WILLIAM DE RUBRUQUIS a.d. 



1253. 



people called Chaiiglae. And on that side it receiveth ChangU. 



the streams of Etilia ; which river increaseth in Sommer j 



time, like unto the river Nilus in -^gypt. Upon the ,1 



West part thereof, it hath the mountaines of Alani, and ; 



Lesgi, and Porta ferrea, or Derbent, and the mountaines \ 



of Georgia. This Sea therefore is compassed in on three \ 



sides with the mountaines, but on the North side with 



plaine grounde. Frier Andrew, in his journey tra veiled ^rier ; 



round about two sides therof, namely the South and the ^^^^'^^ \ 



East sides : and I my selfe about other two, that is to { 



say, the North side in going from Baatu to Mangu-Can, 



and in returning likewise : and the West side in comming • 



home from Baatu into Syria. A man may travel round I 



about it in foure moneths. And it is not true which ■ 



Isidore reporteth, namely that this Sea is a bay or gulfe i, 



comming forth of the Ocean : for it doeth, in no part ; 



thereof, joyne with the Ocean, but is invironed on all 



sides with lande. 1 



Of the court of Baatu : and howe we w^ere [l- 109.] 'i 



interteined by him. Chap. 21. \ 



AL the region extending from the West shore of the \ 



foresaid sea, where Alexanders Iron gate, other- J 



wise called the citie of Derbent, is situate, and from l 



the mountaines of Alania, all along by the fennes of ! 



Masotis, whereinto the river of Tanais falleth, and so \ 



forth, to the North Ocean, was wont to be called ^^^ ^°^'^^ * 



Albania. Of which countrey Isidore reporteth, that ^^^^"- ' 



there be dogs of such an huge stature, and so fierce, '■ 



that they are able in fight to match bulles, and to master j 



lions. Which is true, as I understand by divers, who ' 



tolde me, that there towardes the North Ocean they ' 

 make their dogges to draw in carts like oxen, by reason 



of their bignesse and strength. Moreover, upon that - 

 part of Etilia where we arrived, there is a new cottage 

 built, wherein they have placed Tartars and Russians 

 both together, to ferrie over, and transport messengers 

 going and comming to and fro the court of Baatu. For 



271 



