FRIAR BEATUS ODORICUS ad. 



1330- 

 would all come flocking about him like chickens. And 

 so hee led them unto Trapesunda, and unto the palace 

 of the Emperour, who tooke as many of them as he 

 pleased, and the rest the saide man carried unto the 

 place from whence he came. In this citie lyeth the 

 body of Athanasius, upon the gate of the citie. And 

 then I passed on further unto Armenia major, to a The cine of 

 certaine citie called Azaron, which had bene very rich AzaromnAr- 

 in olde time, but nowe the Tartars have almost layed ^^^'^^^ ^^•^°^' 

 it waste. In the saide citie there was abundance of 

 bread and flesh, and of all other victuals except wine 

 and fruites. This citie also is very colde, and is re- 

 ported to be higher situated, then any other city in 

 the world. It hath most holesome and sweete waters 

 about it : for the veines of the said waters seeme to 

 spring and flow from the mighty river of Euphrates, 

 which is but a dayes journey from the saide city. 

 Also, the said citie stands directly in the way to Tauris. 

 And I passed on unto a certaine mountaine called 

 Sobissacalo. In the foresaide countrey there is the very Sobissacalo. 

 same mountaine whereupon the Arke of Noah rested : 

 unto the which I would willingly have ascended, if 

 my company would have stayed for me. Howbeit the 

 people of that countrey report, that no man could ever 

 ascend the said mountaine, because (say they) it pleaseth 

 not the highest God. And I travailed on further unto 

 Tauris that great and royal city, which was in old time Tauns a atie 

 called Susis. This city is accompted for traflique of "-^ "^^^' 

 marchandize the chiefe city of the world : for there is no 

 kinde of victuals, nor any thing else belonging unto 

 marchandize, which is not to be had there in great 

 abundance. This city stands very commodiously : for 

 unto it all the nations of the whole worlde in a maner 

 may resort for traflique. Concerning the said citie, the 

 Christians in those parts are of opinion, that the Persian 

 Emperour receives more tribute out of it, then the King 

 of France out of all his dominions. Neare unto the said 

 city there is a salt-hill yeelding salt unto the city : and of 



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