^ THE \ 
 
 Q LIBRARIES :; 
 
 * <^/r. Of *»^ 
 
 GENERAL 
 LIBRARY 
 
WORKS ISSUED BY 
 
 Ci)f l^alilugt ^otittu* 
 
 TRAVELS TO TANA AND PERSIA, 
 
 BY BARBARO AND CONTARINI. 
 
 A NARRATIVE OF ITALIAN TRAVELS 
 
 IN PERSIA, 
 IN TiiK 15th and 1 Gth centuries. 
 
 FIRST SERIES. NO. XLIX-MDCCCLXXUI 
 
TKAVELS 
 
 TO 
 
 TANA AND PERSIA, 
 
 BY 
 
 JOSAFA BAEBARO 
 
 AND 
 
 AMBROGIO CONTARINI. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN BY 
 
 WILLIAM THOMAS, CLERK OF THE COUNCIL TO EDWARD VI, 
 
 AND BY 
 
 S. A. ROY, ESQ. 
 
 AND EDITED, Willi AN INTRODUCTION, BY 
 
 LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY. 
 
 BURT FRANKLIN, PUBLISHER 
 NEW YORK, NEW YORK 
 
Published by 
 
 BURT FRANKLIN 
 
 514 West 113th Street 
 
 New York 25, N. Y. 
 
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 ^10. -^^ 
 
 Ae^ 
 
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 ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE HAKLLrVT SOCIETY 
 
 REPRINTED BY PERMISSION 
 
 3^(9' '^1 
 
 Printed in U.S.A. 
 
COUNCIL 
 
 6, 
 
 '::S THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY. 
 
 ^ — 
 
 On 
 
 The Right Hon. Sir DAVID DUNDAS, President. 
 
 Admiral C. K. DRINKWATER nKTHUNK, C.B. \ 
 
 Major-general Sir HENRY C. RAWLINSON, K.C.ll., D.C.I,., P'icf.Prf.sidents. 
 
 F.k.S., Vice-Pres.R.G.S. •' 
 
 W. A. TYSSEN AMHURST, Esq. 
 Rev. GEORGE P. BADGKR. 
 JOHN BARROW, Esq., F.R.S. 
 Vice-Admiral COLLINSON, C.I?. 
 Captain COLOMB. R.N. 
 W. E. FRERE, Esq. 
 
 EGERTON VERNON HARCODRT, Esq. 
 JOHN WINTER JONES, Esq., F.S.A. 
 R. H. MAJOR, Esq., F.S.A. , Sec.R.G.S. 
 Sir W. STIR7.ING MAXWELL, Bart. 
 Sir CHARLES NICHOLSON, Bart., D.C.L. 
 Vice-Admiral ERASMUS OMMANNEY, C.B., F.R.S. 
 Rear-Admiral SHERARD OSBORN, C.B., F.R.S. 
 The Lord STANLEY or Ai.derley. 
 EDWARD THOMAS, Esq., F.R.S. 
 The Hon. FREDERICK WALPOLE, M.P. 
 
 CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, Esq., C.B., F.R.S., Src.R.G.S. Honorary Secretary. 
 
INTrvODUCTION. 
 
 The volume herewith given to the members of the 
 Hakhiyt Society, contains six narratives by Itahans, 
 of their travels in Persia about the time of Shah 
 Ismail. Mr, Charles Grey, who has translated and 
 edited four of these travels, having accompanied Sir 
 Bartle Frere to Zanguibar, has been unable to finish 
 the printing of his book, and the correction of his 
 proofs has been entrusted to me. As all these travel- 
 lers were almost contemporaries, and as they refer to 
 one another, the council have thought it best to give 
 them to members in one single volume. 
 
 Shah Ismail, or Ismail Sufy, is the chief personage 
 in this volume ; he found Persia in disorder, and 
 reunited it ; he revived the Persian nationality, and 
 very much increased the division which existed be- 
 tween Persia and the rest of the Mussulman States ; 
 a division or schism which has been erroneously called 
 religious, but which originally was national and 
 political, and, as revived and augmented by Shah Is- 
 mail, entirely national. The feelings which animated 
 the earlier Persians to reject the first three caliphs, 
 were the national repulsion of the Persians to their 
 Arab conquerors, and a preference i'or hereditary 
 
vi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 succession instead of popular election. Shah Ismail 
 took advantage of these national sentiments and 
 dynastic traditions, without which Persia, overrun 
 as it was by Turkish tribes, would have merged into 
 the Ottoman Empire. Shah Ismail did his work so 
 effectually, that Nadir Shah was unable to undo it, 
 and was assassinated for attempting it ; and, though 
 the greater part of the Persian population and the 
 reigning dynasty at this day speak Turkish as 
 their own language, yet they are as Persian in feeling 
 as the Persian inhabitants of Shiraz and Isfahan. 
 
 Of the Italian travellers and envoys, whose nar- 
 ratives are here given, Josafa Barbaro is the most 
 interesting personage : but none of them attract the 
 same interest which attaches to Varthema, or to the 
 Portuguese and Spanish travellers and voyagers of 
 the same period. 
 
 The travels of Barbaro and Contarini have long 
 been ready for publication, but have been delayed 
 hitherto, for want of an editor. The work was 
 undertaken by Sir Henry Eawlinson and Lord 
 Strangford, but the former had not time to attend 
 to it, and the latter died before he had really com- 
 menced it. 
 
 The translation of Contarini was done by Mr. Roy 
 of the British Museum, who also made a translation 
 of Josafa Barbaro, and a question arose whether Mr. 
 Roy's translation, or the quaint old translation of 
 William Thomas, should be published by the Society. 
 I decided in favoiu- of Thomas' translation, partly in 
 deference to what I knew was the opinion in its 
 
TNTr.ODUCTION. VU 
 
 favour of Lord Strangford, on account of its in- 
 terest as English of the time of Edward VI, shew- 
 ing much better orthography than that current at a 
 later period (Fanshaw's translation of Camoens for 
 instance), and partly on account of the interest which 
 attaches (especially to members of the Hakluyt 
 Society) to Mr. Thomas and his unfortunate end. 
 
 Chalmers' Biography tells us that Mr. William 
 Thomas was a learned writer of the sixteenth century, 
 and was born in Wales, or was at least of Welsh ex- 
 traction, and was educated at Oxford. Wood says, 
 that a person of both his names was in 1529 admitted 
 a bachelor of Canon Law, but does not say that it was 
 this person. In 1544, being obliged to quit the 
 kingdom on account of some misfortune, he went to 
 Italy, and in 1546 was at Bologna, and afterwards 
 at Padua ; in 1549 he was again in London, and on 
 account of his knowledge of modern languages, was 
 nuide clerk of the council to King Edward VI, who 
 soon after gave him a prebend of St. Paul's, and the 
 living of Presthend, in South Wales. According to 
 Strype, he acted very unfairly in procuring the pre- 
 bend, not being a spiritual person ; and the same 
 objection undoubtedly rests against his other promo- 
 tion. On the accession of Queen Mary, he was de- 
 prived of his employment at Court, and is said to have 
 meditated the death of the Queen ; but Ball says it 
 was Gardiner whom he formed a design of murdering, 
 Others tliink that he was concerned in Wyatt's re- 
 bellion. It is certain, that for some of these charges 
 he was committed to the Tower in 1553, together 
 
VIU INTRODUCTION. 
 
 with William Winter and Sir Nicholas Throgmorton, 
 Wood says, " He was a man of a hot fiery spirit, had 
 sucked in damnable principles, by his frequent con- 
 versations with Christopher Goodman, that violent 
 enemy to the rule of women. It appears that he had 
 no rule over himself, for about a week after his com- 
 mitment he attempted suicide, but the wound not 
 proving mortal, he was arraigned at Guildhall, May 
 9th, 1553, and hanged at Tyburn on the 18th." 
 Chalmers gives the following list of his works : — 
 
 1. " The History of Italy." Lond. 1549, 1561, 4to. 
 
 2. " The Principal Rules of the Italian Grammar, witli a 
 
 Dictionary for the better understanding of Boccace, 
 Petrarch, and Dante : Ibid. 1550, 1561, 1567, 
 4to." 
 
 3. " Le Peregrynne, or, a defence of King Henry VIII to 
 
 Aretine, the Italian poet." MSS. Cott., Vesp. D 18, 
 in Bodl. Library. This, Wood says, was about to be 
 published in the third volume of Brown's "Fascicu- 
 lus.'^ 
 
 4. " Common Places of State," written for the use of 
 
 Edward VI. MS. Cotton. 
 
 5. "Of the Vanity of the World." Lond. 1549, 8vo. 
 
 6. " Translation of Cato's speech, and Valeriuses answer; 
 
 from the 4th Decade of Livy." Ibid. 1551, 12mo. 
 He also made some translations from the Italian, which 
 are still in manuscript. 
 
 Mr. Thomas might have rendered further service 
 to letters, instead of mixing himself up in conspiracies, 
 had he received a favourable answer to an application 
 which he made to Cecil, to be sent at the expense 
 of the Government to Italy. A copy of his letter to 
 Cecil, taken from the original at the Record Office, 
 here follows: — 
 
INTRODUCTION, IX 
 
 To the rijlit honorable S'' William Gecill Knight one of the 
 King's Mag. twoo ^rincipall Secretaries. 
 
 S'" myne humble com^'ndacons remembered According 
 to yo"" pleas™ declared unto me at my departure 
 I opened to my L of Pembroke the consideracon 
 of the warde which you procured for yo'' Sister 
 wherein he is the best contented man that may be 
 and made me this answer that though he wrote 
 at his friend s request yet he wrote unto his friende 
 to be considered as it might be w'^ yo*" owne comoditie 
 and none otherwise ffor if he had kuowen so much 
 before as I tolde him he wolde for nothing have 
 troubled y° w*^^ so unfriendly a request Assuring yo** 
 faithfully that I who have knowen him a good while 
 never sawe him more bent to any man of yo"" degree 
 than I perceave he is unto yo'^ and not without cause 
 he thanketh yo'* hertily for yo"" newes yo"^ sent him 
 And S'' whereas at my departure we talked of Venice 
 considering the stirre of the worlde is nowe like to 
 be very great those waies I coulde finde in 
 myne hert to spende a yere or two there if I 
 were sent I have not disclosed thus much to any 
 man but to yo" nor entende not to do. wherefore it may 
 please yo" to use it as yo" shall thinke good Howe so 
 ever it be yo"" may be sure to commande me as the 
 least in yo" house. And so I humbly take my 
 leave. ffrora Wilton the xiiij"^ of August 
 1552. 
 
 Yo''^ assui'edly to thuttermost 
 
 WiLLM Thomas. 
 
 From the following extracts from the indictment, 
 and other records of his trial, taken from the Record 
 Office, it will be seen that he did conspire against 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Queen Mary, and not only, as Ball supposes, against 
 Gardiner. 
 
 Report of Deputy Keeper of the Public Eecords, \v, p. 248. 
 
 Pouch N°. XXX in the Record Office contains a file of 11 
 membranes^ relating to the Trial and conviction of William 
 Thomas for high treason. The Indictment found against 
 him at Guildhall, dated 8 May, 1 Mary, 1554, charges that, 
 he hearing of the proposed marriage between the Queen and 
 Philip, Prince of Spain, had a discourse with one Nicholas 
 Arnolde, late of London, Knight, as to the manner in which 
 such marriage could be prevented or impeded, upon which 
 the said William Thomas put various arguments against 
 such marriage in writing, and afterwards, to wit 21 Decem- 
 ber, 1 Mary, at London, in the parish of S' Alban, in the 
 wai'd of Cripplegate, the said William Thomas compassed 
 and imagined the death of the Queen. 
 
 And afterwai'ds, on the 22*^ December, in order to carry 
 his wicked intentions into eflfect, he went into the house of 
 the said Sir Nicholas, in the parish of S'. Bartholomew the 
 Less, in the ward of Farringdon Without, and there had a 
 traitorous discourse with the said Nicholas, to the following 
 effect : — " Whether were it not a good ' devise ' to have all 
 these perils that we have talked of taken away ivith very little 
 bloodshed, that is to say, by hilling of the Queen. I think 
 John FitzwiUiams might be persuaded to do it, because he 
 seems by his countenance to be so manly a man, that he will 
 not refuse any peril that might come to his own i^crson, to 
 deliver his whole native country from so many and so great 
 dangers, as be offered thereunto, if he might be made to under- 
 stand them" ; which words the said Sir Nicholas, after- 
 wards, viz., 24 December, at London, iu the parish of S'. 
 Anne, in the ward of Aldersgate, repeated to James Croftes, 
 Knight, one of the conspirators with Sir Thomas Wyatt, a 
 traitor who had been attainted for levying war against the 
 Queen, whereof the said James Croftes was also attainted. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 And the said William Thomas, not contented with the 
 before-mentioned treasons, in order more fully to fulfil such 
 his imaginations, 27 December, went from London to Devon- 
 shire, to a place called Mount Sautrey, then inhabited by 
 Peter Caro, Knight, with which Peter Caro, an abominable 
 traitor, the said William Thomas had a traitorous conference 
 and consultation, and then and there aided the said Peter 
 Caro ; and afterwards, to wit, 4 February, fled from Mount 
 Sautrey, from county to county, in disguise, not knowing 
 where to conceal himself; and yet he did not desist from 
 sending seditious bills and letters to his friends, declaring 
 his treasonable intentions, in order that he might induce them 
 to join him in his treasons. 
 
 Membrane i, Wednesday, 9 May, 1 Mary, London. 
 
 Record of Sessions, held at Guildhall, before the said Sir 
 Thomas Whyte, and his fellows setting forth. 
 
 1 May, 1 Mary, London — Special Commission of Oyer 
 Terminer. 
 
 8 May, 1 Mary, London — Indictment as before mentioned. 
 
 William Thomas, being brought to the bar by the Constable 
 of the Tower, pleads Not Guilty. 
 
 Venire, awarded instanter. 
 
 Verdict, Guilty. 
 
 Judgment as usual in cases of High Treason. 
 
 Execution at Tyburn. 
 
 Record delivered into Court, by William, Marquis of 
 Winchester, on Monday next, after the Octaves of the Holy 
 Trinity, 1 Mary. 
 
TRAVELS OF JOSAFA BARBARO. 
 
 TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MA'p. 
 
 Whan I consider the state of foreyn cuntreys, and do 
 compare this yo'' Ma'^ realme to the rest of the worlde as 
 well for justice and civilitie as for wealth and commodities, 
 I do so much reioice in my cuntrey that as I do yelde con- 
 tynuall and most hertie thanks unto God for His goodness 
 unto us that are born in it, so I wishe all other Englishemen 
 to do, seeing that nombers there be who, puffed up w''^ 
 wealthe, wote not why they whyne. For undoubtedly if the 
 whole worlde were divided into ix partes, as the quarter of 
 the spheare is into nynetie degrees, and that viii of those ix 
 partes shulde be iudged to be evill cunti'eys, the ixth parte 
 only remaining good, this realme of Englande must needes 
 be taken into that one good parte for all respects. The 
 heat is never extreame, and the colde seldome fervent, be- 
 cause we are little further than mydde waye between the 
 sunne and the northe. We have grayne of all kindes neces- 
 sarie, fyshe, fowle, and fleshe, and some fruites. The sea 
 environeth the cuntrey, to serve us both for carieng out of 
 our owne habundance, and also for fetching of strange como- 
 dities hither, in such sort as beside the uedeful we wante 
 nothing to serve us for pleas'"®. Our justice cannot be 
 amended if the faulte be not in the ministers. The subiects 
 are the King's children, and not sklaves, as they be other- 
 wheare. And finally o"" civilitie is great, and wolde be p'fict 
 if some mennes barbarousenes did not nowe and then cor- 
 
2 translator's letter to EDWARD VI. 
 
 rupt it. So that w'hout affection me seemeth, I may by- 
 good reason advaunce my cuntrey for goodness to be one of 
 the best p'ts of that ix*'' parte if it shulde be divided againe. 
 For the better proof whereof to thentent it may appears 
 what barbarouse people are in other regions^ what wante of 
 good foode they have, what miserable lyves they leade, what 
 servitude and subiection they endure, what extremities of 
 heate and colde they suffer, what sup'stitions they folowe, 
 and what a nombre of other inconveniences do hange upon 
 them, the least whereof is ferre from us. 
 
 I have thought good to translate out of the Italian tonge 
 this litell booke, written by a Venetian of good fame and 
 memorie, who hath travailed many yeres in Tartaric and 
 Persia, and hath had greate experience of those p'tes, as he 
 doth sufl&ciently declare, which I determined to dedicate 
 unto yo*" Ma''^ as vnto him that I knowe is mostdesirouse of 
 all vertuouse knowledge. Trusting to God yo*^ shall longe 
 lyve and reigne a most happie king over a blessed countrey, 
 most humbly beseeching yo"" highnes to accept this poore 
 newe yeres gift, being the worke of myne owne hande, as a 
 token -of the faithfull love that I am bounde to beare vnto 
 yo" as well naturally as through the speciall goodnesse that 
 I have founds in yo°- 
 
 Yo"" Ma*' most bounden Servant, 
 
 Wtllm. Thomas 
 
[Here beginne the things that were seene and 
 
 herde by me, Josaphat Barbaro, citizen of Venice, in 
 
 twoo voiages that I made thone vnto Tana 
 
 and thother into Persia.] 
 
 Thearthe (as the geometricians by evident reasons do prove) 
 is as little in respect of the firmament, as a pricke made in 
 the middest of the circumference of a circle ; whereof by 
 reason that a great parte is either covered w"^ water or else 
 intemperate by excesse of heat or colde, that parte which is 
 inhabited is by a great deale the lesser parte. Nevertheles, 
 so little is the power of man, that fewe have been founde 
 that have seene any good porcon of it, and if I be not de- 
 ceaved, none at all that hath seene the whole. In our time 
 those that have seene some parte most coinonly are mer- 
 chauntmen or maryners, in which two exercises from the 
 beginneng vnto this daie my Lordes and fathers the Vene- 
 tians have beene and are so excellent that I believe they 
 may verylie be called the principall. For syns the decaie 
 of the Eomaine estate (that sometime ruled over all) this 
 inferior worlde hath been so divided by diversitie of lan- 
 guages, customes and religion, that the greatest parte of 
 this little that is enhabited shulde have been unknowen, if 
 the Venetian merchandise and marinership had not dis- 
 covered it. Amongst whom, if there be any that have seene 
 ought at this daye, I may reaken myself one : seeing I have 
 spent all my yo'^the and a great parte of myne age in ferre 
 cuntries, amongst barbarouse people and men w'hout civilitie, 
 much different in all things from our customes, wheare I 
 have proved and seene many things that, bicause they be 
 not vsed in our parties, shulde seem fables to them (as who 
 
4 INTRODUCTION OF JOSAFA BARBARO. 
 
 wolde saie) that were never out of Venice. Which in dede 
 hath been the cause that I have not much forced either to 
 write or to talke of that that I have scene. 
 
 Neverthelesse, being constrayned through the requeste of 
 them that may coinande me, and considering that things 
 which seeme more incredible than these are writen in Plinio 
 SoLiNOj PoMPONio MelAj Strabone, Herodoto, Diodoro, Dio- 
 Nisio HALiCARNASSEG^and others of late as Marco Paulo, Nicolo 
 CoNTB,ourVenetians,and JohnMandevilethenglisheman : and 
 by other last of all as Pietro Quirini, Aluise da Mosto, and 
 Ambrogio Contarint, me thought I coulde no lesse do than 
 write the things that I have scene to the honor of God that 
 hath preserved me from infinite dangers and to his conten- 
 tacon that hath required me ; the rather for their proffitt 
 that in tyrae to corne shall happen to travaile into the pties 
 wheare I have beene, and also for the coinoditie of o"" noble 
 citie in case the same shulde hereaftre have occasion to 
 sende those waies. Wherfore I shall divide my wo'ke into 
 twoo partes. In the first wherof I shall declare my voiage 
 vnto Tana, and in the seconde myne other voiage into Persia, 
 and speake little of the perills and trowbles that I endured, 
 myself. 
 
 The yere of o"^ Lorde mccccxxxvi I beganne my voiage 
 towardes Tana, wheare for the most parte I contynewed the 
 space of xvi yeres, and have compassed all those cuntreys as 
 well by sea as by lande not only w"^ diligence, but in maner 
 curiousely. 
 
 The plaine cuntrey of Tartarie to one that were in the 
 middest thereof hath on theast the ryver of Ledil, on the 
 west and northwest parte Polonia, on the northe Russia, 
 and on the sowthe partes towards the sea called Mare Mag- 
 giore, the regions of Alania, Cumania, and Gazaria. All 
 which places do confyne upon the sea called Tabacche; and 
 to thentent I be the better vnderstanded, I shall declare it 
 partely by the costes of the Sea Maggiore, and pai'tely by 
 
JOURNEY TO TANA^ O 
 
 Lande to the ryver called EHce, which is within xl miles of 
 Capha : and passing that ryver it goeth towards Moncastro, 
 wheare the notable ryver of Danube renneth. From which 
 place forvvardes I woll speake of nothing because those 
 places are familiar and knowen well enough. 
 
 The cuntrey of Alania is so called of the people Alani, 
 which in their tonge they call As. These have been Christen 
 men, and were chased awaie and destroied by the Tartares. 
 
 In that region are hills, ryvers, and plaines : wheare are 
 to be seene an infinite nombre of little hills forced in signe 
 or steede of sepultures, and on the toppe of everie of them 
 a great stone w"^** an hole : wherein standeth a crosse of one 
 peece made of an other stone. 
 
 In one of these little hilles we were psuaded there shulde 
 be hidden a great treasure. For in the tyme that Mr. 
 PiETRO Lando had beene consule at Tana, there came one 
 named Gulbedin from El Cairo, wheare he had learned of a Cairo is 
 Tartarien woman that in one of these little hjjlles called estcitie 
 Contebe,^ the Alani had hidden a great treas"^- And for ^S^P^- 
 proofe thereof the woman had given this man certein tokens 
 as well of the hill as of the grounde. So that this Gulbedin 
 entreprised to make certein holes or pittes like wells into 
 this hill in divers places; and having so contynued the space 
 of twoo yeers he died : whereby it was iudged that only for 
 lacke of habilitie he coulde not bringe this treasure to light. 
 Wherefore vij of us merchant men being togither in Tana 
 on Saint Catherines night the yere 1437, fell in reasoning 
 howe this matter might be brought to passe. The names 
 of those merchants were Francesco Cornaro, brother vnto 
 Jacomo Cornaro of the banke, Catarino Contarini, who after- 
 wards vsed to Constantinople. Giovan Barbarigo sonne 
 vnto Andrea of Candia. Giovan da Valle, that died master 
 of the fooyste in the Lake of Garda, and that with certein 
 other Venetians the yere 1428 went vnto Derbenthe w^*^ a 
 ' Kum tepeh, or sand mound. 
 
b EXCAVATION OP A TUMULUS. 
 
 fooyste that he had made, and there by appointment of the 
 Lorde of that place, spooyled certein ship})s that came from 
 Strana, which was a marveilouse acte. Moises Bon, sonne 
 to Alessandro of Judecca, Bartolomeo Rosso, a Venetian, 
 and owner of the house in Tana that we were in at that tyme, 
 and I the vij"^. In eifect three of this companie having 
 beene at the place before, psuaded the rest that the thinge 
 was faisible, so that we agreed and bound ourselfs both by 
 oihe and by writing, made by Catarino Contarini, the copie 
 whereof I have yet to shewe, to go digge this hill ; where- 
 upon the matter being thus concluded, we hired cxx men to 
 go w*** us for that purpose, vnto whom we gave three ducates 
 a peece for the moonthe. And about viij daies aftre we vij 
 w'** o"" cxx men departed from Tana, w"^*^ stuff, vittaills, 
 weapons, and instruments necessarie, which we caried vpon 
 Zena is i those zena that they use in Russia, and went vp the ryver 
 on the yse, so that the next daie we arryved at the place, 
 for it standeth neere the ryver, and about Ix miles distant 
 from Tana. This little hyll is 1"® paces high and is plaine 
 above, on which plaine is an other little hill like a round 
 bonett, compassed about w^*' a stone so large that ij men a 
 fronte may walke on the bryme, and this little hill is xii 
 paces high. The hill bylowe was round as if it had been 
 made w*'' a compasse, and was Ixxx paces by diameter. 
 
 After all things were readie we begaune to cutt and digge 
 on the plaine of this greater hill, which is the beginneng of 
 the little hill, entendiug to make a large waie to enter into 
 the botottie : but the earthe was so harde frozen that neither 
 w'^ mattockes nor yet w'*" pickaxes we coulde well break it. 
 Nevertheles, after that we were a little entred we founde 
 thearthe softer, so that we wrought meetely well that daie. 
 But whan we reto'"ned the next morneng we founde thearthe 
 so harde frozen that we were constraigned to forgoo our 
 enterprise, and to reto'"ue vnto Tana; dotermyneng never- 
 theles to come thither again an other tyme. 
 
EXCAVATION OF A TUMULUS. / 
 
 About thende of Marche we reto''ned thither by boates 
 and litle vessells w'** cl men, which beganne to digge of 
 newe. So that in xxij daies we made a waie of Ix paces 
 longe, viij paces brode, and x paces high. Nowe shall 
 yo** hear wonders and things almost incredyble. 
 
 We founde all things as it had been tolde us before, 
 which putt vs in the more compforte of the rest. So that 
 the hope of finding of this treasure made vs that had hyred 
 the laborers to carie the barowes better tljan they : and I 
 myself was master of making of the barowes. The great 
 wonder was that first next vnto the grasse thearthe was 
 blacke. Than next vnto that all was coles, but this is pos- 
 sible, for having willowes enough there by, they might 
 easilie make fyre on the hill. Vnder this were asshes a 
 spanne deep — and this is also possible ; for having reades 
 there by which they might burne, it was no great matter to 
 make asshes. Then were there rynds of Miglio an other MigHo is 
 spanne deepe, and bicause it may be said that that they of almost as 
 the cuntrey lyved w"' bread made of Miglio, and saved the ^^^^ ^^ 
 ryndes to bestowe in this place, I wolde faine knowe what seed, 
 proportion of miglio wolde furnishe that quantitie to cover 
 such an hill of so great a breadth w '^ the onlie ryndes 
 thereof for a spanne deepe ? Under this an other spanne 
 deepe were skales of fishe as of carpes and such other. And 
 bicause it may be saied that in the ryver there are carpes 
 and other fishe enough whose skales wolde suffise to cover 
 such an hill, I referre it vnto the reader's iudgraent wheather 
 this thinge either be possible or like to be trewe : and yet 
 do I tell it for trewe. And do consider besides that he 
 which caused this sepulture to be made being named 
 ludiabu, mynding to vse all these ceremonies which 
 pchaunce were used in those daies, did thiuke on it longe 
 before : and made all these things to be gathered and laied 
 togither by some processe of tyme.^ 
 
 ' See Haxthausen, vol. ii, cap. xxi, for descriptions of these Tumuli. 
 
8 EXCAVATION OF A TUMULUS. 
 
 Thus having cutt in and finding hitherto no treas*"*- we 
 
 determyned to make ij trenches into the great hill of iiij 
 
 paces in breadeth and height. This doon we founde a white 
 
 harde earthe into the which we made steppes to carie up 
 
 the barrowes by. And so being entred v. paces deeper we 
 
 founde in the botome certein vessels of stone, some of them 
 
 w*-^ asshes, some w"^ coles, some emptie and some full of 
 
 fishe back bones. We founde also v or vi beadestones as 
 
 bigge as oranges made of bricke and covered w*^*^ glasse such 
 
 as in the marke of Ancona they used to plaie w"'all. We 
 
 founde also halfe the handle of a little ewer of sylver, made 
 
 with an adders hedde on the toppe. Finally in the passion 
 
 week theast winde beganne to blowe so vehemently that it 
 
 raysed thearthe w^'' the stoanes and cloddes that had been 
 
 digged and threwe them so in the workemens faces that the 
 
 blowdde folowed. Wherfore we determined to leave of and 
 
 to prove no further ; which we did on the Easter Monday 
 
 after. 
 
 This place was before called the caves of Gulbedin, but 
 
 after our digging there it hathe beene called the cave of the 
 
 The Tar- Franchi, and is so called vnto this daie. For the worke 
 
 i^manfr that we did in those few dales is so great, that it seemeth a 
 
 all nations ^ ^^^ coulde skarsalie have done it in so shorte a tyme. 
 
 of Europe 
 
 franchi. And yet we had no certaintie of this treasure, but (as we 
 
 coulde learne), if there be any treas'^ the cause why it shulde 
 
 be hidde there was that Indiabu Lorde of the Alani hearing 
 
 that Thempo' of the Tartares came against hym ; for hydeng 
 
 of his treasure feigned to make his sepulture after their 
 
 custome, and so conveigheng thither secretlie that which 
 
 seemed him good, he afterwai'des caused this litell hill to be 
 
 made upon it. The faith of Macomett beganne to take place 
 
 amonge the Tartariens about an C^^ yeres past. In dede 
 
 some of them were Macomettanes before, but everie man 
 
 was at his libertie to believe what hym best liked ; so that 
 
 some worshipped ymags of woode, and of ragges, which 
 
EXCAVATION OF A TUMULUS. V 
 
 they carried on their carts about with them. The beginpeng 
 of Macoraetts faith was in the tyme of Hedighi capitaigne 
 of the people of Sidahameth Can Erapero"" of Tartarie. This 
 Hedighi was father vnto Naurus, of whom we shall speake 
 at this present. 
 
 There reigned in the champaignes of Tartarie the yere 
 1438 an empero"" called Vlumahumeth Can, that is to saie, 
 the great Macomett empero', who, having alreadie reigned 
 certein yeres, and being in the champaignes towards Russia 
 w^** his Lordo^ (that is to saie, his people), had this Naurus 
 as his capitaigne, sonne vnto Hedighi before named, by 
 whose meanes Tartarie was constreigned to receave the faith 
 of Macomett. Betwene this Naurus and Thempo*^, there 
 happened such a discorde, that Naurus w'^ such people as 
 wolde folowe him left him, and went towards the river Ledil 
 vnto Chezimameth, that is to say Litle macomett, one of 
 the bloudde of thother emperor, and there agreed w'** both 
 their forces to go against Vlumahumeth. Wherevpon they 
 tooke their waie by Citerchan into the champaignes of 
 Tumen, and coming about by Circassia they went towards 
 the ryver Tana, and towards the golfe of the sea called 
 Tabacche, which, with the ryver of Tana, were both frozen. 
 And bicause their people was great and their beasts innu- 
 merable, therefore it behoved them to go the more at large 
 to thentent they that went before shulde not destroie the 
 grasse, and other such thinges as served for the refresshing 
 of them that came aftre. So that the formost of this 
 people and cattaill were at a place called Palastra whan the 
 hindermost were at a place called Bosagaz (which signifieth 
 grayye woodde), on the river of Tana, the distance between 
 which two places is cxx myles, which space of grounde this 
 foresaid people occupied, though in dede they were not all 
 apt to travaile. 
 
 We had newes of their comyng iiij moonthes before. But 
 
 1 Ordu, camp. 
 
10 
 
 HISTORICAL DETAILS. 
 
 Moschea 
 is the 
 name of 
 the Mac- 
 coinel- 
 tanes 
 church. 
 
 a moneth before this Lordes arryvall there beganne to come 
 towardes the Tana certain skowltes, being younge men, iij 
 or iiij on horsebacke, eche of them w'^ a spare horse in 
 hande. Those that came into Tana were called before the 
 consule and well entreated. But whan they were examyned 
 whither they went and what was their busynes, they 
 answered they were yonge men that went about for their 
 passetyme, and more coulde not be had of them. And they 
 never taried passing an howre or twoo, but that they goon 
 againe, and so it contynewed dayhe, saving their nombre 
 did somewhat more and more encrease. But whan this 
 Lorde was w'hin v or vi io'"neys of Tana than they begane 
 to come by xxv and 1"®^ togither, well armed and in good 
 ordre, and as he drewe nearer they encreased by the hun- 
 drethes. 
 
 At length he came himself, and was lodged in an auncient 
 Moschea, w'hin an arrowe shoot of Tana. Incontinently 
 the consule determined to send him presents, and sent him 
 a NouENA, an other to his moother, and an other to Naurus, 
 capitaigne of the armie. Nouena is called a present of nyne 
 divers things, as who wolde saie sylkes, skarlette and other 
 such to the numbre of ix. For such is the maner of pre- 
 senting the Lordes of those pties. So there was caried vnto 
 hym breade, wyne made of honye, ale and other divers 
 things, to the nombre of ix : and I was appointed to go 
 w^'' all. Being thus entered into the Moschea, we founde 
 the Lorde lyeng on a carpett, leanyng his hedde vnto Nau- 
 rus, he himself being of the age of xxij, and Naurus xxv. 
 Whan I had presented the things that we brought, I re- 
 comended the towne, w'*^ the people, vnto him, and tolled 
 him that they were all at his comandement : wherevpon he 
 answered w"^ most gentle woordes, and aftre looking to- 
 wardes me beganne to laughe and to clappe his handes to- 
 gither, saieng, beholde what a towne is this, wheare as iij 
 men have but iij eyes, which he saied, bicause Buran Taia- 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE TATARS. 11 
 
 PIETRA, our TuRCiMANNO, had but one eye : Zuan Greco, the Tarci- 
 ' *' . ' manno 
 
 consules servant, one other eye ; and he that caried the signifieth 
 wyne of honye hkewise but one. And than we tooke o'' leave, preto^ 
 and departed. 
 
 And bicause some woll skarse thinke it likely that, as I 
 have saied, the skowltes shulde go by iiij, by x, xx, and 
 XXX, through those plaines x, xv, and sometime xx io'"neys 
 before the people ; constrewing whareof they might lyve. 
 I answere that every of them which so departe from the 
 people carieth w*^*^ him a bottell, made of a goates skynne, 
 full of meale of the grayne called miglio, made in past w*^** a 
 litle honye, and hath a certain litle dishe of woodde, so that 
 whan he misseth to take any wylde game (whereof there is 
 great store in those champaignes which they can well kyll, 
 specially w'''^ their bowesj than taketh he a litle of this meale, 
 and putting a litle water vnto it maketh a certein potion, of 
 the which he feedeth. For whan I have asked some of them 
 what thinge they lyve vpon in the charapaigne, they have 
 asked me again. Why do men die for hunger? as who wolde 
 saie. If I may have wherew' sleigh tlie to susteigne the 
 lief, it suffiseth me. And, in dede, they passe their lyves 
 well enough w^*^ herbes and rootes and such other as they 
 can gett, so they wante not salte. For, if they lacke salte, 
 their mowthes woll so swell and fester that some of them die 
 thereof: and in that case they comonly fall into the fluxe. 
 
 But to reto''ne wheare we lefte, whan this Lorde was de- 
 parted than this people w'*^ their cattaill folowed. First, 
 heardes of horses by Ix-c.cc, and more in an hearde. Aftre 
 them folowed heardes of camells and oxen, and aftre them 
 hoards of small beastes, which endured for the space of vi 
 dales, that as ferre as wo might kenne w"^ o"" eyes the cham- 
 paigne, every waie was full of people and beasts folowing on 
 their waie. And this was only the first parte; whereby it 
 is to be considered what a much greater norabre shulde be 
 in the myddle parte. We stood on the walles (for we kept 
 
12 
 
 GAME NEAR TANA. 
 
 Pelopo- 
 nesus is 
 nowe 
 called 
 Morea. 
 
 This is 
 skarse an 
 English 
 halfpeny. 
 
 the gates sliutt)^ and thevening we were weerie of looking, 
 for the moltitude of these people and beasts was such that 
 the dyameter of the plaine which they occupied seemed a 
 Paganea of cxx myles. This is a Greeke woorde that I 
 learned in Morea, being in a gentleman's house that brought 
 an c plowemen in w'^ him : every one of them w'** a staffe 
 in his hande. The manor of this people was, that they went 
 in ordre a rowe, one distant from an other an c paces, strik- 
 eng on the arthe w"^ their stafes, and sometime throwing 
 foo'"the a wo'de to raise the game, for the which the hunters 
 and fawkeners, some on horsebacke and some on foote, 
 w'*" their hawkes and dogges, waited whereas they thought 
 best ; and whan their tyme came lett their hawkes flee or 
 their dogges renne, as the game required. And amongest 
 the other game that thei hunted there were ptriches and 
 certain other birdes that we call hethecockes, which are 
 shorttailed like an henno, and holde up their heades like 
 o"" cockes, being almost as great as pecocks, which they re- 
 semble altogether in colo"", saving in the tayle. And, by 
 reason that Tana standeth between litle hills and hath many 
 diches for x miles compasse, as ferre as wheare the olde 
 Tana hath beene, therefore a great nombre of these fowle and 
 game fledde amongst those litle hilles and valeys for suc- 
 co'' ; insomuch that about the walls of Tana and w'hin the 
 diches were so many pertriches and hethecockes that all 
 those places seemed rich mennes poultries. The boies of 
 the towne tooke some of them and solde them twoo for an 
 aspre, which is viij baggatims of ours a peece. There was 
 a freere at that tyme in Tana called freere Thermo, of Saint 
 Frauncs order, who (w'^'^ a birdeng nett, making of ij cereles 
 one great and stickeng it out on a croked poll w%out the 
 walls) tooke x and xx at a tyme, and with the selling of 
 them gate so much mooney as bought hira a litell boye, 
 CiRCASSO, which he named Pertriche, and made him a freere: 
 and all the night they of the towne wolde leave their wyn- 
 
DESCRIPTION OP THE TATARS. 13 
 
 dowss open w*^ a certain light in it to allure the fowle to flee 
 vnto it. Sometimes the hartes and other wilde beastes 
 wolde renne into the houses and in such nombres, that al- 
 most it is not to be belieued : but that happened not neere 
 vnto Tana. 
 
 From the plaine through which this people passed, it did 
 well appeare that their nombre was very great, and so many 
 that at a certain place called Bosagaz, wheare T had a fissh- 
 eng place about xl miles from Tana, the fisshers tolled me 
 that they had fisshed all the wynter, and had salted a great 
 quantitie of Moroni and Cauiari, and that certain of this 
 people comyng thither had taken all their fishe, aswell freshe 
 as salte, and all their Cauiari, and all their salte, which was 
 as bigge as that of Sieniza, in such wise that there was not 
 a crome of salte to be founde after they were goon. Thei 
 brake also the pipes and barells, and tooke the barell stafes 
 w"^ them, perchaunce to tryme their cartes withall. And 
 further, they brake iij litle mylles there made to grynde 
 salte, only for covetousenes of that litle yron that was in the 
 myddest of them. But that which was doon to me was 
 comon to all other. For Zuan da Valle, who had a fisshing 
 there also, hearing of this lordes comyng, digged a great 
 diche, and putt therein about xxx barrells of cauiari and to 
 the entent it shulde not be pceaued, when he had covered 
 w*^ earth again, he burned woodde upon it : but it availed 
 not, for they founde it and left not a iote thereof. 
 
 This people carie w"' them innumerable cartes of twoo 
 wheeles higher than ours be, which are closed w'^ mattes 
 made of reades, and pte covered w"* felte, parte w^' clothe, 
 if they appteigne vnto men of estimacon. Some of these 
 cartes carie their houses vpon them which are made on this 
 wise. They take a cercle of tymber, whose dyameter is a 
 pase and an halfe, crossed w'hin foo''the w*^*^ other halfe cer- 
 cles : betwene the which they bestowe their mattes of reade, 
 and than is it covered w*^*^ felte or cloth, according to the 
 
14 BARBARO ACCOMPANIES SOME TATARS 
 
 habilitie of the person. So that whan they lodge they take 
 downe these howses to lodge in. 
 
 Two daies after that this Lorde was departed, certain of 
 the towne of Tana came vnto me, willing me to go to the 
 walles, wheare one of the Tartares taried to speake w"^'' me. 
 I went thither and founde one that tolde me howe Edelmugh, 
 the Lorde^brother-in-lawe, was not ferre of, and desired (if 
 I coulde be so contented) to enti*e vnto the towne and to be 
 my ghest. I asked licence of the consule, which being ob- 
 teigned, I went to the gate and receaued him in w'^ iij of 
 his companye. For the gates were all this while kept shutt. 
 I had him to my hawse and made him good cheare, specially 
 w'^ wyne, which pleased him so well that he taried twoo 
 daies w^^ me : and being disposed to departe entreated me 
 to go w'^ him, for he was become my brother ; and, wheare 
 as he went, I might go saufely ; and so spake some what 
 to the merchauntS; whereof there was none there, but that he 
 wondered at it. 
 
 So, being determined to go w''^ him, I tooke w'^ me twoo 
 Tartariens of the towne on foote : rode on horsebacke my- 
 self, and about the iij''^ howre of the daie sett forwarde. But 
 he was so dronke that the bloudde ranne out of his nose ; 
 and whan I wolde psuade him not to drynke so much, he 
 wolde make mowes like an ape, saieng, Lette me drynke j 
 whan shall I finde eny more of this ? 
 
 By the waie, it behoved vs to passe a ryver which was 
 frozen over ; and being alighted, I endeavored myself to go 
 wheare the snowe was on the yse. But he who was over- 
 come w^^ wyne, going wheareas his horse ledde him, chaunced 
 on the yse in divers placs wheare no snowe was, by reason 
 whareof the horse was nowe up, nowe downe, aftre which 
 sorte he contynewed the thirde parte of an howre. Finallie, 
 being passed that river, we came to an other watei', and 
 passed it, w''^ much a doo, aftre the like maner : so that, 
 being wearied, he rested him w^*^ certain of the people that 
 
AND VISITS THEIR CAMP. 15 
 
 lodged there : wheare we taried all that night, as yll pro- 
 vided, as may be thought. The next morneng we rode 
 foo'"the, though not so lustylie as we had done the daie be- 
 fore, and when we weare passed an other arme of the fore- 
 said ryver : following the waie that the people travailed 
 (which were over all as a meyny of ants) w^hin two daies 
 iomey, we approached vnto the place, wheare the Lorde 
 himself was : and there was my conducto'' much honored 
 of all men, and fleslie, breade and mylke, w^*^ other like 
 things given him : so that we wanted no meate. The next 
 daie folowing coveting to see howe this people rode, and 
 what order they obserued in their things, I did see so many 
 wonders, that if I wolde pticulerlie write them, I shoulde 
 make a great volume. 
 
 "We went to the Lordes lodging, whom we founde vnder 
 a pavilion w'** innumerable people about him. Of the which 
 those that desired audience kneeled all separate one from an 
 other, and had left their weapons a stones caste of/ ere they 
 came to their Lorde. Vnto some of them the Lorde spake, 
 and demaunding what they wolde, he alwaies made a signe 
 to them w^^ his hande that they shulde arise. Whereupon 
 they wolde arise, but not approache eight paces more till 
 they kneeled againe : and so neerer and neerer till they had 
 audience. 
 
