WILLIAM DE RUBRUQUIS ad 



1253. 



skilfull in playing upon the Organes or citherne, as it 

 was reported unto me. Here first did I see worshippers 

 of idoles, concerning whom, bee it knowen unto your 

 majestie, that there be many sects of them in the 

 East countries. 



, How the Nestorians, Saracens, and Idolaters are 

 I joyned together. Chap. 26. 



THe first sort of these idolaters are called Jugures : T'he people 

 whose land bordereth upon the foresaid land of '^^Qiaters^'^^ ^ 

 Organum, within the said mountains Eastward : and in 

 al their cities Nestorians do inhabit together, and they 

 are dispersed likewise towards Persia in the cities of 

 the Saracens. The citizens of ye foresaid city of Cailac 

 had 3. idole-Temples : and I entred into two of them, 

 to beholde their foolish superstitions. In the first of 

 which I found a man having a crosse painted with ink 

 upon his hand, wherupon I supposed him to be a 

 Christian : for he answered like a Christian unto al 

 questions which I demanded of him. And I asked 

 him. Why therefore have you not the crosse with the 

 image of Jesu Christ therupon } And he answered : 

 We have no such custome. Whereupon I conjectured 

 that they were indeede Christians : but, that for lacke 

 of instruction they omitted the foresaide ceremonie. For 

 I saw there behind a certaine chest (which was unto them 

 in steed of an altar, whereupon they set candles and 

 oblations) an image having wings like unto the image 

 of Saint Michael, and other images also, holding their 

 fingers, as if they would blesse some body. That evening 

 I could not find any thing els. For the Saracens doe 

 onely invite men thither, but they will not have them 

 speake of their religion. And therfore, when I enquired 

 of the Saracens concerning such ceremonies, they were 

 offended thereat. On the morrow after were the 

 Kalends, and the Saracens feast of Passeover. And 

 changing mine Inne or lodging the same day, I tooke 

 up mine abode neere unto another idole-Temple. For 



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