the priests adorne themselues,
and offer vp the peoples oblations of bread and fruits. First therefore I
will describe vnto you those rites and ceremonies, which are common vnto
all their idole-Temples: and then the superstitions of the foresaid
Iugures, which be, as it were, a sect distinguished from the rest They doe
all of them worship towards the North, clapping their hands together, and
prostrating themselues on their knees vpon the earth, holding also their
foreheads in their hands. Wherupon the Nestorians of those parts will in no
case ioyne their hands together in time of prayer: but they pray,
displaying their hands before their breasts. They extend their Temples in
length East and West: and vpon the North side they build a chamber, in
maner of a Vestry for themselues to goe forth into. Or sometimes it is
otherwise. If it be a foure square Temple, in the midst of the Temple
towards the North side therof, they take in one chamber in that place where
the quire should stand. And within the said chamber they place a chest long
and broad like vnto a table: and behinde the saide chest towardes the South
stands their principall idole: which I sawe at Caracaram, and it was as
bigge as the idole of Saint Christopher. [Sidenote: Frier William was at
Caracarum.] Also a certaine Nestorian priest, which had bin in Catay, saide
that in that countrey there is an idole of so huge a bignes, that it may be
seen two daies iourney before a man come at it. And so they place other
idoles round about the foresaid principal idole, being all of them finely
gilt ouer with pure golde: and vpon the saide chest, which is in manner of
a table, they set candles and oblations. The doores of their Temples are
alwayes opened towards the South, contrary to the custome of the Saracens.
They haue also great belles like vnto vs. And that is the cause (as I
thinke) why the Christians of the East will in no case vse great belles.
Notwithstanding they are common among the Russians, and Græcians of
Gasaria.

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