JOHN DE PLANO CARPINI a.d. 



1246. 



the night season also, and yet could we not come at him 

 before Maundie thursday. All this journey we went 

 through the land of Comania, which is al plaine ground, 

 and hath foure mighty rivers running through it : The 

 first is called J Neper, on the side whereof towards Russia, I Borhthenes. 

 duke Corrensa & Montii marched up and downe, which 

 Montii on the other side upon the plaines is greater then 

 he. The second is called J Don, upon the banke whereof + T^anais. 

 marcheth a certain prince having in mariage the sister of 

 Baty, his name is Tirbon. The third is called J Volga, X^ha. 

 which is an exceeding great river, upon the bankes whereof 

 duke Bathy marcheth. The fourth is called J laec, upon XRhynmus. 

 which two Millenaries doe march, on each side of the river 

 one. All these, in the winter time, descend down to the 

 sea, & in summer ascend backe by the bankes of the said 

 rivers up to the mountains. The sea last named is the 

 II Great sea, out of which the arme of S. George proceedeth, II Pontus 

 which runneth by Constantinople. These rivers do abound ^^}^^^' . 

 with plenty of fishes, but especially Volga, & they exon- ^^ ^/^^^-^ ' 

 erate themselves into the Grecian sea, which is called Mare 'Neper 13 Don 

 major. Over Neper we went many daies upon the ice. run into Mare 

 Along the shore also of the Grecian sea we went very dan- ^y^!*^ '\l^l ^ 

 gerously upon the ice in sundry places, & that for many 1^1 i^to the 

 daies together. For about the shore the waters are frozen Caspian sea. 

 three leagues into the sea. But before we came unto 

 Bathy, two of our Tartars rode afore, to give him intelli- 

 gence of all the sayings which we had uttered in the 

 presence of Corrensa. 



How we were received at the court of the great 

 prince Bathy. Chap. 22. 



Moreover, when we came unto Bathy in the land of 

 Comania, we were seated a good league distant from 

 his tabernacles. And when we should be conducted unto A ceremony 

 his court, it was tolde us that we must passe between two of passing be- 

 fires. But we would by no means be induced thereunto. ^'^'^^^^ ^^^^ 

 Howbeit, they said unto us : you may passe through * 

 without al danger : for we would have you to doe it for 



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