 The justice that is vsed throughout their campe is verie 
 soddaine, aftre this maner : Whan a difference groweth be- 
 twene partie and partie, and wordes multiplied (not aftre the 
 maner of o' quarters, for these do vse no violence), thei both 
 or moo (if they be moo) arise and go what waie they thinke 
 good: and to the first man of any estimacon that they meete 
 they saie : Master, do vs right, for we here are in controver- 
 sie, wherevpon he tarieth and heareth what both pties can 
 saie : determyneng therevpon what he thinketh best w'hout 
 further writing, and what so ever he determineth is accepted 
 w'hout any contradiction. For vnto these iudgements many 
 
16 CUSTOMS OP THE TATARS 
 
 psons assemble, vnto whom he that maketh the determiacon 
 saieth yo" shal be all witnesses, with which kinde of iudge- 
 ments the campe is continually occupied. And if any like 
 difference happen by the waie they observe the verie same 
 ordre. 
 
 I did see on a dale (being in this Lordo) a treene^ dishe 
 overwhelmed^ on thearthe : vnder the which I founde a litle 
 loofe baken : and demaunding of a Tartarien that was by 
 me. What thinge it was, he answered. It was putt there for 
 Hibdch-Peres, that is to wete for the Idolatrers. Why, 
 q^ I, are there Idolatrers amongst this people ? 0, oh, 
 q'l he, that there be enough, but they are verie secret. 
 
 To nombre the people surely, in ray iudgement, it was im- 
 possible ; but to speake according to myne estimacon, I 
 believe, vndoubtedly, that in all the Lordo whan they came 
 togither there were not so fewe as ccc thousand psons. 
 This I saie because Ylu Mahumeth had also parte of the 
 Lordo, as it hath been rehearsed before. 
 
 The hablemen are verie valiaunt and hardie, in such wise 
 that some of them for their excellencie are called Tulubaga- 
 TOE, which signifieth a valiaunt foole : being a name of no 
 lesse reputacon amongst them than the sernames of wise- 
 dome or beaultie w"" vs, as Peter, ec, the wiseman, Paule, 
 ec, the goodly man. These haue a certein preemynence 
 that all things they do (though partely it be against reason) 
 are rekened to be well doon : because that proceading of 
 valiauntnes it seemeth to all men that they do as it best 
 becometh them. Wherefore there be many of them that in 
 feates of armes esteeme not their lyves, feare no perill, but 
 "btryke on afore to make waie w'hout reason : so that the 
 weake harted take cowraige at them and become also very 
 valiaunt. And this sername, to my seemyng, is verie con- 
 
 1 Treene or Treen, i.e., wooden. 
 
 « Baxon Haxthausen mentions a somewhat similar custom as still 
 existing among the Russian peasants. 
 
 I 
 
ADVENTURE WITH CIRCASSIANS. 1 7 
 
 venient for thera : bicause I see none that deseruetli the 
 name of a valiaunt man^ but he is a foole in dede.^ For, I 
 pray yo", is it not a folia in one man to fight against iiij ? 
 Is it not a madnes for one, w*** a knyfe to dispose himself to 
 fiffht ag^ainst divers tbat haue sweardes ? Wherefore to this 
 purpose I shall write a thinge that happened on a tyme 
 while I was at Tana. 
 
 Being one daie in the streate, there came certein Tar- 
 TARiENS into the towne, and saied that in a litle woodde not 
 past iii miles of there were about an c"^ horsemen of the Cir- 
 casses hidden, entending to make' a roade even to the towne, 
 as they were wonte to do. At the hearing whereof I hap- 
 pened to be ia a fletchers shoppe, wheare also was a Tarta- 
 
 rien merchaunt that was come thither w''^ semenzina, who, Semen- 
 
 zina IS a 
 as soone ahe hearde this, rose vp and saied, why go we not certein 
 
 to take them ? howe many horses be they ? I answered, an drugge. 
 
 c. Well, said he, we are five, and howe many horses woll 
 
 yo" make ? I answered, xl. 0, q'^ he, the Circasses are no 
 
 men, but women: let us go take them. Wherevpon, I went 
 
 to seeke Mr. Frauncs, and tolde him what this man had 
 
 saied. And he, alwaies laugheng, folowed me, asking lue 
 
 wheather my hert serued me to go. I answered yea ; so 
 
 that we tooke o'" horses and ordeyned certein men of ours 
 
 to come by water. And about noone we assaulted these 
 
 Circasses, being in the shadowe, and some of them on sleepe, 
 
 but by mishappe a litle before C arryvall, our trumpett 
 
 sowned : by reason whe''of many of them had tyme to es- 
 
 kape. Nevertheles, we killed and tooke about xl of them. 
 
 But to the purpose of these valiaunt fooles, the best was 
 
 that this Tartarien wolde needes have had us folowe them 
 
 still to take them : and seeing no man offer unto it, ranne 
 
 aftre those that were eskaped himself alone, crieng Noi 
 
 ' Tulubagator is Tula Bahadur ; Bahadury means swaggering or 
 boasting. The Russian word Bogatir is supposed to be derived from 
 Bahadur. 
 
18 DESCRIPTION OF TATARS. 
 
 MAKE TORNA.^ And about an howre after reto'^ned lament- 
 ing wonders much, that he coulde take never a one of them. 
 Beholde, wheather this were a madnesse or no, for if iiij of 
 them had reto''ned they might haue hewen him to peecs, 
 for the which whan we reproved him, he laughed vs to 
 skorne. The skowtes here before menconed that came be- 
 fore the campe vnto Tana, went alwaies before the campe 
 into viij costes to- descrie if there were daungier any waie. 
 
 As soone as the Lorde is lodged, incontinently they vnlade 
 their baggaige, leaving large waies betweene their lodgings. 
 If it be in the wynter the beastes are so many that they 
 make wondrefull mooyre : and if it be in sorrier spreading 
 much dust. Incontinently, aftre they haue untrussed their 
 baggaige they make their ovens roste and booyle their 
 fleshe : and dresse it w**^ mylke, butter, and cheese, and 
 most comonly they are not w'hout some venyson, or wilde 
 fleshe, specially redde deere. In this armie are many arti- 
 sanes, as clothiers, smythes, armorers, and of all other 
 craftes and things that they neede. And if it shulde be de- 
 maunded wheather they go, like the Egiptians o"" no ?^ I 
 answer, no. For (saving that they are not walled about) 
 they seeme verie great and faire cities. And to this pur- 
 pose, as I reto''ned on a tyme to Tana, on the gate whereof 
 was a very faire towre, I saied vnto a Tartarien marchant 
 that was in my companie : who earnestly behelde this towre, 
 howe thinkest tho", is not this a faire thinge ? But he, 
 smiling, againe ] answered^ he that is afearde buyldeth 
 towres : wherein me seemeth he said trewly. 
 
 And because I have spoken of merchaunt men, reto''neng 
 to my purpose of the armie, I saie there be alwaies mer- 
 chauntes which carie their wares divers waies though they 
 passe w'^ the Lordo, entending to go otherwheare. These 
 
 * From the text it seems this should be translated : " whilst we cried 
 to him, you will never return, you will never return." 
 
 ^ This perhaps is one of the earliest occasions of gipsies being men- 
 tioned. 
 
FOWLING. 19 
 
 Tartariens are good fawkeners, have many jerfaulcones, and 
 their flight is much to the Cammeleons, which is not vsed 
 ^th yg 1 They hunte the harte and other great beastes also. 
 These hawkes they carie on their fistes, and in the other 
 hande they haue a crowche :^ which, whan they be weerie, 
 they leane their hande vpon. For one of these hawkes is 
 twise as bigge as an egle. Sometimes there passeth over 
 the armie a flocke of gheese, to the which some of the campe 
 shoote certein croked arrowes vnfeathered, which, in the 
 ascending, hurle abowt breaking all that is in their waie, 
 neckes, leggs, and whinges : and sometyme there passe so 
 many that it seemeth the ayre is full of them : and than do 
 the people showte and crie w'*" so extreame a noyse, that the 
 gheese astonied w'-hall do fall downe. And bicause I am 
 entered into talking of byrdes, I shall here rehearse one 
 thinge that I thinke notable. Rideng through this Lordo, 
 on the banke of a litle ryver, I founde a man that seemed 
 of reputacon talking w"^ his seriint, who called me vnto him 
 and made me alight, demaunding of me wheareabouts I 
 went. I answered as the case required, wherevpon, looking 
 aside, I pceaued beside him iiij or v tesells :^ on the which 
 were certoin lynettes ; he furthew comaunded one of his 
 serunts to take one of those lynetts : who tooke two threades 
 of his horsetayle, made a snare which he putt on the tasells, 
 and streight waie tooke a lynett, which he brought to his 
 master, who furthw'^'' did bidde hym dresse it : so that the 
 serunt tooke him, quickely pulled him, made a broche of 
 woode, rested him and retomed w'hall vnto his m'", who tooke 
 it in his hande, and beholding me, said : I am not nowe, 
 
 ' The text is : uccellano a camelioni che da noi non s'usano. 
 
 2 There are many of these crutches to be seea m the bazars and houses 
 at Constantinople, but the use and object of them is forgotten. They 
 are still used in Persia. 
 
 ^ Tessels, or tassels, for tiercels, a term for a hawk ; the text is : & viddi 
 appresso di lui, quattro ouer cinque di quell' herbe, che noi chiamiamo 
 garzi : sopra lequali eran' alcuni cardelUni. 
 
20 HORSES, OXEN, CAMELS, AND SHEEP. 
 
 whereas I may shewe the that hone'' and courtesie that 
 the" mearitest, but of such as I haue that God hath sent tne 
 we wolde make mearie ; and so tooke the Hnett in his hande, 
 brake it in three partes, gave me one, eate an other him- 
 self: and the iij''®, which was verie litle, he gave vnto him 
 that tooke it. What shall I saie of the great and innumer- 
 able moltitude of beastes that are in this Lordo ? Shall I 
 be believed ? But, be as it be may, I haue determyned to 
 tell it. And, beginneng at the horses, I saie there be many 
 horsecorsers which take horses out of the Lordo and carie 
 
 Carauana them into divers places : for there was one Carauana that 
 is a com- . . i-ii ,.... 
 
 pany of came into Persia er I depted thense, which brought iiij 
 
 Siauntes thousand of them ; whereof ye neede not to mervaile, for if 
 
 with their yQU Tuyere disposed in one daie to bie a thousande or ii™' horses 
 
 merchan- "' ^ 
 
 dise, as- yo" shulde finde them to sell in this Lordo, for they go in 
 
 to go heardes like sheepe, and as they go, if you saie to the owner 
 
 stronge- j ^^qJ^ haue an c**^ of these horses he hath a staflfe w"" a coUer 
 lyto- 
 
 githers. on thende of it, and is so connyng in that feate that it is no 
 sooner spoken, but he hath streight cast the coller about 
 the horse necke, and drawen him out of the hearde : and so 
 by one and one which he lyst, and as many as yo'^ bidde 
 him. I have divers tymes mett these horsecorsers on the 
 waie w"^ such a nombre of horses as haue covered the cham- 
 paigne, that it seemed a wonder. The countrey breedeth 
 not verie good horses, for they be litell, haue great bealies, 
 and eate no provander: and whan thei be brought into Per- 
 sia the greatest praise yo" can give them is, that they well 
 eate provander : w'hout the which they well not endure any 
 labo"" to the purpose. The seconde sorte of their beastes is 
 oxen, which are verie faire and great, and such a nombre 
 w'^all, that they serve the shambles of Italic, being sent by 
 the waie of Polonia, and some throwgh Valacchia into Tran- 
 silvania, and so into Allemaigne, from whense they are 
 brought into Italie. The thirde sorte of beasts that they 
 have are camells of twoo benches, great and rowghe, which 
 
MODE OF SOWING CORN. 21 
 
 they carie into Persia, and there sell them for xxv ducats a 
 peece : whereas they of theast haue but one bonche, are litle, 
 and be solde for x ducats a peece. Their iiij"^ kinde of 
 beasts are sheepe, which be unreasonable great, longe leg- 
 ged, longe woll, and great tayles, that waie about xij' a 
 peece. And some such I haue scene as haue drawen a 
 wheele aftre them, their tailes being holden vp. Whan for 
 a pleas'"^ they haue been put to it, with the fatt of which 
 tayles they dresse all their meates and serueth them in 
 steede of butter, for it is not clammye in the mowthe. 
 
 I wote not who wolde verifie this, that I shall sale nowe^ 
 if he haue not scene it. For it may well be demaunded 
 whereof shulde so great a nombre of people lyve travaileng 
 thus every daie ! wheare is the co'"ne they eate ? wheare do 
 they gett it ? To the which, I that haue scene it, do an- 
 swere on this wise. About the mooneth of Februarie they 
 make proclamacons throughout the Lordo, that he which 
 woll sowe shall prepare his things necessarie against the 
 mooneth of Marche, to sowe in such a place. And such a 
 daie of that mooneth they must take their waie thitherwards. 
 This doon, they that are mynded to sowe prepare themselfs, 
 and being agreed togither, lading their seede on cartes^ 
 w^^ such cattaill as their busynes require, togither w''' their 
 wiefs and children or parte of them they go to the place ap- 
 pointed, which most comonly passeth not ij io''neys from the 
 place of the Lordo wheare the crie is made. And there do 
 they eare, sowe, and tarie, till they haue furnisshed that they 
 came for, which doon they reto''ne to their Lordo. 
 
 Thempo"", w*^^ the Lordo, doth this meane while, as the 
 mother is wonte to do w"" her children. For whan she 
 letteth them go plaie she ever keepeth her eye on them, and 
 
 1 Nowe; i.e., enough. 
 
 ^ In Wallachia the villagers go in their carts to a distance from their 
 village and from any water, and plough and sow the ground, and return 
 again in the same way to gather in the harvest. 
 
22 MODE OF PASSING RIVERS. 
 
 SO doth he never departe from these plowemen iiij io''neys, 
 but compasseth about them nowe here, nowe there, till the 
 come be rype, and yet when it is ripe he goeth not thither 
 w^*^ his LoRDOj but sendeth those that sowed it and those 
 that mynded to bye of it w'*^ their cartes, oxen, and camells, 
 and those other things that they need ; even as they do at 
 their village. 
 
 Thearthe is fertile, and bringeth foo^the 1^'® busshells 
 wheate for one of seede : and their busshell is as great as 
 the Padouane. And of Miglio they haue an c for one ; and 
 sometimes thei haue so great pleutie that they leaue no 
 small quantitie in the feelde. To this purpose I shall tell 
 yo". There was a sonnes sonne of Vlumahdmeth, who, 
 having ruled certein years, fearing his cousyn Cormayn that 
 dwelled on the other side of the ryver of Ledil, to thentent 
 he wolde not loose such a parte of his people as must haue 
 goon to this tyllaige, which they coulde not haue doon w'h- 
 out their manifest perill, he wolde not suflfer them to sowe 
 in the space of xj yeres. All which tyme they lyved of 
 fleshe, mylke, and other things. Nevertheles, they had al- 
 waies in their tavernes a little meale and panico : but that 
 was verie deere. And whan I asked them howe they did, they 
 wolde answer that they had fleshe; and yet, for all that, he at 
 leingth was driven awaie by his said cousin. Finallie, Yluma- 
 HUMETH, of whom wc spoke afore, whan Zimahumeth was ar- 
 ryved neere vnto his confines, seeing himself unhable to resist, 
 lefte hisLordo and fledde w^'^his children and others, by reason 
 whereof Zimahumeth became empero"" of all the people: and 
 went to wards the ryver of Tana in the mooneth of June, and 
 passed the same about ij dales io'"ney above Tana w"^ all that 
 nombre of people, their cartes, and cattaill : a mervailouse 
 thinge to believe, but more wonderfull to beholde. For they 
 passed all w%out any rumo'', and as saufe as if they had goon 
 by lande. Their maner of passaige is this. They that are of 
 the most substanciall sende of their folkes afore, who make 
 
FRIENDSHIP WITH A TATAR PRINCE. 23 
 
 certein zattere^ of drie woode, whereof there is plentie alon^e Zattere 
 
 arr polles 
 
 the ryver. They also make certein bondells of softe reades_, so tied 
 which they putt vnder their zattere and vnder their cartes^ other, 
 and so tye the same to their horses, who swymeng over the ^^^^ ^^^^ 
 ryver (guyded by certein naked men) passe the hole com- synke. 
 panic aftre this maner. About a mooneth aftre, rowing vp 
 the water towarde a certein fissheng place, I mett w"^ so 
 many zatteres and bondells comyng downe the water (which 
 this people had lett go), that we coulde skarselie passe, and 
 besids that I did see so many zatteres and bondells on the 
 banks, that it made me to, wonder. And whan we arrived 
 at the fissheng place we founde that these had doon much 
 wo''se there than those that I haue writen of before. And 
 bicause I woll not forget my freends yo"^ shall vnderstande 
 that Edelmulgh, the empo" brother in lawe before named, 
 came unto Tana, and his sonne w'*" him, and soddainelie em- 
 braced me, saieng, here I haue brought the my sonne, and 
 incontinently tooke a calsacke from his sonnes backe and 
 putt it vpon me, wherew*^"^ he gave me also viij sklaves of 
 the nation of Rossia, saieng, this is parte of the praye that 
 I haue taken in Rossia. In recompence whereof I presented 
 him w* convenient things again, and so he taried w"^ me ij 
 daies. Some there be that, departing from others, thinking 
 never to meete again, do easylie forgett their amitie, and so 
 vse not those curtesies that they ought to vse : wherein, by 
 that litle experience that I haue had, me seemeth they do 
 not well. For, as the saieng is, mountaignes shall never 
 meate, but men may. In my reto^'neng out of Persia w'^^the 
 Ambassado*" of Assambei,^ willing to passe through Tartarie, 
 and so through Polonia to come to Venice (though at that 
 time I went not through that waie), it chaunced me to be in 
 coinpanie of divers Tartarien merchaunts of whom I enquired 
 
 ' Zattera is Italian for a platform, raft, or framework for sailors to 
 stand on in harbour to work at the ship's sides. 
 * Hassan Boy Ak-Koyuiilu. 
 
MEETING WITH TWO TATARS AT VENICE. 
 
 for this Edelmulg, and learned by signes of the phisonomie, 
 and by the name, that he which was given me by the father, 
 as those Tartariens than tolled me, was great w*^*^ thempo"". 
 So that if we had goon further we must needes haue fallen 
 into his handes. In which cace I am assured I shulde haue 
 had no lesse good cheere of him, than as I haue made both 
 to him and his father, but who wolde haue belieued that 
 XXXV*'® yeres aftre in so ferre distant cuntreys a Tartarien 
 shulde haue mett w*^** a Venetian? An other thinge I woll 
 rehearse even to the same purpose. The yere 1455, being 
 Rialto is in a vinteners seller in the Rialto, as I pvsed the seller in 
 chauntes thone end of the same, I pceaued twoo men tyed in chaynes, 
 bHn?^" which, by their countenaunce, me thought shulde be Tar- 
 place in tariens. I asked who they were, and they answered that 
 Venice. 
 
 they had been sklaves of the Catelaines, and that, fleing 
 
 awaie, in a litle bote, they were taken by this vyntener, 
 Lordea wherevpon I went incontinently to the Signori di Notte, 
 nio-ht is ^^^ declared this matter, who by an*d by sent officers thither, 
 an ofEce brought them to the co''te, and in the vinteners presence 
 auctoritie delivered them, putteng him to his fyne. Thus I gate them 
 ' loosed, and had them home to my house, and askeng them 
 what they were and of what cuntrey ; thone of them an- 
 swered, he was of Tana, and had been serunt to Cazada- 
 huch, whom I had knowen well, for he was thempo" custo- 
 mer over all things that came vnto Tana ; so that, regard- 
 ing him more advisedly, me seemed to remembre his face, 
 for he had been many tymes in my house. I asked him 
 what was his name. He answered, Chebechzi, which sig- 
 fieth a bulter of meale. And whan I had well behelde him, 
 I saied vnto him, doest tho" knowe me ? He answered, no. 
 But, as soone as I mentioned Tana and Jusuph (for so they 
 called me there), he fell to thearthe, and wolde haue kissed 
 my feete : saieng vnto me, tho"^ hast saved my lief twies, 
 and this is thone of them, for being a sklave I rekened 
 myself deade, and thother was whan Tana was on fyre. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES. 25 
 
 the madest an hole in the wall, through the which so many 
 creatures escaped, amongest whom was I and my m'' both. 
 And it is true, for whan Tana was sett on fyre, I made an 
 hole in the wall forneagaint a certein grounde wheare many 
 persons were assembled : through the which there issued 
 aboue xl, and amongest them this felowe and Cazadahuch. 
 I kept these twoo Tartariens in my house about twoo 
 moonethes, and when the shippes departed towardes Tana I 
 sent them home. Wherefore, I saie that departeng one 
 from an other, w*-*^ opinion never to reto''ne into those pties 
 againe, no man ought to forgett his amitie as though they 
 sliuld never meete, for there may happen a thousande things 
 that, if they chaunce to meete againe, he that is most hable 
 shall haue neede of his succo"" that can do least. Nowe, to 
 reto'ne vnto the things of Tana. I well describe it by the 
 west and northwest, costing the sea of Tabacche to the go- 
 ing foo'the on the lefte hande, and aftre some parte of the 
 sea called Maggiore, even to the Province named Mengleria. 
 Departing than from Tana about the foresaid coste of the 
 sea, iij jo'^neys w'hin lande, I founde a region called Chre- 
 much, the lorde whereof is named Biberdi, which signifieth 
 given to God ; he was sonne vnto Chertibei, that signifieth 
 twelve Lorde. He hath many villaiges vnder him, which 
 at a neede well make a thousand horses, faire champ aignes, 
 many good woodes, and ryvers plentie. The principall men 
 of this region lyve by robbing on those plaines and speciallie 
 on the roberie of the carouanes that go from place to place. 
 They are well horsed, valiaunt men, and subtill witted, but 
 not verie gryme of visaige. They haue corne enough, 
 fleshe, and honye, but no wyne. Beyoude these are cun- 
 treys of divers languages, though not much different one 
 from an other; that is to witt, Elipehe, Tatarcosia, Sobai, 
 Cheuertheij^ As Alani, of whom I haue spoken here before. 
 And these renne alongest even vnto Mengleria- for the space 
 ' Kabarda. '^ IMingrelia. 
 
26 CUSXOMS OF MINGRELIA. 
 
 of xij io'"neys. Mengleria confyneth w*** Caitacchi, which 
 are neere the mountaigne Caspio^ and w'*^ parte of Giorgiana^ 
 and w"^the sea Maggiore^ and w"^ the mountaigne that passeth 
 thi'ough Circassia, and hath on thone side a ryver called 
 Phaso that compasseth it and falleth into the sea Maggiore. 
 The Lorde of this province^ named Bendian, hath two walled 
 townes on the foresaid sea, one called Vathi and an other 
 Seuastopoli, and besides that divers other piles and stronge 
 houses. The cuntrey is all stonie and barayn, w'hout any 
 kinde of grayne, saving panico. Salte is brought vnto them 
 out of Capha. They make a litle cloth, but it is both course 
 and naught : and they arr beastly people. For proof whereof, 
 being in Vathi (where one Azolin Squarciafigo, a Genowaie, 
 arryved in companie of a Paeanderia of Turks that went 
 thither w'^ us from Constantinople), there was a yonge wo- 
 man stode in her doore vnto whom this Genowaie saied 
 SuRiNA PATRO Ni COCON ? which is, mistres is the good man 
 w'hin ? meaneng her husbande. She answered, Archilimisi, 
 that is to witt, he woll come anon. Whereupon he swapped 
 her on the lippes and shewed her vnto me, saieng, be- 
 holde what faire teethe she hath : and so shewed me her 
 breast and toouched her teates, which she suffered w'hout 
 moving. Afterwardes, we entred into her house, and sate 
 us downe, and this Azolin fayneng to haue vermyn about 
 him beckoned on her to searche him : which she did verie 
 diligentlie and chastely. This, meane while, the good man 
 came in, and my companion put his hande in his purse, and 
 saied Patron tetari sica, which is as much to sale as, m"", hast 
 tho"^ any mooney ? Wherevuto he made a countenaunce 
 that he had none about him : and so he tooke him a fewe 
 aspres, w'^ the w^h he went streight to bye some vittaills. 
 Within a while after, we went through the towne to sporte 
 vs, and this Genowaie did every wheare after the maner of 
 that cuntrey what pleased him w'hout reproche of any man, 
 whereby it may appeare weather they be beastly people or 
 
DESCRIPTION OF CRIMEA. 27 
 
 no, and therefore the Genowaies that practise in those pties 
 vse for a proverbe to saie, Tho^ art a Mongrello, whan they 
 arr disposed to saie tho" art a foole. And nowe, bicause I 
 haue saied that Tartari signifieth mooney, I haue thought 
 good to declare that Tetari properHe signifieth white, and 
 by this they understande syluer mooney, which is white, for 
 the Greeks also call it aspri, w^h signifieth white, the Turkes 
 Akcia, which signifieth white and in Venice in tyme past, 
 and yet to this present we haue mooney called Bianchi, in 
 Spaigne also they haue mooney called Blanche. Whereby 
 it may appeare howe many nacons agree in their languaige 
 to call one thinge by one maner of name. 
 
 Reto'"ning backe to the Tana, I do passe the ryver wheare 
 Alama was, as I haue saied before, and so discurre by the 
 sea of Tabacche, on the right hande, going foo'"the even to 
 the Isle of Capha, wheare is a straict of the lande that knitteth Chersone- 
 
 BUS 
 
 the He w*-^ the mayne lande, liek vnto that of Morea, which 
 is called Zuohala. There are verie great salt springes, that 
 of itself being dried woll become pficte salte. Costeng this 
 ilande, first on the sea Tabacche is the cuntrey named Cu- 
 mania, of the people Cumani. After that is the hedde of 
 the isle wheare Capha standeth, in the same place wheare 
 Gazzaria hath been. And yet to this dale the PiCO, that is 
 to saie, the yarde wherew'^'' they measure at Tana, and in all 
 those pties is called Pico de Gazzaria. The champaigne of 
 this He of Capha is vnder the Tartariens domynion, who 
 haue a Lorde called Vlubi, sonne of Azicharei. They are 
 a good nombre of people hable at a neede to make iij or 
 iiij™* horses ; they haue twoo places walled, but not stronge, 
 thone whereof is called Sorgathi, which they also called In- 
 CREMiN, that signifieth a forteresse ; and thother Cher- 
 chiarde, which signifieth xl placs. In this ilande, first at 
 the mowthe of the sea Tabacche, is a place called Cherz, 
 which we call Bosphoro Cimerio ; next to that is Capha, 
 Saldaia, Grasui, Cymbalo, Sarsona, and Calamita. All at 
 
28 HISTORICAL DETAILS ABOUT KAFFA. 
 
 this present vnder the great Turke, of the which I neede to 
 saie no more, bicause they are knowen well enough. And 
 yet me thinketh it necessarie to declare the losse of Capha, 
 as I learned it of one Antony da Guasco, a Genowaie, who 
 was present there, and fledde by sea into Giorgiana, and 
 from thense into Persia, the same tyme that I happened to 
 be there, to thentent it may be knowen aftre what maner 
 this place is fallen into the Turks hands. In that tyme 
 there was a Tartarien Lorde in the Champaigne named 
 Emimachbi, who had yerely of them of Capha a certein 
 tribute as the custome of the cuntrey there is. Betweene 
 him and them of Capha thei'e happened variaunce, insomuch 
 that the Consule of Capha, being a Genowaie, determined 
 to sende vnto thempo'' of Tartarie for some one of the 
 bloudde of this Eminachbi, by whose favo'" he thought it 
 possible to expell Eminachbi out of his astate. And having 
 therevpon sent a shippe vnto Tana w^^ an ambassado"", this 
 ambassado"" went into the Lordo and there obteigned of 
 thempo'' one of the bloudde of this Eminachby, named Men- 
 glieri, promiseng to conduct him to Capha, and that if the 
 towne wolde not accept this appointement than to sende 
 Menglieri backe again. Eminachbi, mistrusteng this mat- 
 ter, sent an ambassado"" vnto Ottomanno, promiseng him 
 that if he wolde sende an armie by sea to assaulte the towne 
 he would assault it by lande, and so shulde Capha be the 
 Turkes. Ottomanno being desirouse thereof sent his armie, 
 and in shorte space gate the towne, in the which Menglieri 
 was taken, and sent to Ottomano, who kept him in prison 
 many yeres. Not longe after Eminachbi, through the Turks 
 yll conversacon, repenting him of giveng the towne to Otto- 
 manno, prohibited the passaige of all vittailles into the 
 towne, by reason whereof they had so great skarsetie of 
 corne and fleshe that they rekened themselfs in maner be- 
 sieged. "Wherevpon the Turke was psuaded that if he sent 
 Menglieri to Capha, keeping him w'hin the towne in cur- 
 
HISTORICAL DETAILS ABOUT KAPFA. 29 
 
 teise warde, the towne shulde haue plentie : for Menglieri 
 was welbeloued of the people w'hout. And so Ottomanno 
 did; so that, as soone as it was knowen that he was arrived, 
 incontinently the towne had plentie of all things, for he 
 was also beloued of the townesmen. This man thus remain- 
 eng in curteise warde went wheare he wolde w'hin the 
 towne; and one daie amongest other, there happened a 
 game of shooting for a prise. The manor whe''of is, they 
 honge on certein polles sett vp like a galowes, a boll of 
 sylver tied only w*^ a fyne threede. Those nowe that shall 
 shoote for the prise shoote thereat w*^^ forked arrowes and 
 arr on horsebaike, and first must gallopp vnder the gallowes, 
 so that being in his full carier passed a certein space, he 
 turneth his bodie and shooteth backewarde, the horse 
 galoping still awaywarde, and he that after this sorte cut- 
 teth the threede wynneth the game. Menglieri, findeng 
 occasion vpon this to escape, appointed an c horsemen 
 (^A whom he had intelHgence before) to hide themselfs the 
 same daie in a litell valey not ferre from the towne, and 
 fayneng to renne for the game he made awaie to his com- 
 panie ; wherevpon the force of all 'the whole iland folowed 
 him : by reason whereof, he being waxed stronge, went to 
 Surgathi, a towne vi miles from Capha, and took it, and so 
 having slayne Eminachbi, made himself Lorde of all those 
 places. The yere folowing he determined to go towards 
 Citerchan,^ a place xvi io'"neys distant from Capha, vnder the 
 domynion of one Mordassa^ Can, who in that tyme was 
 w'^'' his Lordo vpon the ryver of Ledil. He fought w^** him, 
 tooke him and tooke his people from him : a great parte 
 whereof he sent into the He of Capha, and so aboade the 
 wynter on that ryver. At which tyme, by chaunce, there 
 was an other Tartarien Lorde lodged a fewe io''neys of, who, 
 hearing that he wyntered there, whan the ryver was frozen 
 came on him soddainely, assaulted him, and discompfited 
 ' Hajy Terkhan or Astrakhan. 2 Murteza Khan. 
 
30 REMNANT OF GOTHS. 
 
 him, and so recovered Mordassa that had been kept prisoner. 
 
 Menglieri being thus discompfited, reto-ned vnto Capha in 
 
 yll ordre. And Mordassa, w'*^ his Lordo, came the next 
 
 springe even to Capha, and made certein roades to the 
 
 dammaige of the ilande. But, seing he coulde not haue the 
 
 towne yelden vnto him, he to''ned backe. Nevertheles, I 
 
 was enformed that he was making of a newe armye to come 
 
 againe into the ilande and to chace Menglieri awaie, as it 
 
 proved after in dede ; but hereof sprange a false rumo', 
 
 through thignorance of them that vnderstande not whereof 
 
 the warre amongest these Lordes proceadeth, not knowing 
 
 what difference is betwene the great Can and Mordassa 
 
 Can. For they, hearing that Mordassa Can made a newe 
 
 armie to reto'"ne vnto the ilande, bruted that the great Can 
 
 shulde come by Capha, awaie against Ottomanno, purposeng 
 
 by the waie of Moncastro to entre into Valachia, into Hun- 
 
 garie; and so, wheareas Ottomanno was behinde the ilande 
 
 of Capha, which standeth on the sea Maggiore is Gothia, 
 
 and aftre that Alania, which goeth by the ilande towardes 
 
 Moncastro, as I have saied before. 
 
 "The Gothes speake dowche, which I knowe by a dowche- 
 
 man, my serunt, that was w'*^ me there : for they vnderstode 
 
 The fur- one an other well enough, as we vnderstande a furlane^ or 
 lane and „ 
 florentine a Horentme. 
 
 in phrase ^^ ^^^^ neighbo''hode of the Gothes and Alani, I suppose 
 
 of speeche the name of Gotitalani to be deryved, for Alani were first 
 
 from the . . J > 
 
 Venetian, in this place. But than came the Gothes and conquered 
 
 these cuntreys, myngleng their name w'*^ the Alani, and so 
 
 being myngled togither called themselfs Gotitalani, who, in 
 
 effect, folowe all the Greekish facons, and so also do the 
 
 Circassi. 
 
 And bicause we haue spoken of Tumen and Cithercan, 
 
 thinking good to write the things there wo'^thie of memorie, 
 
 we saie that going from Tumen east northeast about vij 
 
 ' Furlane ; i. e., of Forli. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF MOSCOW. 31 
 
 io''neys, is the ryver Ledil, whereon standeth Cithercan, 
 which at this p'nt is but a litle towne in maner destroied ; 
 albeit, that in tyme passed it bath been great and of great 
 fame. For, before it was destroied by TamerlanOjthe spices 
 and silke that passe nowe through Soria came to Cithercan, 
 and from tbense to Tana, wheare vj or vij galeys only were 
 wonte to be sent from Venice to fetche those spices and 
 silkes from Tana ; so that, at that tyme, neither the Vene- 
 tians nor yet any other nacion on this side of the sea costes, 
 vsed merchaundise into Soria. The ryver Ledil is great 
 and large, and falleth into the Sea of Bachu about xxv"® Mure Cas- 
 
 7 . pi u IS 
 
 myles distant from Cithercan, and as well in that ryver as nowe 
 in the sea arr innumerable fisshes taken. Bachu 
 
 That sea yeldeth much salte, and yo'' may saile vp that 
 ryver by io''neys almost as ferre as Musco, a towne of RossiA. 
 And they of Musco come yerely w*^^ their boates to Cithercan 
 for salte. There arr many ilandes and woodes on this ryver, 
 some of which ilandes conteigne xxx myles in copasse. In 
 these woodes arr great trees growing, wbich, being made 
 holowe, serue for boates of one peece, so bigge that thei 
 woll carie viij or x horses at a tyme and as many men. 
 Passing this ryver and going east northeast towards Musco, 
 keeping the rivers side xv io'neys continuallie, arr innume- 
 rable people of the Tartariens, but to''neng plaine northeast 
 yo'^ arryve at the confines of Rossia, at a litle towne called 
 RiSAN, which appertaigneth to a brother in lawe of John 
 Duke of Rossia, and there they be all Christians aftre the 
 ryte of the Greekes. This countrey is verie fertyle of corne, 
 fleshe, honye, and divers other things : and their drynke is 
 called BossA,^ whicb signifieth ale. There arr also many 
 woodes and villages, and so passing a litle further yo"^ come 
 to a citie called Colona. The one and other of both which 
 townes arr fortified w'^ woodde, whereof also they buylde 
 their houses, bicause there is small quan title of stone to be 
 1 Buzah, Turkish and Persian, a kind of beer; here it means Kwass. 
 
32 
 
 RUSSIAN TRAVELLING. 
 
 Mar- 
 
 chetto is 
 
 not 
 
 worthe an 
 
 Englishe 
 
 halfe- 
 
 peny. 
 
 Stufe is 
 an hote- 
 house. 
 
 Sani aiT 
 sleddes. 
 
 founde thereabouts. Three io''neys from thense is the said 
 towne of Musco, wheare the forenamed John Duke of Rossia 
 dwelleth, throwgh the middest of which towne renneth the 
 most noble ry ver of MuscOj and hath certein bridge over it : 
 and, as I believe, the towne tooke his name of the ryver. 
 The castell is on a litell. hyll environed about w* woodes. 
 The habundance vthat they haue of corne and fleshe may 
 well be comprehended by this, that they sell not their fleshe 
 by weight, but by the eye ; and surely they have iiij' for a 
 marchetto. Yo'' shall haue Ixx hennes for a ducat, and a 
 goose for iij marchetti. But the colde is so fervent in that 
 cuntrey that the ry vers are frozen. In the wynter arr brought 
 thither hogges, oxen, and other beastes, readie flayne, and 
 sett vpright on foote as harde as stones, and in such 
 nombre that he who wolde bye twoo hundred in a daie may 
 haue them there. But they woll not be cutt, for they arr 
 harde as marble till they be brought into the stufes. As 
 for fruictes, they haue none, saving a fewe apples and nuttes 
 and litle wylde nuttes. 
 
 Whan thay be disposed to travaile, specially any longe 
 io'neys, they go in the wynter, for than is it frozen over all ^ 
 and by reason thereof good travaileng, saving that it is 
 colde, and than do they carie what they lyst with great ease 
 vpon those sani which serue them as cartes serue vs and 
 o"" parties, we call them Tranoli. But in the somer they 
 darr not in maner go foo'the of their doores, for the vn- 
 reasonable mooyre and moltitude of stingeng flies which 
 come foo'the of so many great woodes as they haue about 
 them : the greatest parte whereof is vnhabitable. They 
 haue no grapes, but make them wyne of honye, and some 
 make ale of miglio, in thone and other whereof they putt 
 hoppes, which giveth a taste that maketh a man as doonye^ 
 or dronken as the wyne. 
 
 Furthermore, tne seemeth it not convenient to forgett the 
 provisions that their foresaid duke made to brydle such 
 
 • Dunny ; i.e., stupid. 
 
TATAR CUSTOM. 33 
 
 dronkardes, as thro""gli their dronkenesse neglected the 
 wo'king' and doing of many things which shulde haue been 
 proffitable for them. He made a crye that they shulde make 
 neither ale nor wyne of honye^ nor use hoppes in any thinge, 
 and by this meane hath reduced them to good lyving, which 
 hath contynued nowe for the space of xxv"* yeres. In tyme 
 passed^ the Rossians paied trybute to Thempo"" of Tartaric, 
 but nowe they haue subdued a towne called Cassan (which, 
 in o'' tonge, signifieth a cawldron*), that standeth on the 
 ryver Ledil, on the lefte hande as yo"' go towards the Sea of 
 Bachu, V io'neys from Musco. This is a towne of great 
 merchaundise. From whense cometh the most parte of the 
 furres that are caried to Musco and into Polonia, Prusia, 
 and FlandreSj which furres come out of the Northe and 
 Northeast, from the regions of Zagatai and Moxia, northerne 
 cuntreys enhabited by Tartariens, that for the most parte 
 arr idolatrers ; and so also be the Moxii. And bicause I 
 haue had some experience of the things of the Moxii, there- 
 fore I entende to speake somewhat of their faith and maners, 
 as I haue learned. 
 
 At a certein tyme of the yere they vse to take a horse : 
 which they laie alonge on the plaine. His iiij feete bounden 
 to iiij stakes, and his heade to an other. This doon, cometh 
 one w''^ bowe and arrowes ; and, standing a convenient dis- 
 tance of, shooteth towardes the hert so often, till he haue 
 killed him. And whan the horse is thus deade they flaye 
 him and make a bottell of his hide, vsing with the fleshe 
 certein ceremonies: which, nevertheles, they eate at leingth. 
 Than they stufe the hyde so full of strawe, that it seemeth 
 hole again; and in every of his legges putt a pece of woodde ; 
 and so sett him afoote againe, as though he were on lyve. 
 Finally, they go to a great tree and thereof cutt such a 
 boowe as they thinke best, and thereof make a skafFolde 
 
 1 Ramusio has the preceding clause here — "It may be twenty-five 
 years ago." ^ Xazan is Turkish for a cauldron. 
 
34 DESCRIPTION OF POLAND. 
 
 whereon they sett this horse standing, and so wo'ship him. 
 Offering sables, armelynes/ menyver,- martrons, and foxes, 
 which they hange on the same tree, even as we offer up can- 
 dells. By reason whereof the trees there are full of such furres. 
 This people, for the more parte, lyve of fleshe, and the 
 greatest parte thereof wilde fleshe : and fishe they haue also 
 in those ryvers. Nowe that I haue spoken of the Moxij I 
 haue no more"" to sale of the Tartariens, saving that those 
 which be Idolatrers worship Images that they carie on their 
 cartes, though some there be that vse daylie to wo''ship that 
 beast that they happen first to meete whan they go foo'^the 
 of their doores. The duke also hath subdued Novgroth, 
 which in o"" tonge signifieth ix^ castells, and is a verie great 
 towne, eight io''neys distat from Musco, northweast : which 
 before tyme, was governed by the people ; being men 
 w*hout reason and full of heresies. Nevertheles, by litle and 
 litle they arr nowe brought to the Catholike faith. For 
 some belieue in dede, and some belieue not ; but they lyve 
 nowe w^"^ reason and haue justice mynistred amongst them. 
 Departing from Musco yo"^ haue xxij dales io''ney into 
 Polonia, the first place whereof is a castell called Trochi :* the 
 comyng wherevnto from Musco is through woodes and litle 
 hilles which be in maner deserte. It is true that travaileng 
 from place to place, whereas^ other haue lodged before 
 yo'^ shall finde wheare fyre hath been made, and there the 
 way faring psons may rest and make fyre if they woll : and 
 sometimes a litle out of the waie yo"^ shall finde some small 
 villaige : but that is seldome. Likewise, departing from 
 Trochi, yo* finde woodes and hilles, but sometimes houses 
 amonge. And at thende of ix io''neys from Trochi yo"^ finde 
 a walled towne called Lonici, and than do yo^ enter the re- 
 gion of LiTTUANiA, wheare there is a towne called Varsovich,^ 
 
 .> Ermines. ^ Skins of grey squirrels. 
 
 * Nove castelli; i.e., new castles. ■• Troki, near AVilna. 
 
 ' "Whereas, used here, and at page 38, for wherein. 
 « Raniusio prints Varsonich. 
 
DESCRIPTION OP GEORGIA. 35 
 
 appteyneng to certein gentlemen, subiects of Cazimir, King 
 of PoLONiA. The cuntrey is fertile and hath many townes 
 and villaigeSj but not of any great accompte. Froni Trocchi 
 into PoLONiA arr vij io''neys, and the region is good and 
 faire, and than finde yo"* Mersaga, a verie good citie, wheare 
 Polonia endeth : of whose townes and castells, bicause I 
 knowe them not, I woll saie no more. But that the king, 
 w'*^ his children and all his famylie, arr very Christian ; and 
 that his eldest sonne is nowe Kipg of Boemia. Being de- 
 parted out of Polonia w'hin iiij io'"neys, we finde Frankforth, 
 a citie of the Marquis of Brandenburgh, and so we enter 
 into Allemaigne : whereof I neede not to speake, bicause it 
 is a cuntrey in maner at home and knowen well enough. So 
 that nowe there resteth somewhat to be saied of Giorgiana, 
 which is forneagainst the place, here before spoken, and con- 
 fyneth w'*^ Mengrelia. The king of this province is called 
 Pancratio, who hath a faire cuntrey, plentyfull of breade, 
 wyne, fleshe, graine, and many other fruictes ; the most 
 parte of which wynes growe on trees, as that doth in Trabi- 
 sonda, and the men arr faire and bigge, but they have very 
 fylthie apparill and most vile customes. They go with their 
 heades rounded and shaven, leaving only a litle heare, aftre 
 the maner of our abbotts, that haue great revenewes, and 
 they suffer their mostacchi to growe a quarter of a yarde Mostacchi 
 longer than their beardes.^ On their heades they were a berde of 
 litell cappe, of divers colo''% w'^ a creste on the toppe. On *^® 7?' 
 their backes they were certein garments^ meetely lenge, but 
 they be straite and open behinde downe to the buttocks; 
 for, otherwise they coulde not gett to horsebacke; wherein I 
 do not blame them, for I see the Frenchmen vse the like. 
 On their feete and leggs they were bootes or busgynes, made 
 w'*^ their soles of such a sorte, that whan they stande, the 
 heele and the too too'^che the grounde, but the plante of the 
 
 ' Or : a quarter of an ell below their chins. 
 - Giubbe ; i.e., jubbeh. 
 
