JOHN DE PLANO CARPINI a.d. j 



1 246. j 



alwaies placed on the right hand. In the middest stands ^ 



his table, neare unto the doore of the tent, upon the which 1 



there is drinke filled in golden and silver vessels. Neither "^^^'^^^ custome 1 

 doth Bathy at any time drinke, nor any other of the fj]lfj%^^ \ 



Tartarian princes, especially being in a publique place, but muskke. ^ 



they have singing and minstrilsie before them. And j 



alwaies, when hee rides, there is a canopie or small tent | 



caried over his head upon the point of a javeline. And so i 



doe all the great princes of the Tartars, & their wives also. j 

 The sayd Bathy is courteous enough unto his owne men, 



and yet is hee had in great awe by them : he is most cruel j 

 in fight : he is exceedingly prudent and politique in warre, 



because he hath now continued a long time in martiall \ 



affaires. ' 



How departing from Bathy, they passed through [I. (i^.'l \ 

 the land of Comania, and of the Kangittas. 

 Chap. 23. 



Moreover, upon Easter even we were called unto the j 



tent, and there came forth to meete us the foresaid \ 



agent of Bathy, saying on his masters behalfe, that we i 



should go into their land, unto the Emperor Cuyne, \ 



deteining certaine of our company with this pretence, that ) 



they would send them backe unto the Pope, to whom we ! 

 gave letters of al our affaires to deliver unto him. But 



being come as farre as duke Montii aforesaid, there they ^ hey travelled ; 



were kept untill our returne. Upon Easter day, having P^^^fr^^ j 



said our praiers, and taken a slender breakfast, in the ^^^"^22 ofJuh ^ 



company of two Tartars, which were assigned unto us by Eastward of \ 



Corensa we departed with many teares, not knowing Volga. \ 



whether we went to death or to life. And we were so i 



feeble in bodie, that we were scarce able to ride. For all j 



that Lent through, our meat was Millet onely with a little \ 



water and salte. And so likewise upon other fasting \ 



dayes. Neither had we ought to drinke, but snowe j 



melted in a skillet. And passing through Comania we ) 



rode most earnestly, having change of horses five times or i 



oftener in a day, except when we went through deserts, for ;; 



165 ! 



