JOHN DE PLANO CARPINI 



A.D. 



1246. 



became a mighty hunter. For he learned to steale men, 

 & to take them for a pray. He ranged into other 

 countries taking as many captives as he could, and joining 

 them unto himselfe. Also hee allured the men of his 

 owne countrey unto him, who followed him as their 

 captaine and ringleader to doe mischiefe. Then began he 

 to make warre upon the Sumongals or Tartars, and slewe 

 their captaine, and after many conflicts, subdued them 

 unto himselfe, and brought them all into bondage. 

 Afterward he used their helpe to fight against the 

 Merkats, dwelling by the Tartars, whom also hee van- 

 quished in battell. Proceeding from thence, he fought 

 against the Metrites, and conquered them also. The The'Namani. 

 Naimani hearing that Chingis was thus exalted, greatly 

 disdeined thereat. For they had a mighty & puissant 

 Emperour, unto whom all the foresaid nations payed 

 tribute. Whose sonnes, when he was dead, succeeded 

 him in his Empire. Howbeit, being young and foolish, 

 they knew not howe to governe the people, but were The discord of 

 divided, and fell at variance among themselves. Now ^^^^^^'^^• 

 Chingis being exalted, as is aforesaid, they neverthelesse 

 invaded the forenamed countries, put the inhabitants to 

 the sword, and carried away their goods for a pray. 

 Which Chingis having intelligence of, gathered all his 

 subjects together. The Naimani also, and the people 

 called Karakitay assembled and banded themselves at a 

 certaine straight valley, where, after a battell foughten 

 they were vanquished by the Mongals. And being thus 

 vanquished, they were, the greater part of them, slaine ; 

 and others, which could not escape, were carried into 

 captivitie. In the land of the foresayd Karakytayans, 

 Occoday Cham, the sonne of Chingis Cham, after he was Occoday 

 created Emperour, built a certaine citie, which he called ^^^^^ 

 Chanyl. Neare unto which citie, on the South side, 

 there is an huge desert, wherein wilde men are certainely 

 reported to inhabite, which cannot speake at all, and are 

 destitute of joynts in their legges, so that if they fall, they 

 cannot rise alone by themselves. Howbeit, they are of 



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