36 DESCRIPTION OF GEORGIA. 
 
 foote standeth so higli that yo'' may easelie thrust yo"" fyst 
 vndernethe w'hout hurting of it, whereof it foloweth tliat 
 whan they go afoote they go w^'' paine. I wolde in this parte 
 blame them, if it wei'e not that I knowe the Persians vse the 
 same. In their feeding (as 1 haue seene thexperience in the 
 house of one of the principall of them) they vse this manor. 
 They haue certein square tables of halfe a yarde brode, w*^*^ a 
 ledge rounde about : in the myddest whereof they putt a 
 quantitie of panico sodden, w'hout salte or other fatt ; and 
 this they vse in steade of podaige. On an other like table 
 they putt the fleshe of a wilde bore, so little brooyled that 
 whan they cutt it the bloudde cometh out, which they eate 
 very willingely. I coulde not awaie^ w'hall, and therefore 
 drave foo'^the the tyme w"' that podaige. Wyne we had 
 plentie, and that trugged^ about lustilie : but other kinde of 
 vittailes we had none. 
 
 There be in this province great mountaignes and many 
 woodes. It hath a citie called Zifilis,^ by the which passeth 
 the ryver Tigris, and that is a good towne, well inhabited. 
 There is also a towne called Gori, which confineth w'^ the 
 Sea Maggiore, and this is as much as I haue to saie tooch- 
 eng my voyage vnto Tana and those regions, togither w'^ the 
 things wo'"thie of memorie in those pties. And nowe it be- 
 hoveth me, taking an other beginneng, to describe the 
 seconde parte : wherein I shall declare the things apptaign- 
 eng to my voiage into Persia. 
 
 ' Endure, abide. 
 
 2 The text of Ramusio has — E andava intorno alia polita. 
 
 2 Ramusio has — Tiflis. 
 
[Here beginneth the Seconde Parte which 
 
 concerneth the voiage that I, Josaphat Barbaro, 
 made, as Ambassado' into Persia.] 
 
 During the warres between our most excellent Signoria and Signoria 
 
 -^ ^ . , ., signifieth 
 
 Ottomano, the yere 1471, 1, being a man, vsed to travaile, the Vene- 
 and of experience amongst barbarouse people, and willing ^^^^^q 
 also to serue o"" foresaid most excellent Signoria, was sent 
 awaie w'^'^ tharabassado'' of Assambei, King of Persia : who 
 was come to Venice to compfort the Signoria to folowe the 
 warres against the said Ottomanno. 
 
 We departed from Venice w''^ ij light galeys, and aftre vs 
 came ij great galeys, well furnished w"^ men and municnns, 
 besides other presents that the forsaid most excellent Sig- 
 noria sent to Assambei : w"^ comission that I shulde arrive 
 
 in the cuntrey of Caramano or on those sea costes wheare, Caramano 
 
 was lorde 
 if the said Assambei shulde come or sende^ I shulde give all of Cilicia. 
 
 these things vnto him. The pi'oporcon was of artillerie, 
 certein bombardes, springards, and hangonnes,^ w^*" powder, ■ '' 
 shott,^ waggens, and other yrons, of divers sortes, to the 
 value of iiij"" ducates. The souldeo""^ were crossbowes and 
 handgones : cc vnder the leading of iiij conestables and one 
 governo'', named Thomas of Imola, who had x men suffi- 
 ciently provided for every governaunce. Than were there 
 presentes of vessell of syluer to the value of three thousande 
 ducates ; cloth of golde and sylke to the value of ij™' v° du- 
 cates. Scarletts and other fyne wollen clothes to the value 
 of iij™ ducates. And so being arryved in the He of Cyprus 
 we entered into Famagosta, and there togither came before 
 
 ' Schioppetti. ^ Polveie da tiarli. 
 
38 ATTEMPT OF THE VENETIANS 
 
 the king, the Busshop of Romes^ ambassado"". King Ferdi- 
 nandos ambassado"", and we twoo, that is to weete Assambeis 
 ambassado'' and I, wheare enquireng wheather we might go 
 sauf through the cuntrey of Caramano into Persia, we founde 
 that Ottomauno had gotten all the townes both on the sea 
 costes and w'hin lande. By reason whereof we were con- 
 streyned to tarie a certein tyme in Famagosta. In which 
 tyme (being desirouse to folowe on my ioniey) I divers tymes, 
 in companie of thambassado"" of Caramano (whom I founde 
 in Cyprus) went w*^ a light galey vpon the costes of Cara- 
 mano: leaving thother ambassado'' behinde me. And on one 
 tyme amongst other, I arryved in an haven, whereas standeth 
 a certein castell called Sigi, and there we spake w'^ the 
 Lorde of that place ■? who, notw^hstanding that he had lost 
 all his fortresses, had yet about a c^'^ horses and some people 
 that went as vagabonds about the cuntrey, which did all 
 folowe him. 
 
 This lordes elder brother^ was goon to Assembei for suc- 
 co'' against Ottomanno, so that we, finding him of o"" affec- 
 tion, talked w'^ him ; and in coicacon amongest other things 
 reioiseng he saied vnto vs,that he had waited forvs and shewed 
 V^^ from Assambei, willeng him to be of good compforte, 
 for the Venetian armie shulde shortlie come vnto him ; by 
 whose helpe he trusted to recover his astate, specially the 
 places on the sea costes. Whereupon, I hearing that o'' armie 
 shulde come into those pties, tooke order that our galeys 
 which remayned of Famagosta, should come to Sigi. This 
 meane while I hearde that our generall capitaigne M^ Pietro 
 Mocenico, together with the Provedito'' M^ Vettorio 
 Soranzo, and M"". Stephano Malipiero, with the other galeys 
 and capitaignes were arryved in the haven of Cui'cho;* wheare 
 as is a faire castell of the same name. Wherefore inconti- 
 
 ' Ramusio has — Tlie Pope. 
 
 2 Ibid, has — named Cassambeg. ' Ibid. — named Pirameto. 
 
 * Ibid. — which, according to the ancients, was Corycus. 
 
TO ASSIST THE PERSIANS AGAINST THE TURKS. 39 
 
 nently I sent Augustino Contarini, the sopracomito vnto 
 
 him ; adviseng him that if he went about any enterprise I 
 
 thought he shulde do well to come to Sigi, wheare I was, 
 
 for that waye might he soonest obteigne victorie ; howbeit, 
 
 if he thought it not good, I was readie to folowe his 
 
 comaundement. Sigi is but xx myles distant from Curcho ; 
 
 so that the generall capitaigne having herde my opinion 
 
 (notw'^standing he had alreadie begonne his batterie there) 
 
 lefte of and came w'*^ the armie vnto Sigi. In which armie 
 
 were Iv"^^ galeys besides the twoo light and twoo great ones 
 
 that I had brought that made up Ix, all of o"^ most excellent 
 
 signoria, xvj galeys of the King Ferdinandos, v galeys of 
 
 the King of Cyprus, ij galeys of the great M"" of Eodes, 
 
 and xvj galeys of the Busshopp of Romes/ which at that 
 
 time remained at Modone. So that in all they were nynetie 
 
 and nyne galeys. On the which there were ccccxl horses of 
 
 ours w'^ their stradiotte/ thtt is to wete, viij in every galey, Stradiot- 
 
 v galeys excepted, which in dede had no horse. As soone light 
 
 as they arryved in the haven they landed their horses and a (ji-eekes. ' 
 
 good p'® of the people, who made themselfs readie. The next 
 
 daie folowing the cap"® sent for me, and told me that the 
 
 castell seemed vnto him verie stronge, and by reason of the 
 
 site in manor not expugnable, because it standeth on the 
 
 height of an hyll, and therefore asked myne opinion. I 
 
 answered it was vndoubtedly very stronge, but that, on 
 
 thother side again, there passed not xxv good men in it to 
 
 garde and defende it, being a myle in compasse ; wherefore 
 
 I made my rekenyng that folowing thentreprise we shulde 
 
 soone obteigne it, he pawsed a great while and answered 
 
 nothing, but w^hin two howres after he sent his admirall 
 
 vnto me, saying that he was determyned to go through 
 
 with thentreprise, bidding me to be of good compforthe. 
 
 Wherepon I went streight to warne Theminga, a cap"® of 
 
 ' Ramusio has — 56. ^ Ibid, has— of the Supreme Pontiff. 
 
 •' (TT par loiTat. 
 
40 CAPITULATION OF CASTLE OP SIGI. 
 
 the caramanOj who likewise reioysed much, and made me to 
 declare it vnto his lord, which I did ; and so retorneng by 
 Theminga came to o"" capitaigne that than travailed for 
 the preparacon of thassaulte. The next morning about iiij 
 houres of the day, Theminga tolde me there came one out 
 of the castell to him, oflFering to yelde the castell if we wolde 
 save their persons and their goodes, which I declared to 
 c capitaigne ; and so was commanded by him to promise, 
 by means of Theminga, that they and all theirs, w"^ their 
 goodes, shulde be saufe, and that in case they were not dis- 
 posed to contynewe there they shulde be saufely conducted 
 whither they wolde. Having declared this to Theminga, he 
 wolde I shulde go speke w*^ the lorde of the castell; and so 
 went to the gate, wheare, through a little square wyndowe, 
 I spake w*^*^ him, and, aftre many woordes, he concluded that 
 vpon this condicion rehearsed he wolde deliver the castell. 
 Whereupon, the promise being made, he opened the gates 
 and suffered me w"^ o*" Admyrall and three of o"" galeymen, 
 w'^'^ o' interprets, to enter. I asked him wheare he wolde 
 be, he answered that he desired to go into Soria ; and for 
 his more suretie to be conducted w'^ his wife, children and 
 goods by one of o"" galeys, which I promised him. And so 
 incontinently he caused his goodes to be packed, whereof a 
 great deal was made readie before, and he issued out of the 
 gate w'hall, and the rest of those that were in the castell 
 aftre him, which were to the nombre of cl*» psons in all, and 
 descending downe the hyll mett w*^*^ o"" capitaigne that was 
 comyng up w'^ a good nombre of galeymen to receaue the 
 castell, which galeymen, neither for the cap"®^ comman cle- 
 ment nor yet for thretenyng, wolde forbeare the spoyle of 
 those goodes and persons, being not a litle grief to the 
 capitaigne and provedito', and to all them that had vnder- 
 standing, considering the faithful promise that had been made 
 in their name. Thus having receaued the castell I reto''ned 
 to the galey, and that evenyng late the cap"^ sent for me. 
 
EFFORTS OF THE VENETIANS TO FULFIL THEIR TREATY. 41 
 
 lamenting wonderfully the chaunce that was happened, will- 
 ing me to go to the capitaine of the Caramano to excuse him, 
 and to declare what I thought convenient touching the dis- 
 obedience and rage of the galeymen ; and what he further 
 mynded to do, as well in their favo'' that had been robbed 
 as against them that had comitted the roberie. Thus being 
 reto'"ned to the seaside, I founde myne interpreto"" w*^^ an 
 asse laden w'^ these goods, which I not only caused incon- 
 tinently to be taken from him, but also made him to be 
 well beaten. Than went I to Theminga, cap"^ to caramano, 
 and whan I had excused the matter as I was appointed, in 
 conclusion I promised him the next daye following all thinges 
 shulde be restored. He receaued me thankfully, saieing 
 that it greved him that the lorde of Sigi w"^^ all his (being 
 rebells vnto his lorde) had not been slayne, wherefore seing 
 he passed so litle vpon that which was happened, I salued 
 the matter, saieng it was convenient we shulde observe 
 o*" promise made vnto them, and that the thing so chaunced 
 proceaded of the galeymennes furie sore against the cap- 
 taignes, proveditors, and all the sopracomitos willes. Whan 
 I was reto''ned vnto o"" capitaigne, he comannded M'. Yettor 
 Soranzo, w'*^ certein sopracomiti, to see the persons and 
 goods taken contrarie to thappoinctm' recovered. Wheare- 
 vpon, early in the mor'"neng, cries were made vpon great 
 pcnaltie that everie man shulde bringe on lande as well the 
 persons as the goods so taken, and besides this the galeys 
 were dilygently searched. The persons were all founde, and 
 a great pte of the goodes, whereof those of smallest valewe 
 were cast on a great heape, and such parte of it taken out as 
 appertaigned to the Lorde, and likewise out of the sackes 
 or elswheare all that was his was had out, and all togither 
 brought into the galley of M"" Vettor Soranzo, the prove- 
 dito'', because the Lorde w'** his wief were entered into that 
 galey, vnto whom all the things that coulde be founde were 
 presented. And for the rest of the peoples goodes they 
 
42 OPERATIONS OF THE VENETIANS. 
 
 were all assigned to their own captaigne^ who made a crye 
 that every one shulde come foo''the and take his owne, and 
 so they did. It was thought this lorde shulde have no small 
 treasure lefte him by his father^ and, as it appeared, what 
 of preciouse stones, perles, golde, sylver, and clothe, there 
 were doseins of thousande ducates. For proof whereof one 
 SOPEACOMITO, a Candiot, which had twoo sackes of the said 
 goodes thone whereof be restored, and caried thother w''' him 
 vnto Eodes : wheare he died ; bequethed vnto the said lorde 
 in recompense of that which he had of his viij° ducates. 
 This doon, twoo of the same lordes bretherne came to hym 
 into the galey, and w'"^ divers reasons so psuaded him, that 
 he consented to reto'ne to lande againe W-*^ all his ; wheare, 
 shortly after, the galeys being departed, they caused him to 
 die; and, as though that had been but a small matter, thone 
 of them also maried his brothers wief. 
 
 Tbarmye reto^ned to Curcho, before named : and whan 
 the men were landed the bombards were bestowed in their 
 place to batter likewise that castell : in the which was a 
 garryson of Ottomanos men, and there also was the Lorde 
 Caramano arrived w'^ his men : and having taken the first 
 wall they yelded, bodie and goods saved : so that we tooke 
 the castell and restored it vnto Caramano. Aftre this I, 
 w"' cei-teiu of Caramanos company went to Silephica, a 
 famo"se towne^ likewise gotten by Ottomano, and thretened 
 them w'hin ; but if they wolde not yelde the towne (for the 
 w"^^ their bodies and goodes shulde be saved) they shulde 
 be assaulted, and pchaunce whan they wolde yelde they 
 shulde not be accepted, but be hewen to peeces : wherevnto 
 I was answered that I shulde departe for that tyme in Godds 
 name ; and the next mornyng they wolde signifie vnto Ca- 
 ramano what their entent was : which in effect proved so, 
 for they hadde him come to receave it, and they accordingly 
 yelded. Vpon this our capitaigne, w'^ all tharmie, reto''ned 
 
 ' llamusio has— which was formerly called Scleucia ; now Selcfkeh. 
 
OPERATIONS OF THE VENETIANS. 43 
 
 into Cyprus, disposing themselfs to abide neere vnto Fama- 
 
 gosta, to take ordre for the rule and governance of that 
 
 Ilande, bicause King James^ happened to dye while we were 
 
 in Caramanos lande. And having establisshed all things well 
 
 there, w4iin a fewe dales they went towardes the Archipelago, Archipe- 
 T-ii n-n -11 Ti lago was 
 
 and I remaigned m the haven of i^ amagosta with three light sometime 
 
 galeys and twoo great : togither w'^ the conestable and jjgea. 
 souldeo''^ that were comitted vnto me by the most excellent 
 SiGNORiA, wheare I taried a certein space. This, meane 
 while, there arryved two galeys of King Ferdinandos, in the 
 which was the Archebusshop of Nicosia, a Catelaine borne, 
 and w^^ him a messynger of the kings to treate of the mariage 
 of a bastarde doughter of King James." Amongst which 
 practises there happened one night a great alarme, w^*^ ryng- 
 eng of belles : insomuch that the busshop, w''^ those that 
 folowed him gate the markett place and consequently the 
 towne : and aftre that had Cirenes^ w'^ the rest in maner of 
 all the Ilande at his comaundement. But o'' capitaigne- 
 generall hearing of the passaige of these twoo galeys, w''^ the 
 busshop eastwardes, suspected they went into Cyprus : and 
 therefore sent M^ Vettor Loranzo, the Proveditor, w'^ x light 
 galeys aftre him : who arryved at Famagosta, and founde 
 one of the said galeys in the haven there, and aftre longe 
 reasonyng the said busshop w"^ his complices agreed to re- 
 store the towne and all that they had taken, and so to de- 
 parte. Which doon. King Ferdinandos ambassado'' returned 
 to Naples, and the Busshop of Romes remaigned still in 
 Famagosta. I, w^*^ Assambeis ambassador, desirouse to 
 furnishe my io''ney (having first sent backe into Candia the 
 twoo great galeys, w'^'' thartillerie and presents before named, 
 by appoinctement of the Signoria, who caused pte of it to 
 remaigne there, and parte to be had againe to Venice), 
 
 1 II Re Zacho. 
 
 * Ramusio has here — with a natural sou of the said King Ferdinand. 
 
 ^ Ibid. — Cerines. 
 
44 DESCRIPTIOX OF CDRCO. 
 
 caused the souldeo" to remaigne for the garryson of Cyprus, 
 and w*^ a light galey reto''ned to Curco, the site whereof I 
 shall nowe describe, bicause I haue not spoken of it before. 
 This Curco standeth on the sea, and hath fomeagainst it 
 westwarde a rocke, the thierde parte of a myle in compasse,^ 
 on the which heretofore hath been a castell both stronge 
 and faire and well wrought, though at this present it be 
 greatly decaied. On the principall gates were graven cer- 
 tein l'''*^ which seemed verie faire and lyke to the Arme- 
 nians, but in an other kinde than those which the Arme- 
 nians vse at this present: for I had certein Armenians there 
 w"* me which coulde not reade them.^ This broken castell 
 is distant from Curco towardes the mowthe of the haven, 
 the shoote of a crosbowe, and Curco is partely edified 
 on a rocke, and partely it hangeth downe hill towards 
 the sea. Out of the rocke is hewen a great dyche on 
 theaste side, and on the sande towai-des the hyll side is 
 an exceading stronge wall, scarfelled, that it can not be 
 annoyed w'*^ artyllerie. Such an other place is likewise in 
 the castell w"" exceading gi-eat walles and most stronge, to- 
 wards which in all may compasse twoo thirde partes of a 
 myle, and the same hath also vpon the gates (which arr 
 twoo) certein Armenian 1"'^^ graven. Everie habitacon of 
 this towne hath his cisterne of freshe water, and in the 
 open streates arr iiij very great cisternes of exceading pure 
 water, sofficient to furnishe a verie great citie. In the high 
 waie, a boweshoote out of the towne eastewardes, arr cer- 
 tein arches of marble, of one peece (for the most parte 
 broken), w"^ contynewe on both sides the waie to a certein 
 churche halfe a myle distant : seemyng to haue been a verie 
 great thinge and all wrought w*^** very great pillers of marble 
 and other excellent things. 
 
 The grounde about the towne is hyllie and stonye, liek 
 
 ' Ramusio has — which, according to the ancients, was Eleusia. 
 ^ This inscription is given in Beaufort's Karamania, p. 220. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF SELEUCA. 45 
 
 vnto that of Istria, and hath been inhabited by the subiects 
 of the Lorde Caramano. There groweth much wheats cot- 
 ton, and cattaill, and specially they breed many oxen and 
 horses, and haue excellent fruictes of divers sortes : the ayre 
 being as ferre as I coulde pecaue very tempate, but what 
 cace the country is in at this present I wot not ; for I heare 
 saie it hath been destroied by Ottomano. Neere to the sea- 
 side arr ij castells, one of Sigi, before named, buylded on an 
 hyll, and an other very stronge. The first whereof is w'hin a 
 bowe shoote of the sea and thother vj myles distant from that. 
 Likewise on the sea-side, departing from Curco, ten myles 
 northwest is Seleucha,^ on the top of an hyll ; under the 
 which reiieth a ryver- that falleth into the sea beside Curco, 
 about the bignesse of Brenta : and neere vnto this hill is a 
 theatre liek vnto that of Yerona, verie great, and environed 
 w'*^ pillers of one peece, and gryses^ about. Clymbeng the 
 hyll, to enter the towne on the lefte hande, arr scene many 
 arches, parte of one peece (as it is said before) separate 
 from the hill, and partely digged out of the same hill. And 
 clymbing a little higher, ye enter the ^ates of the first cir- 
 cuite to the towne, which stande in manor on the height of 
 the hill, w'^ a great towne on either side, and arr of yron, 
 w'hout any tymber, about 1"®'* fbote high and half as broad, 
 wrought no lesse finely than as if they were sylver, exced- 
 ing thicke and stronge. The wall is verie great, full w'hin- 
 foo''the w*"^ his garde before which is so well laden and covered 
 w'hout foo'"th w'*' verie harde earth, and so well cowched^ 
 that by it ye can not clymbe to the walles ; and this earthe 
 environneth them and defendeth so much from the walles 
 that the circuite thereof bylowe is iij myles, wheare the 
 wall itself is not pas a myle about, so that it is made like a 
 
 ' Ramusio has — that is to say, Seleutia. 
 
 ^ Ibid, has — according to the ancients, called Calycadnus. 
 
 ' Gryse, a step. ■• Ramusio has — quindici, 15. 
 
 * Erto ; I.e., steep. 
 
46 DESCRIPTION OF TARSUS AND ADANA. 
 
 suger loofe. Within this circle is the castell of Seleucha, 
 w'^ the walles full of towi'eSj between which wall and the 
 vtter wall there is so much voide grounde as for neede woldc 
 beare ccc busshells of wheate, and leave aboue xxx paces 
 space between it and the inner warde. Within this castell 
 is an holowe quadrant digged out of the rocke, v paces deepe, 
 XXX paces longe, and about vij paces bx'oade ; wherein was 
 much tymber for municion, and, besides that, a great cis- 
 terne that can never lacke water. 
 
 This towne is in the Lesse Arminie,^ stretching towards 
 the mountaigne Taurus, called in their tonge Corthestan. 
 I aboade awhile in this place, and afterwardes took my 
 io'"ney towards Persia. And notw'''standing that there was an 
 ^ other waie, yet went I by the sea costes, and the first day 
 w''^out longe io'ney, passeng foo''the of Caramanos domynion, 
 I arryved at a good citie called Tarsus, the lord whereof is 
 named Dulgadar, brother to Sessuar. This countrey, though 
 At this it be in the Greater Armenie, is novertheles vnder the soul- 
 was a Sol- danes subiection. The citie is iij miles of compasse, and hath a 
 IV^ ^f ryver besides it,^ whereon standeth a stone bridge vaulted, by 
 the which they passed out of the towne, and the ryver doth 
 almost environe the towne. In this citie also is a stronge 
 castell embatailed on both sides w*^^ walles of xv paces high 
 of stone, all wrought with the hamer ;^ before the w'^^ is an 
 excellent voide place, square and plaine, that leadeth to a 
 staler entering to the castell, and is so longe and large as 
 well easily conteigne an c* men; and this towne standeth on 
 a litle hill not verie high. A dales io''ney from thense is 
 Adena, a verie great towne with a mightie ryver rennyng 
 
 ' Kamusio has — " but formerly it was in Cilicia, and it was taken by 
 the Turks, when they occupied the rest of Asia Minor, from whom it 
 was taken by Rubino and Loone, brothers of Armenia, about 1230, and 
 they brought it back to the kingdom, which they call Armenia ; and 
 this Armenia stretches to the mountain Taurus," etc., etc. 
 
 '' Ibid, has — named by the ancients Cydnus. 
 
 ^ Scarpello ; i.e., chisel. " Ramusio has — 1000. 
 
JOURNEY ACROSS THE EUPHRATES. 47 
 
 by it/ over the which is a stone bridge of xl''® paces longe, 
 on which bridge (being in company of certein sufB^ as who 
 wolde saie pilgrymes) we being also clothed after their maner, 
 these suffi beganne to daunce in spirite, one of them syngeng 
 celestiall things of the ioyes of Macomett^ beginneng meeryly 
 and softely,^ and aftre wards, by litle and litle, stray neng the 
 measure faster, according to the tewnes, whereof they that 
 daunced amended their paces and their leapinges so that 
 divers of them fell to the grounde and laye as in a traunce, 
 which caused much people to assemble wondring at them, 
 till the felowes of them that fell tooke them vp and caried 
 them to their lodgings. And thus did they at everie lodg- 
 ing, and many tymes also by the waie as though they were 
 forced to do it. The towne of Adena, and likewise the 
 region, maketh many fustians, and is under the soldanes 
 doraynion, standing likewise in Armenie the Lesse. I for- 
 beare to speak of the rewynow^se townes and castells that arr 
 betwene that and Euphrates, because there is nothing 
 notable. Thus being arryved at Euphrates, we founde there 
 a boate of the soldanes hable to transporte xvj horses, and 
 this boate was verie straunge in the which we passed the 
 ryver. Neere vnto this ryver are certein caves in the rockes, 
 to the which they that passe make their refuge whan tem- 
 pest or yll wheather happeneth. On thother side arr cer- 
 tein villaiges of Armenie, wheare we laie one night, and 
 so being passed the ryver we arrived at a towne called 
 Orphe,^ appteineng to the King Assambei, and governed by 
 Valibech, brother to the same king. This has sometime 
 been a great towne, but it was in maner vtterly destroyed 
 by the soldane when the King Assambei went to the siege of 
 Bir.* It hath a castell vpon the hyll indifferent stronge. And 
 at this place the lorde thereof vnderstode what I was, and 
 
 ' Ramusio has — named by the ancients Pyramus. 
 
 2 Slowly and softly. 
 
 ^ Oi'fa. * Birajik, ou the left bank of the Euphrates. 
 

 48 MEETING WITH A DERVISH. 
 
 seemed to see me gladly ; insomuch that I deliuered him my 
 Vres, which he caused to be well conveighed. Of this towne 
 I can saie no more, bicause it was defaced, for the lorde him- 
 self dwelled there but fearefully. After this, we came to the 
 foote of one hyll that stoode vpon another hyll, and hath a 
 citie called Merdin, wherevnto there is but one waie being a 
 staier enforced the grises^ whereof arr of free stone of iiij 
 paces brode a peece and so endure tli a myle longe. At 
 •the toppe of this staier is a gate, and w'hin that a waie that 
 leadeth to the towne, and within the towne is an other hill, 
 in manor hewen rounde about, on the which standeth a 
 castell of 1 paces high, to whose entrey is made such an 
 other staier as the first. This towne hath none other walles 
 but those of the houses, and is of leiugth the iij'''' parte of a 
 myle, conteyneng about ccc houses w'hin it, well peopled. 
 They make very many silkes and fustians, and it belongeth 
 also to the King Assambei. The Turkes and Moores arr 
 wont to saie that it is so high that they which dwell in it do 
 never see birdes flee over them. Here I was lodged in an 
 hospitall founded by Ziangirbei, brother of the King Assam- 
 bei, in the which they that reasorte thither arr fedde, and 
 if they seeme psons of any estimacon they haue carpetts 
 layed vnder their feete better wo''the than an hundreth 
 ducates a peece. In which place there happened me a 
 straunge cace : and verie rare in o"" pties. Sitteng one daye 
 alone in the hospitall, there came vnto me a Carandolo ; that 
 is to saie, a naked man shaven, w^"^ a goate skynne about 
 him, browne, about xxx yeres of age, and sate downe by 
 me, takeng out of his sachell a litle booke, whereon he be- 
 ganne to reade devowtely, w*^*^ good maner, as we use to 
 saie o"" praiers : w'hin a while aftre he ytched neere me, and 
 asked what I was : wherevnto answering him that I was a 
 straungier, he saied, and I also am a straungier to this 
 worlde, and so be we all : wherefore I haue lefte it and en- 
 
 ' Grises ; i.e., steps. 
 
TOWN OF ASANCHEPF. 49 
 
 tende to folowe this trade' vnto myne ende : w^'' so many 
 good and eloquent wordes, that to lyve well and modestly 
 he wondrefully compforted me to despise the world: saieng, 
 tho" seest howe I go naked through the worlde, whereof I 
 haue seene parte^and yet haue founde nothing that pleaseth 
 me : and therefore haue determyned vtterly to habandon it. 
 Being departed from Merdino, we rode sixe io'neySj and 
 came to a towne of the King Assambeis called Asancheph. 
 On the right hande whereof before ye come to it in the syde 
 of a litle hill^ there be a nombre of habitations digged out 
 of the verie hill^ and on the lyfte hande is ano' hyll whereon 
 the towne is buylded^ vnder the foote of which hyll arr many 
 caves enhabited, those caves on thone side of the hill being 
 innumerable and all high enough from thearthe, w"" their 
 streates or waies that leade to those habitations^ whereof 
 some arr xxx paces high ; insomuch that as the people and 
 cattaill passe by those streates or waies it seemeth they 
 walk in thayre they arr so high. Following this waie and 
 to''neng on the lyfte hande ye enter the towne, wherein arr 
 fustian merchaunts and other occupiers, the towne being a 
 great throwefare. It is a myle and an halfe of circuite 
 w^'' the suburbes, with many faire howses and some Moschees 
 in it. Out of it ye passe a faire deepe ryver^ of xxx paces 
 brode, over a bridge of huge tj^mber, which by force of the 
 only weight standeth vpon the heades of other peeces of 
 tymber that arr dryven into the earth, for the ryver is so 
 deepe that no one peece can reache it. Aftre we had passed 
 this mountaigne we went through champaignes and hylly 
 cuntreys, not high nor trowblouse, from whense about twoo ,{ 
 dales io''ney eastwarde we came to a towne called Saiet,^ '^ 
 which is made Trianglewise, and on thone pte hath an indif- 
 ferent stronge castell, w"^ many great towres, on which side 
 
 1 To continue in this manner. ^ a. great part. 
 
 ^ Ramusio has — named Set, formerly named Tigris. 
 ^ Sert, thirty leagues east of Diarbekir. 
 
5U DESCRIPTION OF SAIRT. 
 
 tlie walles arr somewliat decaied : showing the towne never- 
 theles to have been very faire, being three myles of com- 
 passe, very well enhabited, and furnished indifferently w*-^ 
 howses, moschees, and faire fountaignes. At thentree 
 whereof we passed two ryvers over ij bridges of stone of one 
 arche apeece, vnder the which one of o"" great barges might 
 passe w"' his mast vpright : for they be both great ryvers, 
 and swifts, thone called Bettalis, and thother Isan ; and to 
 this place stretcheth the lesse Armenia, wheare arr no gi-eat 
 hilles, nor great woods, nor yet any buyldings different from 
 the accustomed. And throughout that region arr many vil- 
 laiges, the people whereof live by tillaige, as they do here. 
 They have corne, frutes, and many fustians, oxen, horses, 
 and other beastes enough ; besides this, they have goates, 
 W^h they sheare yerely, and of their heare make chamletts, 
 wherfore they governe them very diligently, keeping them 
 wasshed and neate. 
 
 Nowe shall we beginne to entre into the mountaigne 
 Taurus, whose ende is towards the sea Maggigee, in the 
 pties of Trabisonda, and streccheth east-sowtheast towardes 
 the golfe called Sinus Persicus, at thentree of which moun- 
 taigne arr exceeding high, and stype hilles enhabited w'^ a 
 certain people called Corbi,^ different in languaige from all 
 their neighbo''% exceading crewell, and not so much thee- 
 vishe as openly given to roberie. They have many townes, 
 buylded vpon bankes and high places, to discover all pas- 
 saiges that they may robbe them that passe. Wherfore 
 many of those townes have been destroied by the Lordes of 
 the cuntrey for the damaige they have doon to the Carouanes 
 passeng by them. As I for my pte have had some expience 
 of their condicions. 
 
 The iiij'*" day of Aprile, the yere 1474, being departed 
 from a towne called Chesan, appteyneng to a Lorde that is 
 subiect to Assambei, about halfe a daies io'ney from the 
 
 1 Kurds. 
 
JOSAFA BARBARO PLUNDERED. 51 
 
 towne ; having in my companie an Ambassado'' of the said 
 AssAMBEi, vpon an high hill we were assaulted by these 
 Coi'bi, who slewe the said Ambassado'' and ray Secretaire 
 w'*^ ij other, and having hurte me and the rest, they tooke 
 our sompters and all that they founde. I being on horse- 
 backe fledde out of the waie all alone, and afti-e me came they 
 that were hurte ; insomuch that at length we gate us into 
 the company of a Califfo, that is as much to say, as an heade 
 pylgryme, w'*^ whom we travailed as well as we coulde. The 
 iij"^® day folowing we came to Vastan,^ a citie decaied and 
 yll enhabited, for it hath not above ccc houses. Twoo daies 
 io^'ney thense we founde a towne called Choy,^ which is also 
 decaied, having about cccc houses, and thinhabitants lyve of 
 handicrafte and tillaige. Being come in maner to thende of 
 the mountaigne Taurus, I determyned to departe from this 
 Califfo ; and taking one of his companions for my guyde, 
 w'hin three daies io'ney we came neere to the famouse citie 
 of Thauris, and being in the brode champaigne, we mett w'*^ 
 certain TuRCOMANNi,who, w^*^ certein Corbi in their companie, 
 came towardes vs, askeng vs whithef we went. I answered 
 that I was going towardes the King Assambei w'^'' Pres 
 directed vnto him. Than one of them praied me to lett him 
 see them : and because I told him curteyslie it was not con- 
 venient, I shulde putt them in his handes, he lyfte vp his fist 
 and strake me such a blowe on the face that the paine 
 thereof lasted me iiij moonethes after ; besides that they 
 beate my trowchman unhappely, and so lefte vs yll content, 
 as all men may think. Being come to Thauris, we went 
 into a CANOSTKA, that is to weete (after o*" maner) an Inne, 
 from whense I signified to the King Assambei (being than 
 there present) that I was come, desireng to be brought to 
 his presence. And incontinently the next morneng being 
 sent for, I presented myself vnto him, so yll apparailed that 
 I darr assure yo" all that I had about me was not wo''the ij 
 ^ Ycastan, six leagues south of Van, 2 Khoy. 
 
52 
 
 BARBARO VISITS THE KING OF PERSIA. 
 
 Musaico 
 is an ex- 
 cellent 
 kinde of 
 paincteng 
 
 V\th crolde. 
 
 ducates. He receaved me curtesHe, and than badde me 
 welcome^ saieug that he had beene well advertised of the 
 death of his ambassado"", and of the other twoo, and also of 
 ray roberie^ promiseng me to see all redressed in such sorte 
 as we shulde susteigne no losse. Than I presented vnto 
 him my I'res of credence, which I had alwaies carried in my 
 boosome ; and bicause there was none about him that coulde 
 reade it, he made me reade it myself, and so to be declared 
 vnto him by an interpret©''. And whan he vnderstode the 
 contents of it, he badde me (aftre o"" own manor) repaire to 
 his counsaill, and to deliver them in writeng what had been 
 taken from me, and further to declare what I had to saie, 
 and so to reto^'ne to my lodging till he shulde see tyme to 
 send for me. The place wheare I had this accesse to the 
 King was on this maner. First, it had a gate w'hin the 
 which was a quadrant of iiij or v paces square, wheare sate 
 his chief a states that passed not eight or ten in nombre. 
 Than was there an other gate neei'e to the first, in the which 
 stoode a porter w"' a little staffe in his hande. Whan 1 was 
 entered that gate I passed through a grene garden like a 
 meadowe full of trufles, w**^ mudde walles, in the which on 
 the right syde was a pavement. About xxx paces further 
 was there a lodge, volte wise, aftre o'' maner, iiij or v steppes 
 higher than the foresaid pavement. In the middest of this 
 lodge was a fountaigne like vnto a little gutter, alwaies full 
 of water, and in thentrie of it the king himself sate on a 
 cusshion of cloth of gold, w'^ another at his backe, and be- 
 sides him was his buckler of the Moresco facon with his 
 scimitarra, and all the lodge was laied w"' carpettes, his 
 chiefest Princes sitteng round about. The lodge was all 
 wrought of Musaico, not so small as we vse, but great and 
 verie faire of divers colo""^. 
 
 The first day I came to hym he had divers syngers and 
 plaiers, w"' harpes of a yarde longe, which they holde w"^ 
 the sharpe ende vpwardes ; and besides that lutes, rebickes, 
 
SPORTS WITH WILD BEASTS. 53 
 
 cymbales, and baggepipes, all which plaied agreablie. The 
 next dale he sent me twoo garmentes of sylke, that is, to 
 witt, a straict gowne furred w"*^ barco and a jackett, a towcU 
 of sylke to girde me, a fyne peece of lynen called bumbasie 
 to putt on my hedde, and xx ducats, sending me worde 
 w'hall that I shulde go to Maidan, that is, to witt, to the 
 markett place to see the Tarafuccio,^ that is, to weete, the 
 plaie. Thither I went on horsebacke, wheare in the markett 
 place I founde about iij horsemen and more than twies as 
 many on foote, besides the King's children, which were 
 looking out at certein wyndowes. To this place certein 
 wylde wolves were brought, ledde w''" cordes tied to echo 
 one of their hynder feete, and those wolves were by one and 
 one lett go in the middest of the place. And to the first 
 there came a man appointed vnto it, offering to stryke him. 
 The wolfe flewe streighte towards his throte ; but the man, 
 which was nymble, shifted him of in such wise as the wolfe 
 tooke no holde but on his arme, which coulde take no hurte 
 by reason of his sleeves that were prepared for it. The 
 horses fled for feare amongst the prease, and many fell, 
 some in the place and some into the water which renneth 
 through the citie. And whan they had weeried one wolfe 
 than they lett slyppe an other, which kinde of plaie they use 
 every frydaie. 
 
 This pastyme being ended, I was brought to the King's 
 presence into the place before mencioned ; and was caused 
 to sit honorably, and likewise others being sett in their 
 places as many as coulde conveniently sytt w'hm that lodge, 
 and the rest according to their degrees sitteng vpon carpetts 
 aftre the Morisco mauer, table clothes were spredde vpon 
 the carpetts, and every man had sett before h^^m a sylver 
 basen w*'' a pott of wj'ne, an ewer of water, and a little dishe 
 all of silver. This meane while there came in certein men 
 sent from a Prince of India, w"^ certein strange beastes ; 
 ' llamusio has — Tanfaruzo, corruption of ta/arraj, rejoicing. 
 
54 SPORTS WITH WILD BEASTS. 
 
 the first Avhereof was a leonza^ ledde in a chayne by one that 
 had sky 11, which they call in their languaige Babureth. 
 She is like vnto a lyonesse : but she is redde coloured^ 
 streaked over all w"* blacke strykes ; her face is redde w^*^ 
 certein white and blacke spottes, the bealy white, and tayled 
 like the lyon : seemyng to be a marvailouse fiers beast. 
 Than was there a lyon brought foo''the and shewed to the 
 leonza somewhat of. At the sight whereof the leonza sod- 
 dainely squatted, as it had been a catte, and as though she 
 wolde have leaped on the lyon, if the keeper had not drawen 
 her backe. Aftre this were twoo elephantes bi'ought, which, 
 whan they came forneagainst the kinge aftre certein woordes 
 spoken to them by their leader, looked vp to the kinge and 
 than enclyned their heades w'^ a certein gravitie, as though 
 they did him reverence. The gi-eater of them was brought 
 to a tree in the gardein as bigge as a mannes myddell, 
 which (aftre certein woordes spoken by his keeper) he 
 shaked on thone side w"* his heade, and then to'ned and did 
 as much on thother side : so that he plucked it vp. 
 
 Aftre this was brought foo''the a Gieaffa, which they call 
 GiKNAFFA, a beast as longe legged as a great horse, or rather 
 more ; but the hynder legges are halfe a foote shorter than 
 the former, and is cloven footed as an oxe, in manor of a 
 violett colo'' myngled all over w*^ blacke spottes, great and 
 small according to their places : the bealy white somewhat 
 longe beared, thynne beared on the tayle as an asse, litle 
 homes like a goate, and the necke more than a pace longe : 
 the tonge a yarde longe, violett and rounde as an eele, w"" 
 the which he graseth or eateth the leaves from the trees so 
 swiftely that it is skarsely to be pceaved. He is headed like 
 a harte, but more fynely, w"' the which standing on the 
 grounde he woll reache xv foote high. His brest is broder 
 than the horse, but the croope narowe like an asse ; he 
 seemath to be a mervaillouse faire beast, but not like to beare 
 any burden. Aftre these were brought foo''the in three 
 
 ' An ounce. 
 
ARRIVAL OF AMBASSADORS FROM INDIA. 55 
 
 cages three paire of doves, white and blacke like vnto oux's, 
 saving they were longe necked like a goose : being (as I be- 
 lieve) rare byrdes in those parties, ells they wolde never 
 have brought them foo'"the. Finally aftre all these there 
 were three popingaies of divers colo""^ brought foo'the, and 
 twoo of those cattes that make zibetto. Than was I taken Zibetto i? 
 vp and brought into a chamber, wheare I dyned, and whan 
 I had doon he that attended on Ambassado""^ badde me fare- 
 well and willed me to departe. Nevertheless immediately 
 aftre I came to my lodging I was sente for againe, and be- 
 ing come to the kinge he asked me why I departed ? where- 
 vnto I answered that my governo"" gave me leave ; for the 
 which the king being offended, caused him incontinently to 
 be called, layed flatt, and beaten in his presence. Howbeit, 
 viij daies aftre at my request he was restored into favo"". The 
 morowe aftre this man was beaten the King sent for me 
 early : who, being in the place aforesaid, caused me to sytt 
 as I did the other tyme. 
 
 This dale being holydaie, and for the coinyng of the Am- 
 bassado" of India, there were verie great tryomphs made. 
 First his co'"tiers were apparailed in cloth of golde, sylkes 
 and chamlettes of divers colo""'. In the lodge were sett 
 about xl"® of the most honourable, and in the entries about 
 an c, w%out thentry about cc, betwene the two gates about 
 L*'% and in the streete w'hout about xx"", all readie sett, 
 looking for meate, in the myddest of whom there were about 
 iiiji" horses. And standing in this order the twoo Ambas- 
 sado''^ of India came in, who were made to sytt forneagainst 
 the kinge, and than incontinently were the presents brought 
 foo''the, which passed before the king and his companie on 
 this wise. First, the beastes rehersed before. Next, about 
 an c men, one aftre an other, everie man having on his arme 
 V TOLPANi,^ that is to sale, v peeces of vei-ie fyne bombasses 
 lynen cloth w"> the which they make those rolles that they 
 were on their heades being wo'"the v or vij ducates a peece. 
 
