CHAPTER VI 



Ancestors of the MetchnikofE family — The Great Spatar — Leo 

 Nevahovitoh. - 



The MetchnikofE family made no show of family- 

 pride ; one old aunt, however, was extremely proud 

 of one of their ancestors, the Great "Spatar" (sword- 

 bearer). The following is the account given of this 

 ancestor by E. Picot, after a Moldavian chronicle.^ 



Few men led such an adventurous life or made themselves 

 glorious through such varied gifts as did Nicholas Spatar 

 Milescu. 



His name is connected with the history of Moldavian, Greek, 

 Russian, and Chinese literature. His origin, his talents, his 

 crime, the mutilation he suffered, his audacious journey across 

 the whole of Asia to reach Pekin, the valuable information 

 which he gathered during his embassy at the Court of the 

 " Son of Heaven," everything conspires to excite curiosity 

 concerning him. 



Spatar was born in Moldavia in 1625. While yet 

 very young he went to Constantinople, where he 

 studied theology, philosophy, history ancient and 

 modern, Greek, Latin, Slavonic and Turkish. He 

 afterwards went to Italy to study natural science and 

 mathematics. On his return to Moldavia he soon 

 became known for his erudition, acquired great 



^ Chronicle of John Necviua. 

 23 



