MIANNA. 
263 
We recommenced our march next morning, at seven o’clock, 
through a range of intersecting small plains, or dells, divided by 
low hills ; a road that must be beautiful in summer, from the 
variety of its verdure and foliage ; but the landscape, at this 
season, continued a monotonous white ; and the path was as 
wintery as the prospect. With difficulty we travelled a distance 
of six farsangs in eight hours ; and reached the town of Mianna 
almost frozen to death. From a peculiar circumstance connected 
with the natural history of this place, I have little doubt that it 
is the same city, which our often-marvellous, and sometimes 
veritable countryman Maundeville, mentions, as “ lyinge in the 
way from Thauriso (Tabreez,) towards the East, where no Cris- 
tene man may long dwelle, ne enduren with life in that cytee, 
but dyen within short tyrne, and no man knowethe the cause.” 
This was written nearly five hundred years ago ; but what was 
mystery then, has been explained in after-ages. And a knowledge 
of the u detheful cause” excited a more than ordinary degree of 
ire in myself and my honest interpreter against the mehmandar, 
who, as usual, had been sent forward to provide my lodgings. 
From excessive indolence, he had hitherto performed his office 
in a rather slovenly way; but caring for little beyond a dry and 
clean shelter, the matter passed away without more than a slight 
reprimand. But on my arrival at Mianna, I found he had so 
entirely neglected his duty, as to be only then looking out for 
quarters for me. At this place above all others, from the cause 
before intimated, this service ought to have been promptly and 
carefully executed. In short, it is at the hazard of a stranger’s 
life, if the lodgings he is made to occupy be not perfectly fresh 
and clean ; for the town, and its immediately adjacent villages, are 
infested with a plague, they have found it impossible to eradicate, 
