JOHN DE PLANO CARPINl a.d. 



1 246. 



How they came unto the first court of the new 

 Emperour. Chap. 24. 



Moreover, out of the land of the Kangittae, we entered Thelandofthe 

 into the countrey of ye Bisermini, who speake the Btsermim. 

 language of Comania, but observe the law of the Saracens. 

 In this countrey we found innumerable cities with castles 

 ruined, & many towns left desolate. The lord of this 

 country was called Soldan Alti, who with al his progenie, A hi Soldanus. 

 was destroyed by the Tartars. This country hath most 

 huge mountains. On the South side it hath Jerusalem Huge moun- 

 and Baldach, and all the whole countrey of the Saracens. ^^^'^^•^• 

 In the next territories adjoyning doe inhabite two carnall 

 brothers dukes of the Tartars, namely. Burin and Cadan, ^^^'^^ ^^'-^ 

 the sonnes of Thyaday, who was the sonne of Chingis ^^' 

 Can. On the North side thereof it hath the land of the 

 blacke Kythayans, and the Ocean. In the same countrie The North 

 Syban the brother of Bathy remaineth. Through this ^^^f^' 

 countrie we were traveiling from the feast of Ascension, un^J^Bath 

 until eight daies before the feast of S. John Baptist. And 

 then we entred into the land of the blacke Kythayans, in ^^'^ ^^^^^' 

 which the Emperour built an house, where we were called -^ ^^j^^^' 

 in to drinke. Also the Emperours deputy in that place 

 caused the chiefe men of the citie and his two sonnes to 

 daunce before us. Departing from hence, wee founde a 

 certaine small sea, upon the shore whereof stands a little A small sea, 

 mountaine. In which mountaine is reported to be a hole, 

 from whence, in winter time such vehement tempests of 

 winds doe issue, that traveilers can scarcely, and with great 

 danger passe by the same way. In summer time, the 

 noise in deede of the winde is heard there, but it pro- 

 ceedeth gently out of the hole. Along the shores of the 

 foresaid sea we travailed for the space of many dayes, which Many dayes. 

 although it bee not very great, yet hath it many islandes, 

 and wee passed by leaving it on our left hande. In this 

 lande dwelleth Ordu, whome wee sayde to bee auncient Orducap.ii. 

 unto all the Tartarian dukes. And it is the Orda or 

 court of his father which hee inhabiteth, and one of his 



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