 1 Turban. 
 
66 PRESENTS OF THE INDIAN AMBASSADORS. 
 
 Than came there vi men, every man w^*^ vi peaces of sylke 
 on his arme. Than came there ix, every one of them w''^ a 
 little dishe of sylver full of such pretiouse stones as I shall 
 declare vnto yo™ hereafter. After them came certein w''' ves- 
 Sandalo is sells and disshes of porcellana. Than some w"^ woodJe of 
 that the ALOES and great large peeces of sandali. Than came there 
 ®J"°® XXV fardells of spices, caried w'^ cowle stakes^ by iiij men at 
 Saunders every fardell. These things being passed, meate was brought 
 of. foo'the, and every man serued. Aftre dyner the king asked 
 
 thambassado""^ wheather there were any other king than theirs 
 that was Mossulman (that is to sale, Macomettane), who 
 answered that there were two others, but all the rest were 
 Christians. The morowe aftre the king sent for me, and 
 tolde me that he wolde make me a litle passetyme in shew- 
 ing me the Jewells that were sent him out of India, and first 
 caused to be deliuered vnto me a rynge (that serveth to 
 drawe their bowe) of golde w*^^ a ruble in the myddest of 
 twoo carretts, and some dyamands about it. Also ij ringes 
 of golde, w'''' twoo rubies waieng iiij carretts. Three skore 
 threades of perles of v carretts a peece, white, but not 
 rounde. A pointed dyamant of xx"^ can-etts, not verie 
 cleane, but of a good water. Twoo heades of deade byrdes^ 
 in a camewe,^ which seemed verie straunge in respect of the 
 fowle of our regions. And having shewed me these Jewells, 
 he asked me howe I lyked that present, addeng that a king 
 sent them vnto him from beyonde the seas : that is, to witt, 
 from be3'onde the Golfe of Persia. I answered that the 
 present was verie faire and of great value, though not so 
 great but that I esteemed him woo''thie of a much greater. 
 Well, than, said he, tho''' shalt also see my Jewells. Where- 
 vpon, he coinaunded a chyldes coyfe of silke to be deliuered 
 vnto mo. But I incontinently tooke myne handekerchief to 
 receave it w'liall to thentent I wolde not too^che it w'^ myne 
 
 ' A pole on which to carry a coici or vessel between two persons. 
 2 Ramuiio has — which had died on their passage. ' Cameo. 
 
KING OF Persia's jewels. 57 
 
 hande : wherew"^*^ he behelde me, and tornyng to his owne 
 folkes, sraylingly said^ See the Italian, as though he 
 coniended my maner in receaving the coyfe. On the toppe 
 of this coyfe there was a balasse bored through and faconed 
 lyke a date, clene, and of a good colo'', waieng an c* carretts, 
 about the which were certein great turcasses, but they were 
 olde, and likewise certein pei'les also olde. Besides this, he 
 caused me to see certein vessells of Porcellana and Diaspro,^ 
 very faire. 
 
 An other tyme, coiTiyng to him, I founde hym in a cham- 
 bre vnder a pavylion : and than he asked me howe I lyked 
 it. And Avheather they vsed any such in o"" cuntreyes, 1 
 answered him that I lyked it excellently well ; and that 
 there was no comparyson to be made of o"" places vnto 
 his ; both bicause his power ferre exceeded ours, and 
 also for that we vsed no such chambers ; and truly it v>'as 
 exceading faire. For the tymbre was well wrought aftre 
 the facon of a cowpe •? and hanged about w''^ clothes of Cowpe is 
 
 . -I ^^ ^ n t ^^ whole 
 
 sylke, embrowdene, and golde and all the noore covered volted 
 w^"^ excellent good carpetts, being about xiiij paces over. ^'^'^ ^' 
 Beyonde this chamber was a great square tent embroidered, 
 pitched, as it had been, betweene foure trees sett to 
 shadowe it, betweene which and the cowpe there was a 
 pavylion of Bucasin, all wrought and embrowdered w'hin- Bucasin 
 foo'^the. The chambre doore was of the woodde of Sandali gne lynen 
 entrelaced w'^ threedde of golde and nettes of perle wrought ^ ^^ d 
 and embrowdered w'hinfoo'"the. I founde the king sytteng cotton, 
 there with his greatest psonaiges about him, having before 
 hym a towell folded vp : which he vnfolded, and tooke out 
 of it a threade of twelue balasses, lyke vnto olyves, of very 
 clene colo'', betweene l and Ixxx carratts a peece. Than 
 tooke he out one sable balasse of twoo ounces and an halfe 
 of a goodley facon, bigge as a fynger, w'hout any hole and 
 of excellent colo'", in thone corner whereof were certein 
 ' Jasper. ^ Kubbeh, dome. 
 
58 LARGE KUBY. 
 
 moresco I'res graven, w'''^ moved me to aske what I'res tliey 
 were, and he answered me that a certein king had caused 
 them there to be graven, syns whose tyme neither his pre- 
 decesso' nor he wolde grave any moore, bicause it shulde de- 
 face the whole. Than he asked me what that rubie might 
 be wo''the. I looked on him and smyled ; wherevpon he 
 asked me again, How I lyked it ? I tolde him I had never 
 seene the lyke, nor I thought never to finde any that might 
 be a paragone vnto it. And if I shulde valewe it, the balassi, 
 if he had a tongue might aske me wheather ever I had seene 
 the lyke : to the which I shulde be dryven to saye no. So 
 that I belieue he is not to be valewed w^'^ golde, but padven- 
 ture, some citie might answere him. He looked earnestly 
 on me, and saied Pran cataini cataini. The worlde hath iij 
 eyes, whereof the Cataines haue two and the Franchi one. 
 In dt'de tho'" hast said truly. And to''neng him towardes 
 them that were about him he tolde them howe he had asked 
 me what that balassi might be wo'the and what answere I 
 had made, rehearsing my wQi'ds vnto them. 
 
 I had before hearde this wo'"de Cataini of an ambassa- 
 do'' of Tartarie in his reto'"ne from Cataio the yere 1436, 
 who, passeng throwgh Tana w"^ all his trayne, was lodged 
 in my house : I hoping to get some Jewell of him. At 
 which time, talking of Cataio, he tolde me howe the chief 
 of that Princes co'te knewe well what the Franchi were. 
 And vpon my demaunding of him howe it was possible 
 they shulde haue knowledge of the Franchi, he asked 
 me, why shulde they not knowe us ? Tho"' knowest, said 
 he, howe neere we be vnto Capha, and that we practise 
 thither continually; liek as also they reasorto into o'' Lordo: 
 addeng this further, we Cataini have twoo eyes and yo'" Fran- 
 chi one, whereas yo'"' (to'neng him towards the Tartares that 
 were w"^ him) haue never a one, which he spake merrylie. 
 So that at this tyme I did the better vnderstande the pro- 
 vcrbe, whan the king vsed these woordcs vnto me. This 
 
DESCRIPTION 01' JEWELS. 59 
 
 doon, he shewed me a rubiej of an once and an halfe, of the 
 
 facon of a chest nutte, rounde^ faire colo'^red, and clene : 
 
 not bored throwgh and bounde in a cercle of golde^ which 
 
 seemed to me a mervailouse thinge, being so great : he 
 
 shewed me aftre many balasses, both jewelled and vnjewelled, 
 
 amongest the which there was one in a square table made 
 
 aftre the facon of a litle nayle, rounde about the which were 
 
 V other table balasses, the great one in the middest weying 
 
 XXX carretts or thereabouts, and the next twenty carrets or 
 
 thereabouts, betwene the which there were certein great 
 
 perles and turcasses set not of any great estimacon, for they 
 
 were olde. 
 
 After this he caused certein Cassacks^ to be brought These 
 
 foo'"the of clothe of golde, of sylke, and of damaskyne cham- are longe 
 
 lette, lyned w"^ sylke or furred w'^'^ exceading faire armelynes ^nd but 
 
 and sables : telling me these be of the clothes of a towne of ^^^^f 
 
 • p • • -ITT sleeved, 
 
 les,- Our apparaill, qd he, is faire ; but it waieth a litle to 
 
 much. Finally, he caused certein sylke carpetts to be 
 
 brought foo'the, which were mervailouse faire. 
 
 The morovve aftre, I came to hym againe, and calling me 
 neere, he said vnto me, Tho"^ shalt haue a litle more passe- 
 time. And so deliuered me a camewe^ of the breadeth of a 
 grote, wherein was a womans heade graven ; her heare 
 backwarde, and a garlande about her heade. He badde me 
 looke, is not this Mary ? I answered, no. Why, who is it 
 than (qd he) ? I answered, it was the figure of some of 
 thauncient goddesses that the Burpares''^ wo'shipped, that is, 
 to witt, the Idolaters. He asked me howe I knewe it? I tolde 
 him I knewe it ; for these kinde of wo^'kes were made before 
 the comyng of Jesu Christ. He shaked his heade a litle, 
 and saied no more. Than he shewed me three poincted 
 diamants, one of xxx carretts, very clene both aboue and 
 benethe ; and the other betwene x and xij carretts, askeng 
 me wheather there were any such Jewells w"^ vs. I tolde 
 
 1 Cassock. - Yczd. ^ Cameo. * Ent-percst. 
 
60 PKEPARATIONS FOR A FESTIVAL. 
 
 him no; wherevpon he tooke vp a masse of perles of xl 
 threadeSj vpon every one whereof were xxx perles of be- 
 twene v and vj carretts a peece : halfe of them rounde^ and 
 the rest not unfitt to be iewelled.^ Than he caused to be 
 putt into a sylver baseu about xl perles^ like vnto peares and 
 gourdes, of betwene viij and xij carretts a peece, vnbored 
 through and of very faire colo', saieng to me w"" a smyleng 
 cheere : I coulde shewe the an ho'se loade of these. This 
 was doon at a bankett by night aftre their maner, at the 
 circumcision of his twoo sonnes. 
 
 The daye folowing I repaired to him into a great feelde 
 w%in the towne, wheare wheate had been sowen, the grasse 
 whereof was mowed to make place for the tryomphe and the 
 owners of the grounde satisfied for it. In this place were 
 many pavilions pight,^ and as sone as he ^ceaued me he 
 comaunded certein of his to go w^*" me, and to shewe me 
 those pavilions, being in nombre about an c"', of the which 
 I pvsed xl of the fairest. They all had their chambres 
 w'hinfoo'the, and the roofes all cutt of divers colo", the 
 grounde being covered w'*' most beautiful carpetts, betwene 
 which carpetts and those of Cairo and of Borsa^ (in my 
 iudgement), there is as much difference as betweene the 
 clothes made of Englishe woolles and those of Saint 
 Mathewes. Aftrewardes they caused me to entre into twoo 
 pavylions, which were full of sylke apparaill aftre their 
 facon, and of other sortes of clothes laied on a great heape : 
 on thone. side of the which I pceaved to the nombre of xl 
 sadles, trymed w'*' sylver. All which apparaile and sadells 
 they tolde me shulde be given awaie by the king at the 
 tryomphe. They also shewed me twoo great doores of the 
 woodde of Sandali, of vj foote high, a peece sett w'*" goldo 
 and moother of perle aftre the wo'ke of Tharsia.'* Than I 
 reto''ned to the king, and took my leafe for that tyme. 
 
 The morowe folowing I founde him sitteng in his accus- 
 
 ' Set or muuutud. - ritchcd. 
 
 ■' Bruiisssa. ^ ^MarqiiL'ttt'iic work. 
 
DISTRIBUTION OF KHELATS AND PRESENTS. 61 
 
 tomed placGj vuto whom there were brought eight great 
 dishes of woodde : in every of the which was a white sugar 
 loofe made of divers facons, weying viij'*' a peece^ and rounde 
 about it were certein litle disshes w"' confections of divers 
 colo", but for the most parte comfettes. There were also 
 many other disshes brought foo'"the w'^'^ other confeccons 
 and frutes. The first eight he appoincted himself to whom 
 they shulde be given : I being the first that was presented 
 w'hall, and it was wo''the betwene iiij and v ducates a peece : 
 the' rest was distributed amongest others, according to their 
 degrees. 
 
 The next dale I founde him sett amongest xv psons, the 
 principall whereof had canopies over their heades^ and v or 
 vj stoode before the prince, whom he comaunded to go and 
 apparaill such and such by name. They therevpon went to 
 those that were named, and taking them vp, ledde them to 
 the paviHon, wheare the garmentes were, and aftre their 
 degrees apparalled them, and to some they gave sadells, 
 and to some other they gave horses, to the norabre of xl, in 
 my iudgement: but they that were so apparailed were aboue 
 eel, amongest whom I was one. This doon, there came cer- 
 tein women that beganne to dauuce and to synge w''^ certein 
 that plaied. And than was there sett on a carpett an hatt 
 faconed like a sugar looofe, having on the toppe cuttes and 
 tassel Is aftre the maner of the hattes of Zubiari,^ and a litle 
 from it stoode one waiteng the kinges comaundement, who 
 poincted him on whose heade he shulde sett that hatt. 
 Wherevpon he took it vp and went to the person appoincted : 
 which arose, and putteng of his rolle, putt the hatt on his 
 heade ; being so unseemely as suffised to haue disgraced a 
 right goodly man. But he hauing it on, passed foo''the, 
 daunceng before the king, as he knewe the guyse. And 
 the king gave a signe to him that wayted, comaunding him 
 
 1 Zubiaur, a district in the Basque country, where there are caps with 
 larore tassels. 
 
62 WRESTLERS. 
 
 Camocato to give to the dauncer a peece of Camocato, And he taking 
 Calicut this peece threwe it about the heade of the dauncer and of 
 other men and women : and useing certein woordes in 
 praiseng the king, threwe it before the mynstrells. This 
 daunceng aiid throwing of peeces lasted till an howre before 
 soniiesett : in the which^ by my rekenyng, what of damaske 
 wo'kesj ]ynenclothe_, chamletts^ and other like, there were 
 given awaie aboue ccc peeces and aboue 1'''' horses. This 
 doon, they fell to wrasteling on this wise. Two naked men, 
 w"' breeches and hoses of leather downe to the ankleys, pre- 
 sented themselfs before the king, and they clasped not 
 acrosse, but sought to take eche other by the nape of the 
 necke, which either of them did his best to defende. But 
 whan thone had goten holde on thothers necke, than he that 
 was so taken having none other shifte wolde stoowpe as 
 lowe as he might, and take the other by the backe, lifteng 
 him vp and seeking to throwe him flatt on his backe ; for 
 otherwise it was reckened no fall, howbeit divers of them 
 wolde suffer himself to be almost so throwen, and whan it 
 came to the point wolde nevertheles shifte the others to the 
 fall, and so wynne the price. At leingth there came one of 
 these naked wrestlers before the king, so huge a man that 
 he seemed a gyaunte, being yonge and well proporconed, of 
 XXX yeres of age or thereaboutes : whom the king coinaunded 
 to wrastle : willeng him to seeke a companion. But he, 
 kneeling, spake certein woordes againe, which I being de- 
 sirouse to vnderstande, it was tolde me that he had besought 
 the king he might not plaie, bicause in plaieng before he 
 had killed some w*'' strayneng of them ; wherefore the king 
 was contented to spare him. Vnto these wrastelers there 
 were divers horses given, and the plaie, aftre I was goon, 
 endured till it was twoo houres w'hin night ; so that there 
 were many other things given. In this, meane whole, the 
 towne was well decked, and spetially the shoppes; for every 
 man sett foo''the his best stuf. And there was also a price 
 
THE KING GOES OUT INTO THE COUNTRY. 63 
 
 apoincted to the kings footeraen^ whose co'se to renne was a 
 myle and an halfe, not w'hall their power, but a good trot- 
 ting pace, they being spoyled, naked, and anoynted over 
 w^*" larde for the preservacou of their synowes, w^'' a breeche 
 of leather for eve'rie of them. And beginneng at the one 
 ende of the race, whan they came trotting to thother, they 
 receaued (of such as were appoincted) an arrowe for a wit- 
 nesse to them that were ferre of, and coulde not discerne 
 wheather they arrived at the marke or not, liek as whan he 
 reto'"ned againe to thother ende, he receaued there also an 
 other arrowe ; and so from the one ende to the other as 
 longe as his legges wolde serue him ; so that he which shuld 
 most tymes trye that race shulde haue the price. These 
 for whom this price was prepared were all of the kings foote- 
 men; which go barelegged and in maner naked, not styck- 
 eng to trotte sometymes x daies io''ney togither. 
 
 These triomphes fynisshed, the king, w"^ all his trayne, 
 determyned, according to their custome, to go into the 
 champaigne ; wherefore he asked me wheather I wolde go 
 w''^ him and travaill or tarie behinde and make meery. I 
 answered that I had rather wayte on him w''' much sorowe 
 and trouble than to be from him w**^ great rest and 
 pleas'", which answer me seemed he tooke verie thankefuUy, 
 and so incontinently sent me an horse, a tente, and mooney. 
 Being thus departed from the citie, he w'*^ all his tra^me 
 tooke that waie which they knewe fittest to furnishe them 
 of pasture and water : travailing at the beginneng betwene x 
 and XV niyles a daye : and w'^ him there went iij of his 
 sonnes. 
 
 He that wolde here note all the things wo'"thie to be 
 noted, shulde take a diffuse entreprise vpon him and shulde 
 sometimes treate of things almost incredible. Wherefore I 
 shall declare so much only as I thinke convenient, leaving 
 the rest to those writers that shall vse more diligence in it 
 than I haue doon. 
 
64 GOOD ORDER ON THE MARCH. 
 
 Thus being in the champaigne there came to visit the 
 king a sonue of his that soggio''ned in the pties of Bagdath, 
 that is to saie^ Babilonb^ and his raother w"" him, who pre- 
 sented his father w'^ sx goodly horses, c camells, and cer- 
 tein peeces of sylke. Than were there also presented vnto 
 the king by the barons attending on his sonne a nombre of 
 camells and horses, which in my sight at the verie instant 
 were distributed and giv^en awaie by the king to such as 
 pleased him and than went to dyner. But not long after 
 being in the champaigne newes came that an other sonne 
 of his, called Orgalu mahumeth had taken Syras, a notable 
 great citie of his father's domynion ; which he bad doone 
 vpon woo^'de that was brought him of his father's death, 
 wherevpon he determyned to have that towne for himself. 
 These newes being hearde, the king forthw''^ aroase, and w'*^ 
 all his people tooke his waie towards Syras, which from 
 that place was distant cxx miles^ and travailed w'*" so much 
 speede that between mydnight and the evenyng of the next 
 dale they went xl myles, so that in iij daies he might have 
 been there. Who coulde believe that so great a nombre of 
 people, men, women, and children, and some in the cradell, 
 shulde make so great a speedie voiage, carieng w'*^ them all 
 their baggaige and so good ordre, w"' so much dignitie and 
 pompe, never wanteng breade and seldome wyne (which 
 they needed not to lacke weare it not that a great nombre 
 of them drynke none), and than such plentie of fleshe and 
 fruictes, and all other thinges necessarie ? I that have seen 
 it do not only believe, but also knowe it ; and to thende that 
 they which hereaftre may happen to travaill thither (if any 
 happen at all) may iudge whether I write trewe or not, and 
 that they which never mynde to see it may also believe it if 
 it shall please them, I shall heare make a special declara- 
 tion of it. 
 
 The noble and principall men which be w'^ the king, and 
 that carie w^'^ them their wiefs and children, men and women 
 
ORDER OP THE MARCH. 6 
 
 K 
 
 servants^ and their goodes, arr wonte to have many camella 
 and mooyles, the nombre whereof I shall rehearse hereaftre. 
 These carie the sucking children in their cradells at the 
 pomell of the sadell, so that the mqpther or the nurse ryding 
 may give them sucke^ which cradells arr some fairer than 
 other, according to the qualities of the owners, w*^'^ their 
 sylkes over them, wrought w''' golde or sylke. W^^the lyfte 
 hand they holde the cradell and the brydell both, and w*'^ the 
 right hande they drive the horse, beating hira w*^*^ a whippe 
 bounde to their litle fynger. The other children arr also 
 caried on horsebacke vpon certein cages, covered on both 
 sides, and wrowght according to their degrees. The women 
 also ryde on horsebacke in company togither w*^*^ their may- 
 dens and seruants before them according to their astate. 
 The hable men attende on the King's pson, and reckenyng 
 all togither, they arr so many in nombre that it is a good 
 halfe daies io''ney from the one ende of them to the other. 
 The women ryde their faces covered w* muflers made of 
 horse heare^ to defende them from sonne burneng in the 
 cleere weather. At this tyme were the musters taken as 
 well of the people as of the cattell on this wise. There was 
 a verie great champaigne environned w* horses, so ordered 
 that echo of them too"ched the other's heade, and the men 
 vpon them were partely armed and partely vnarmed, com- 
 prehending about XXX myles in circuite, w'hin which ordre 
 they all stoode from the morneng vntill sonnesett. Than 
 passed one surveieng and making a reckenyng of them, not 
 taking any mannes name or the markes of the horses in 
 writeng as we vse in these pties, but only called for, the 
 cap"*^ n;.mes, and considered the nombre wheather it were 
 in order, and than passed on, wherefore I tooke my seru'^nt 
 w'^ me, and passed through them apace, rekenj^ngw^^ beanes 
 what nombres I founde, vseng for every L*^'® to lett a beane 
 fall into my pockett. And whan the musters were past, I 
 ^ Ramusio has — as nnicli to prevent their being seen, as, etc. 
 
66 MUSTER OF THE CAMP. 
 
 made my reckenyng, and founde the nombres and qualities 
 
 of those things to be^ aftre thordre that I shall describe vnto 
 
 yo" : 
 
 Of pavylions, vj™' ; 
 
 Of camells^ xxx™' ; 
 
 Of cariage raooyles, v'"' ; 
 
 Of cariage horses^ v"' ; 
 
 Of asses, ij'"' ; 
 
 And horses of service, xx™' ; 
 
 Of the which there were ij™' covered w'" certein armure of 
 yron, made in litle squares and wrought w'*^ gold and syluer, 
 tacked togither w*^^ small mayle, which hanged downe in 
 manor to the grounde, and vnder the golde it had a frynge. 
 The rest were covered, some Vf^^ leather aftre o'" maner, some 
 w^^ silke, and some w^*^ quilted wo'"ke so thicke that an ar- 
 rowe coulde not haue passed throwgh it. The horsemens 
 armo'' is of the same sorte before rehearsed. Those armures 
 of yron that I first menconed arr made in Besthene,^ which 
 in or tonge signifieth the v townes, being of twoo miles 
 compasse, and standeth on an hill wheare no man dwelleth 
 but the craftesmen of that science. And if any straunger 
 be desirouse to lerne it, he is accepted w^*^ putting in sure- 
 ties Bever to departe thense : but to dwell there w"' the rest, 
 and to applie that occupation. It is trewe that in other 
 places like wo'^ks arr made, but no wheare so excellent. 
 Aftre this I nombred ij""' good mooyles, in heardes of small 
 cattaill xx""', and of great ij™^, leopardes to hunte w*^all an C; 
 fawcons gentle and bastarde, cc, grehounds, iij'"', houndes, a 
 thousande, goskawkes, L*"', souldeo" for the swearde, xv™' 
 sclaves, heardmen, cariers, and other like, with sweardes ij, 
 and archers a m', so that in all there myght be about xxv°^' 
 good horsemen, footemen of villaines and bowes, iij™', women 
 of the best and myddell sorte, x""', women serunts, v™', child- 
 ren of both kindes, of xij yeres and vnder^ vj'°' and other 
 ' Probably Besh-keuy, five villages. 
 
PRICE OF PROVISIONS. 67 
 
 children^ about that age v'"'. Amongst the horsemen there \ 
 were about one thowsande speares^ targettes v"*', archers 
 about x™'. The rest^ some w*'* one weapon, and some w'^ an 
 other. Amongst the baggaige arr these things folowing, 
 w\^ their prices and owners. First, taylo*"*, showmakers, 
 smythes, sadlers, and fletchers in great nombre, w'** all things 
 necessarie for the campe. Than arr there victuallers that 
 sell breade, fleshe, fruite, wyne, and other things'in excead- 
 ing good order, which is obserued throwgtowtlie, and there 
 be many poticaries also w"" spices. Their breade costeth 
 litle more than ©""^ doth in Venice. Their wyne costeth aftre 
 the rate of iiij ducates o"" hoggesheade, not bicause there is 
 any wante of it in the cuntrey, but bicause for the more 
 parte they vse it not. Fleshe aftre the rate of a peny or 
 three halfe pence the pounde; cheese, l^'^; rise, 1^"^; fruicte 
 of all sortes, 1^'^ ; and likewise mellones, of the which some 
 waied betwene xxiiij and xxx"' a peece. 
 
 Horsemeate aftre iij*^ the dale, and showing aftre xii"* an 
 horse mary f for gyrthers, leather sadells, and other horse 
 barneys, there was great skarsetfe. As for horses to be 
 solde, there be none but those nagges that arr wo'"the be- 
 twene viij and x ducates a peece, and that come out of Tar- 
 taric w"^ the merchauntes (as I have saied before), iiij or v 
 thousande at a clappe :^ which arr solde for iiij, v, or vj 
 ducates a peece : being litell, and serving onlie for cariaige. 
 Amongst the nombre of camells aboue rehearsed, there be 
 viij™', of twoo bunches a peece, which haue their coveringes 
 faire wrought, w''' belles, dyngles, and beadestones of divers 
 sortes hanging at them. Everie man afti'e his degree having 
 some X, some xx, and some xxx, tied one to an others tayle, 
 and be ledde every roannes by themselfs for a pompe, w*hout 
 any bodie suffred to ryde vpon them. The other camells, of 
 one bunche, carie the pavylions and their masters apparaill in 
 
 ' Ramusio has — in the cradles. 
 
 2 A set of horse-shoes. ^ In a herd. 
 
68 DESCRIPTION OF SULTANIAH. 
 
 chests, sackes, and fardelles. In like manor, amongest the 
 mooyles there be about ij'"' that carie nothing, but arr ledde 
 for pompe, trapped w'*^ goodly coveringes better wrought 
 than those of the camelles be. And of the same sorts, 
 among-est the horses abouemenconed there be about a thou- 
 sande thus decked. When they travaill by night w*"^ the 
 people those that be of reputacon, both men and women, 
 haue lightes borne before them, as we vse, which their men 
 and women serunts do carie. Wheare the Prince rydeth 
 there go before him v^ horses and more : which haue also 
 their skowtes before them w'^ certein square enseignes, 
 which, cryeng make roome, make roome ! to whom all men 
 give waie. This is one parte of that which I haue -scene 
 concerneng the manor, order, dignitie, and pompe that this 
 people (whilst they be in the champaigne) vse in attending 
 on their king : being yet much lesse than I coulde saie of 
 them. 
 
 At this tyme, bicause I felte myself not well at ease, I 
 departed from the campe, and went out of the waie about 
 halfe a daies io'"ney to Soltania, which in o*" tonge signifieth 
 Imperiall. This is a citie of the forsaid kinge, which sheweth 
 itself to haue been excellent faire. It is not walled, but it 
 hath a castell walled, though it be decaied, by reason that 
 about iiij years passed it was overthrowen by a lorde called 
 Giusa. The castell is a myle about, and hath w'hin it an 
 high churche of iiij iles, and of iiij vaultes high : the great 
 cowpe whereof is bigger than that of San Joanni Paolo in 
 Venice. At thone ende it hath a gate of brasse of iij paces 
 high, wrought letties^ wise ; w'hin the which arr divers 
 sepultures of the kings that were in time past. Over against 
 that gate there is an other like vnto it : and on the sides 
 twoo other lesse, one of echo side crosses, so that the great 
 cowpe hath iiij gates, ij great and ij small, the quarters or 
 sydes whereof arr of brasse, iij quarters of a yarde brode 
 
 ' Lattice. 
 
SEVERITY OF THE KING. G9 
 
 and half a yarcle tliicke, excellently well kerved w^^ leaves 
 and devises aftre their maner ; so wrought in w'*^ beaten 
 golde and s^-lver that it is both mervailousle and riche. The 
 letties of those gates haue certein great balles as bigge as 
 loofes, and than certein litell ones like orenges, w'^ branches 
 that knytt loofe to loofe^ as I remembre I haue scene it ones 
 graven in woodde in a certein place. The workemanship of 
 the golde and syluer is so excellent that there is no man in 
 o' pties that durst take the like in hande w'^'^out very great 
 tyme. The citie is great enough, conteineng iiij myles in 
 circuite, and is well furnisshed of water. And if it were by 
 none other but by the name only, it appeax-eth that it hath 
 been very notable. Indede, it is nowe but evill enhabited, 
 having betwene vij and viij*"' people in it; padventure more.^ 
 Whilest I laie in this citie, I had worde that the king, 
 being aduertised, as is aforesaid, that his sonne had taken 
 Syras, removed w*^^ all his people on his waie thitherwardes. 
 Wherefore, immediately I departed from Soltania, and went 
 to Chulperchean, which signifieth in o"" tonge the lordes 
 sklave, a litle towne, though by the rewynes of it, it seemeth 
 to haue had goodly buyldengs, being of ij miles circuite, 
 and conteyneng about v'' houses ; in which place myne in- 
 tei-preto'' died. So that, from thensfoo'the, as longe as I 
 remayned in those pties (for the space of v yeres aftre), I 
 coulde never finde any that vndrestode my langaige. Where- 
 fore I was driven to take the office of interpreto'' vpon me, 
 contrary to the maner of all other ambassado'"^. Departeng 
 thense I repaired towardes the king, who hasted his io''ney 
 towardes Syras, in which io''ney I noted in him one mer- 
 vailouse poinct of severitie. Amongest others about him 
 there was one Coscadam, an aged man, of Ixxx (and yet a 
 lustie man of his person), who had either v or vj sonnes, 
 and all in good reputacon w^'' the king. This man being of 
 bono'' was, by the king, comaunded to be taken : bicause he 
 ^ Sultauiah aud its great mosque are uow in ruins. 
 
70 UNDERGROUND WATER CONDUITS. 
 
 was aduertised that his Sonne Ogurlu Mahumeth (who had 
 wonue SyraSj had writen certein Vres vnto this Cascadam 
 that were not showed to the king.^ Wherefore, he caused 
 first his bearde to be shaven, and then made him to be had 
 to the shambles, wheare he was strypped, and had twoo of 
 those hookes, whereon the bocheo""® vse to hange fleshe, 
 driven in behinde his shouldres, on either side one : by the 
 which he was hanged by lowe, wheare the fleshe is wonte 
 to hange, and lyved twoo howres aftre. Nowe, by that I 
 coulde learne, the said Ogurlu Mahumeth, hearing of his 
 fathers coming to Syras, departed thense, and kept himself 
 abroade ; writeng vnto an vncle of his to be meane vnto his 
 father for him. Offering to submytt himself and to be ib 
 an}^ place wheare it shulde please his father to appoinct him : 
 so that he might haue wherew'hall to lyve.- 
 
 All this region of Persia hitherto, by the waie that we 
 I came was verie barayn, drie, sandie, and stonye, having 
 fewe waters, so that wheare water is there be some townes: 
 though for the more parte destroied : every of which townes 
 ' hath a castell fortified of earthe. Their cornes, vines, and 
 I fruictes encrease b}' force of their water ; for wheare water 
 is skarse there is harde dwelling; nevertheles, they vse to 
 conveigh their water vnder earthe iiij and v daies icney 
 from the ryvers, whense they fetche them, and that in this 
 maner. Neere to the ryver they make a pitt like vnto a 
 well, from whense they folowe, diggeng by lyvells towardes 
 the place they meane to bringe it to ; so that it may ever- 
 more distende chanell wise : which chanell is deeper than 
 the botome of the foresaid pytt, and whan they haue digged 
 about XX paces of this chanell, than digge they an other pitt 
 like to the first,'"* and so from pitt to pitt they conveigh the 
 water alongest these chanells whither they woll. And whan 
 
 ' Kainusio has — which he refused to show to the king. 
 
 * So tliat his life might be spared. 
 
 3 These iiits are for removing the earth to make the conduit, ov kanud. 
 
SCARCITY OF TIMBER. 71 
 
 they haue finisshed this worke than open they the skluse of 
 the pitt towardes the ryver, and so letting in the water, 
 convey it to their townes, and whither they woll, fetching 
 that through the botome of mountaignes that is had out of 
 the deepe of the ryvers. For if they did not thus there 
 coulde be no dweUing there ; considering that it rayneth 
 very seldome, insomuch that I saied to those of tharmie their 
 cuntrey was very barayne. Whearevnto I was answered 
 that I needed not to mervaile, bicause the waie they tooke 
 was freshe, so that they founde the better pasture and the 
 cuntrey the holsomer. In those pties arr no woodes nor yet 
 trees, no not so much as one, except it be fruite trees, which 
 they plante, whereas they may water them ; for otherwise 
 they wolde not take. The tyraber wherew'h they buylde 
 arr trees which they sett in watrie places, in such nombre as 
 suffiseth for their necessitie. The rather for that they haue 
 excellent carpenters, who, being constrejmed of necessitie 
 to spare woll of one peece of tymber of two spannes in com- 
 passe sawed into boordes, make an handesome doore of two 
 paces longe, so well wrought outwardes and so well ioyned, 
 that it is a wonder, aftre which maner they also make their 
 wyndowes and other things meete for their householde. In 
 dede, w'hinfoo'the the peeces of their ioynengs may well be 
 discerned. Of this they also make chestes ; and for proofe 
 that there be none other trees, great nor small, neither on 
 hill nor plaine, I have sometimes founde a shrubbe of thorne, 
 on the which, as it were for a myracle, I haue seene certein 
 peeces of cloth and ragges hanging, in token that the feaver 
 and other infirmities arr healed there. And, notw'hstand- 
 ing the great moltitude of people that is in their campe, yet 
 shall yo^ not heare any one mom^ning or lamenting ; for 
 they arr all meerie : synge, plaie, and laugh. 
 
 Folowing on o' io'ney we came to a towne called Spaham,^ 
 •which hath been a notable toune till of late, walled w^'' mudde 
 
 ' Ispahan. 
 
72 DESCRIPTION OF ISPAHAN. 
 
 and diclied, hauing about iiij myles in circuyte, and, reken- 
 yng the subvrbes, aboue x myles : in which subvrbes arr no 
 less goodly houses than whin the walles. I vndrestode 
 that, by reason of the moltytude of the people amongest the 
 which were nombres of good men, being also ryche, some- 
 times they disobeyed their king. And, about xx yeres passed, 
 one GiANSA being King of Persia, came to this towne to 
 reduce the same to obedience, and hauing taken ordre w'** 
 them, depted. But shortely aftre they rebelled againe ; 
 wherevpon he sent an armye thither w'^ comaundement, 
 that whan they had sacked and burned the towne, every 
 man at his reto''ne shulde brino-e one of thinhabitaunts 
 heades w'*^ him : which they fulfilled so exactely that (as I 
 haue hearde some of them reporte which were in that 
 armie) they that coulde not gett mennes heades cutt off 
 womeus heades and shaved them, to fulfill the kings co- 
 maundement. By reason whereof, they overthrewe and de- 
 stroied the whole towne ; nevertheles, the vj'*' parte of it is 
 nowe enhabited again. It hath many great and notable an- 
 tiquities, amongest the which the chiefest is a square cis- 
 terne, w''' cleere and sweete water, verie good to dr3mke, 
 rounde about the which is a goodly wharfe sett w'*' pyllars 
 and vowltes : wheare arr innumerable roomethes^ and places 
 for merchaunts to bestowe their merchaundizes : which 
 place is alwaies locked in the night for savegarde of the 
 merchaundize. Divers other things and goodly monuments 
 arr in this citie : whereof I woU forbeare to speak, saving 
 that in the tyme rehearsed (as it was saied) there dwelled 
 aboue L™' persons. Aftre this, we founde a well enhabited 
 citie called Cassan,~ wheare for the more parte they make 
 sylkes and fustians in so great quantitie that he who wolde 
 bestowe x"' ducates in a dale may finde enough of that 
 merchaundise to bestowe it on. It is about iij myles in 
 compasse, walled, and w'houtfoo'thc hath fairc and large 
 ' lloouis. ^ Kiibhau. 
 
SILK TRADE OF YEZD. 73 
 
 subvrbes. Than came we to a walled citie called Com, very 
 rudely buylded. It is no towne of craftesmen ; for they 
 lyve of tyllaige, having many vineyardes and gardens and 
 excellent good mellons ; so great, that some one shell waie 
 xxx"*, grene w'hout, white w4iin, and as sweete as suger; 
 and the towne conteigneth about xx™' houses. 
 
 From thense, folowinge on o"" waie we came to Jex,^ a 
 towne of artificers, as makers of sylkes, fustians, chamletts, 
 and other like. Some may thinke I tell more than trowthe 
 in many things; nevertheles, it is most trewe, as they knowe 
 that liave seene it. This towne is walled, of v myles in 
 circuite, w"' very great subvrbes, and yet in maner they all 
 arr wevers and makers of divers kindes of sylkes which came 
 from Straua,^ from Azzi, and from the pties towardes Zaga- 
 TAi : towards the sea of Bachu, the best whereof come from 
 Jex, w*^*^, w"^ their wo'kes, do aftrewards furnishe a great 
 parte of India, Persia, Zagatai, Cim, and Macim,-^ parte of 
 Catay, of Bursia, and of Turchie ; wherefore lett him that 
 well bie good silkes of Soria, faire and well wrought, take 
 of these. And whan any merchaunt coraeth to this towne 
 
 for wares, he goeth into the fondaco, rounde about the A resort- 
 
 ,., -Til 1- • 1 1 ^• ^ ^^S place 
 
 which arr certein Iitle shoppes, and m the middest a litle for mer- 
 
 square place, likewise w''' shoppes, having twoo gates to^^af-^^ 
 
 cheyned (bicause horses shulde not passe through). This ^^^^ i°- 
 
 merchaunt w"^ his companie, if they be acquainted w*^ any 
 
 place, resorte thither to sytt : if not, they may sytt wheare 
 
 pleaseth them in any of those shoppes, being vj foote square 
 
 a peece. And if they be divers merchaunts, lightly they 
 
 take eche one a shoppe by himself. An howre aftre the 
 
 Sonne ryseng certein go about w"' sylkes and other wares on 
 
 their armes, passeng rounde about wihout speaking. And 
 
 the merchaunts, if they see ought that pleaseth them, call 
 
 the seller ; and looke on his wares ; the price whereof is 
 
 writen on a paper sowed vnto it. If he lyketh them and the 
 
 ' Yczd. - Astiabad. ^ Tcliin and Matchin, China. 
 
74 DESCRIPTIOX OF SHIRAZ. 
 
 pricGj lie throweth them into the Utle shoppe, and so dis- 
 pacheth them w'hout moore wordes. For he that deliuereth 
 the stuff kuoweth the owner of the shoppe^ and therefore 
 depteth w'hout further question : which markett endureth 
 till noone ; and aftre dyner cometh the seller and receaueth 
 his mooney; wheareas, if he fynde none that woll bye at his 
 price one day, than he reto'"neth an other day : and so foo'"the. 
 They saie that towne requireth every daie twoo sompters of 
 sylkes : which, aftre o"^ manor, amounteth to x""^ weight. As 
 for chamletts, fustians, and such other, I saie nothing; for, 
 by the sylke they make^ it may easelie be gessed how much 
 more they make of those. 
 
 All my ioTiey hitherto hath been sowtheast, but nowe I 
 shall reto''ne eastwardes, wheare the first towne in my waie 
 was the city of Syras, being very great, of xx''® myles com- 
 passe, rekenyng the subvrbes w'hall. It conteigneth in- 
 numerable people, and is full of merchaunts ; for all they 
 that come from the vpper parties, that is to saie, frome Ere, 
 Samakcahanth, and Nisu,^ taking the waie throwgh Persia, 
 do passe by Syras. Hither arr bi-ought many jewelles, 
 sylkes, both great and small, spices, rewbarbe, and semen- 
 zina, and is of the King Assambey, his domynion, closed 
 yf^^ high mudde walles and deepe dyches, w"-*" gates accord- 
 ing. It hath a nombre of excellent faire churches and good 
 howses tryrhed w*^*" musaico and other goodly ornaments : 
 and may conteigne cc™^ houses, or padventure more. In 
 which citie is very sure dwelling w'hout any disturbance. 
 Going hense, they departe out of Persia, and take the waie 
 vnto Ere,~ a towne situate in the region of Zugatai, which 
 towne apgteigneth to the sonne of the late Soldan Bosaith, 
 and is very great, though not so bigge by the iij"^^ parte as 
 Syras, wheare they make sylkes and other like wo''kes as 
 they do in Syras. I forbeare to speake of many castells, 
 
 1 Samarcand and the parts beyond. 
 
 2 Probably Re, a town formerly existing near Tehran. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF AUDIENCE IN rillNA. 75 
 
 townes, and villaiges tliat arr in this waie, bicause there is 
 nothing in them notable. But from thense^ somewhat 
 northeastwardes^ they travaile xl daies iomey through de- 
 sertes and barayn places, wheare no water is to be had but in 
 such Welles only as arr made for the purpose, and whereas 
 is litle grasse and lesse woodde. And than come they in 
 the self same region of Zagatai, to a verie great and well 
 enhabited citie called Sammarcahanth, through the which 
 all the merchaunts and travailers that come out of Cira 
 Macim, and Catay do passe to and fro. The towne is 
 well replenisshed of artificers and merchaunts both. The 
 lordes whereof arr sonnes to Giarda.^ I went no further 
 this waie, but by that I learned there of others, this 
 Cim and Macinn that I haue before named arr ij verie 
 great provinces, thinhabitants whereof arr idolaters, and 
 there make they vessells and disshes of Porcellana. In 
 these pties is verie great trafficque of merchaundize, spe- 
 cially Jewells and clothes, as well of sylke as of other sortes, 
 and from thense they go into the province of Catay. Of the 
 which I shall rehearse as much as I knows, by the reaporte 
 of an ambassado*" of Tartaric that came thense. I, being at 
 Tana, happened one tyme to talke w'^ the saied ambassador 
 tooching the cuntry of Catay, who tolled me that in passeng 
 throwgh the places hereafter menconed, aftre he was ones 
 entred into that cuntrey, his charges were borne from place 
 to place, vntill he came to a towne called Cambale,^ wheare 
 he was honorably receaued, and lodging appoincted vnto 
 him. And (as he said) even so the costes arr borne of all 
 the merchaunts that passe that waie. Than was he brought 
 to the princes presence, wheare, at his comyng to the gate, 
 he was made to kneele w'houtfoo'the. The place was flatt 
 and plaine, very large and longe. At the vpper ende whereof 
 was a pavement of stone, on the which the Prince sate w^"* 
 his backe to the gatewardes. And on both sides sate iiij of 
 ' Or Giaiisa. ^ Cambalu. 
 
