A.D. 



1253- 



High 

 mountaines. 



[I. ..3.] 



Manured 

 gf-ounds. 



Kenchat a 

 village of the 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



were two swift for them. Upon the 7. day there appeared 

 to the South of us huge high mountaines, and we entred 

 into a place which was well watered, and fresh as a garden, 

 and found land tilled and manured. The eight day after 

 the feast of All Saints, we arrived at a certain towne of 



Saracens. 



The 7. day of 

 'November. 



the Saracens, named Kenchat, the governour whereof met 

 our guide at the townes end with ale and cups. For it is 

 their maner at all townes and villages, subject unto them, 

 to meet the messengers of Baatu and Mangu-Can with 

 meate and drinke. At the same time of the yere, they 

 went upon the yce in that countrey. And before the 

 feast of S. Michael, we had frost in the desert. I 

 enquired the name of that province : but being now in 

 a strange territorie, they could not tell mee the name 

 thereof, but onely the name of a very smal citie in 

 A great river, the same province. And there descended a great river 

 downe from the mountaines, which watered the whole 

 region, according as the inhabitants would give it passage, 

 by making divers chanels and sluces : neither did this 

 river exonerate it selfe into any sea, but was swallowed 

 up by an hideous gulfe into the bowels of the earth : 

 and it caused many fennes or lakes. Also I saw many 

 vines, and dranke of the wine thereof. 



Many lakes. 

 Vines. 



A cottage. 

 The mountains 

 of Caucasus 

 are extended 

 unto the East- 

 erne Sea. 



The citie oj- 

 Talas, or 

 Chincitalas. 

 Frier 

 Andrew. 



How Ban was put to death : and concerning the 

 habitation of the Dutch men. Chap. 25. 



THe day following, we came unto another cottage 

 neere unto the mountains. And I enquired what 

 mountains they were, which I understood to be the 

 mountains of Caucasus, which are stretched forth, & 

 continued on both parts to the sea, from the West unto 

 the East : and on the West part they are conjoyned unto 

 the foresaid Caspian sea, wherinto the river of Volga 

 dischargeth his streams. I enquired also of the city of 

 Talas, wherein were certaine Dutchmen servants unto one 

 Buri, of whom Frier Andrew made mention. Concerning 

 whom also I enquired very diligently in the courts of 

 Sartach & Baatu. Howbeit I could have no intelligence 