76 JUSTICE IN CHINA. 
 
 his w*'' their faces towardes the gate ; and from the gate 
 vnto these iiij on either side stode certein seruants of armes 
 w'** syluer staveSj making a lane in the myddest. In the 
 which lane, here and there sate certein trowchemen on their 
 heeles, as women do in o*" parties. The said ambassado"^ 
 being brought to the gate, wheare he founde the things in 
 thordre aforesaied, was comaunded to declare his messaige: 
 which the trowchemen declared again from one to the other, 
 till it came to the Prince. Wherevpon, it was answered 
 that he was welcome and might reto'"ne vnto his lodging, 
 wheare he shulde receaue a further answere : and that he 
 needed no more to reto'ne to the Prince, but only to con- 
 ferre w"' such as were therevnto appoincted and sent to his 
 lodging, who to and fro did so travaill, that he was both 
 speedylie and thankefully dispatched. A servaunt of the 
 said ambassado""* and a companyon of his, who were both 
 w^^ him, tolde me wonders of the justice they vse in those 
 pties. Amongest the which, this was one that being on a 
 daye in Madian^ which signifieth the markett place, they did 
 see a woman carieng a payle of mylke on her heade, to 
 whom one came that tooke it from her : and beo^innensr to 
 drynke, she beganne to crye out, Helas ! howe can we poore 
 wydowes carie o' goodes to sell ? Wherevpon, he was in- 
 continently taken, and w'*' a swearde cutt in sender by the 
 myddest : so that at ones ye shulde haue seene both the 
 bloudde and the mylke gushe out of his bowells which tham- 
 bassado*" himself affirmed aftrewardes to be trewe : addeng 
 further that a certein woman weaving of fustian, had drawen 
 out a shuttell and laied it behinde her ; which shuttell, one 
 that by chaunce passed by, tooke awaie and went on. But 
 she, looking backe and mysseng her shuttell, beganne to 
 crie : and being tolde her that he which had it went there, 
 he was incontinently taken, and likewise cutt by the middest. 
 They saie that not only w'hin the citie, but also in the high 
 ' The jNIaidan, or open space. 
 
CHINESE PAPER MONEY. 77 
 
 waies abroade, wheare men travaile, if there be anythinge 
 laied on a stone or other place, which, being lost by the 
 owners, hath been founde by others, there is no man so 
 hardie as darreth take it to himself. And further, if any 
 man on the waie aske an other whither he goeth, and that 
 he of whom the question is so asked do either suspect or 
 mistrust the person that moved the question, and therfore 
 woll complaine : it shall behove the questioner to yelde a 
 laufull reason why he asked it ; orelles he shalbe punisshed 
 for it : whereby it appeareth this cuntrey is of great free- 
 dome and justice. As, toocheng their merchaundize, I 
 learned that all the merchaunt men which reasorte thither 
 
 bringe their merchaundizes into the fondachi, wheare the -^s some 
 . . -, . , , . halles bo 
 
 officers repaire to see it, and if they finde any thmge meete in Lon- 
 
 for the Prince, they take that that pleaseth them, yelding '^^' 
 the valewe for it in other things, the rest remayneth at the 
 merchaonts libertie. The small mooney they spende in this 
 place is made of paper, which they yerely chaunge into a 
 newe printer for tholde mooney at the yeres ende is brought 
 to the mynte wheare the bringer receaueth as much of the 
 faire newe mooney, paieng for it, nevertheles, aftre twoo in 
 the hundred of good sylver ; and than is the olde mooney 
 throwen into the fyre. As for the golde and syluer, they 
 sell it by weight, and of those mettalls, they also make cer- 
 tein great peeces of mooney. 
 
 I suppose these Cataini be paynems of belief, though 
 divers of Zagatai and of other macons that come thense, 
 saye they be christened ; for whan I asked them howe they 
 knowe them to be Christians, they answere, bicause they 
 haue ymages in their churches as wehaue. It happened me 
 whilest I was in Tana, the said ambassado'' being w^'' me, as 
 I haue said before, there passed an olde man by me, a Vene- 
 tian, called NicoLO Diedo, who sometimes ware a gowen of 
 cloth, lyned with sendall, open sieved, as in tymes past they 
 vsed in Venice vpon a furred dublettj w*^** an hoode on his 
 
78 MEDICINAL WATERS. 
 
 shulder and a twoopeny strawen hatt on his heade : whom 
 the said ambassado"^ wondered at : saieng vnto me, This 
 maner of apparaill vse the Cataini to weare, and they 
 arr Hke vnto the men of o"" rehgion, and arr apparailed 
 as we be. There groweth no wyne in that cuntrey ; for 
 the region is very colde, but of other vittaills there is 
 plentie enough. These, w^^ divers other things which I 
 forbeare at this pnt, arr such as I learned of the reapo''te of 
 the said ambassado"" of Tartarie, and of his famyliars, as 
 tooching the province of Catay, wheare I was not myself, 
 and therefore reto''neng backe towards Tauris, liek as I haue 
 spoken of the wayes east northeast, so shall I nowe declare 
 vnto yo"^ the waie east southeast. First, we founde a citie 
 called Chuerch, passing over those townes that we founde 
 in the waie, of the which there is no notable thinge to be 
 remembered. In this citie there is a pitt like vnto a foun- 
 taigne, in the keeping of their Talaetimanni; that is to saie, 
 their priests, the water whereof hath great vertue against 
 the leaprie. Of which infirmitie I haue somewhat seene, not 
 of experience, but of other mennes credulitie. For, at the 
 same tyme there passed a frencheman that waie w'*^ certein 
 seruants and guydes, that wei'e moores, which frencheman 
 was infected w''^ the leaprie : and therefore (as we were in- 
 formed) travailed thither to bathe himself in that water. 
 What became of him I wote not, but the coraon voice went 
 that many were healed there. For whilest I taried there 
 myself, I vnderstode notable things of the vertue of that 
 water. ^ 
 
 ' Ramusio has here — " While I was still in that country there came 
 an Armenian to procure some of the water, who had been sent by the 
 King of Cyprus long before I began my journey to those parts, and 
 returning while I was in the country with some of the water in a tin 
 flask, came to Tauris two months after I had arrived there. He staid 
 with me two days, and then started on his way to Cyprus, where, on my 
 return, I saw the same flask of water hanging up on a pole placed out- 
 side a kind of tower, and was told by the people of the place that, by 
 
DESCRIPTION OF ORMUZ, 79 
 
 This citie Chuerch is but litle; nevertheles, it is a through 
 fare, for all they passe through it that go towardes the 
 Redde Sea ; that is to saie, vnto Sinu persico. In which 
 sea there is an ilande' that hath a citie called Ormuos, be- 
 tween xviij and xx myles from the mayne lande : the ilande 
 being a Ix myles in compasse. That citie is great and well 
 enhabited, but they haue none other than well water and 
 cisterne water ; whereof, whan they finde any lacke, they 
 arr faiue to sende into the mayne lande for it, from whense 
 they also haue their grayne. It yeldeth tribute to the King 
 Assarabei, and thinhabitaunts arr great makers of sylkes. 
 And the merchaunts that travaill either out of India into 
 Persia or out of Persia into India, for the more parte do all 
 arryve in this ilande. The Lorde whereof is called Sultan 
 Sabadin, who vseth to sende his barkes into India to fyshe 
 for oysters of perles, and there looseth many ; and whilest 
 I remaigned on this citie there arryved tvvoo merchaunts 
 out of India with perles, Jewells, sylkes, and spices. Into 
 this golfe of Persia falleth the notable ryver Euphrates, 
 vpon the which vj dales io''ney vpwardes is Bagdath, some- 
 time called Babilone, which was so famouse, as the worlde 
 know*, though at this present it be for the more parte de- 
 stroyed, not exceading x'°' houses. Nevertheles, it is plen- 
 tyfully victailed, having abundance of fruictes : as dates, 
 pistacchi, and other like, not only in great quantitie, but Pistacchi 
 also of excellent goodnes : amongest the which arr qwynces ofdelicate 
 of the taste and greatnesse of ours. Nevertheles, they haue ^^^''^s- 
 qwinces that haue no hardenes w'hin them, as o" haue, but 
 arr most sweete in the eating, as o*" sweetest peares be. 
 They also haue a kynde of pomegranates, not very great, 
 
 virtue of that water, they had not been troubled with grasshoppers. I 
 also saw there certain black and red birds, called birds of Mahomet, 
 which fly in flocks like starlings ; and, from what I heard, destroy all 
 the grasshoppers they meet with. It is asserted by the country people 
 that, wherever these birds know there is water of that particular kind, 
 they fly towards it." 
 
80 COAST OPPOSITE ORMUZ. 
 
 but for the more parte w**^ a thynne rynde, which they pyll 
 as we pyll oranges : and than may byte it neither more nor 
 lesse than as it were an apple ; for they haue none of those 
 cores in the myddest^ but even a litell in the botome, and 
 the sweetnes of it is myngled w'^ a litle sharpe. And some 
 there be that wante the litle Cornell which o" hath w'hin the 
 graine, and some other haue it so softe that y" shall no more 
 feele of it in yo"" mowth to spytt out againe, than as if ye did 
 eate of correyns. They also make much suger and pfect 
 confeciones thereof, specially siropes, of the which they 
 furnishe Persia and other places. 
 
 •Nowe, reto''neng to Ormuos, I shall somewhat sale of the 
 places that arr forneagainst it on the other syde of the fore- 
 said golfe northewardes, which is of the coste of Persia. 
 These places arr enhabited w'^ Macomettanes, and this golfe 
 in itself is ccc myles broade, and the places on the other 
 syde of the golfe arr vnder the domynion of iii princes, Ma- 
 comettanes. Comyng to lande eastsoutheast, as the golfe 
 goeth, at thende of it there is a citie called Calicuth, of 
 verie great fame, being, as it were, a staple or a receipt of 
 merchaunts of divers places, as who wolde saye of those that 
 come out of the golfe of Catay and from all those partes : so 
 that alwaies ye shall finde a nombre of shippes — yea, and 
 great shippes there. Bicause there seldome happeneth any 
 great tempest. The citie is a passaige haunted w'*^ mer- 
 chaundise of all sortes, and is both great and well peopled. 
 
 Eetomeng alongest the coste, forneagainst Ormuos there 
 is a towne called Lar, a great and a good towne of mer- 
 chaundise, about ij""' houses: and is a passaige for those that 
 go and come through this golfe h'ghtely lande at this towne. 
 Than is there Syras, of the which I haue spoken before ; 
 and so folowing the waye yo^ come to a great towne called 
 Camara.^ And from thense, a dales io'"ney, ye come to a 
 great bridge vpon the Byndamyr, which is a notable great 
 
 > Or Kinara, 
 
DESCRIPTION OF CIIEHLMINAR. 81 
 
 ryver. This bridge they saie Salomon caused to bo made 
 at the tovvne of Camara^ and there appeareth a rounde hyll 
 which on thone side seemeth to be cutt and made in a fronte 
 of vj paces high : on the toppe whereof is a plaine_, and 
 rounde about xl pillers called Cilminar/ which in their 
 tongue signifieth xl pillers, every one whereof is xx yardes 
 longe and as thicke as iij men can embrace ; but some of 
 them arr decaied. Nevertheles, by that which remayneth it 
 appereth to haue been a very faire monument; for, vpon this 
 plaine there is a mightie stone of one peece, on the which 
 arr many ymages of men graven as great as gyaunts, and 
 aboue all the rest oneymage like vuto that that we resemble 
 to God the Father in a cercle, who in either hande holdeth 
 a globe, vnder whom arr other litle ymages, and before hym 
 the image of a man leanyng on an arche, which they saie 
 was the fygure of Salomon. Vnder them arr many other 
 ymages, which seeme to susteigne those that be aboue. 
 Amongest whom there is one that seemeth to haue a Popes 
 myter on his hedde, holding vp his hande open as though 
 he ment to blesse all that arr vnder him ; liek as they look- 
 ing towardes hym seeme also to gape for his blisseng. A 
 litle further there is a great ymage on horsbacke, seemyng 
 to be of a boj^sterouse^ man : who they saie was Sampson ; 
 about the which arr many other ymages apparailed of the 
 frenche facon, w"' longe heai'es, and all those ymages arr of 
 halfe relieuo. Two daies io'ney from this place is a towne j-^^^ ^g* 
 
 called Thimar, and from thense two daies io'ney an other thymage, 
 
 ' . . '' w'h the 
 
 towne, in the which is a sepulture that they affirme to be foreparte 
 
 the tombe of Salomons moother, and over the same a litle rri-auen 
 churche : whearein certein Arabike I'res is writen, as they ?'"*^ *^^ 
 saie Mater Suleimeu, that is to saye, the moother of Salo- 
 mon : the gate whereof is towardes the East. From thense, 
 iij daies io' ney, yo''' come to a towne called Dehebeth, wheare 
 they vse tillaige and making of fustians. Twoo daies io'"ney 
 1 CliL'hl luinar. - Kobust. 
 
82 EODTES. 
 
 further ye come to a place called VargarIj^ whicli in tyme 
 past hath been a great and a faire towne ; but at this piit it 
 maketh not aboue m' houses, in the which they also vse til- 
 laige and making of fustians, as is aforesaid. 
 
 Foure dales iomey thense ye come to a towne called 
 Beiser/ and iij dales io'"ney further an other towne called 
 Taste, from whense folowing that waie an other dales io''ney 
 ye come to Jex, of the which I haue made sufficient mencon 
 before. Thense ye go to Meruth, a litle towne, and twoo 
 dales io''ney further is a towne called Guerde, in the which 
 there dwell certein men called Abraini, which in myne 
 opinion either be descended of Abraham orells haue Abra- 
 hams faith, and they weare longe heare. Twoo dales io''ney 
 further there is a toune called Naim, evill enhabited, not 
 exceading v<= houses; and twoo dales io''ney thense is a towne 
 called Naistan, and from thense twoo other dales io''ney is 
 Hardistan, a litle towne that maketh a v^^ howses. 
 
 Three dales io''ney thense ye come to Cassan, which I haue 
 spoken of before, and from thense iij other dales io'ney is 
 Com, before named, and beyonde that one other dales io'"ney 
 is Sana, having about m' houses. In all which places they 
 vse tyllalge and making of fustians. Thi'ee dales io'ney 
 from Saua is a litle towne called Euchar,^ from whense in iij 
 other dales io''ney ye come to Soltania, before named, and 
 vij dales io''ney thense is Tauris. Nowe, he that wolde de- 
 parte thense to travaile towardes the sea of Bachu east- 
 wardes, being of the region of Zagatai, shulde fynde these 
 townes folowing, from Thauris to Soltania; viz., from Soltania 
 to Euchar, iij io'neys; from Euchar to Saua, iiij ionaeys; from 
 Saua to Choi, a litle towne, vj joi'neys ; from Choi^ to Sarri, 
 a litle towne, also iij iomeys ; from Sarri to Lindan,^ a litle 
 towne, iiij io''neys ; from Liudan to Tremigan, a litle towne, 
 
 1 Or Vargan. "•' Or Deister. » Afshar. 
 
 * Ramusio has, from Choi to Rhei, three journeys from Rhei to Sarri. 
 
 * Or Sindaii. 
 
EOUTES. 83 
 
 iij io''neys ; from Tremigan to Bilan, vj io''neys ; and than 
 come ye to Straua.^ Of the which the sylkes called Strau- 
 atine take this name. This towne is neere to the sea of 
 Bachu, and standeth not very holsomely. There groweth 
 litle wheate, wherefore they feede of ryse ; of the which they 
 make their breade. In this towne^ and in all the villaiges 
 vnder it, whereas any water is to be had, they spynne and 
 make course sylkes, and alongest the bankes of those ryvers 
 they haue their bowthes w"^"" their cawldrons for sylkes; for 
 they keepe great nombres of sylke wormes and haue plentye 
 of white mulberie trees. In these quarters arr innumerable 
 pertriches, in such sorte, that whan the prince or other 
 great psonaige maketh any feast, they booyle of these ptri- 
 ches and give everie man a dishe of ryse podaige, and than 
 pertriches ; so that all the people eateth ; which to them arr 
 not deynteth.^ 
 
 Alongest the coste of the said sea arr many townes; that 
 is, to witt, Straua, Lanzibeuth, Madrandani, and others ; 
 whereof, for this tyme, I speake not, but in those townes 
 arr the best sj^kes made that come out of these quarters. 
 
 And nowe, being come neere, me seemeth it not amysse 
 to speake some what of the waie from Trabisonda to Thauris, 
 going southwest; wherefore, first tooching Trabisonda, I 
 saie that it hath been both a good and a great towne vpon 
 the sea Maggiore. The lorde whereof in tymes past hath 
 had the ty tie of Empero*"; for he was brother to Thempero*" of 
 Constantinople, and wolde also be called Emj^ero'' himself, 
 whereof all his successo"^^ (though they were no emperours 
 bretherue) did, nevertheles, from one to an other vse, or 
 rather vsurpe, this tytle of Empero'". As for the towne, I 
 shall neede to saie no more of it : bicause it is sufficiently 
 knowen over all. But, going thense towards Thauris, as I 
 haue said, southwest, ye shall finde many villaiges and litle 
 castells, and besides that ye shall travaill throwgh hilles and 
 ^ Astrabad. - Are not much valued. 
 
84 ROUTES. 
 
 woodeSj disenhabited, till ye come to Baibui-th, tlie first 
 notable place that waie being a castell^ standing in a plaine 
 valley, environned w^*^ hylles, stronge, and walled, and in a 
 plentyfuU sooyle, the towne vnder the castell conteyneng 
 mV" howses, and is w'hin the domynion of the King Assam- 
 bei. Five dales iomey further ye come to Arsengan, which 
 hath been a great citie, but for the more pte decaied at this 
 pnt. Going on west southwest ij myles further ye come to 
 the notable ryver Euphrates, over the which ye passe on a 
 faire gi'eat bridge of bricke, of xvij arches. Than come ye 
 to a towne called Carpurth,^ v io''neys from Arsengan. In 
 this place soggio'ned the wief of the King Assambei, she 
 that was doughter to Themo'' of Trabisonda.^ The place is 
 stronge, and is for the more parte enhabited by Greekes^ 
 attending on the said Queene. Following on, ye finde many 
 litle townes and castelletts, till ye come to Moschone, from 
 thense to Halla, and so to Thene, which three arr stronge 
 castells, and well walled, eche of them having about v° howses 
 vnder them : w'"^ a great ryver rennyng alougest, which 
 cometh not ferre from Carpurth, aboue menconed, and hath 
 passaiges by boates. All the people enhabiteng these places 
 vnder the iurisdicon of these castells arr called Coinari, 
 which in o*" tonge signifieth heardemen. Than going east- 
 warde ye come to a walled castell standeug on a rocke, 
 called Pallu, the towne vader it having about ccc houses 
 vnder the which passeth a certein ryver. Travaileng, than, 
 still eastwarde, iiij io'"neys further ye come to a castell called 
 Amus, standing in a champaigne, yll enhabited. All the 
 countrey of Trabisonda, w''^ the confynes, breedeth plentie 
 of wyne, and the vynes growe vp alongest their trees w'hout 
 any cutteng, so that contynually in those pties one of our 
 hoggesheades of wyne is lesse wo''the than a ducate. Their 
 
 ' Kharput. 
 
 2 For an account of this lady, see Travels of Catoiino Zeno. 
 
 ^ Ramusio has — and Caloieri, or Monks. 
 
ROUTES. 85 
 
 woodes aiT full of uutte trees of the kinde of Puglia,^ and 
 many other good fruictes they haue^ and in some partes they 
 make certein wynes called Zamoka. From thense ye enter 
 into TuRCOMANiA, which heretofore was called Armenia; but 
 now those that arr there borne arr called Caracoilu ; that is, 
 to wete, blacke ewes, liek as they of the provinces of Persia 
 and Zagatai arr called Accoilu, w*^^ siguifieth white ewes : 
 being names of pties amongest them, as who wolde sale 
 amongest vs, Guelfi and Ghibellini, orells Zamberlani and 
 Mastruccieri, vnder which titles arr great pte takinges. 
 After this ye come to a litle strouge castell called Mus, 
 standing on an hyll amongest certein mountaignes, having 
 a citie vnderneth it of iij myles compasse, very well en- 
 habited. Three io''neys further is a faire, stronge castell, in 
 a place called Allarch," standing vpon a lake cl''* myles longe, 
 and in the brodest l''^ myles brode. From which lake, xv myles 
 northewardes, is an other lake of iiij"" myles in compasse, 
 w'^ certein castells about it. Under Allarch is a towne of 
 about m' houses, and in both these lakes arr many shippes 
 that make their voyages into the sea. There is also vpon 
 this seconde lake a towne called Ceus, a good walled towne. 
 One io'"ney further costeng the sea, there is a towne called 
 Herzil,^ w^*^ a ryver and a bridge of v arches over it, and be- 
 tween Ceus and Herzil arr iiij other like bridges to passe 
 over the ryver. In Herzil is the sepulture of the mother 
 of Giansa, which was King of Persia and Zagatai. Five 
 myles distant from this place ye come to Orias, a stronge 
 custell standing on a litle hill. And so folowing eastwai"des 
 half a daies io^ney, ye come to Coi, not that which I named 
 before, but an other of the same name, and five io'neys 
 thense ye enter into a champaigne, in the which is a great 
 citie heretofore destroied by Zamberlan.^ Than shall ye 
 finde divers villaiges, and aftre that an other lake of cc 
 myles longe and xxx myles brode : in the which arr certein 
 ^ Aimlia. '•' Aklilat. ^ Arjiah. ■• Tamerlan, 
 
86 ROUTES. 
 
 ilandes enhabited. Finally, ye come to twoo cities,, Tessu^ 
 and Zerister,^ whicli betwene both may make iij™' fyres. 
 Other notable things I haue scene none in these pties, 
 saving that generally they make fustians, lynen clothes, 
 fryses, many rugges, and a litell sj^ke. They haue plentie 
 of fleshe (specially of mutton), wynes, and other fruictes 
 enough, which they conveigh into the sea Maggiore and to 
 the townes about ; wherefore, reto'"neng ones againe to be- 
 ginne at Thauris, and going east northeast, sometyme 
 to''neng north and too^ching a litle of northwest, passing 
 over also dyvers places by the waie of small accompt, not 
 wo'thie to be spoken of, I sale that xij io''neys thense ye 
 shall finde Sammachi,^ a citie in Media in the reo-iou of 
 Thezichia, the lorde whereof is called Siruanza,* which citie 
 at a neede wolde make betwene viiij and x™^ horseman. It 
 confyneth towardes the sea of Bachu, w'hin vj io'"neys, which 
 sea is on the right hande of it, and on the lyfte hande is 
 Mengrelia^ towards the sea Maggiore, and Caitacchi, that 
 inhabite about the mountaigne Caspio. This is a very good 
 citie; it hath betwene iiij and v™' houses, and maketh sylkes, 
 fustians, and other thiuges aftre their manor. It standeth 
 in the great Armenia, and a goode parte of thinhabitants 
 arr Armeniens. Departeng thens ye come to Derbenth, a 
 towne, as they sale, buylded by Alexander, standeng vpon 
 the sea of Bachu, a myle distant from the mountaigne, on 
 which mountaigne it hath a castell that descendeth w'*" twoo 
 whyngesj that is to sale walles, even into the water; so 
 that the height of the walles arr twoo paces vnder Avater. 
 The towne, from the one gate to the other, is halfe a myle 
 brode : and the walles thereof arr of great stone, aftre the 
 Romayn buyldeng. 
 
 Derbenth signifieth in o'' tonge a straict; in somuch, that 
 many which vnderstande the nature of that place do call it 
 
 1 Tessuj. 2 Shebister. 
 
 ' Shamakby. ■• Shirvan Shah. 
 
DERBEND AND BAKU. 87 
 
 Temircapi ; that is to saie^ the gate of yron. And, truly, he 
 that named it so, had very good reason : considering that 
 this tovvne divideth Media from Scythia ; so that they 
 which woll travaile out of Persia, Turchie, Soria, and the 
 other lowe cuntreys, to passe into Scythia, must needes 
 enter in at thone gate of this towne, and yssue at the other, 
 which to him that vnderstandeth not the site of those places 
 shulde seeme mervailouse and almost impossible ; but thoc- 
 casion is this. From the sea of Bachu vnto the sea Mag-' 
 giore, the streight waie, as it were, by line, is v° rayles. All 
 which grounde is full of mountaignes and valleys, in some 
 places well enhabited by certein Lordes of it (throwgh whose 
 territories no man darr passe for feare of robbyng) ; but, for 
 the more parte, it is disenhabited. And, if any man wolde 
 determyn to passe that waie, leaving Derbenth, he shulde 
 be constregned first to go through Giorgiana, and than 
 through Mengrelia, on the cost of the sea Maggiore, at a ^ 
 castell called Aluathi, wheai-e is a mountaigne of so great 
 height that it shall behove him to leave his horse and to 
 clymbe vp afoote by the rockes, so that betwene ascending 
 and descending he shulde travaill two io''neys, and than 
 entre into Circassia, of the w"^ I haue spoken in the begin- 
 neng, and that passaige is only vsed by them that dwell 
 neere it, besides the which in all the said distance there is 
 no passaige knowen, by reason of the difficultie of the places, 
 wherefore reto'"neng to the purpose: the cause of this straict 
 is, that the sea eateth even to the verie mountaigne, wheare 
 Derbenth standeth. And from that forwardes it is all rocke, 
 w''' very litle earthe. So that this straict endureth about 
 Ix myles ; nevertheles, the waie is somewhat apte to be 
 travailed on horsebacke. From thense, torneng backwarde 
 on the lyfte hande the mountaigne torneth, so that it may 
 be travailed : the same being it that aunciently was called 
 Monte Caspio : wheare arr certein gray freeres and some 
 priestes aftre c Romayn facon. The people there enhabit- 
 
88 TATAi; HOUSES. 
 
 eng aiT called Caitacchij as it is said before. They speake 
 langiiaiges different one from an other, and many of them 
 arr Christians : some aftre the Greekes, some aftre the Ar- 
 menians, and some aftre the Catholike. Vpon this syde of 
 the sea there is an other citie called Bachu, wherof the sea 
 of Bachu taketh name, neere vnto which citie there is a 
 mountaig-ne that casteth foo'^the blacke oyle, stynkeng hor- 
 ryblye, which they, nevertheles, vse for furnissheng of their 
 lightes, and for the anoynteng of their camells twies a yere. 
 For if they were not anoynted they wolde become skabbie. 
 Over the champaigne of the mountaigne Caspio ruleth one 
 Turaembi, that signifieth in o'" tonge lorde of x"', through- 
 out whose domynion they vse to make their houses coffyn- 
 wise, even like to those houses that I made mencon of in 
 the first parte of this treatise, the principall being made of 
 a cercle of woodde bored w'^ holes rounde about : the 
 diameter being a pace and an halfe, in the which they fasten 
 certein litle staves that arr drawen into a litle cercle in the 
 toppe ; which they cover w'^ felte or cloth, according to 
 their degrees, and whan they arr weery of dwelling in one 
 place, then trusse they their houses on carts and remove to 
 another place. Whan I reto'ned to this lorde there arryved 
 a Sonne of the Empero'' of Tartaric, which had maried a 
 doughter of this lordes : whose father was than lately ex- 
 pelled out of his astate. This yonge Prince was entred into 
 one of these houses, and was sett on the grounde, wheare he 
 Avas viseted by some of his cuntreymen and by some other 
 also of the cuntrey wheare he was. The maner of w""^ visi- 
 tacon was, that whan they came w'hin a stones cast of the 
 gate, if they had any weapons they laied them on the 
 grounde, and than marcheng certein paces towards the gate 
 they kneeled doune, which they did twoo or iij tymes, 
 marcheng alwaies forwarde, till they came w*liin x paces at 
 the neerest, wheare they declared their matter. And having 
 receaved their answer, reto''ncd backewarde, never torneng 
 thoir backes to the Prince. 
 
OUTBREAK AGAINST CHRISTIANS. 89 
 
 I was divers tytnes w'^ this lorde Tumembei, whose lief 
 (by that I coulde pceave) was bent to be in contynuall 
 dronkenes, w*^^ drinkeng of wyne made of honey. 
 
 And sothens^ we haue spoken of the things of the moun- 
 taigne Caspio and of the nature of those that dwell there- 
 aboutes^ me seemeth it not amysse to recyte also an historie, 
 which I lately hearde of one Vincent, a blacke freere, borne 
 in Capha, who for certein affaires was sent into those pties : 
 and departed about x moonethes past, the rehersall whereof 
 serueth to good purpose for o"" religion. This freere reaported 
 that out of the Soldanes cuntrey there came a certein secte 
 of Macomettanes, cryeng w"^ an extreme fervencie in their 
 faith : Downe to death w"^ these Christians : and the more 
 they approached vnto Persia the greater their nombre en- 
 creased. These rybauldes tooke their waie towardes the 
 sea of Bachu, and came to Sammachi, and so to Derbenth, 
 and into Tumen, being a mervailouse great nombre, though 
 partely w%out armo''. And whan they were arryved at a 
 ryver called Torch, which is in the province of Tezechia/ 
 and about the raountaigne Caspio, wheare arr many Catho- 
 like Christians, they slewe them all, wheare so ever they 
 founde them, men, women, and children. Aftre this, they 
 overranne the cuntrey of Gog and Magog, which arr also 
 Christians (though aftre the Greekish rites), and handled 
 them likewise. Than reto''ned they towardes Circassia, 
 taking their waie towardes Chippiche and Charbatri, which 
 arr both towards the Sea Maggiore, and there delte they 
 likewise ; never ceasing till they of Titarcassa and Chre- 
 MUCH w'^stode them, fought w"^ them, and so discompfited 
 them that there eskaped not xx of the hundreth which 
 fledde w^'^ a mischief towards their owne cuntrey. So that 
 we may well consider what miserable astate the poore 
 Christen men thereabouts do endure. This happened the 
 yere of o*" Lorde 1486. 
 
 ' Since. ^ Ramusio has — Elochzi. 
 
90 PERSIAN INROAD INTO GEORGIA. 
 
 Of Derbenth I sliall tell yo^ one raervailouse matter. 
 Going from tlie one gate tov/ardes this place, even till ye 
 come vnJer the walles, ye shall finde grapes and fruictes of 
 all sortes, specially ' almons. On the other pte there arr 
 neither fruictes nor any trees, except it be certein wilde 
 qwynces ; and so it endm^eth x, xv, or xx myle of that side. 
 And further, being there, I did see in a seller ij ankers of 
 viij'l a peece, and more : which declareth that in tyme past 
 they haue vsed in those pties veiy great shippes : whereas, 
 nowe, the greatest ankers tliei haue arr betwene cl and ccl 
 a peece. 
 
 Having hitherto declared that that appteigneth vnto those 
 regions, partely by heresaye, but most by that I haue scene; 
 nowe, reto''neng to Thauris, I shall showe what I did w"^ the 
 King Assambei, wdian, at his departing from Thauris, he 
 bruted that he wolde go against Ottomanno, though by 
 divers tokens that I pceaued, I beliued it not. He had in 
 all as ferrefoo'the^ as I coulde esteeme betwene xx and 
 xxiiij"' good horsemen : and the rest that came for the fur- 
 nyture of the campe were about vj™' men. As for women, 
 children, and seruuts, I shall neede to sale no more, bicause 
 I haue sufficiently spoken of them before. Whan we had 
 travailed vij daies we torned on the right hande towards 
 GiOKGiANA, in the confynes of the sea Maggiore, into the 
 w"'^ cuntrey we entred. For the king mynded to spooyle it, 
 and therefore sent his skowtes afore aftre their maner : 
 being about v"^ horses : which cleered the waie, the best 
 they coulde, by felling and burneng the woodes ; for their 
 passaige laye through mightie mountaignes and very great 
 woodes. So that we might see the fyre aferre of, and thereby 
 knowe what waie to keepe. And thus was the waie readie 
 made twoo daies io''ney into Giorgiana, wheare we arryved 
 at Tifilis, the which being habandoned (as the rest of all the 
 hither parte of that region was) we tooke Av'hout resistence. 
 
 ' As far as. 
 
ROUTES IN GEORGIA. 91 
 
 And passing from thens we came to Gory and to certein 
 other places thereabouts ; which were all putt to sacke, as 
 the like was doon to a great parte of that region. At 
 leingth, the King Assambei fell to composicon w^^ the King 
 PancratiOj King of Giorgiana^ and w'^ Giurgura, who con- 
 fyneth w"^ the same king that they shulde give him xvj™^ 
 ducates, and that he shulde leave all the cuntrey to them 
 except Tefilis. Wherevpon the King Pancratio and Giur- 
 gura, myndeng to paie this mooney, sent vnto Assambei iiij 
 balasses, reasonable good, but neither so great nor so faire 
 as those that arr wonte to be shewed on Saint Markes 
 aulter in Venice. So that whan the King Assambei had 
 receaued these iiij balasseSj he sent for me to praise and to 
 valewe them. But first, er I came at him, those ambassa- 
 do'"^ of the said King Pancratio and of Giurgura (that had 
 brought the balasses) sent to me, praieng me to valewe 
 them wellj considering they also were Christen men. Whan 
 I was come to the king, he caused these balasses to be de- 
 livered unto me, and as I looked substancially on one of 
 them, the King Assambei deraaunded of me what it was 
 wo'^the : wherevnto, answering that I thought him wo'"the 
 iiij*"' ducates^ he fell on a lawghing, saieng, they arr very 
 deere in thy cuntrey. I woll no balasses, but I well haue 
 mooney. As the voice went there were at that tyme caried 
 awaie out of those cuntreys betwene iiij and v'"' psons : and 
 the places which we overranne were on the lyfte hande to- 
 wardes the region of Giurgura. Cotathis,^ belonging to the 
 King Pancratio^ is a litle towne standing on a litle hyll, w"^ a 
 ryver vnder it r over the which they passe a verie great 
 bridge of stone, and so go towardes Schender, a meetely 
 stronge castoll, w"' a great ryver rennyng throwgh it, and 
 is iiij io''neys from Gory. Than, passeng one other moun- 
 taigne, yo"^ descende into the cuntrey of Assambei, in great 
 Armenye. From wheuse, iij daies io'ney, ye come to the 
 ' Koutais. 2 liamusio has — called Fasso, fonaerly Phasis. 
 
92 DEATH OF KING HASSAN. 
 
 castel LoreOj and iiij daies io''ney thens shall ye fynde the 
 mountaigne wheare NoE^ aftre the great flowddej rested 
 w'^ his arke, being a mervailouse high hyll w*-^ a great plaine 
 vndernethe it, and is about ij daies io''ney of circuite : on the 
 whichj both wynter and somer^ the snowe contynually re- 
 maigneth. And joyneng vnto it there is an other litell hyll, 
 likewise laden w*-^ snowe. Two io''neys further is a castell 
 called Cagrij enhabited rounde about by Armeniens, which 
 celebrate aftre the Catholike maner, and haue twoo monas- 
 teries, the pncipall whereof is called Alengia, conteyneng 
 1''® monkes, observants of Saint Benetts Ordre, that cele- 
 brate their masses aftre o'' manor in their owne languaige. 
 Their Prio'", aftre my reto''ne to Venice, died, and one of 
 that house came thither, who arryved at San Giovanni 
 Paolo, in Venice, and came to my house to haue my comen- 
 dacon towardes o"" most excellent Signoria, and the Busshop 
 of Rome, that he might be made Prior of that house, being 
 brother to the deade Prior. 
 
 Whan the King Assambei had concluded w^'' the King Pan- 
 CRATio and the forenamed Gicrgura, and receaved the xvj™ 
 ducates, he determyned to reto'ne vnto Thauris : wherefore, 
 seing he ment nothing lesse than to make warre on Otto- 
 MANNO, I tooke my leave of hym, entending to reto''ne home- 
 wards throwgh Tartaric, and entred into the company of an 
 ambassado'' of the foresaid King Assambei, accompanied w'^'^ 
 many merchaunts of Tartaric. Of whom I learned that, as I 
 haue writen in thebeginneng, Hagmeth, sonne of Edelmugh, 
 nephiewe to ThempC of Tartaric, was aftre his fathers death 
 growen great about the foresaid Empero"", which Hagmeth 
 was by his owne father given me as my sonne, wherefore I 
 was the more desj^rouse to keepe on that waie, assuring my- 
 self to haue founde much curtesye at his hands. But the 
 warres were so great in those pties, that I durst not folowe 
 my io''ney ; and, being constrained to alter my purpose, re- 
 to'ncd therefore to Thauris in the yere of o"" Lorde 1478 ; 
 
BARBARO LEAVES PERSIA. 93 
 
 wheare, at myne arryvall, I founde the King Assambei so 
 sycke, that the night of the Epiphanie folowing he died, 
 leaving iiij sonnes, iij by one mother and one by an other. 
 The same night the iij whole bretherne strangled the iiij'*^ 
 halfe brother, being a yonge man of xx yeres, and than de- 
 parted thastate amongest them. Than did the seconde 
 brother cause theldest to be slayne ; and so remayned he 
 king, in such sorte that he raigneth even to this present ; 
 wherfore, seeing all things brooyleng, I that by the fathers 
 lief had taken good leave, both of the father and the sonnes, 
 fell into the company of an Armenien that went to Assen- 
 gan,^ wheare he dwelled. And I had w"^ me a boye of Scla- 
 vonie, which was onely lefte me of all those that I brought 
 into that cuntrey w**^ me. I apparailed myself w^'^ such poore 
 and miserable clothes as I had, and rode both continually 
 and speedylie for feare of those alteracons, which aftre the 
 death of such princes most comonly do happen. The xxix'^ 
 of Aprile I came to Assengan, wheare 1 taried a mooneth, 
 waiteng for the Carovana that shulde go to Aleppo. De- 
 parteng from hense we founde Cymis,^ Casseg, and Arapchir,^ 
 which be litell townes. Than came we to a good citie of 
 merchaundise called Malathea, vnder the Soldans domynion; 
 from Assengan to this towne arr many mountaignes and 
 valleys, yll and stonie waie ; though, in dede, there be cer- 
 tein houses by the waie and places not much enhabited. 
 Being in this citie, at the custome house, amongest those 
 of the Carouana, w^^ whom I had accompanied myself: the 
 customer there went vp and downe pervsing them that 
 shulde paie. And while I kept myself a loofe looking whan 
 the Carouana shulde departe, one of the same Carouana 
 came vnio me, askeng me: What doest tho"? The customer 
 woll haue v ducates of the : bicause it is tolde him the goest 
 to Coz,* which in o"^ tonge signifieth Hierusalem. Wherfor 
 
 ' Arsengan or Erzingaii. 2 Knmis. 
 
 3 Arabghir. < Kudus. 
 
94 
 
 BAEBARO ARRIVES AT BEYROUT. 
 
 Mama- 
 
 lukes 
 
 were the 
 
 Soldane 
 
 ofEgiptes 
 
 men of 
 
 armes. 
 
 go excuse thyself. I went to liym, and, fyndeng him sitteng 
 on a sacke, asked him what he wolde w'*^ me. He badde 
 me go paie v ducates, and notw^'^standing that all they of 
 the Carouana witnessed for me (as I had told them before), 
 that I went to Sjo to seeke my sonne, and wolde therew"^ 
 haue excused me, yet wolde he needes that I shulde paie. 
 Syo is a place much sjDoken of in Persia and in all those 
 pties, and is called Seghex/ which signifieth mastike. For 
 there groweth mastike, which in their pties is very much 
 occupied. This, meane while, one that (as I tooke him) 
 was some famyliar of the customers, said, O lett him go ; 
 but he psevered, saieng. Still tho" shalt paie ; haugeng his 
 heade towardes the grounde. Wherevpon, the other chop- 
 ped him w*'' his fyste vnder the nose: saieng, The Devill go 
 w'^ the j that the bloudde sprange out. So that the cus- 
 tomer cried. Thou foole, tho"^ wolt ever be a foole, and 
 therevpon ridde me out of the prease," and badde me fare- 
 well, I tooke my horse and went w^^ the Carouano, and so 
 travaileng founde divers castells, townes, and faire cuutreys, 
 and being past the ryver of Euphrates arryved in Aleppo. 
 Of the w*^^ I shall neede to write nothing, considering it is a 
 place well enough knowen over all ; howbeit, it is a notable 
 great citie and very well traded w'^ merchandise. Departing 
 thense our merchaunts deliuered me a Muchario;^ that is to 
 sale, a guyde, w*^^^ whom I and my serunt departed to come 
 towardes the sea costes ; that is, to witt, to Baruto."^ And, 
 being on the sea side forneagainst Tripoli, we founde a 
 great rowte of Mammalucchi a shooteng, and certein of them 
 pceaving my guyde, drewe their horses togither to cutt my 
 waie ; but I (pceaving they were disposed to do me dis- 
 pleas') badde my boye go on w"' the guyde, and I folowed 
 faii'e and softelie, till I overtooke them, they having passed 
 on twoo boweshootes before me. And whan I came neere 
 
 1 Sakis. 
 
 ^ Miikarv. a muleteer. 
 
 ^ Press or crowd. 
 * Bcvrout. 
 
BARBAEO RETURNS TO VENICE. 95 
 
 I rode a litle besides the waie ; wherevpon, one of them 
 called me, howe father lierken ? I, w''' a good counte- 
 nauace approched, and asked him what he wolde ? He 
 again asked me whither I went ? I tolde him I went 
 wheare as myne evill fortune ledde me. He asked me what 
 I ment by those words, Mary (q'' I), a xij moonthes past, I 
 soldo a trusse of sylkes to a merchaunt man, whom I haue 
 sought in Aleppo to haue had my mooney, wheare I haue 
 myssed him. And nowe it is tolde me that he is goon to 
 BarutOj I am faine to go aftre to seeke my povertie : which 
 answere moved him so to pitie me, that he badde me. Go 
 on, poore man, a Godds name. I folowed my waie, and 
 overtooke my guyde : who, as soone as he sawe me, be- 
 ganne to laughe, saieng, Hay, hay, hay, meaneng that I 
 had handled the matter well to escape out of the Mama- 
 lukes hands. For he coulde speake no Turkishe, nor I no 
 Moresco. On this wise, I came to Baruti, wheare a fewe 
 daies aftre arryved a shippe of Candia: on the which, at her 
 reto''ne, I passed into Cyprus ; and from thense, by the 
 helpe of Almightie God, came to Venice. And, seing I 
 haue tolde the things belonging to the waies, me thinketh 
 it reasonable to tell also the things appteyneng some vnto 
 their superstitions, some to their dissemblings of religion, 
 and some vnto the yll entreatie that the Christians haue in 
 those pties that I haue travailed. 
 
 Comeng towardes Samachi, I laie in a litle hospital, 
 wheare was a sepulture vnder an arche of stone, by the 
 which was a man of yeres, w*^ a longe bearde and heares, 
 naked all, saving that a litle before and behinde he was 
 covered w'*^ a certein skynne ; and he sate on a peece of a 
 matt vpon the grounde. I greeted him and asked what he 
 did ? He answered me, that he watched his father. I 
 asked him againe, who was his father ? Wherevnto, he 
 answered that he is a father that doth good to his neigh- 
 bo'", as this man did that lieth there buried. Addeng, further, 
 
96 AKECDOTES OF DERVISHES. 
 
 that he had kept him company xxx yeres, by his lief tyme, 
 
 and was so determyned also to do aftre his death. And 
 
 whan I die (said he)^ here woll I also be buried. Further- 
 
 morej he saied^ I haue seene enough of the worlde, and 
 
 nowe am determyned thus to remaigne till my death. 
 
 An other tyme, being in Thauris on Alsowles daie^ which 
 
 in like maner was than celebrated w"^ them^ not that it is 
 
 their ordinarie daye ; but that so it happened then : being 
 
 in the place of buriall and standing somewhat of^ I did see 
 
 one sytt neere vnto a sepulture w"^ many byrdes about hym, 
 
 specially crowes and chowghes : and believing that it was a 
 
 dead corps, I asked them that were by what it might be ? 
 
 Wherevnto^ they answered, it was a living saint, the like 
 
 whereof was not in all that cuntrey ; saieng further vnto me. 
 
 See yo"^ those byrdes, every daye they feede there : and 
 
 whan he calleth one of them, he cometh streight, for he is a 
 
 saint : praieng me to go neere and see it. We drewe neere, 
 
 w^hin lesse than a stones cast : and there might see that he 
 
 had certein disshes of meate and other foode, so that these 
 
 birdes wolde flee even to the face of him to be fedde ; but 
 
 he putt them of w*-'^ his hands, and some tymes wolde give 
 
 some of them a litell meate. Of whom they tolde me many 
 
 myracles aftre their opinions, which, nevertheles, to men of 
 
 good iudgement may appeare expresse madnesse. An 
 
 Drauis other tyme 1 did see one of these Drauis that folowed the 
 
 men es- king and fedde in the Co''te, whilest the King Assambei 
 
 haAxe ^^^ ^^ ^^^ great Armenia, nowe called Turcomania, who, as 
 
 hollie ^|-^e kinsr was removing to come into Pei'sia, to go vnto the 
 spirites. ^ . n- i t^- 
 
 citie of Here against Giansa, then King of Persia and 
 
 Zagatai, threwe a staflfe that he had in his hande amongest 
 
 the disshes wheare they were eating, and vseng a fewe 
 
 woordes, brake them all. And this foole was counted a 
 
 good foole. The king asked what he had saied, and it was 
 
 answered by them that vnderstoode it, that the king shulde 
 
 obteigue the victorie ; and discompfite his enemye even as 
 
EESPECTINa DERVISHES. 97 
 
 he had broken the disshes. Is it true, qd the king? Which 
 being confirmed by them that had spoken it, he comaunded 
 him to be well governed till his reto'ne : promiseng to 
 hono*" him and to make much of him. The king went 
 foo'the, discompfited, and slewe his enemye, tooke all 
 Persia, even to Here, and reduced all the cuntrey about 
 vnto his obedience. And aftrewarde, not forgetting his 
 promise, caused this foole to be brought vnto him and to 
 be honorably entreated. Eight moonethes aftre this victorie 
 I was present myself, and did see the maner of his entreatie. 
 This man dayly caused all them to be fedde that came to 
 his house at a dewe howre : howe many so ever they were. 
 Causeng them first to sytt in a cercle : which (rekenyng 
 them one tyme with an other) were never lesse than cc nor 
 aboue v°. And he everie day had both to lyve and to ap- 
 paraill himself right well. Whan the king shulde ride into 
 the charapaigne he was put on a mooyle w*^"^ a cassacke on 
 his backe and his handes bounde before him vnder his cas- 
 sacke. For divers tymes he was wonte to plaie peryllouse 
 madde partes ; wherefore there were many other of these 
 Drauis that went by him a foote. And being one dale in a 
 pavylion of a Turke, my freende, there came in one of these 
 Drauis, of whom this Turke asked howe this Drauis did ? 
 wheather he raged, spake, or wolde eate ? To the which, he 
 answered, that as he was accustomed, sometyme he madded 
 aftre^ the moone, and sometime he wolde not eate in twoo or 
 three daies, and wolde so rage, that they were constrayned 
 to bynde him ; and that he spake well, but ferre out of pur- 
 pose, and that he wolde eate such as was given him. But 
 some tymes he wolde rent his clothes, w*'^ other like ptes. 
 And of this felowe, learned I the storie of his throwing the 
 staffe amongest the disshes, who, in dede, tolde it mo 
 smylengly. The Turke, my frende, asked him, howe they 
 did for moon ey? mainteynengsogreat achardge; wherevnto, 
 
 ' According to. 
 
98 COMMEMORATION OP THE DEAD. 
 
 he answered that there was a certein sum assigned vnto 
 them, and if they needed more, more they had. So that it 
 is to be concluded madde men ai-r in good cace amongest 
 them, and that w"^ litle labo'' and lesse good wo'"kes the 
 meyney may attaigne to be taken for saintes. 
 
 But reto''neng to the comemoration of the deade, I sale 
 that whan they celebrate that comemoration there assemble 
 about the sepultures a great nombre of men and women, 
 oldemen and children, which sytt in plumpes,^ w''* their 
 priestes, and candells burneng in their handes. The priests 
 either pray or reade in their language. And having finisshed 
 their reading and praieng, they cause their meate to be 
 brought, even to the very place. So that the streates arr 
 full of folks, going and comyng to and fro that place of 
 buriall. This place is iiij or v myles in circuite. And 
 alongest the waie thither the poore folke lye, asking almes : 
 some of them offering to sale praieres for their benefacto''^. 
 Their sepultures haue certein stones pitched vpright : w"* 
 Pres declaring the name of the bodie buried; and some haue 
 a litell chappell walled over them. This suffiseth too'^cheng 
 their superstition. Wherfore, too^cheng their dissembling 
 in religion, I shall recite one vnto yo'', wissheng to God that 
 amongest vs Christen men, either there were no such dis- 
 sembling or that it were punisshed as this was that I shall 
 tell yo^. The first whereof me seemeth were very good, 
 and the seconde not amysse. 
 
 There was a Macomettane saint aftre their manor, who 
 went naked as a beast, preaching and speaking so much of 
 their faith, that he had gotten right good creadite. And 
 having a great recourse of ydeote people that folowed him, 
 he could not be so satisfied, but wolde needes go close him- 
 self in a wall, pretending to fast xl daies w'hout meate; not 
 doubting but to passe it over in healthe w%out any detry- 
 ment to his bodie. And being determyned to prove this 
 
 ' Crowds, clumps. 
 
HYPOCRISY PUNISHED, 99 
 
 mastrie/ he caused bricke to be brought into a forest. Of 
 the which J w"' morter and such lyme as they vse in those 
 pties, he made a litle rounde house, into the which he mured 
 himself. And being founde at the xl daies ende alyve and 
 sownde, the people woondred at hym. But one more wylie 
 than the other smelte in that place a certein savo"" of flesshe, 
 and, causing it to be digged, founde the frawde. This came 
 to the kings eares, who caused the Cadilashcar^ to be appre- 
 hended, and a certein disciple of his also, who, w'^ small 
 torment, confessed that he had broken an hole into the 
 wall : through the which he putt in a litle cane, and so con- 
 veighed brothe and other substanciall things into hym by 
 night; wherefore they both suffred death. 
 
 And, as too'^cheng the yll handling of the Christians that 
 I haue scene there, I shall recite that I learned in the yere 
 1487, in the mooneth of Decembre, of one Pietro di Guasco, 
 a Genowaie, borne in Capha, who, whilest I was in Persia, 
 came thither, and was there w*^*" me about iij moonethes. 
 He being enq'red of for newes of those parties, tolde me, 
 that being on a daie in Thauris, an Armenien called Choza^ 
 Mirech (who was a riche merchaunt in all wares) stoode in 
 a certein goldsmythes shoppe, wheare came vnto him a 
 saint aftre their manor called Azi :* willeng him to rynege 
 the faith of Christ, and to make himself a Macomettane : 
 wherevnto he made curteyse answere, praieng him not to 
 trowble him ; but thother psevered, still calleng on him im- 
 portunately to rynege. He againe shewed him mooney, in- 
 tending therew'** to pacific him ; but the saint wolde no 
 money, persevering still that he wolde haue him rynege. 
 Wherevnto, Choza Mirech answered that he wolde not 
 rynege, but psever in the faith of Jesu Christ, as he had 
 doon hitherto. Wherevpon this rybaulde drewe a swearde 
 out of an other mannes sheathe by, and strake Choza so on 
 
 ' Masterly operation. ^ Kady Leshker, judge of the troops. 
 
 5 Khoja. ■* Hajy. 
 
100 PUNISHMENT OF THE 
 
 the heade that he slewe him, and incontinently fledde. There 
 was a Sonne of his in the shoppe of xxx yeres olde, or there- 
 aboutSj that beganne to weepOj and departing out of the 
 shoppe, went towards the co'te, and caused the king to be 
 enforraed of it : who, seemyng to be mervailousely offended 
 w'hall, comaunded the saint shulde be apprehended, sending 
 abroade sti'eight to seeke him. So that he was founde in a 
 citie ij daies io''ney from Thauris, called Meren, and was 
 bro'^ght to the kings presence ; who called for a knyfe, and 
 w* his owne hand slewe him, comaunding his bodie to be 
 throwen into the streate, and there to be lefte, that the 
 dogges might eate him. Askeng wheather this weve the 
 waie to encrease the faith of Macomett ? Bat whan the 
 night drewe neere, divers of the people, those that were 
 most ialouse of their religion, went vnto one Dardis Cassdm, 
 who had the custodie of the King Assambey, his sepulture, 
 father to the king that now is : being, as who wolde sale, 
 the Prio'' of thospitall w*^^ vs, a man of accompte and reputa- 
 con, that had been Treasorer to the king before, and be- 
 sought him to give them leave to take awaie that bodie 
 that the dogges shulde not eate it. He, thinkeng no fur- 
 ther, gave them leave, so that the people tooke him and 
 buried him : which whan the king vnderstode, being shortely 
 aftre (for the streate is neere vnto his palaice), he comaunded 
 Daruis Cassam to be taken and brought vnto him, to whom 
 he saied : Darrest, tho™ comaunde contrary to my comaunde- 
 ment ? Well, lett him dye, wherevpon he was incontinently 
 slayne. That doon, he saied furthei', syns the people hath 
 transgressed my comaundem', the whole towne shall suffer 
 for it, and be putt to sacke. And so his people beganne to 
 sacke the towne to the mervailo"se feare and disquieting of 
 all men, which endured for iij or iiij howres, and than 
 comaunded he them to staie and to leave sacking. But for 
 all that he taxed a certein some of golde vpon them of the 
 towne; and finally sent for the sonne of this CnozA Mirech 
 
MURDER OF A CHFJSTIAN. 101 
 
 vnto him, whom he compforted and chearished w*^ verie 
 good and gratiouse woordes ; for this Choza Mirecf that 
 was slayne was a notable ryche merchaunt man, and of verie 
 good fame. Wherfore this suffise now, both too^cheng the 
 evill entreatie of Christen men in those pties, and also to 
 the ending of this seconde parte, and of the whole wo'^ke 
 described by me w'-'^ the best order I coulde, considering the 
 great varietie of things, of places, and tymes •} to the praise 
 of o'' Lorde Jesu Christ very God, vnto whom we Christen 
 men, and spetially borne w'hin o'" most excellent citie of 
 Venice, arr much more bounde than arr these barbarouse 
 people, which arr ignoraunt of all good maner and full of 
 evill customes. 
 
 1 Ramusio has here — I finished the writing on the 21st December, 
 1487. 
 
 THE END OP THE VOYAGES OP M. JOSAFA BARBARO 
 TO TANA AND TO PERSIA. 
 
Letter addressed by the same author to the 
 
 Rev. Monsignor Piero Barocci, Bishop of Padua, 
 
 in which is described the herb Baltracan, 
 
 used by the Tatars for food. 
 
 My Lord, — Having heard from my brother M. Anzolo, who 
 had the happiness to stay with your Grace many days in 
 those pleasant mountains of the PadovanOj how much you 
 delight in hearing of the nature of plants, especially of 
 those which are not generally known, I wished, in order 
 not to fail in my duty towards your Grace, to write you a 
 description of one I remember among many others, which I 
 saw in Tartary, during my stay at Tana. The Tartars have 
 a plant in their country which they call Baltracan, the want 
 of which would cause them great suffering, and prevent 
 them from going from place to place, especially across those 
 great deserts and solitudes, where they find nothing to eat 
 except this plant, which supports them and gives them 
 vigour. Accordingly, as soon as its stem has grown up, all 
 the merchants and other people who wish to go long jour- 
 neys, start in security, saying, " Let us go, for the Baltra- 
 can has grown." And should one of their slaves escape 
 when the Baltracan is grown, they abstain from following 
 him, as they know that he can find support anywhere. And 
 when they march with the lordo they carry supplies of it on 
 carts and on the croups of their horses and even on their 
 shoulders, for their sustenance, nor do they mind the load, 
 so pleasant is its perfume. When any of it was brought 
 to Tana, we merchants immediately ate of it. Nor must I 
 omit to mention, that when in Albania, where I had been 
 sent as Proveditore, after my return to Venice, as I was 
 riding towards Croatia with five hundred persons, I saw 
 
LETTER, ETC. 103 
 
 some of this Baltracan at the roadside, which I began eating; 
 after which, the whole company wanted to taste it. When 
 they had tasted it, it came so much into use, that everyone 
 carried bundles of it; those who were not on horseback carry- 
 ing it on their shoulders. This they did, not so much from 
 necessity, as on account of its good flavour and smell, and the 
 Albanians shouted out Baltracan, Baltracan. I subsequently 
 saw some of this Baltracan at Terrarsa in the Padovana; 
 and, in order that your Lordship may know it, when search- 
 ing for it in those mountains, I will describe its form in a 
 few words. It has a leaf like that of the rape, with a stem 
 thicker than one's finger, which, at seedtime attains a height 
 of more than a braccio. The leaves spring from the stem 
 at the distance of a quarter of a braccio from each other. 
 Its seed is like that of fennel, but larger. It has a pungent 
 but pleasant taste, and when it is in season, it is broken as 
 far as the soft part. It has a smell of rather musty oranges, 
 and from its nature requires nothing to flavour it, so that it 
 can be eaten without salt. I consider that, at the proper 
 time, it may be sown like other seeds, especially in temperate 
 places and in good soil. Each stem has a root of its own, 
 and is hollow in the interior. The bark of the stem is 
 green inclined to yellow. ' But, I believe that those who 
 would not know it by any other characteristic, would know 
 it by taking notice of its seeds. The Tartars and all who 
 are acquainted with it, boil the leaves in a kettle with water, 
 and when they have allowed the liquor to cool they drink it 
 as though it were wine, and say it is very refreshing ; and 
 1 can afl&rm that it is so from my own experience. Recom- 
 mending myself to your Grace, 
 
 I am your Grace's servant, 
 
 JOSAFA BaRBARO. 
 Venice, this 23rd of May, U91. 
 
THE TRAVELS 
 
 MAGNIFICENT M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI, 
 
 AMBASSADOR OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS SIGNORY OF VENICE TO 
 
 THE GREAT LORD USSUNCASSAN, KING OF PERSIA, 
 
 IN THE YEAR 1473. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF THE 
 
 MAGNIFICENT M. AMBROSIO CONTARINL 
 
 I, Ambrosio ContarinIj the son of Messer Benedetto, having 
 been chosen ambassador to the Illustrious Lord Ussuncassan, 
 King of Persia, by our Illustrious Signory in the Council of 
 Pregadi, — notwithstanding that such a mission appeared to 
 me arduous on account of the long and perilous journey, — I 
 resolved, in deference to the earnest wishes of our Illus- 
 trious Signory, and for the universal good of Christianity, 
 and the honour that would accrue to the name of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ and His Glorious Mother, to put aside all fear 
 of peril and go cheerfully and willingly for the service of 
 our Signory and Christianity; and deeming that an ac- 
 count of a journey of such impoi-tance and length might be 
 interesting and useful to our descendants, I intend, with as 
 much brevity as possible, to relate what occurred to me 
 from my departure from Venice, on the 23rd of February, 
 1473 (the first day of Lent), until my return, on the 10th of 
 April, 1477, and describe the towns, and provinces through 
 which I passed, as well as the manners and customs of their 
 inhabitants. 
 
108 THE TRAVELS OF THE 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Serene Ambassador leaves Venice, and, passing through Germany, 
 Poland, Lower Russia, and the great desert of Tartary in Europe, 
 arrives at the city of Cafa. 
 
 I left Venice on the 23rd of February, 1473, accompanied 
 by the venerable priest Stephano Testa, as my chaplain and 
 secretary ; Dimitri da Setinis, as my interpreter : and Ma- 
 pheo da Bergamo and Zuanne Ungaretto, as my servants. 
 We were, all five, dressed in thick clothes, in the German 
 fashion. The money with which I was provided was 
 sewn up partly in the skirts of the priest Stephano, and 
 partly in my own, and did not fail to cause us some trouble. 
 "With these four I embarked for San Michiel da Murano, 
 where, after hearing Mass, the Prior, at my request, signed 
 us all with the wood of the Cross, immediately after which 
 we left, with his blessing, for Mestre. Here five horses 
 were provided for us, on which, by God's help, we reached 
 Treviso, as, notwithstanding all my endeavours, I had been 
 unable to procure a guide for any amount of money. 
 
 On the 24th I set out for Conegliano, where, considering 
 it my duty, on so long and perilous a journey to confess and 
 take the sacrament, I did so, with great devotion, together 
 with my retinue. 
 
 On the 26th, having left Coneglian in the morning, I met 
 a certain Sebastiano Todesco, who said he was going our 
 way. As he appeared to know me and where I was going, 
 and offered to accompany us as far as Nuremberg, I certainly 
 looked upon him as one sent by God. We all six set out 
 together, and, travelling every day, entered Germany, where 
 I found many beautiful castles and towns belonging to 
 various lords and bishops, who are all, however, under the 
 allegiance of the Most Serene Emperor. Among other 
 places I saw Augsburg, a very beautiful city. And after 
 we had visited Bercemsiurch, a walled city belonging to the 
 
MAGNIFICENT M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI. 109 
 
 Emperor, and had gone about five miles beyond, Sebastian 
 left us after a cordial embrace, and took the road to Frank- 
 fort. 
 
 On the 10th of March, 1474 (?), I arrived with a guide at 
 Nuremberg, a most beautiful city, with a castle, and a river 
 running through it. As I was looking for a guide, with 
 whom to continue my journey, my host comforted me by 
 suggesting that I should accompany two ambassadors of 
 His Majesty the King of Poland, who, he informed me, 
 were then in that city. This news gave me great satisfac- 
 tion, and I immediately sent the priest Stefano to make 
 known to them who I was, and to say that I should be glad 
 to speak with them. When they had heard my message, 
 they sent word back, that I might accompany them if I felt 
 so disposed. I went then, and found that they were persons 
 of high rank. One was an Archbishop ; the other Messer 
 Paul, a knight. After salutations were exchanged, I showed 
 them that I was the bearer of credentials for their sovereign; 
 and, notwithstanding my dress, they treated me with much 
 honour, and received me willingly into their company, with 
 liberal offers of assistance. I waited for them in Nurem- 
 berg until the 14th of March. 
 
 March 14th. On this day we started from Nuremberg in 
 company with the abovementioned ambassadors. There 
 was also an ambassador of the King of Bohemia, the eldest 
 son of the King of Poland ; and there might have been 
 sixty horsemen. Riding through Germany, we lodged 
 sometimes in very good towns, but generally in cities and 
 fortresses, of which there are many both handsome and 
 strong and worthy of being remembered. But as Germany 
 is pretty well known, either by sight or report, I shall re- 
 frain from mentioning her cities and castles. From the 
 above-named day, until the 25th, we continued travelling in 
 Germany, in the country of the Marquis of Brandenburg, 
 Duke of Saxony. Again entering the territory of the Mar- 
 
no DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 quis of Brandenburg we reached a fine walled city called 
 Frankfort, where we remained till the 29th. As this city is 
 on the confines of Germany and Poland, the Marquis sent a 
 number of armed men, in excellent order, to escort the 
 ambassadors until they arrived in their own country. 
 
 On the 31st, we entered Messariga,^ the first town be- 
 longing to the King of Poland. It is small, but handsome, 
 and has a small castle. 
 
 On the 2nd of April, 1474, we arrived at Posnama- with- 
 out having passed any place of importance. Posnama de- 
 serves notice on account of the beauty of its streets and 
 houses; it is also much frequented by merchants. 
 
 On the 3rd, we left Posnama, with the idea of finding the 
 king. In travelling through Poland we found neither cities 
 nor castles worth mentioning ; and with regard both to 
 lodgings and other things the country is very different to 
 Germany. 
 
 On the 9th, which was Holy Saturday, we entered a city 
 named Lancisia, where the King of Poland was then re- 
 siding. His Majesty sent two gentlemen (knights) to re- 
 ceive me, and I was accommodated with very good lodgings, 
 considering the place. The next day being Easter Sunday, 
 I did not think it would be proper to visit His Majesty. 
 
 On the 11th, in the morning, I received from His Majesty 
 a coat of black damask, and a request to attend his presence. 
 And as such was the Polish custom, I donned the garment, 
 and went accompanied by many men of rank. Having 
 made the requisite salutations, I delivered the presents 
 which were sent to him by our Illustrious Signory, and told 
 him my business. I was then invited to dine with his Majesty. 
 Dinner is conducted in nearly the same manner as with us, 
 and everything was exceedingly well prepai'ed and in abun- 
 dance. When dinner was over I took leave of His Majesty, 
 and returned to my lodgiugs. 
 
 ^ Messcritz, forty-eight miles E.N.E. of Frankfort. ^ Po.sen. 
 
POLAND. 11] 
 
 On the 13th, the king sent for me again, and replied to 
 what I had said on the part of our Ilhistrious Signory, in 
 such kind and courteous terms as to confirm what is said 
 among us, that there has not been a more just king than 
 he, for many years. He ordered that I should be provided 
 with two guides, one for Poland and the other for Lower 
 Russia, as far as a place called Chio or Magraman, situated, 
 beyond his territories, in Russia. Having returned thanks 
 in the name of our Illustrious Signoiy, I took leave of His 
 Majesty. 
 
 On the 14th, I left Lancisia with the above-mentioned 
 guides, and travelled through Poland, which is a flat country, 
 but with forests. Every day and night we found lodgings, 
 which were sometimes good and sometimes otherwise. Po- 
 land has the appearance of being a poor country. 
 
 On the 19th, I arrived at a pretty good city called Lum- 
 berli, where there is a castle in which reside four of the 
 king^s sons (the eldest of whom may have been about fifteen 
 years of age), with a most excellent preceptor, from whom 
 they receive instruction. They requested me (I believe by 
 command of their father) to visit them, which I did. The 
 words addressed to me by one of them were very appro- 
 priate, and showed great esteem for the master. After 
 making a suitable reply, and thanking their Royal High- 
 nesses, I took my leave. 
 
 On the 20th, we left Poland, and entered Lower Russia, 
 which also belongs to the said king. Journeying till the 
 25th, almost all the way through forests, and lodging some- 
 times at a small castle and sometimes in a village, we ai'rived 
 at a city called lusch, where there is a good castle, though 
 built of timber. Here we staled till the 24th (?), not with- 
 out peril, on account of the celebration of a couple of wed- 
 dings : nearly all the population being drunk, and, on that 
 account, very dangerous. They have no wine, but make a 
 kind of beverage with apples, which is more intoxicating. 
 
112 POLAND. 
 
 April 25tli. We left here and arrived, in the evening, at a 
 town with a castle called Aitomir, built entirely of timber. 
 Leaving this place, we travelled on the whole of the 29th 
 through forests, which were very dangerous, from being in- 
 fested with discontented men of all conditions. Not having 
 found a lodging at night, we were obliged to sleep in this 
 forest without anything to eat, and I had to mount guard 
 all night. 
 
 On the 30th, we came to Beligraoch, a white castle, used 
 as a dwelling by the king, where we lodged in great discom- 
 fort. 
 
 On the 1st of May, 1474, we arrived at a city called Ohio 
 or Magraman, beyond the confines of the above-mentioned 
 Russia. It is governed by a Catholic Pole, named Pam- 
 martin, w^ho, when he had heard of my arrival from the 
 king's guides, provided me with very bad quarters, for the 
 country, and sent me provisions, which were very acceptable. 
 This city is on the confines of Tartary, and is frequented by 
 merchants who bring furs from High Russia, and pass in 
 caravans to Capha, but are often captured by the Tartars. 
 The country abounds in bread and meat. It is the custom 
 of the people to work from morning to tierce, and then to 
 spend the rest of their time till night in caves, frequently 
 quarrelling like drunkards. 
 
 May 2nd. Pammartin sent many of his gentlemen to in- 
 vite me to dine with him. After the proper salutations had 
 been exchanged, he made me great offers, and informed me 
 that he had been commanded by his sovereign, to treat me 
 with honour, protect me from every danger, and give me 
 the means of passing through Tartary as far as Capha. I 
 thanked him, and begged him to do so ; when he said that 
 he was expecting an ambassador from Lithuania, with pre- 
 sents for the Emperor of the Tartars, and that the emperor 
 was going to send two hundred Tartar horsemen as an 
 escort. He recommended me, therefore, to wait for this 
 
POLAND. 1 1 3 
 
 ambassador^ in whose company T might pass in safety, which 
 I resolved to do. We sat down to dinner, which was ex- 
 ceedingly well prepared and abundant, and I received most 
 honourable attention. There were present a bishop, brother 
 to the governor, and many gentlemen ; and there were also 
 several singers, who sang during the repast. I was made 
 to remain at table a very long time, to my great annoyance, 
 as I required rest more than anything else. When dinner 
 was over, I took leave of his loi'dship, and went to my 
 lodgings, which were in the town, the governor remaining 
 in his quarters at the castle, which was constructed of wood. 
 There is a river, called Danambre in their language, and 
 Leresse in ours, which passes by the town and flows into 
 the Mar Maggiore. We waited here ten days for the ar- 
 rival of the Lithuanian ambassador. On the morning we 
 were about to depart, the governor wished that we should 
 hear Mass, although I had previously told him that I had 
 done so. When Mass was over we embraced each other, 
 and Pam martin made me shake hands with the ambassador, 
 whom he requested, with much warmth, to consider me as 
 the person of his own king, and conduct me in safety to 
 Capha. The ambassador replied that the command of His 
 Majesty the King should be observed, and that I should be 
 treated in the same manner as if I were the king himself. 
 And with this I took leave of the governor, thanking him 
 to the best of my ability, as he deserved, for the great 
 honour he had done me. During the time I staid here I 
 often received provisions. I presented the governor with a 
 German saddle-horse, which was one of those I had brouofht 
 from Mestre ; and, as the others were entire horses, he 
 wished me to leave them there, and take horses of the coun- 
 try. The king's guides were the best of company, and I 
 treated them with courtesy. 
 
 On the 11th, we left here with the ambassador. I was 
 on a carriage, which I had used since I left the king, on ac- 
 
114 TRAVELS IN POLAND. 
 
 count of a bad leg, which prevented me from riding on 
 horseback. We journeyed until the 9th (?), when we ar- 
 rived at a villasre called Cercas, which also belong-ed to the 
 said king. Here we remained till the 15th, when the am- 
 bassador heard that the Tartars had arrived ; we then left 
 Cercas in their company, and entered upon a desert country. 
 On the 15th, we reached the above-mentioned river, which 
 we had to cross. This river separates Tartary from Russia 
 towards Capha, and, as it was more than a mile in breadth 
 and very deep, the Tartars began to cut timbers, which they 
 tied together, and covered with branches to form a raft, and 
 our things being placed on it the Tartars entered the river 
 holding on to their horses^ necks, while our raft was attached 
 to their tails by cords. Thus mounted, the horses were 
 driven across the river, which we passed by the help of God. 
 How great our peril was, I leave my readers to consider, — 
 in my opinion it could not have been greater. When we 
 had landed on the opposite bank, every one put his things 
 in order, and we remained the whole day with the Tartars. 
 Some of the Tartar chiefs eyed me closely, and I appeared 
 to be the subject of many sui'mises among them. We set 
 out from the river and travelled through the desert country, 
 suffering many discomforts of every kind. And as we were 
 passing through a wood, the ambassador sent to tell me, by 
 his interpreter, that the Tartars felt it their duty to conduct 
 me to their emperor. He said that, as they had heard of 
 the rank I held, I could not be allowed to pass Capha with- 
 out being previously presented to their emperor. At this I 
 was very much annoyed, so I urged my case to the inter- 
 preter, begging him to remember the promise which had 
 been made as much to Pammartin as to the King of Poland, 
 and I promised to give him a sword. Saying he would 
 serve me, and bidding me take comfort, he returned to the 
 ambassador, and repeated what I had said. He then sat 
 down to drink with the Tartars, whom he assured with 
 
CONTARINI REACHES KAFFA. 115 
 
 many words that I was a Genoese^ and the affair was arranged 
 by means of fifteen ducats : before hearing this, however, 
 I was in great anxiety. In the morning we rode on and 
 travelled till the 24th, with much hardship, having passed 
 a day and a night without water, came to a pass where the 
 ambassadors and the Tartars had to take the road to a castle 
 called Chercher, where the Tartar emperor was staying. A 
 Tartar was here appointed to accompany me to Capha, and 
 I took leave of the ambassador. Although we were alone 
 and in constant fear lest the Tartars should send after us, I 
 was well pleased to be free from those confounded dogs who 
 smelt of horse-flesh to such a degree that there was no 
 standing near them Travelling with my guide, we lodged, 
 in the evening, in the open air among some Tartar carts 
 with their skin covering. Many of the Tartars immediately 
 surrounded us, and wished to know who we were : on hear- 
 ing from our guide that I was a Genoese, they presented 
 me with sour milk. 
 
 On the morning of the 26th, we left here before daybreak, 
 and, about the hour of Vespers, entered the town of Capha, 
 thanking our Lord God, who had taken pity on our trouble. 
 Having gone secretly to a church, I sent the interpreter to 
 our consul, who immediately sent his brother to tell me to 
 stay till the evening and then to come secretly to one of his 
 houses in the town, which I did. At the appointed time 
 we came to the consul's house, where we were well received, 
 and where I met Ser Polo Ogniben, who had been sent by 
 our Illustrious Signory three months before me. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 His Excellency the Ambassador leaves Capha, and after crossing the 
 Mar Maggiore, reaches Fasso ; then passing Mengrelia, Giorgiana, 
 and part of Armenia, arrives at the country of Ussuncassan. 
 
 I caunot give many particulars concerning the town of 
 Capha, as I remained indoors nearly all the time I was 
 there, that I might not be seen ; but I will mention what 
 little I saw and heard. The town is situated on the Mar 
 Maggiore ; it is very mercantile, with a numerous popula- 
 tion composed of natives of every nation, and has the repu- 
 tation of being very wealthy. While there, as it was my 
 intention to go to Fasso, I hired a ship lying in the Sea of 
 Zabacche, of which was master Antonio di Valdata, and I 
 had to ride on horseback to this ship to complete the en- 
 gagement. When I had concluded the business, a proposal 
 was made to me by an Armenian named Morach, who had 
 been to Rome and who acted as ambassador to Ussuncassan, 
 and another old Armenian, to the effect that, instead of go- 
 ing, as was my intention, to Fasso, I should go to another 
 place named Tina, about a hundred miles from Trebizond, 
 and belonging to the Turk, and that, as soon as we had 
 landed, we should take horses, and I was promised that, in 
 four hours, I should be taken to the castle of a certain Ariam, 
 who was a subject of Ussuncassan, giving me also to under- 
 stand that at Tina there was only a castle belonging to 
 Greeks, in which I should certainly be placed in safety. 
 This project did not please me in any way ; but I was so 
 persuaded by the consul and his brother, that I consented 
 to it, although against my will. 
 
 On the 3rd of June, 1474, we left Caph^, accompanied by 
 the consul, and, the next day arrived at the place where the 
 ship I had hired was lying. I had engaged to pay seventy 
 ducats for our passage ; but, as we had altered our course 
 
CONTARINI IN GEORGIA, 1 1 7 
 
 I was obliged to pay a hundred. And, as I was informed 
 that there were no horses at the place at which we intended 
 landing, I took nine on board for the use of the guides, and 
 also to enable us to carry provisions through Mengrelia and 
 Giorgiania. 
 
 On the 15th, the horses being embarked, we set sail and 
 entered the Mar Maggiore; and, then bending our course 
 towards the said Tina, sailed with a favourable wind. Having 
 sailed about twenty miles, however, without seeing that 
 place, the wind veered to the east, contrary to us while we 
 kept on the same course. Having noticed that the sailors 
 were talking together, and wishing to know the subject of 
 their conversation, I was told that they were willing to do 
 whatever I wished, but was assured that Tina was a very 
 dangerous place. Hearing this, and seeing that it appeared 
 as though our Lord God did not wish me to come to harm, 
 I determined to make for Leati and Fasso; and having come 
 to this determination, the weather became favourable shortly 
 afterwards, and we sailed with good winds. 
 
 On the 29th, we reached Varti, and as the horses were 
 out of condition, I had them put on shore and sent to Fasso/ 
 a distance, I was told, of sixty miles. At this place a cer- 
 tain Bernardino, the brother of our captain, came on board, 
 who, hearing that we had intended to go to Tina, said that, 
 if we had done so, we should all have been taken as slaves, 
 as he knew for certain that that place was frequented by a 
 Sohassi with many horsemen, who acted acording to their 
 usual custom. Returning thanks to God, we left this place. 
 Varti, in Mengrelia, consists of a castle surrounded by a 
 town of small extent, and belongs to a lord named Gorbola. 
 There is another town on the Mar Maggiore, of little im- 
 portance, called Caltichea, trading in silks, canvass, and 
 wax, of little value, and the people of every condition are 
 very miserable. 
 
 ' Toti. 
 
118 THE TRAVELS OF 
 
 On the 1st of July, 1474, we arrived at the mouth of the 
 Fasso, and a boat came alongside filled with Mengrelians, 
 who behaved like madmen. Leaving the ship, we went, in 
 this boat, to the mouth of the river, where there is an island 
 over which, it is said, reigned King Areta, the father of the 
 poisoner Medea. We slept there that night and were an- 
 noyed by so many gnats that we could scarcely guard against 
 them. 
 
 On the morning of the 2nd, we went up the river in the 
 boats of the country to a city called Asso, situated on the 
 river and surrounded by woods. The river is as wide as 
 two shots of a crossbow. When we had landed at the city 
 I found a certain Nicolo Capello da Modone, who had settled 
 there and become a Mahometan ; a Circassian woman, 
 named Marta, who was the slave of a Genoese ; and a 
 Genoese, who was also settled and married there. I lodged 
 with the woman Marta, who certainly treated me well, and 
 staid till the 4th. Fasso belongs to the Mengrelians, whose 
 chief is named Bendian. He has not much territory, as it 
 may be traversed in three days, and consists principally of 
 woods and mountains. The men are brutal, and shave their 
 heads after the fashion of minor friars. There are stone 
 quarries in the country, and a little corn and wine is also 
 produced, but of no great value. The men live miserably 
 on millet made hard like polenta, and the women fare 7nore 
 miserably still ; and were it not for a little wine and salt 
 fish imported from Trebisond, and salt from Capha, they 
 would be very badly off. They produce canvas and wax, 
 but in small quantities. If they were industrious they 
 might procure as much fish as they required from the river. 
 They are Christians, and worship according to the rites of 
 the Greek Church, but they have man}'^ heresies. 
 
 On the 4th, we left Fasso with the above-mentioned 
 Nicolo Capello as guide, and crossed a river named Mazo 
 in a boat. 
 
CONTARINI IN GEORGIA. ] 1 9 
 
 On the 5thj after passing tlirough woods and over moun- 
 tains^ we arrived in the evening at the place where Bendian^ 
 the Lord of Mengrelia, was staying. This prince^ with his 
 court, was seated in a small plain under a tree. I made 
 known to him by the said Nicolb that I wished to spaak to 
 His Highness, and he had me sent for. He was seated on 
 a carpet with his wife and some of his sons by his side, and 
 he made me sit before him. When I had spoken to him 
 and made him presents, he merely said that I was welcome. 
 I asked him for a guide, which he promised to let me have, 
 on which I returned to my quarters. He sent me, as a pre- 
 sent, a pig's head, a little beef badly cooked, and some bad 
 bread, which we were compelled to eat from necessity, 
 and I waited for the guide the whole day. In this plain 
 there were a great many trees like box trees, but much 
 larger, and all of an equal height, with a path in the middle 
 of them. Bendian was about fifty years of age, rather hand- 
 some, but his manners were those of a madman. 
 
 On the 7th we left, and travelled continually through 
 woods and over mountains, and on the 8th crossed a river 
 which divides Mengrelia from Giorgiania, and slept in a 
 meadow on the fresh grass, without much provision. 
 
 On the 9th, we came to a small town called Cotochis,^ 
 where, on a hill, there is a castle built entirely of stone, con- 
 taiuing a church which has the appearance of being very 
 ancient. We afterwards crossed a very large river by a 
 bridge, and lodged in a meadow in which were the houses 
 of Pangrati, King of Giorgiania, the castle above mentioned 
 belonging to him. We were allowed by the governor to 
 lodge in these houses, and remained there the whole of the 
 11th, much annoyed by the Georgiani (?), who are as mad 
 as the Meugrelians. The governor wished me to dine with 
 him. When I went to his house he sat down on the ground, 
 and I sat beside him with some of his people and some of 
 
 ^ Kutais. 
 
120 THE TRAVELS OF 
 
 mine. A skin was spread before us for a table-cloth, on 
 which there was a layer of grease, that I firmly believe 
 would have sufficed to cook a large cauldron full of cab- 
 bages. Bread, turnips, and a little meat, prepared in their 
 manner, were placed before me, as well as several other un- 
 savoury things, which I certainly cannot recal. The cup 
 went round, and they did all they could to make me as drunk 
 as they were themselves, and as I would not drink, they held 
 me in much contempt, and I left them with great difficulty. 
 The governor provided me with a guide to accompany me to 
 the place where the king was. 
 
 On the 12th, I left here and travelled over mountains and 
 through woods, and in the evening was made to dismount, 
 by the guide, on a meadow near a castle, situated on a 
 mountain, in which resided King Pangrati. Here the guide 
 went away, saying that he was going to inform the king, 
 and that he would return immediately with another guide 
 who would accompany me all over the country, and we were 
 left in the middle of the wood in considerable fear, and we 
 waited the whole night suffering much from hunger and 
 thirst. Early the next morning he returned, accompanied 
 by two of the king's clerks, who said that the king had 
 gone to Cotachis, and had sent them to look after the things 
 which I had, to put them down in a letter, in order that I 
 might be able to pass through the whole of the country 
 without paying anything. They wanted to see everything, 
 and to take a note even of the clothes I had on my back, 
 which I thought very strange. When they had made their 
 notes, they told me to get on horseback alone, and wanted 
 me to go to the king. But, as I tried by all means to make 
 them leave me, they began to abuse me, and after much 
 trouble I was allowed to take my interpreter. I mounted 
 without having had anything to eat or to drink, and rode 
 with them to the said castle of Cotachis, where the kinor 
 was staying. Here I was made by the king to wait all 
 
CONTARINI IN O^IORGIA. 121 
 
 night under a tree, and he only sent me a small quantity of 
 bread and fish. My attendants remained in the custody of 
 others, and were taken to a village and placed in the house 
 of a priest. One rnay imagine the state of mind we were in. 
 In the morning the king sent for me. He was in his house, 
 seated on the ground, together with many of his barons. 
 He asked me many questions, and among others, whether I 
 knew how many kings there were in the world. I answered 
 at random, that I thought there were twelve, on which he 
 said that I was right, and that he was one of them ; and, he 
 added, "And art thou come to my country without bi-inging 
 me letters from thy lord?^' I replied, that the reason I had 
 not brought him letters, was that I did not think I should 
 have come to his country ; but I assured him that he was 
 well appreciated by my lord the Pope, who recognised hira 
 among the other kings, and who, if he had thought that I 
 should have passed through his country, would have had 
 great pleasure in writing to him. This seemed to please him, 
 and he afterwards asked me many strange questions, which 
 gave me to understand that that rogue of a guide who had 
 brought me had informed him that I had many valuables 
 with me. And, truly, if he had found this to be the case, 
 I should never have been allowed to leave the place. The 
 clerks, out of the few things belonging to me, which they 
 had noted down, took whatsoever they pleased, and insisted, 
 that I should give them to the king. On taking leave, 1 
 begged the king to let me have a guide to conduct me safely 
 out of the country ; and he promised to comply with my re- 
 quest, saying that he would also give me a letter which 
 would enable me to traverse the whole of his dominions in 
 safety. I then left him, and returned to my tree. I was 
 obliged to importune the clerk very strongly, in order to 
 get the guide and the letter, which I obtained at last, after 
 much trouble. 
 
 On the 1 1th, T left the king and returned to the village. 
 
122 THE TJiAVKLS OK 
 
 where my people were staying, who, in consequence of tlie 
 bad account they had heard of the king, made certain that I 
 should never return. They could not have been more de- 
 lighted if they had seen the Messiah, and knew not what 
 they did for joy. The poor priest seemed pleased, and pre- 
 pared me food. We slept, that night, as well as was pos- 
 sible, and the priest made some bread to take with us, and 
 gave us a little wine. 
 
 On the 15th, about tierce, we started with the guide, and 
 travelled through the terrible woods and mountains of that 
 accursed country, sleeping, at night, on the ground near 
 water and grass, and being obliged to make fires on account 
 of the cold. 
 
 On the 17th, we came to a place belonging to the same 
 king, called Gorides,^ situated in a plain, and having a wooden 
 fort on a hill. A large river passes by it, and it is a very 
 convenient place. As soon as the governor of the town 
 had been informed of my arrival by the guide, he made me 
 enter a house where I expected to have met with a good 
 reception. After I had waited there a little time, however, 
 he sent to inform me that the king had wi'itten to order 
 that I should pay twenty-six ducats to him and six to the 
 guide. And when I told him, with astonishment, that this 
 could not be, as the king had received me well, and that I 
 had already given him seventy ducats, and said much more 
 which was of no avail, I was obliged, reluctantly, to give 
 the money. He kept me till the 19tli, and then allowed 
 me to depart. I was very much annoyed during my stay, 
 as the brutes appeared never to have seen men before. 
 Giorgiania is, however, rather a better country than Min- 
 grelia; but the customs and way of living of the inhabitants 
 are the same, as are their religion and mode of celebrating 
 it. We Avere told, when we had descended a high moun- 
 tain, that in a large church, situated in a forest, there was 
 
 ' Gori. 
 
CONTARINI IN ARMEXIA. 123 
 
 an ancient image of Oui' Lady, guarded by forty calviri (or 
 priests), which was said to perform many miracles. I would 
 not go there, as I had a great desire to get out of that 
 accursed country, where I certainly underwent great trouble 
 and escaped many dangers, to describe which would take 
 much time and only prove tiresome to the reader. 
 
 On the 20th, we left Gorides, and went on, still travelling 
 over mountains and through forests. Occasionally, we came 
 to a house, where we obtained refreshments. We rested in 
 places where there was water and pasture for the horses, 
 and our bed was the fresh grass. We journeyed in this 
 manner all through Mengrelia and Giorgiania. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 His Excellency the Ambassador arrives at Tauris, a royal city of Persia, 
 where, not meeting Ussuncassan, he presents himself to his son. 
 Leaving Tauris, he travels many days through Persia, and arrives 
 at length at the city of Spaan, where he meets the Shah. 
 
 On the 22nd, we began to ascend a high mountain, the 
 summit of which we had nearly reached at night, when we 
 were obliged to rest, without water. We rode on again 
 early the next morning, and when we had descended the 
 mountain we were in the couutry of Ussuncassan; that is 
 to say, we had entered Armenia. In the evening we arrived 
 at a castle garrisoned by Turks belonging to Ussuncassan, 
 called Lores, situated in a kind of plain, below which, how- 
 ever, passes a very deep river. On the other side there is 
 a mountain, and, in front of the river, an Armenian village, 
 where we were certainly well received and where we lodged 
 until the 25th, partly for the purpose of resting ourselves, 
 and partly in order to obtain a guide. The Armenian whom 
 I had brought from Cafa, who said he was a subject of 
 Ussuncassan, was found to be a great rogue, and I was told 
 
124 THE TRAVELS OF 
 
 by these Armenians, tliat I had been very lucky in escaping 
 from his hands. I therefore kept back a horse, which I had 
 given to him, and dismissed him, and took, as my guide as 
 far as Tauris, an Ai-menian priest, who proved very faithful. 
 
 On the 26th, we five, together with the priest, left Lores 
 and crossed a mountain, and in the evening came to a plain 
 surrounded by mountains, and reached a Turkish village, 
 where we were very well received, and we slept in the open 
 air. 
 
 On the 27th, we started before daybreak to pass another 
 mountain, on the descent of which, we were told, there was 
 a village of Turks, which it would be dangerous for us to 
 pass in the day time. We were fortunate enough to pass it 
 at a time, when, I believe, we were not seen. We then 
 entered a very fine country and made every effort to increase 
 the length of our stages, taking little rest except at night, 
 and sleeping in the open air. We thus travelled through 
 this country until the 28th, when we reached the mountain 
 of Noali, which is very high and covered with snow, from 
 the summit to the base, throughout the year. It is said 
 that many persons have attempted to reach the top. Some 
 have never returned, and those who have returned, say that 
 it does not appear to them that a way up will ever be found. 
 Travelling until the 30th through a fiat country, with the 
 exception of a few hills of no importance, we came to a 
 castle belonging to free Armenian Franks, who call them- 
 selves Chiagri, where we remained till the 3 1st to take a 
 little rest, as we had provisions of bread, poultry, and wine. 
 
 On the 1st of August, 1474, we were obliged to take 
 another guide for Tauris, and we started at vespers. 
 
 On the 2nd, we arrived at another tolerably good Arme- 
 nian village, situated on the side of a mountain, where we 
 had to cross a river in a strange kind of boat used there. 
 It is said that on the banks of this river, but much more to 
 the cast, the Soldan Busech came to give battle to Ussun- 
 
OONTARINI IN ARMENIA., 125 
 
 cassan, and that while Ussuncassan was on one side and the 
 Tartar on the other, the Tartars became so weakened by 
 disease produced by scarcity of provisions that Ussuncassan 
 routed them, and captured the Soldan Busech, whom he 
 caused to be beheaded. We crossed this river, on the left 
 bank of which are situated eleven Armenian villages near to 
 each other, having their bishop and being all subject to the 
 Pope. There is not a finer nor a more fertile country than |> 
 this in all Persia. 
 
 On the 3rd, we came to a small town called Marerichi, 
 where we rested for the night. 
 
 On the 4th, we started early and travelled through the 
 plains ; the weather was excessively hot, and we could not 
 find good water anywhere. 
 
 I must observe that, from the time we left Loreo, while 
 travelling through the places I have mentioned, we met 
 a great many Turcomans, with their families, who were 
 changing their quarters, in search of fresh pasture: it being 
 their custom to remain encamped where the pasturage is 
 abundant, until it is all consumed,' after which they go in 
 search of fresh. We also passed some of their encampments. 
 These men are an accursed race and arrant thieves, and cer- 
 tainly caused us great fear. By making known to them, 
 however, that I was going to their sovereign, we managed 
 by the help of God, to pass on. 
 
 On this day, about the hour of vespers, we entered the 
 city of Tauris, situated in a plain and surrounded by dismal- 
 looking earthen walls. There are near here several red 
 mountains (monti rossi), which are said to be the Tauri 
 mountains. When we entered this city we found it in great 
 commotion, and it was with much difficulty that I reached a 
 caravanserai, where we lodged. Passing among some Turks ^ 
 I heard them say, " These are the dogs who come to create ; 
 a schism in the Mahometan religion ; we ought to cut them \ 
 to pieces." Having dismounted at the caravanserai, the i r 
 
126 THE TRAVELS OF 
 
 AzaniOj who certainly appeared to be a good sort of person, 
 provided us with a couple of rooms. His first^words were 
 to express astonishment at our safe arrival, which he ap- 
 peared to think was a thing scarcely credible, as he gave 
 us to understand, what I inyself had observed, that the 
 streets were all barricaded. On my wishing to know the 
 reason, he said that Gurlumameth, the valiant son of Ussun- 
 cassan, had gone to war with his father and had seized one 
 of the chief towns of Persia called Siras, which he had given 
 up to the Sultan Chali and to his mother-in-law. In con- 
 sequence of this Ussuncassan had raised an army and was 
 marching towards Siras to expel him. There was a moun- 
 tain chief also of the name of Zagarli in league with Gur- 
 lumameth and commanding above three thousand horsemen, 
 who made inroads and ravaged the country as far as Tauris; 
 and it was from fear of him that the streets were barricaded. 
 He also told me that his Subassi, who had gone out to meet 
 this Zagarli, had been routed and despoiled of everything, 
 and was very thankful to return to Tauris. On my asking 
 him why all the people of the city did not sally forth, he 
 replied that they were not fighting men, but gave obedience 
 to any chief who had possession of the city. I tried all 
 means to leave Tauris and go in quest of the Shah, but 
 could not find a man to accompany me, nor could I obtain 
 any favour of the Subassi. I was, therefore, obliged to re- 
 main in the caravanserai, the master of which recommended 
 me to keep in concealment. 1 was, however, sometimes 
 obliged to go out to buy provisions, or to send my interpre- 
 ter or a certain Astustin of Pavia who had accompanied me 
 from Cafa, as he had some knowledge of the language. 
 They both suffered much abuse and were told that we ought 
 to be cut to pieces. After a few days there arrived a son 
 of Ussuncassan named Massubei, accompanied by a thou- 
 sand horsemen, to take the government of Tauris, on account 
 of the fear caused by Zagarli, to whom I went, and with 
 
CONTARINI IN PERSIA. 127 
 
 difficulty obtained an audience. I was obliged to give him 
 a piece of camlet, and when I had saluted him, I said that I 
 was going to the Shah, his father, and begged him to let 
 me have a good escort. He scarcely answered me and ap- 
 peared not to care ; so I returned to my lodging. Things 
 then began to get worse ; for, when Massubei wanted to 
 obtain money from the people in order to raise an army, 
 they refused to give him any, and closed all the shops. I 
 was, therefore, obliged to leave the caravanserai and go to 
 an Armenian church, where I obtained a small space for 
 lodging for ourselves and our horses, and I could not let 
 any of my people go out. One may imagine our state of 
 mind, in constant dread of ill-usage; but our Lord Grod, who 
 had taken compassion on us hitherto, in so many perils, 
 was again pleased to save us. 
 
 On the 5th of September, 1474, while still in Tauris, 
 there arrived, on a mission from our Illustrious Signory to 
 the Shah XJssuncassan, Bartholomeo Liompardo, who had 
 visited me in Cafa, accompanied by his nephew Brancalion. 
 Having come by way of Trabisonda he arrived a month 
 after me. I now resolved to send the above-mentioned 
 Agustino, by way of Aleppo, to Venice with my letters, to 
 inform the Illustrious Signory of everything that had taken 
 place, and he arrived at his destination in safety, after many 
 perils. I staid in Tauris until the 22nd of September. I 
 cannot say much about Tauris, as I remained continually in 
 concealment. It is a large city, and much amber is met 
 with in it. I do not think it is very populous. It abounds 
 in all kinds of provisions, but everything is dear. It con- 
 tains many bazaars. A great quantity of silk passes through 
 in caravans, bound for Aleppo, and there are many light 
 articles of silk from the manufactures of Jesdi, and a great 
 deal of fustian and merchandise of almost every kind. Of 
 jewels I heard no mention. As my good fortune would 
 have it, the Cadi Lascher, — one of the most important per- 
 
128 TRAVELS IN PERSIA. 
 
 sonages about Ussuncassan, wlio had been on an embassy 
 to the Soldau for the purpose of conckiding a peace, with- 
 out, however, succeeding, — came to Tauris on his way back 
 to his sovereign. As soon as I knew this, I sought an in- 
 terview with him, made him a present, and begged that he 
 would allow me to travel in his compan}', as I was going to 
 the Shah on important business. He granted my request 
 in the most gracious and courteous manner, saying that he 
 gladly accepted my company and trusted in God to conduct 
 me in safety to his sovereign. It appeared to me to be a 
 proof of the grace of God ; for which I tendered many 
 thanks. The Cadi had two renegade Slavonian slaves with 
 him, who formed a close friendship with my servants, and 
 made them offers of assistance. They promised me also 
 that when their master was going to leave they would let 
 me know, which they did, and I made them a present, 
 which was profitable to me. 
 
 On the 22nd, as I have said, we left Tauris with the Cadi 
 Lascher. A caravan consisting of a number of Azami, 
 going our way, kept in our company for protection. As we , 
 travelled we found the country generally level, with the ex- 
 ception of a few hills, but very arid, as there was not a tree 
 of any kind, except near some rivers. We passed, however, 
 a few villages of no importance. Before midday we rested 
 in the open air, and did the same at night. We procured 
 provisions as we required them at the villages as we went 
 along. Travelling in this way, we arrived, on the 28th, at 
 Soltania^ which, from its appearance, I should judge to be a 
 good town. It has a large walled castle, which I wished to 
 see. It contains a mosque, which has the appearance of 
 being very ancient. It had three bronze gates higher than 
 those of St. Mark in Venice, worked with knobs, made in 
 damask work with silver, which are certainly most beautiful, 
 and must, I should think, have cost a large sum of money. 
 I saw nothing else worthy of note. This city is situated in 
 
CONTARINI ARRIVES AT KOUM. 129 
 
 a plain, but in the vicinity of some mountains of moderate 
 height. The cold here in winter is said to be so severe that 
 the people are obliged to remove to another place. There 
 is a bazaar for the sale of provisions, and fustians of a com- 
 mon description. We remained here till the 30th, on the 
 morning of which day we left, and travelled again over 
 plains and hills, sleeping every night in the open air. The 
 country forms pai^t of Persia, which begins at Tauris. 
 
 On the 4th of October, 1474, we arrived at a city called 
 Sena, without walls, but with a bazaar as usual. It is 
 situated in a plain near a river, and surrounded by trees. 
 Here we slept in a very incommodious caravanserai. 
 
 On the 5th, we left here; and on the 6th, while bivouack- 
 ing in the open air, I was attacked by fever. On the 
 morning of the 8th we rode on, I being greatly fatigued, 
 and arrived in good time at a city called Como.^ Here, 
 when we had entered a caravanserai in a sort of inn, the 
 fever increased and began to trouble me seriously, and the 
 next day all my people were taken ill, except Pre Stephano, 
 who attended to us all. Our illness, from what I was told, 
 was of a kind that is accompanied by delirium, and we said 
 many insane things. Cadi Lascher sent to me to make 
 excuses for not staying longer, saying that he was obliged 
 to hasten to his sovereign, but that he would leave me a 
 servant, and comforted me with the assurance that I was in 
 a country where I should not be molested. My illness kept 
 me in this place till the 23rd. Como is a small but hand- 
 some town situated in a plain, and surrounded by a mud 
 wall. It has an abundance of everything, with good bazaars 
 for its manufactures and fustians. 
 
 On the 23rd, as I have said, we left here, and I travelled 
 with much suflFei-ing on account of my illness. 
 
 On the 25th, we ai'rived at another city called Cassan,^ 
 
 1 Koum. 2 Kashan. 
 
130 CONTARINI MEETS WITH BARBARO. 
 
 having walls and bazaars like those of ComOj but it is a 
 finer city. 
 
 On the 26th, we left here and entered another small city 
 called Nethos/ situated in a plain, where more wine is made 
 than anywhere else. Here, on account of my debility and 
 a slight return of fever, I remained a day. On the 28th I. 
 mounted my horse as well as I could, and after travelling 
 again over plains, arrived on the 30th at a city called Spaan. 
 Here we found the Shah Ussuncassan, and having ascer- 
 tained where Messer Josafa Barbaro, our ambassador, was 
 residing, I dismounted at his lodgings. As soon as we 
 saw each other, we embraced each other affectionately, and 
 with great joy. One may imagine the consolation which 
 this meeting afforded me ; but as I was more in want of 
 repose than anything else, I retired to rest. On the follow- 
 ing day I had a conference with his Excellency, in Avhich I 
 stated what I had to say. The Shah having heard of my 
 arrival sent his slaves to receive me with presents of pro- 
 visions. 
 
 On the 4th of November, 1474, we were summoned to 
 the presence of the Shah by some of his slaves. Having 
 entered the audience chamber in company with the Magnifi- 
 cent Messer Josafa Barbaro, we found His Majesty and eight 
 of his barons, who appeared to be men of authority. After 
 the required salutations, performed according to the Persian 
 custom, I stated the object of my embassy from the Illus- 
 trious Signory, and delivered my letter of credence. When 
 I had concluded, the Shah replied briefly, and, as it were, 
 excusing himself for having been obliged to come to these 
 parts ; after which, he made me sit with his barons, and an 
 abundant supply of refreshments were brought, well pre- 
 pared, according to their methods, of which we partook, 
 seated on carpets in the Persian fashion. When we had 
 eaten we saluted His Majesty and return'ed to our lodgings. 
 
 1 Nathunz. 
 
CONTARINI RECEIVED BY THE SHAH. 131 
 
 On the 6th, we were summoned by the Shah, and a great 
 part of the residence where he was staying, which was in 
 the middle of a field, through which a river flowed, in a very 
 delightful locality, was shown to me. One part was formed 
 like a quadrangle and was adorned by a painting, represent- 
 ing the decapitation of Soltan Busech, and showing how he 
 was brought by a rope to execution by Curlumameth, who 
 had caused the chamber to be made. We were served with 
 a luncheon of good confections, after which we returned to 
 our. lodgings. We remained in this city of Spaan with His 
 Majesty until the 25th of this month, during which time we 
 were invited by His Majesty to frequent banquets. Spaan 
 appears to be a very convenient city. It is situated in a 
 plain abounding with all kinds of provisions. It is said 
 thet, as the city refused to surrender, much of it was 
 destroyed after it had been taken. It is surrounded by a 
 wall of earth like the others. From Tauris to Spaan is a 
 twenty-four days^ journey, through a country entirely belong- 
 ing to Persia, consisting of a very arid plain with salt water 
 in many places. The corn and fruits which, however, grow in 
 abundance, are produced by means of irrigation. There are 
 fruits of all kinds, and of better quality than I have seen or 
 tasted anywhere. To the right and left of Spaan there are 
 mountains, said to be very fertile, from which are brought 
 the greater portion of the provisions. All things are dear. 
 Wine costs from three to four ducats for a quantity equal to 
 our quart. Bread is at a reasonable price. A camel-load of 
 wood costs a ducat. Meat is dearer than with us. Fowls 
 are sold seven for a ducat. The prices of other things are in 
 proportion. The Persians are well behaved and of gentle 
 manners, and by their conduct appear to like the Christians. 
 While in Persia we did not sufier a single outrage. The 
 Persian women are dressed in a very becoming manner and 
 surpass the men, both in their dress and in their riding 
 Both women and men are handsome and well-made, and 
 follow the Mahometan religion. 
 
132 CONTARINI LEAVES ISPAHAN. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 His Excellency the Ambassador leaves Spaan and returns in company 
 with Ussuucassan to Tauris, where he meets the Ambassadors of the 
 Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Muscovy, and, after many 
 audiences, takes leave of Ussuncassan. 
 
 On the 25th of November^ as above mentioned. His 
 Majesty left Spaan with his court, and all returned, with 
 their families, to winter at Como. I accompanied His 
 Majesty, and we travelled as nearly as possible through the 
 same places by which we had come, lodging under tents, 
 and wherever we settled, bazaars were established by those 
 who are deputed to follow the camp with provisions and 
 corn of every description. 
 
 On the 14th of December, 1474, we entered Como with 
 His Majesty, where, with difficulty, I obtained a small house 
 for our lodging, after staying two days under tents. We 
 remained at Como with the king, who often summoned us 
 to his presence, until the 21st of March, during which time 
 we suflFered considerably from the extreme cold. When we 
 ate with His Majesty, he made us enter his apartment in 
 the pavilion, but sometimes we remained outside, and de- 
 parted without ceremony. When we dined with him, he 
 took great pleasure in asking us about places in our coun- 
 try, and put some strange questions. His demeanour is 
 certainly good ; and he is constantly surrounded by men of 
 rank. At least four hundred people sat daily at his enter- 
 tainments, and sometimes many more, all seated on the 
 ground. The food is brought to them in vessels of copper, 
 and consists sometimes of rice ; sometimes of corn, with a 
 little meat ; and it is a pleasure to see with what avidity it 
 is eaten. The Shah and those who ate in his company, 
 were served in an honourable manner, the dishes being 
 abundant and well prepared. His Majesty always drinks 
 wine at his meals ; he appears to be a good liver, and took 
 
EETUIiNS TO TADRIZ. 133 
 
 pleasure in inviting us to partake of the dislies wliicli were 
 before him. There were constantly present a number of 
 players and singers^ to whom he commanded whatever he 
 wished to be played or sung, and His Majesty appeared to 
 be of a very merry disposition. He was tall and thin, and 
 had a slightly Tartar expression of countenance, with a con- 
 stant colour on his face. His hand trembled as he drank. 
 He appeared to be seventy years of age. He was fond of 
 amusing himself in a homely manner; but, when too far 
 gone, was sometimes dangerous. Take him altogether, 
 however, he was a pleasant gentleman. We remained in 
 Como, as I have said, till the 22nd of March. It would not 
 be to the purpose for me to mention the number of times I 
 had spoken to the Shah on the subject of my embassy ; it 
 may be understood by the result. 
 
 On the 21st of March, 1475, we left Como for Tauris with 
 the whole lordo ; that is, with all who followed the Shah, 
 whose whole family, with the baggage, went on camels and 
 mules, of which there were gi"eat numbers. We journeyed 
 from ten to twelve miles a day, and sometimes, but rarely, 
 twenty, when in search of good pasturage. It is the prac- 
 tice of the Shah to send his pavilion on to the place where 
 he wishes to settle, and where there is good pasturage and 
 water, and to which place the whole lordo sets out on the 
 following night, and remain there till the grass is consumed, 
 when they proceed to another place in a similar manner. 
 The women are always the first on the ground to erect the 
 tents and make preparations for their husbands. The Per- 
 sians dress well ; they are good horsemen, and ride the best 
 horses they have. They are a very pompous nation, and 
 their camels are so well caparisoned that it is a pleasure to 
 look at them. Few are so poor as not to possess at least 
 seven camels. So that, from a distance, one would suppose 
 there were a great number of people, which is not actually 
 the case. When the Shah arrived at Tauris he might have 
 
134 MEETING WITH AN ENVOY FKOM BURGUNDY. 
 
 had in his company about two thousand men on foot. There 
 never appeared to Messer Josefa Barbaro and myself more 
 than five hundred horsemen following the Shah, as the rest 
 went as they pleased. The tents of the Shah were exceed- 
 ingly beautiful : the one in which he slept was like a cham- 
 ber ; it was covered with red felt, with doors, which would 
 serve for any room. As we journeyed along, bazaars were 
 established in the lordo, at which everything was to be had, 
 but at a high price. We, with our tents, that is one for 
 each, followed His Majesty and were frequently invited to 
 partake of his hospitality. He also often made us presents 
 of eatables, and certainly showed us great kindness, nor did 
 we ever receive injury from any of his followers or from any 
 one else. 
 
 On the 30th of May, 1475, at about fifteen miles from 
 Tauris, there came to His Majesty a cei'tain Friar Lodovico 
 da Bologna, accompanied by six horsemen, who called him- 
 self the Patriarch of Antioch, and said that he was sent as 
 ambassador from the Duke of Burgundy. The Shah im- 
 mediately sent to ask us whether we knew him, on which 
 we gave a favourable report of him to His Majesty. 
 
 On the 31st, the Shah sent for him in the morning, and 
 also for us to be present at the audience. The Patriarch 
 had brought with him three dresses of cloth of gold, three 
 of crimson velvet, and three of violet cloth, which he pre- 
 sented to the Shah. The Shah made us enter his tent, and, 
 having requested the ambassador to state his mission, the 
 latter said that he had been sent by the Duke of Burgundy, 
 in whose name he made great offers. He made a long 
 speech, which seemed to have little effect upon the Shah, 
 and which it is unnecessary here to repeat. We dined with 
 His Majesty, who put many questions to the ambassador, 
 which he answered ; after which, we returned to our tents. 
 
 On the 2nd of June, 1475, we entered Tauris, and were 
 provided with a lodging, and on the 8th we and the said 
 
CONTAKINI SENT HOME BY THE SHAH. 135 
 
 Patriarch were sent for. Andj although the Shah had told 
 me four times previously that I should return to the Frank 
 country, and that the Magnificent Messer Josafa Barbaro 
 should remain with him, I constantly objected to this, nor 
 did I think that any more would be said on that subject. 
 When we appeared before His Majesty, he said to the 
 Patriarch : " Thou shalt return to thy lord and inform him 
 that I intend to abide by my promise of making war on the 
 Ottoman, which I am on the point of doing": with other 
 words on the same subject. Then, turning to me, he said : 
 " Thou also shalt go with this Oasis to thy lord, and say 
 that I am on the point of going to war with the Ottoman, 
 and that they, too, wish to do the same. I cannot send a 
 better or more efficient messenger than thou. Thou hast 
 been to Spaan and returned with me, and hast seen every- 
 thing, and mayest report to thy lord and to all the lords of 
 Christendom." When I heard this I was very much dis- 
 pleased, and replied that I could not do anything of the kind, 
 for the reasons I assigned. He then said, with an angry 
 look : " I wish and command thee to go, and of this my com- 
 mand I will write to your lord." I then requested the Pa- 
 triarch and Messer Josafa to give me their opinion; who 
 both said that I could not do otherwise than obey. In 
 deference, then, to their opinion and the wish of the Shah, 
 I replied : " Sire, since such is your pleasure, I will, although 
 loath, do what you command ; and wherever I may be, I 
 will speak of your Majesty's great power and good will, for 
 the satisfaction of all Christian princes, who, on their part, 
 may wish to follow your Majesty's example. My answer 
 appeared to please him, and he vouchsafed me a few gracious 
 words in reply. When we left we were taken to another 
 place, and the Patriarch and I received as a present from 
 the Shah two very light robes made after the Persian fashion. 
 We went again to the Shah, and, after saluting him, returned 
 to our room, where he sent us each, as presents, a small sum 
 
136 CONTARINI AND THE BURGUNDIAN 
 
 of money, a horse, and a few trifles of small importance. He 
 left Tauris this day, while we remained until the 10th, when 
 we started together to go to His Majesty, who was en- 
 camped at the distance of about twenty-five of our miles 
 from Tauris, at a place where there was water and good 
 pasturage. 
 
 On the 10th, then, we started from Tauris and went to 
 His Majesty's encampment, and having pitched our tents 
 in the accustomed place, remained many days until the grass 
 was consumed. We then left, and proceeded about fifteen 
 of our miles, to a place where we stayed till the 27th, when 
 he took leave of iis. During the last period we were with 
 the Shah we were occasionally summoned to his presence, 
 though not for any matter of importance, and sometimes 
 we received presents of eatables. 
 
 On the 26th, we were summoned by His Majesty, and, 
 before we entered the presence, were shown some very 
 light articles of silk, lately made. We were also shown 
 three presents, one of which was intended for the Duke of 
 Burgundy, to be sent by the Patriarch, another for our 
 Signory, and the third to be taken by a certain Marco 
 Rosso, who had come as ambassador from the Duke of Mus- 
 covy, the Lord of Rossia Bianca They consisted of Gesdi 
 manufactures, two swords and tulumhanti, all things of a 
 very light description. We were then summoned to His 
 Majesty's presence, where there were two of his Turks, 
 whom he intended sending as ambassadors, one to the Duke 
 of Burgundy and the other to the Duke of Muscovy. When 
 the Patriarch and I made our salutations, he addressed us 
 in these words : " You will go to your sovereigns and to the 
 Christian princes, and tell them how I was on the point of 
 setting out against the Ottoman, but that, having heard 
 that he was in Constantinople, where he intends to remain 
 the whole of this year, I did not deem it becoming to go in 
 person against his people ; I have, therefore, sent some of 
 
ENVOY TAKE LEAVE OF THE SHAH. 13 
 
 r? 
 
 tny forces against my disobedient son and some to annoy the 
 Ottoman, and I have come to this place to be in readiness 
 myself at a future time to attack the Ottoman. And this 
 you will tell your sovereign loi-ds and to the Christian 
 princes." He commanded his own ambassador to say the 
 same. This language, and that which he had previously 
 held, was very di:^pleasing to me ; but we could only reply 
 that we would fulfil his commands. With this he dismissed 
 us, and, as we were about to depart, we were made to stay 
 till the morning. In the meantime, he caused all his foot- 
 soldiers to assemble by the mountain side, and in the morn- 
 ing we were sent to a tent in a commanding situation, where 
 there was one of the Ruischasan, who had the charge of the 
 ambassadors, and who, after conversing with us about various 
 things, said: ''Here come a great many foot-soldiers ; it will 
 afford you tanfaruzzo (that is, amusement), to see them." 
 His slaves added, that those who came were in great num- 
 bers, but that great numbers also remained behind. The 
 soldiers marched past the side of the mountain that we 
 might the better see them. When they had passed, it was 
 said that they might have amounted to ten thousand. Wish- 
 ing to hear everything, we were assured that they were the 
 same foot-soldiers who had come with the Shah, and that 
 the review had been got up in order that we might report 
 it. When the review was over the Shah gave us the letters, 
 and we returned to our tents. Inquiring of various persons, 
 and, among others, of Messer Josafa Bai-baro, to ascertain 
 the number of horse-soldiers there may have been with His 
 Majesty, I heard that there were upwards of twenty thou- 
 sand, or, taking the good and bad together, upwards of 
 twenty-five thousand. Their arms are bows and swords, 
 and shields worked with silk or thread. They have no 
 lances. Most men of rank wear very beautiful helmets and 
 cuirasses, and they have good and handsome horses. I have 
 nothing more to say concerning the Persians, I have spoken 
 
138 ADVENTURES OF CONTAEINI 
 
 sufficiently of their country, and of their manners, and of 
 everything else. I might have been more diffuse, but at 
 the risk of being tedious. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Illustrious Ambassador leaves Tauris, and, after being attacked 
 several times while travelling through Georgiana and Mengrelia, 
 at last arrives at Fasso. 
 
 On the 28th, I dined with Messer Josafa Barbaro in his 
 tent, and we both, felt the hardship of separation, and a 
 hardship it certainly was. We embraced each other, and 
 parted with many tears. I mounted my horse in company 
 with the Patriarch, the Turkish ambassadors, and Marco 
 Rosso, and we started, as I think, in an evil hour, consider- 
 ing the misfortunes and great perils which I underwent. 
 Travelling through the country of Ussuncassan, on our way 
 to Fasso, we arrived at the nine Catholic Armenian villages, 
 of which we have already spoken, where we lodged in the 
 house of the Bishop, who received us kindly, and where we 
 heard a Catholic Mass. We remained there three days to 
 furnish ourselves with provisions, after which we started, 
 and travelled over plains and an occasional mountain, until 
 we entered the country of the King of Giorgiania. 
 
 On the 12th of July, 1475, having passed a river named 
 Tigris, we arrived at a city belonging to this king called 
 Tiphis, situated on a little hill with its castle, which is very 
 strong, on the hill higher up. This city has the reputation 
 of having been very large, but much of it has been de- 
 stroyed. What little remains contains a numerous popula- 
 tion, among which are many Catholics. Here, also, we met 
 with an Armenian Catholic, with whom we lodged. 
 
 On the 15th, while riding through Georgiania, for the 
 most part over mountains, we passed a few villages and oc- 
 casionally saw a castle on the summit of a mountain. 
 
IN GIOKGIA AND MINGEELIA. 139 
 
 On the 18th, when near the confines of Mengrelia, we 
 met King Pangrati in the midst of a wood surrounded by 
 mountains, and we all went to pay him a visit. He wished 
 us to eat with him, and we sat down on the ground with 
 skins for a table-cloth, according to their fashion. Our re- 
 past consisted of roast meat with a little poultry, badly 
 cooked, and a few other things ; but there was wine in 
 abundance, as they consider that to ti-eat their guests with 
 wine is the greatest honour they can show them. When the 
 eating was over, they began the debauch with certain gob- 
 lets half a braccio long, and those who drank most were the 
 most esteemed. As the Turks do not drink wine, we rose 
 from the contest and finally took our leave, for which reason 
 we were looked upon with much contempt. The king was 
 tall, and about forty years of age ; he had a brown com- 
 plexion, and a Tartar expression of countenance, but was 
 nevertheless a handsome man. 
 
 On the morning of the 20th we left here, and, travelling 
 through Georgiania almost continually over a mountainous 
 country, came to the confines of Mengrelia, where, on the 
 22nd, we met the captain of certain men, on foot and on 
 horseback, belonging to the king, who, on account of some 
 troubles which there were in Mengrelia, occasioned by the 
 death of King Bendian, compelled us, with many menaces, 
 to stop. They then took from us two quivers with the 
 bows and arrows, and we gave them some money. Being- 
 then allowed to go, we left the road as fast as we could, and 
 entered a wood, where we remained that night in great fear 
 of being attacked. 
 
 On the morning of the 23rd, while going through a nar- 
 row pass on our way to Cotatis, we were attacked by some 
 people of a village who stopped us, threatening to take our 
 lives. After a great deal of parleying they took three horses 
 belonging to the Turkish ambassadors, the bearers of the 
 present, and it was only with much trouble and by paying 
 
140 COKTARINl's DIFFICULTIES 
 
 about twenty ducats of tlieir money, and giving up some 
 horses and bows, that we were allowed to pass on. We then 
 proceeded to Cotatis, a castle belonging to the king. 
 
 On the morning of the 24th, being obliged to cross a river 
 by a bridge, we were attacked and compelled to pay a grosso 
 for each horse, which certainly caused us much vexation. 
 After leaving here we entered Mingrelia, sleeping continu- 
 ally in the forests. 
 
 On the 25th, we crossed a river by means of boats, and 
 entered a village belonging to a woman named Moresca, the 
 sister of Bendian, who pretended to give us a good reception, 
 and presented us with bread and wine, and placed us in one 
 of her closed meadows. 
 
 On the morning of the 26th, we determined to make her 
 a present to the value of about twenty ducats. She thanked 
 us, and would not accept it, but began to complain, saying 
 that she wanted two ducats for each horse ; and, although 
 we pleaded our poverty as an excuse, it was, as in former 
 cases, of no avail, and we were oUiged to give her the two 
 ducats per horse; after which, she not only wanted the pre- 
 sent we had offered her, but gratuities besides, and it was 
 not without difficulty that we succeeded in leaving. Cer- 
 tainly, from the way she went on, I thought we should have 
 been mulcted of everything. 
 
 On the 27th, some of us in boats and some on horseback, 
 arrived at Fasso much fatigued. AVe lodged at the house 
 of the before-mentioned Marta, and, as a consolation for the 
 hardships we had endured, we heard that Capha, through 
 which we had intended to pass, had been taken by the 
 Turks. What disappointment this news afforded us may be 
 imagined. We knew not what course to adopt, and felt as 
 lost. Ludovico da Bologna, the Patriarch of Antioch above- 
 mentioned, however, decided upon going by way of Cir- 
 cassia and Tartary to Russia, as he appeared to have some 
 knowledge of the way. He himself had several times pro- 
 
IN GIORGIA AND MINGRELIA. 141 
 
 posed that we should not abandon each other, and of this I 
 reminded him, and begged that we might perform the 
 journey in company. He repUed, however, that it was 
 time for everyone to take care of his own safety. This ap- 
 peared to me a strange and iniquitous reply, and I again 
 begged him not to be so cruel, but it was of no avail. He 
 insisted on going with his company and attendants and the 
 ambassador given to him by Ussuncassan. When I saw 
 this I tried to come to an arrangement with Marco Rosso 
 and the Turkish ambassador who was with him, and take 
 measures to return. They seemed to agree to this, and, as 
 a sign of good faith, we kissed each other's lips, and I 
 counted on their promise. Having consulted together, 
 however, they resolved to go through the territories of Gor- 
 gora. Lord of Calcican, and the lands of Vati which border 
 on places belonging to the Ottoman, and pay him tribute. 
 When I heard this, rather than take the same direction, I 
 considered it preferable to remain at Fasso at the mercy of 
 God. 
 
 On the 6th of August, 1475, the Patriarch mounted his 
 horse, and, after making me some excuse, started with his 
 people. The next day Marco Rosso, the Turk, and some 
 Russians, who were with them, departed : some in one of 
 the boats of the country, and some on horseback, for Vati, 
 with the intention of going by way of Samachi, and then 
 passing through Tartary. I thus remained alone with my 
 attendants — five of us in all — utterly abandoned, without 
 money, without hope of safety, neither knowing which way 
 to go nor what course to adopt. What our feelings were I 
 leave any reasonable person to consider. I was attacked on 
 this day of trouble with a severe and terrible fever, to cure 
 which I could get nothing but water from the river and 
 gruel and, occasionally, a little chicken. It was a severe 
 illness, accompanied by delirium, as, from what I was after- 
 wards told, I said many strange things. A few days after- 
 
142 IMNESS OF CONTARINI. 
 
 wards three of my people fell sick, and Priest Stephano 
 alone remained to attend to us all. My bed consisted of a 
 miserable counterpane, lent to me by a certain Zuan di Val- 
 can, a Genoese, residing at that place, and served both for 
 bed and bedding. The attendants had to put up with what 
 few clothes they had. My illness lasted till the 10th of 
 September, and brought me to such extremity that my at- 
 tendants made sure that I should die. But my good fortune 
 would have it, that Donna Marta applied to a little bag 
 containing oil and certain herbs ; after which, I got better. 
 I really attribute my recovery, however, to the mercy of our 
 Lord Grod, who did not wish me to die in those countries, 
 and to Him be all gratitude. Having, then, remained 
 united, we took counsel together as to what course we 
 should adopt, and it was resolved, in deference to my 
 opinion, to turn back to Samachi in order to pass through 
 Tartary. Some wished me to go by way of Soria; but this 
 I would not do on any account, and I remained a short time 
 at Fasso to restore my health. 
 
 On the 10th of September, 1475, we mounted our horses, 
 and, after going about two of our miles, I could not ride any 
 farther, on account of extreme weakness. I was, therefore, 
 lifted from my horse and placed on the ground, and when I 
 had taken a little rest we returned to Donna Marta, with 
 whom we remained till the 1 7th. When our streno-th was 
 to a certain degree restored, we mounted again, and, in the 
 name of our Lord God, proceeded on the voyage we had 
 resolved upon. At Fasso there happened to be a Greek 
 acquainted with the language of Mengrelia, whom I took 
 as a guide, and who committed a thousand rascally tricks, 
 which it would excite pity to relate. 
 
CONTARINI REACHES TIELIS. 143 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The Illustrious Ambassador leaves Fasso, returns through Mengrelia 
 and Giorgiania, enters Media, crosses the Bachu or Caspian Sea, 
 and reaches Tartary. 
 
 On the 17th, we mounted our horses, as I have mentioned, 
 and returned through Mengrelia with some difficulty. On 
 the 21st we were in Cotatis, and, as our guide gave me 
 much trouble, I was obliged to dismiss him. We remained 
 at Cotatis till the 24th, partly because I did not feel well, 
 and partly to wait for some people to accompany us. At 
 length we started in company with some people whom we 
 neither knew nor understood, and travelled over certain 
 mountains, not without fear, until the 30th, when we reached 
 Tiflis. Here I dismounted, more dead than alive, at the 
 church of an Armenian CathoHc, by whom we and many 
 others were certainly well received. This priest had a son, 
 who, to our misfortune, fell sick of the plague, which had 
 been very prevalent at this place during the year. As my 
 people went in his company, he gave it to Mapheo da Ber- 
 gamo, the servant, who attended me, and who kept near 
 me for two days while ill with it. Having at length thrown 
 himself down on his bed, and his disease being discovered, 
 I was advised to move to other quarters. A place where 
 cows were kept at night having been cleaned as well as it 
 was possible, and furnished with a little hay, I was made to 
 rest in it on account of my great weakness. The priest 
 would not allow Mapheo to remain in his house any longer, 
 and, as there was nowhere else, it was necessary to put him 
 in a corner of the place where I was. He was waited upon 
 by Priest Stephano, but it pleased our Lord God to take 
 him. I then obtained, after many prayers, another cow- 
 shed, where I was accommodated in a similar manner. We 
 were abandoned by everyone except an old man, who under- 
 
144 CONTARINI ARRIVES AT SAMACHI. 
 
 stood a little Turkish^ and continued to serve us. But how 
 we fared may be easily judged. We remained at Tiflis until 
 the 21st of October; on the day preceding which, as my 
 good fortune would have it, there arrived the Turkish am- 
 bassador, who had accompanied brother Ludovico, the Pa- 
 triarch of Antioch. From him I learnt that when they had 
 proceeded as far as Avogasia they had been robbed of every- 
 thing, and that the robbery was to be attributed to the 
 Patriarch himself. He had, therefore, left him to return to 
 his own country, and said that this would cause great dis- 
 satisfaction to Ussuncassan. I condoled with him as well 
 as I could, and we left together on the 21st of October. 
 Tiflis belongs to Pangrati, King of Giorgiania. After 
 travelling two days we entered the territory of Ussuncassan, 
 as it was on our way to Samachi, and passed through a fine 
 country. 
 
 On the 26th of October, 1475, we came to a place where 
 we were obliged to separate, as it was necessary that I 
 should travel through the country of Sivanza, in order to 
 reach the town of Samachi, and that the ambassador should 
 go towards his own country. By means of this ambassador 
 I obtained a Turkish priest as a guide as far as Samachi. 
 Having taken leave, we started with the guide and entered 
 Media, which is a much more beautiful and fertile country 
 than that of Ussuncassan, and consists mostly of plains. 
 Here we fared very well. 
 
 On the 1st of November, 1475, we arrived at Samachi, 
 a town belonging to Sivanza, the Lord of Media, where silks 
 called Talamana and others of a light texture are made, as 
 well as satins. This city is not so lai-ge as Tauris; but is, in 
 my opinion, a better city in every respect, and abounds in 
 all kinds of provisions. While here we met Marco Rosso, 
 the ambassador of the Duke of Muscovy, with whom we had 
 travelled to Fasso. He had gone by way of Gorgora, and 
 had arrived here after a very troublesome journey. He had 
 
CONTARINI ARRIVES AT DERBEND. 145 
 
 the courtesy to pay me a visit at the caravanserai where I 
 was staying; and when we had embraced each other cordially, 
 I begged him to admit me into his company, which he did 
 in the most kind and courteous manner. 
 
 On the 6th, we left here with Marco for Derbent, a city 
 belonging to the said Simanza, on the confines of the Tartar 
 country. After travelling partly over mountains and partly 
 over plains, and lodging occasionally in Turkish villages, 
 where we were hospitably received, we reached, midway, an 
 agreeable little town where an incredible number of fruit 
 trees, especially apple trees, are grown, of excellent quality. 
 
 On the 12th, we arrived at Derbent. As, in order to 
 reach Eussia, it was necessary to cross the plains of Tartary, 
 we were advised to winter here and cross over the Sea of 
 Bachu, to Citracan^, in April. The city of Derbent is situated 
 on the Sea of Bachu or Caspian Sea, and is said to have 
 been founded by Alexander the Great. It is called the Iron 
 Gate, as it is only possible to enter Media and Persia through 
 this city, on account of its being situated in a deep valley, 
 which extends into Circassia. It is surrounded by five 
 broad and well made walls; but of that portion of the city 
 beneath the mountain, on the way to the castle, not a sixth 
 part is inhabited, and the portion bordering on the sea is 
 all destroyed. It has a great number of sepidchres. It 
 abounds in all kinds of provisions, much wine is produced, 
 and fruit of every description is grown in abundance. The 
 Caspian Sea is very large, as it is without outlet. It is said 
 to be equal in circumference to the Mar Maggiore, and is 
 also very deep. Sturgeon and morone are caught in it in 
 very great numbers, but they do not know how to catch 
 other fish. There are a great many dog-fish, with heads, 
 feet, and tails, really resembling those of dogs. Another 
 kind of fish is also caught, about a hraccio and a half in 
 length, almost round, without any visible head or anything. 
 From this fish a certain liquor, used all over the country, 
 
 ' Astrakhan. 
 
146 STAY AT DERBEND. 
 
 is extracted^ wliicli is burned in lamps^ and employed to 
 anoint camels with. We remained at Derbent from the 12th 
 of November until the 6th of April^ when we embarked, 
 during which time we certainly fared well. The natives are 
 a fine race, and we never experienced the slightest injury. 
 We were^asked who we were, and when we said we wei'e 
 Christians, they required nothing more. I wore a jacket 
 all torn, lined with lambskin ; above this, a very sorry 
 pellisse, and, on my head, a lambskin cap. Thus attired I 
 went about the city and the bazaar, and often carried home 
 meat. Yet I heard people say, " This does not look like a 
 man used to carry meat.-"^ And Marco blamed me also, say- 
 ing that I looked as though I were in a Sanctuary (Fran- 
 chisa).^ I answered that I was unable to dress otherwise, 
 and I was certainly surprised that, being so ragged, they 
 should have had such an opinion of me. As I have said, 
 however, we fared well. While in this place, as I was de- 
 sirous of hearing how the affairs of Ussuncassan and the 
 Magnificent M. Josapha Barbaro were going on, I deter- 
 mined to send Dimitri, my interpreter, to Tauris, a journey 
 of twenty days. He went, and returned fifty days after- 
 wards, bringing me letters from Josapha, who wrote that 
 the lord was there, but that nothing could be ascertained 
 concerning him. An arrangement was then made by Marco 
 with the master of a vessel to camy us to Citracan. The 
 vessels here are kept on shore during the winter, when they 
 cannot be used. They are called fishes, which they are 
 made to resemble in shaj^e, being sharp at the head and 
 stern and wide amidships. They are built of timbers caulked 
 with rags, and are very dangerous craft. No compass is 
 used, as they keep continually in sight of land. They use 
 oars, and, although everything is done in a most barbarous 
 manner, they look upon themselves as the only mariners 
 worthy of the name. To sum up, these people are all Maho- 
 metans. 
 
 ^ That is to say, an ALsatia. 
 
CONTARINI EMBARKS ON THE CASPIAN. 147 
 
 April 6th, 147G. We had been obliged to stay with our 
 
 baggage on board the vessel, which was drawn up on shore 
 
 waiting for favourable weather, for about eight days. 
 
 During this time, as Marco remained in the city, we were 
 
 not without fear, as we were alone. It having pleased our 
 
 Lord God, however, to send us at length a favourable breeze, 
 
 we all assembled on the shore, and, the vessel being set 
 
 afloat, we immediately embarked and made sail. We were 
 
 in all thirty-five persons, including the captain and six 
 
 mariners ; there were on board some merchants taking rice, 
 
 silk, and fustians to Citracan for the Russian market, and 
 
 some Tartars going to procure furs for sale in Derbent. We 
 
 started, then, on the above-mentioned day with a favourable 
 
 wind, and kept constantly at the distance of about fifteen 
 
 miles from a mountainous coast. After three days' sail we 
 
 passed these mountains and came to a beachy shore, when, 
 
 the wind becoming contrary, we dropped one of our anchors : 
 
 this was at about four hours before evening. The wind 
 
 having increased, however, and the sea got rough in the 
 
 night, we looked upon ourselves as lost, so we resolved 
 
 to weigh our anchor and take our chance in running ashore. 
 
 When the anchor was raised we crossed the sea, and the 
 
 waves, which were running high on account of the wind, 
 
 threw us aground. It j)leased our Lord God, however, to 
 
 save us by means of these big waves, which carried us over 
 
 the rocks, and we were driven into a little creek, as long as 
 
 the vessel itself, and it really seemed as if we had entered a 
 
 port, as the sea broke so many times before it reached us, 
 
 that it could do us no damage. We were all obliged to 
 
 jump into the water, and carry our things ashore well 
 
 soaked. The vessel leaked also, from having gone on the 
 
 rocks, and we ourselves were very cold, both from the wet 
 
 and the wind. In the morning, after holding council, it was 
 
 determined that no fire should be lighted, as we were in a 
 
 most dangerous place on account of its being frequented by 
 
148 CONTARINl's ADVENTURES 
 
 Tartars^ the foot-marks of whose horses were visible on the 
 beach. As there was a boat^ which appeared to have been 
 lately broken^ we thought that the horsemen, whose traces 
 we had seen, had been there to capture the crew, either dead 
 or alive ; we were, therefore, in great fear and in continual 
 expectation of attack. We became reassured, however, 
 when we perceived beyond the beach a number of marshes, 
 which proved that the Tartars could not be very near the 
 shore. We remained at this place until the 13th, when the 
 weather became favourable for continuing our voyage. The 
 things belonging to the mariners wei'e then put on board, 
 and when the vessel had been taken off the rocks the other 
 baggage was taken in, and we set sail. This was on Holy 
 Saturday. After sailing about thirty miles, a contrary wind 
 again sprang up; but, as there were some small cane islands 
 on our lee, we were compelled to make for them, and we 
 ran into a place where there was very little water. The wind 
 having increased, and the vessel touching ground occa- 
 sionally on account of the swell, the captain made us all 
 leave the vessel and land on a small cane island, to reach 
 which I was obliged to put my bags on my shoulder and 
 wade ashore with bare legs as well as I Could ; but I was 
 very cold and in considerable danger on account of the surf 
 which washed over me. On reaching land I found shelter 
 under the canes, which I entered with my people, and we 
 endeavom-ed to dry ourselves as well as we could. The sea- 
 men, with great trouble, then took the vessel to a place 
 sheltered from the wind, where it was out of danger. From 
 what I was given to understand, the Tartars were in the 
 habit of coming to this island in the summer to fish. 
 
 On the morning of the 14th, which was Easter Sunday, 
 while on this cane island and suffering from cold, with no- 
 thing whei'ewith to celebrate the day but a little butter, one 
 of Mai-co's attendants, as he was walking along the rock, 
 found nine duck's egg^, which he gave to his master, who 
 
ON THE CASPIAN SEA. 149 
 
 had them made into an omelet with butter^ and presented 
 us each with a piece. With this we kept the day in a proper 
 manner^ and returned thanks to God. As those about us 
 were often curious to know who I was, it was agreed be- 
 tween Marco and myself that I should pass for a doctor. 
 They were told, therefore, that I was the son of a physician 
 in the service of Despina, the daughter of the despot Thomas, 
 who had come from Rome to marry the Duke of Muscovy, 
 and that, being poor and in her service, I was going to the 
 Duke and to Despina to seek my fortune. One of our 
 sailors, who was suffering from an abscess, having asked 
 my advice soon afterwards, I applied a plaister composed of 
 a little oil, bread, and flour, which I found on board, and in 
 three days, by good fortune, the abscess broke, and he was 
 cured. For this I was looked upon as a perfect doctor, and 
 requested to stay with them. Marco, however, made an ex- 
 cuse for me, saying that it could not be then, but that, after 
 I had been in Russia a short time, I should return. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The Illustrious Ambassador crosses the Caspian Sea and arrives at Cit- 
 racan, a Tartar city. After having been much alarmed by the 
 Tartars on several occasions, he departs, at length, with the caravan, 
 for Muscovy. 
 
 On the 15th, the wind springing up in the morning, wo 
 made sail, and, after coasting those cane islands nearly the 
 whole time, entered the mouth of the Volga on the 26th. 
 The Volga is a very large river and deep in many places ; 
 it flows from Russia and discharges itself into the Sea 
 of Bachu, it is said, by seventy-two mouths. From its 
 mouth to Citracan the distance is seventy-five miles. On 
 account of the strong current which we ascended, sometimes 
 by towing and sometimes by means of the wind, we did not 
 
150 CONTAEINI ARRIVES AT ASTRAKHAN. 
 
 reach Citracan until the 30th. Between Citracan and the 
 coast there is a very large salt lake yielding salt of excellent 
 quality^ from which Eussia is principally supplied^ and which 
 would suffice for a great part of the world. The Tartars, 
 that is, the Lord of Citracan, would not allow us to come 
 on shore that day. Marco, however, was permitted to land, 
 as he had some friends in the town. On the first evening I 
 also was admitted, with my people, into the little house 
 where Marco lodged, and accommodated for the night. In 
 the morning came three ill-favoured Tartars, who told Marco 
 that he was welcome, as he was a fi-iend of their lord ; but, 
 that for me, I had become his slave, as the Franks were 
 their enemies. I thought this a strange reception. But 
 Marco answered for me, and would not allow me to say a 
 word, except to recommend myself to them. This was on 
 the 1st of Ma}^, 1476. I returned to my little chamber in 
 such dread, that I scarcely knew where I was ; and my 
 perils increased every day, not only in consequence of the 
 Comerchieri, who gave out that I had a quantity of jewels, 
 but from having some trifling things which we had brought 
 from Derbent and intended exchanging for horses ; but 
 everything was taken from us. I was afterwards told by 
 Marco that they intended selling them in the bazaar; but 
 that, by interceding with some merchants who were going 
 to Muscovy, he had, with much trouble and risk, and after 
 a delay of several days, arranged that I should pay the sum 
 of two thousand alermi to the lord. This sum did not in- 
 clude what was extorted by others. As I had not a soldo, 
 the money was advanced on very usurious terms by Russian 
 and Tartar merchants who were going to Muscovy, on secu- 
 rity given by Marco. Although our difficulty with the lord 
 might be said to have been overcome by this arrangement, 
 the dog of a Comerchier used to come to our house, when 
 Mai'co was not at home, and, after knocking down my door, 
 would threaten, in his cursed voice, to liave me inqsaled. 
 
STAY AT ASTRAKHAN. 151 
 
 saying that I had jewels in quantities. I was^ therefore, 
 obliged to appease him as best I could. Many and many a 
 time, also, Tartars, drunk with a beverage they make with 
 apples, used to come and shout that they would have the 
 Franks, who had not the hearts of mdn. We were terrified 
 into purchasing their silence also. We remained at Citra- 
 can from the first of May to the 10th of August, the Feast 
 of St. Lawrence. Citracan belongs to three sons of a brother 
 of the present Emperor of those Tartars who inhabit the 
 plains of Circassia and the country lying in the direction of 
 Tana. In the heat of the summer they go towards the con- 
 fines of Russia in search of fresh pasturage. These three 
 brothers remain in Citracan a few months in the winter, 
 but in the summer da like the rest. Citracan is a small 
 town situated on the Volga, and surrounded by a low wall. 
 The few houses it contains are built of bricks ; but it is 
 evident that it possessed several edifices at no very distant 
 period. Citracan is said to have been, in ancient times, a 
 place of considerable trade, the spices which came to Venice 
 by way of Tana having passed through it ; and, from what 
 I could understand, they were sent direct from Citracan to 
 Tana, a distance of only eight days' journey. 
 
 On the lOfch of August, 1476, the Feast of St. Lawrence, 
 as we have said, we left Citracan, as I shall hereafter relate. 
 The Lord of Citracan, named Casimi Can, sends an ambas- 
 sador to Russia every year to the Duke of Muscovy (more 
 for the sake of obtaining presents than anything else), who 
 is accompanied by a great many Tartar merchants who form 
 a caravan and take with them silk manufactured in Gesdi 
 and fustian stuffs to exchange for furs, saddles, swords, 
 bridles, and other things which they require. And, as the 
 country between Citracan and Muscovy is a continual 
 desert, everyone is obliged to carry provisions. The Tar- 
 tars, however, care little to do so, as they always drive a 
 great number of horses with them, some of which they kill 
 
152 CONTARINl's JOURNEY 
 
 every day for food. They live, indeed, continually on meat 
 and milk, without other food, no one being even acquainted 
 with bread, unless it be some merchant who has visited 
 Russia. We, however, were obliged to provide ourselves as 
 well as we could. We took a little rice with which a mix- 
 ture is made with milk dried in the sun, and called thur, 
 which becomes very hard, tastes rather sour, and is said to 
 be very nourishing. We also had onions and garlic, be- 
 sides which I obtained with much trouble a quart of biscuits 
 made of very good wheaten flour, and a salted sheep's tail. 
 Our way was between two tributaries of the Volga ; but, as 
 the said emperor was at war with Casimi Can, his nephew — 
 who pi'etended that he was the true emperor, his father 
 having been the Emperor of the Lordo, and in possession of 
 the territory — it was unanimously resolved that the whole 
 caravan should cross over to the other bank of the river and 
 proceed as far as a narrow pass between the Tanais and the 
 Volga, about five days' journey distant, as beyond that 
 point it might be considered out of danger. Everyone, 
 therefore, placed his goods and provisions on certain boats 
 which are used in those parts, that they might be carried 
 over the river. Marco also embarked his things and wished 
 me to embark the few provisions I had with me. He ad- 
 vised me also to send on the Priest Stefano and Zuane 
 Ungharetto, my attendant, and remain with him myself, as 
 he had arranged with the ambassador, whose name was 
 Anchioli, that he should come for me about midday ; and 
 that we should advance to where the boats had gone, which 
 might be about twelve miles higher up the river. When 
 the time came, he made me mount on horseback with the 
 said ambassador and my interpreter ; and with great fear, 
 and riding as low as I could, we arrived at the pass, at 
 about an hour before sunset. As I was about to cross the 
 stream, as darkness was coming on, to join our people, 
 Marco called to me in such a furious tone that I certainly 
 
FROM ASTRAKHAN. 153 
 
 thought my last hour had come. He made mo mount with 
 my iuterpi^eter and a Russian woman^ together with a 
 Tartar, whose aspect was as forbidding as could well be 
 imagined. All he said was, " Ride, ride fast". As I could 
 not do otherwise, I obeyed, and followed the Tartar all that 
 night and until midday the next day, nor would he allow 
 me to dismount for a moment. Having asked him several 
 times, through my interpreter, where he was taking me to, 
 he at length replied that Marco's reason for sending me 
 forward was, that the Khan was going to have the boats 
 searched, and he feared that, if I were discovered, I should 
 be detained. This was on the 13th of August, about mid- 
 day. Having come to the river, the Tartar tried to find a 
 boat wherewith to cross over to a little island, where there 
 were some cattle belonging to the ambassador Anchioli. 
 Not finding one, he collected some branches, which he bound 
 together as well as he could ; and, after placing the saddles 
 upon them, tied them with a rope to the tail of a horse, 
 which he drove to the island, a distance, I should think, of 
 two good bowshots. He then returned and took the Russian 
 woman, whom he passed over in the same way. My inter- 
 preter preferred to swim over, which he did with some 
 peril. He then came over for me, and, as I saw how great 
 the danger was, I took off my shirt and hose, although, in 
 any case, this would have availed me little ; and by the help 
 of our Lord, although in great danger, I was carried over. 
 The Tartar then returned again, and brought over the 
 horses, which we mounted, and proceeded to his lodging, — 
 a skin covering, — which I got under. This was the third 
 day that I had not eaten, and when he gave me a little sour 
 milk I received it with the greatest thanks, and thought it 
 very good. Shortly afterwards, there came a number of 
 Tartars, who were on the island minding their cattle. They 
 looked at me and appeared to ^vender much, amongst them- 
 selves, as to how I had come there, as no Christian had ever 
 
154 JOURNEY FROir ASTRAKHAN 
 
 been there before. I said nothing, but feigned to be as ill 
 as possible. The Tartar guide appeared to favour me greatly, 
 and no one, I believe, dared to speak, from respect to the 
 ambassador, who was a great man. On the 14th, which 
 was the eve of Our Lady's day, a lamb was killed in my 
 honour, which was 23artly roasted and partly boiled, but no 
 trouble whatever was taken to wash the flesh, as they say 
 that Avashing takes all the flavour away ; nor do they scum 
 it with anything but a twig. Some of this meat and some 
 sour milk was then served up ; and, although it was the eve 
 of Our Lady (of whom I craved forgiveness, as I could hold 
 out no longer), we all began eating together. Mare's milk 
 was also brought, which they hold in great esteem, and of 
 which they wished me to drink, as they say it gives great 
 strength to man; but, as it stank most horribly, I refused to 
 taste it, which gave them some oSence. I remained here 
 until the 16th, when Marco arrived with the caravan, and 
 sent a Tartar and one of his Russians to fetch me. I was 
 then taken over the river in a boat to the place where the 
 caravan was. The Priest Stephano and Zuanne Ungaretto, 
 who had despared of seeing me again, rejoiced greatly when 
 I appeared, and returned thanks to God. Marco had pro- 
 vided as many horses as I might require. We remained 
 the whole of the day of the 1 7th, and then started with the 
 caravan to cross the desert on our way to Muscovy. The 
 ambassador took the command of the whole company, wliich, 
 with Russians and Tartars, might have amounted to about 
 three hundred persons. There were, besides, more than 
 two hundred horses led for food and for sale in Russia. We 
 certainly marched in good order, keeping by the side of the 
 river, sleeping at night and resting at midday. We pro- 
 ceeded thus for fifteen days, during which time they no 
 longer appeared apprehensive of the Emperor of the Lordo, 
 as they were before reaching the narrow pass. This Lordo 
 is governed by an emperor, whose name I do not remember. 
 
KK. 
 
 TO RUSSIA. IbD 
 
 who rules over all the Tai'tars in those parts. These Tar- 
 tars^ as I have said^ are constantly wandering in search of 
 fresh pasturage and water^ and live entirely on milk and 
 meat. They have^ I believe, the most beautiful oxen, cows, ' 
 and sheep in the world, the meat being of good flavour on 
 account of the excellence of the pastures. Mare's milk,'' 
 however, is held in great estimation. Their country con- 
 sists of beautiful and extensive plains, where not a mountain 
 is to be seen. I did not visit this Lorclo myself, but was 
 desirous of obtaining what information I could I'especting 
 it and its numerical strength. It is the general opinion 
 that, although it contains altogether a great many people, a 
 thousand men armed with sword and bow could scarcely be 
 mustei-ed in it, all the rest being women and children in 
 considerable mumbers, or men shoeless and without arms of 
 any kind. They are accounted valiant, as they plunder 
 both Circassians and Russians. Their horses are no better 
 than wild ; they are timid, and it is not the custom to shoe 
 them. These Tartars themselves are generally looked upon 
 as brutes. As has been said, they dwell between the rivers 
 Tanai and Volga. But there is said to be another tribe of 
 Tartars living beyond the Volga, in an east-north-easterly 
 direction, who are supposed to be very numerons. They 
 wear long hair reaching to their waists, and are called wild 
 Tartars. They wander in search of pasturage and water 
 like the others; and, in the winter, w^hen there is much cold 
 and ice, they are said to come as far as Citracan ; nor do 
 they commit any damage in the town, unless it be some 
 paltry theft of meat. When we had travelled fifteen days 
 continually by the river-side, we came to a little wood where 
 the Tartars and the Russians began cutting timbers, which 
 they bound together, with cords brought for the purpose, 
 and made, I should think, upwards of forty rafts. While 
 these were being prepared we found a misei^able boat, on 
 which Marco ordered his things to be carried across the 
 
156 CONTARINl's DIFFICULTIES 
 
 stream. He tlien sent it back for me, requesting me to 
 bring over our saddles and what provisions we had, in order 
 that I might guard his things on the side of the river, while 
 Dimitri, the Turciman, and the Hungarian, remained be- 
 hind to guard the horses. I embai-ked, then, on this boat, 
 together with Stephano and two Eussians, who guided the 
 boat with poles of wood, and we crossed to the opposite 
 bank of the river, which I should consider to be more than 
 a mile across, although our course was considerably longer, 
 both on account of the strong current which carried us down 
 and the leaking of the boat. Stephano and I, however, sat 
 in the water and baled it out as well as we could, and after 
 great fatigue and extreme peril we at length, by God's help, 
 reached the opposite bank in safety. "VYhen the boat was 
 unloaded the Russians wanted to return in her, but this was 
 impossible, as she was too much broken ; they were, there- 
 fore, obliged to remain, and were six in all. The next morn- 
 ing the whole caravan was to have crossed, but was pre- 
 vented by a high wind, which ai-ose from the north and 
 continued blowing for two days. As I had taken everything 
 with me, my people who were guarding the horses were, 
 during this time, without either food or clothing, so that 
 my anxiety on their account may well be imagined. I now 
 thought that I would look into the state of our provisions, 
 which I was alarmed to find anything but satisfactory. I, 
 therefore, though late, took charge of them myself, and re- 
 solved to cook only a dishful of rice for dinner and the same 
 for supper, giving with each ration sometimes onions, and 
 sometimes garlic, with a little dry sour milk, and occa- 
 sionally some of the biscuits. We used all to sit round our 
 dish of rice, each eating his proper allowance, nor did I take 
 a greater share than the rest. During the two days we re- 
 mained at this place, we found some wild apples, which we 
 boiled and ate to economise our provisions. After the two 
 days were passed the whole caravan with the baggage 
 
TN CROSSING THE VOLGA, 157 
 
 crossed over the river by means of the rafts, each raft being 
 towed by six or seven horses, with as many Tartars to guide 
 them, the rafts being tied with ropes to the horses^ tails. 
 The remainder of the horses were made to swim across 
 without their harness, that the whole caravan might pass 
 over at the same time. It was certainly a goodly sight, and 
 they crossed quickly, though the passage was full of peril. 
 When all had crossed over and taken a little rest, the basr- 
 gage was packed, and we set out, leaving the river, than 
 which, in my judgment, there can be few greater, as it 
 appears to be more than two miles across^ very deep, and 
 with high banks. 
 
 CHAPTEE VIII. 
 
 The Illustrious Ambassador traverses the great desert of Asiatic Sarmatia 
 and arrives at Moscow, a city of White Russia, where he presents 
 himself to the Duke. 
 
 We started, as I have said, by God's grace, and travelled, 
 as before, in a northerly direction, but turned very often 
 towards the west. There was no indication of a road, but 
 all was a desert plain. The Tartars said that we were more 
 than fifteen days^ journey north of Tana, which I thought 
 we had passed. We continued travelling in the same man- 
 ner, resting at midday and towards evening, our couch be- 
 ing the earth and our covering the air and sky. At night 
 we always placed three guards : one on our right hand, 
 one on our left, and a third in front, to secure us from 
 attack. At times we could not find water either for our- 
 selves or for our horses at our resting places, and through- 
 out this journey we scarcely met with any game. We found, 
 however, two camels and four hundred horses feeding, 
 which were said to have belonged to the caravan of the 
 preceding year. We were^ on two occasions, in fear of 
 
158 CONTARINI ARRIVES AT MOSCOW. 
 
 attack. One was a false alarm ; on the otliei' we found 
 about twenty chariots with a few Tartars, who could not 
 make us understand where they were going. As the journey 
 was long and my stock of provisions small^ we were obliged 
 to limit ourselves. 
 
 On the 22nd September, 1476, it pleased God that we 
 should enter Russia. There were a few little Russian villages 
 in the middle of the woods, and when it was known that 
 Marco was with the caravan, the people came forth, — with 
 great timidity, however, on account of the Tartars, — and 
 brought him a little honey in the combs. Of this he gave 
 me a portion, and I was certainly in want of it, as all our 
 provisions were exhausted, and we were reduced to such a 
 state that we could scarcely mount our horses. We left 
 here, and reached a city called Resan, belonging to a lord 
 whose wife is sister to the Duke of Muscovy, the houses, as 
 well as the castle of which, are all of wood. Here we ob- 
 tained bread and meat in abundance, as well as their beverage 
 of apples, by which we wei'e much restored. After leaving 
 here, we travelled through extensive forests, and at night 
 we all lodged in Russian villages, and were able to take 
 some repose, as by the aid of God we appeared to have 
 reached a place of security. We then came to another city 
 named Colonna, which is situated on a branch of the Volga, 
 called Mosco, over which there is a large bridge. We left 
 here, and I was sent in advance by Marco, as the caravan 
 would not go so quickly. 
 
 On the 26th, praising and thanking God, who had taken 
 pity on us in so many dangers and extremities, we entered 
 Moscow, which belongs to Duke Zuanne, the sovereign of 
 Great White Russia. I should state that, during the greater 
 part of the time we occupied in passing the desert, which 
 was from the 18th of August, when we left Citracan, until 
 we reached Moscow on the 25th of September, as we had no 
 wood, we cooked our food with the dung of the cattle. 
 
CONTARINI RECEIVED BY THE DUKE. 159 
 
 Having reached here^ then, in safety, Marco provided 
 lodging's for myself and my people, and stables for the 
 horses, which, although small and cheerless, seemed to me 
 a grand palace in comparison with what I had had to put 
 up with. 
 
 On the 27th, Marco entered Moscow, and came in the 
 evening to see me, bringing with him some provisions, 
 which are very abundant in this city, as I shall describe 
 hereafter. He exhorted me in the name of his sovereign to 
 be of good cheer, as I might consider myself at home ; for 
 which I thanked him as well as I was able. 
 
 On the 28th, 1 went to visit Marco, and, as I was desirous 
 of returning home, I requested him to be pleased to pro- 
 cure me an audience of the Duke. This he did, as the Duke 
 shortly afterwards sent for me. After the usual salutations 
 I thanked his lordship for the good offices I had experienced 
 at the hands of Marco, his ambassador, as I could certainly 
 say, with truth, that by his means I had escaped many 
 dangers. And, although I had benefited by these services 
 personally, they might be considered as having been rendered 
 to my Illustrious Signory, whose ambassador I was. The 
 Duke scarcely allowed me to finish my speech, but, with a 
 severe look, complained of Zuan Battista Trivisano. I will 
 not enter into this subject, as it is beside the purpose ; but 
 when, after a long conversation, I requested to be allowed 
 to take my departure, he said that I should receive an an- 
 swer on that subject at another time ; and with this I was 
 dismissed by the Duke, who was about to leave the city. 
 It is his custom to visit the various parts of his dominions 
 every year. He especially looks after a Tartar, in his pay, 
 who commands, it is said, five hundred horsemen, to guard 
 the frontiers of his territory from the incursions of the 
 Tartars. 
 
 Being desirous, as I have said, of leaving, I endeavoured 
 to obtain an answer to my request, and was again sum- 
 
160 CONTARINI DETAINED TN MOSCOW. 
 
 moned to the palace,, before three of the Duke's principal 
 barons. They informed me^ in the Duke's name, that I was 
 welcome^ and repeated everything that the Duke himself 
 had said, complaining at the same time about the above- 
 mentioned Zuan Battista. In conclusion, they told me that 
 I might go or stay, as I pleased ; and with this they dis- 
 missed me. 
 
 As I was indebted to Marco for the amount of my ransom 
 with the interest, as well as for some other expenses which 
 he had incurred on my account, I begged him to have the 
 goodness to allow me to leave, and that as soon as I had 
 reached Venice I would send him all that I owed him. He 
 would not, however, consent to this, as he said that the 
 Tartars and Eussians whom I had promised to pay, wanted 
 the money ; and, as I was unable, after various attempts, to 
 influence either the Duke or Marco in this matter, I de- 
 termined to send Stephano to Venice to advise the Illus- 
 trious Signory of all that had occurred, that they might 
 with their accustomed clemency and good nature provide 
 against my ending my days in this country. 
 
 On the 7th of October, 1476, I despatched Priest Ste- 
 phano in company with a certain Nicolo da Leopoli, who 
 was well acquainted with the road, while I remained in 
 Moscow. I found here Maestro Trifoso, a goldsmith from 
 Catharo, who had made, and was engaged in making, many 
 beautiful vases and other articles for the Duke. There was 
 also a Maestro Aristotele da Bologna, an engineei', who was 
 building a church in the Piazza, besides many Greeks from 
 Constantinople, who had come in the suite of Despina, with 
 all of whom I was on tei'ms of great friendship. The room 
 which Marco had given me was small and unpleasant, and 
 made an uncomfortable dwelling-place; but, by the influence 
 of Marco, I obtained a lodging in the house of Maestro Aris- 
 totele, which was situated close to the Duke's palace, and 
 was very convenient, A few days afterwards, however (for 
 
DESCRIPTION OF MOSCOW. 161 
 
 wliat reason I never heard) ^ I was ordered, in the Duke's 
 name, to leave this house, and I was, with difficulty, pro- 
 vided with two little chambers outside the castle, where I 
 remained until my departure, one of which I occupied my- 
 self, Avhile the other served for my attendants. 
 
 The city of Moscow is situated on a little hill, and is built 
 entirely of wood, as is the castle. It is traversed by a river 
 called Moscow, on one side of which stands the castle and 
 ])art of the city, and on the other the remaining portion. 
 'J'he river is crossed by numerous bridges. Moscow is the 
 principal city, and the residence of the Duke. It is sur- 
 rounded by forests, with which, indeed, the greater part of 
 the country is covered. The country abounds in all kinds of 
 corn ; and when I was there, you might have bought more 
 than ten of our stare of wheat for a ducat, and other corn in 
 proportion. The meat principally eaten is that of cows and 
 pigs, of which you can procure, I believe, more than three 
 pounds for a soldo. They give a hundred fowls or forty 
 ducks for a ducat, and geese are little more than three soldi 
 each. A great number of hares are brought to market,, but 
 other game is very scarce, because, I imagine, they do not 
 know how to catch them. There are small birds of all 
 kinds, and very cheap. They do not make wine of any 
 kind, nor have they any fruit, with the exception of a few 
 water melons and wild apples. The climate is so excessively 
 cold, that the people stay nine months of the year indoors. 
 As it is difficult to travel in the summer time, on account of 
 the thick forests and the great quantity of mud caused by 
 the melting of the ice, they are obliged to get in all their 
 provisions in the spring, for which purpose they use their 
 sani or sledges on which they stow everything, and which 
 are easily drawn by one horse. By the end of October the 
 river which passes through the city is frozen over, and 
 shops and bazaars for the sale of all sorts of things are 
 erected on it, scarcely anything being sold in the town. 
 
162 STATE OP MOSCOW IN WINTER. 
 
 They do this, as the river, from being surrounded on all 
 sides by the city, and so protected from the wind, is 
 less cold than anywhere else. On this frozen river may be 
 seen, daily, numbers of cows and pigs, great quantities of 
 corn, wood, hay, and every other necessary, nor does the 
 supply fail during the whole winter. At the end of Novem- 
 ber, all those who have cows or pigs, kill and bring them, 
 from time to time, to the city market. They are frozen 
 whole, and it is curious to see so many skinned cows stand- 
 ing upright on their feet. The meat that you eat has some- 
 times been killed three months or more. Fish, fowls, and 
 all other provisions are treated in the same way. Horses 
 run on this river when it is frozen, and a good deal of amuse- 
 ment takes place. Sometimes, also, a neck is broken. 
 Both the men and women are handsome, but they are a 
 brutal race. They have a pope of their own, appointed by 
 their sovereign, and hold ours in little esteem, saying that 
 we are doomed to perdition. They boast of being great 
 drunkards, and despise those who are not. They have no 
 wine of any kind, but drink a beverage made of honey and 
 the leaves of the hop, which is certainly not a bad drink, 
 especially when old. The sovereign, however, will not 
 grant permission to every one to make it ; for, if they had 
 that permission, they would be constantly intoxicated, and 
 would murder each other like brutes. Their custom is to re- 
 main from morning till midday in the bazaars and to spend 
 the remainder of the day in the taverns in eating and drink- 
 ing. After midday you cannot obtain any service of them 
 whatever. A great many merchants frequent this city from 
 Germany and Poland during the winter, for the sole purpose 
 of buying peltries, such as the furs of young goats, foxes, 
 ermines, squirrels, wolves, and other animals ; and, although 
 these furs are procured at places many days' journey from 
 Moscow, — towards the north-north-east, or the north-west, 
 —they are all brought here where the merchants buy them. 
 
THE DUKE ALLOWS CONTARINI TO DEPART. 163 
 
 A great many^ also^ go to a town called Novogardia, on the 
 confines of Francia and Upper Germany, and eight days' 
 journey west of Moscow. This town, although it has a re- 
 publican government, is subject to the Duke, to whom it 
 pays a yearly ti-ibute. This prince, from what I have heard, 
 possesses a large territory, and might raise a large army, 
 but the men are worthless. The country is bounded by that 
 part of Germany which belongs to the King of Poland. To- 
 wards the north-north-west there is said to be a certain 
 nation of idolaters, without any sovereign, but who, when 
 so inclined, pay obedience to the Duke of Muscovy. There 
 are some who are said to adore the first thing they see, and 
 others who sacrifice an animal at the foot of a tree, and 
 afterwards worship it. Many other things are told, which 
 I shall not repeat, as I have not witnessed them myself, nor 
 are they credible. The Duke may be thirty-five years of age; 
 he is tall and thin, and handsome. He has two brothers, 
 and his mother is still alive. Besides two daughters by 
 Despina, who is said to be enceinte, he has, by another 
 woman, a son who is not in great favour, on account of his 
 bad conduct. I might mention other things, but it would 
 take too long. I remained in Moscow from the 25th of Sep- 
 tember until the 21st of January, and I certainly received 
 good treatment from everyone. After visiting his dominions, 
 the Duke returned to Moscow about the end of December. 
 I had sent Priest Stephano for my ransom, and was certain 
 that it would be forthcoming, yet wishing very much to 
 hasten my return home, as the way of living of the country 
 did not agree with me, I spoke to some gentlemen who 
 were favourable to my desire of leaving ; and a few days 
 afterwards received an invitation to dine with the Duke. 
 He then told me that he was willing that I should depart, 
 and that he should be happy to serve our Illustrious Seig- 
 nory, and pay whatever was due to the Tartars and Russians 
 for my ransom." The banquet to which I was invited was 
 
164 CONTARINI DINES WITH THE DDKE. 
 
 certainly served in good style, not only with regard to the 
 numerous dishes, but in every other respect. As soon as 
 the dinner was over, according to the custom of the country, 
 I returned to my apartments. A few days afterwards the 
 Duke invited me to dine with him again, and he ordered 
 his treasurer to give me what money I required to pay the 
 Tartars and the Russians. I then went to his palace, 
 where I was made to put on a dress of ermine (that is, the 
 skin only), and received also a thousand squirrel skins, with 
 which I returned home. I also, at the Duke's request, paid 
 a visit to Despina, with whom, after the usual salutations 
 and compliments, I had a long conversation. She treated 
 me with great kindness and courtesy, and entreated me 
 earnestly to recommend her to my Illustrious Seignory. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Illustrious Ambassador leaves Muscovy, and, after passing through 
 Lithuania, Poland, and Germany, arrives in Italy. 
 
 The following day I was invited to the palace to dine 
 with the Duke. Before sitting down to table, we entered a 
 chamber where I was received by His Highness Marco, and 
 One of the secretaries in a most courteous manner. The 
 Duke entreated me to signify to my Illustrious Signory that 
 he was their good friend, and wished to remain so ; that he 
 willingly allowed me to depart, and that if I requii-ed any- 
 thing more I should have it. When the Duke spoke to me 
 I retired from him, but he approached me with great kind- 
 ness. I answered all his questions, and thanked him appro- 
 priately, and we conversed for more than an hour. He 
 showed me, with great good nature, some of his dresses of 
 cloth of gold, lined with ermine, which were most beautiful. 
 We then left this chamber, and soon after sat down to table. 
 
HIS DEPARTURE FROM MOSCOW. 165 
 
 The dinner was longer than usual ; the dishes more nume- 
 rous j and many of his bai'ons were present. When the 
 banquet was over, I rose from table and presented myself 
 before his Highness, who, with a loud voice, that everyone 
 might hear, took leave of me in courteous terms, and with 
 great demonstration of good-will towards our Illustrious 
 Signory ; and I replied in a becoming manner. I was, 
 afterwards, presented with a large cup of silver filled with 
 their beverage made of honey, and was told to drink the 
 contents, and keep the cup. This custom is observed when 
 they wish to show very great honour either to ambassadors 
 or others. But as there appeared to me too much to drink 
 at once, I drank about a quarter of it, and His Highness, 
 who was aware of my habits, seeing that I could not drink 
 more, ordered the cup to be emptied and given back to me. 
 I kissed his Highnesses hands, and took leave of him. J 
 was accompanied to the staircase by many of his barons, 
 who embraced me with great demonstrations of friendship. 
 I then went home, and had prepared everything for my 
 departure ; but Marco wished that I should previously dine 
 "with him. 
 
 On the 21st of January, 1476, after partaking of a good 
 dinner with Marco and my own people, I took leave of him, 
 and we entered our sani and departed. These sani, which 
 are only used on the ice, somewhat resemble little houses, 
 and are drawn by one horse. Each person has his own. 
 You sit inside with as much clothing as you require and 
 drive the horse. They go very fast and are made to con- 
 tain all the provisions and everything that is necessary. 
 The Patriarch of Antioch, or Brother Ludovico, who had 
 been detained by the Duke on the representation of Marco, 
 was, after great efforts on my part, released, and was to 
 have accompanied us ; but, seeing that he appeared to have 
 no desire to do so, I started alone with my people, and a 
 man was sent by the Duke to accompany me, with orders 
 
166 CONTARINI ENTERS LITHUANIA. 
 
 that I should be provided with other guides from place to 
 place throughout the whole of his territories. In the even- 
 ing we lodged at a very strange village ; and^ although I 
 was aware that we should have to undergo many discomforts 
 and hardships, on account of the intense cold of those coun- 
 tries, and from having to travel continually through forests, 
 I welcomed every discomfort and was intent on nothing but 
 travelling day and night ; nor had I any fear, so great was 
 my desire to escape from those places and ways of living. 
 
 We left this village on the 22nd, and travelled continually 
 through forests, in extreme cold, until the 27th, when we 
 reached a little town called Viesemo. Leaving here, we 
 took guides from place to place, and reached another little 
 town called Smolencho, from which we departed with an- 
 other guide, leaving the dominions of the Duke of Muscovy 
 to enter Lithuania, which belongs to Casimir, King of 
 Poland. We then proceeded to a small town called Trochi, 
 where we found His Majesty, the said King. 
 
 Be it observed that, from the 21st of January, when we 
 left Moscovy, until the 12th of February, when we reached 
 Trochi, we travelled continually through forests. The coun- 
 try was generally flat, with a few hills. Sometimes we 
 found a village where we rested, but usually slept in the 
 forest. At midday we took our meals at places where we 
 found that fires had been made, and the ice had been broken 
 to water the horses by persons who had preceded us. We 
 then added wood to the fire, and sat round it to partake of 
 what little provision we had with us. We certainly under- 
 went great suffering ; for when we were warm on one side, 
 we had to turn the other to the fire, and I slept in my sano 
 rather than on the ground. We travelled three days and 
 slept two nights on a frozen river ; and we were said to 
 have travelled three hundred miles, which is a great dis- 
 tance. His Majesty having heard of my arrival, sent two 
 gentlemen to congratulate me on my safe arrival, and to 
 
AUDIENCE OF THE KING OF POLAND. 167 
 
 invite me to dine with him on the following day. On this 
 day, which was the 15th, the King sent me, as a present, a 
 dress of crimson damask, lined with ermine ; and I was 
 taken to the palace in one of the Royal sani drawn by six 
 beautiful horses. Four barons were on foot outside the sano, 
 and others accompanied us with much state. On reaching 
 the presence chamber I found His Majesty seated on a most 
 beautifully adorned throne with two of his sons, young and 
 handsome as angels, at his side clothed in crimson satin. A 
 great many barons and knights of distinction were also 
 present. A seat was placed for me in front of His Majesty, 
 who received me with great affection and made me shake 
 hands with his sons. His kindness and courtesy towards 
 me could not have been greater had he been my father. I 
 wanted, and tried as well as I could, to speak kneeling, but 
 he would not allow me to begin until I had taken a seat, 
 M'hich I was at length obliged to do, in compliance with his 
 repeated commands. I then briefly related to His Majesty 
 the particulars of my voyage, describing what had occurred 
 to me at the Court of Ussuncassan, and giving an account 
 of the power of that monarch and of the customs of his 
 country, which he appeared very desirous to know. I also 
 described the manners and the resources of the Tartars, and 
 spoke of the dangers I had passed on the journey. I was 
 listened to by the King with the greatest attention for half 
 an hour, so pleased did he appear to hear me. I then 
 thanked His Majesty, in the name of our Illustrious Signory, 
 for the present and the honour he had conferred upon me. 
 His Majesty replied by his interpreter that he rejoiced 
 greatly at my arrival, as it was thought when I set out on 
 my journey that I should never return. He then said that 
 he had heard with great interest about Ussuncassan and the 
 Tartars, and that he felt sure that what I had said was true; 
 and, he added, that he had never before met with anyone 
 who had told him the truth. I was finally Tuade to enter 
 
1G8 CONTAEINI DINES WITH KING OF POLAND. 
 
 another roora, where the tables were laid, and where, shortly 
 afterwards, the King and his two sons entered to the sound 
 of trumpets in great state. His Majesty sat down to table, 
 his two sons being on the right hand side, and the chief 
 bishop on the left. I was placed next to the latter, at no 
 great distance from His Majesty. There were also many 
 barons at the tables, but at some distance. I think there 
 might have been, in all, moi-e than forty persons. The 
 viands, as they were brought in on large platters and in 
 great abundance, were always preceded by trumpets, and 
 knives were placed before us after our own fashion. We 
 remained at table about two hours, during which time His 
 Majesty asked me many questions relating to my voyage, 
 which I fully answered. When the repast was over, I rose 
 to take leave of His Majesty, and asked him whether he had 
 any further commands. He replied, very kindly, that he 
 wished to be well recommended to my Illustrious Signory, 
 and commanded his sons to tell me the same. I then took 
 leave of His Majesty and of his sons, with due respect, and 
 was honourably accompanied to the chamber where 1 lodged. 
 The King gave directions that I should be accompanied by 
 a guide who should see that guides and escorts were por- 
 vided for me throughout the country, in order that I might 
 travel everywhere in safety. 
 
 On the 16th, we left Trochi and travelled till the 25th, 
 when we reached a place called lonici. Leaving lonici, we 
 entered Poland, where we were provided with guides from 
 one place to another, according to the King's commands. 
 Having arrived at a city called Yarsovia, which is under 
 the dominion of two brothers, I was received with much 
 honour, and a guide was provided for me, who accompanied 
 me into Poland. As I have already spoken of this kingdom, 
 I shall only add that it is a fine country, and appears to 
 abound in meat and other provisions, but produces very 
 little fruit of any kind. We saw castles and villages, but no 
 
CONTARINI ARRIVES IN GERMANY. 169 
 
 town worth mentioning. Every night we found lodgings, 
 and were well received everywhere. It is a safe country. 
 
 It was on the 1st of March, 1477, that we reached this 
 city ; and, as we had pei^formed the whole journey from 
 Moscow on the above-mentioned sani, I and my people were 
 much fatigued, both on account of the great cold and the 
 other hardships we had endured. I, therefore, remained in 
 this beautiful city until the 5th, as we were lodged in com- 
 fortable quarters, and well provided with everything we 
 wanted, and could obtain horses to continue our journey. 
 
 On the 5th we left, and came to another small town called 
 Messariza, belonging to the same King. After leaving here 
 we arrived at the frontiers of Poland and Germany, which 
 we passed, not without fear and danger. 
 
 On the 9th, we reached Frankfort, a city belonging to 
 the Marquis of Brandenburg, and, having put up at the 
 same house at which I had stayed on my outward journey, 
 the landlord recognised me, and was very much surprised. 
 He received me with great respect and kindness, and said 
 that we had escaped great dangers in crossing the frontiers. 
 
 On the 10th, we left Frankfort, and, as we travelled 
 through Germany, found a continual improvement, as well 
 in the villages and castles as in the cities and lodgings. As 
 I was, on the 15th, in the vicinity of a city called Ian, I 
 met Priest Stephano, who was on his way back to me from 
 our Illustrious Signory with my ransom. The joy we both 
 felt at meeting again may be easily imagined, and was cer- 
 tainly due, like everything else, to the Grace of God. When 
 we had embraced each other, and heard all we had to say, 
 we entered the city of Ian, where we rested. 
 
 We left here on the 17th, and on the 22ud reached 
 Nuremberg, a very beautiful city, as I have already said. 
 Being much fatigued, and wishing to keep the feast of the 
 Most Holy Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ (and this 
 was my principal reason), I determined to remain here 
 
170 CONTARINI ARRIVES AT PADUA. 
 
 whilst the festival lasted^ and we certainly enjoyed a refresh- 
 ing repose, of which we stood in great need. 
 
 On the 26th, we left Nuremberg, which is governed by a 
 municipality^ but subject to the Emperor. Every night we 
 lodged in good and important cities, — among others, Augs- 
 burg, — and passed through many more. 
 
 On the morning of the 4th of April, 1477, which was 
 Good Friday, we arrived at Trent, where, having heard of 
 the miracle of the blessed Simon, I considered it my duty 
 not only to pay respect to his holy remains, and keep Easter 
 Day, but to confess and take the sacrament. On the 6th, 
 therefore, which was Easter Sunday, I took the sacrament, 
 together with my people, and remained in Trent to observe 
 the festival. 
 
 On the morning of the 7th, with that easily-imagined 
 longing to reach our own dear land which made every day 
 appear a year, I left Trent after taking leave of its Reverend 
 Bishop, by whom I had been honoured and well received, 
 and came to Scala, the first place belonging to our Illustri- 
 ous Signory. And, in order to fulfil a vow I had made, I 
 started for S. Maria di Monte Arthon, where I arrived on 
 the 9th at midday. Having satisfied the requirements of 
 my vow and made the promised offering, I took leave of 
 Brother Simone, the prior of the place, and came to the 
 Portello at Padua. Nor did I omit to return thanks to our 
 Lord God and to His dearest Mother, who had saved me 
 from so many perils and hardships, and brought me safely 
 back to where I desired, which was more than I ever ex- 
 pected. And, although I was corporeally in this place, my 
 mind almost doubted the fact, so impossible did it seem 
 when everything was taken into consideration. I had 
 written to my brother and to my family, to let them know 
 that I should arrive at Venice on Thursday, the 10th, about 
 the hour of Vespers ; but my longing was so great, that I 
 was unable to observe this arrangement. I embarked. 
 
RECEIVED BY THE SIQNORY OP VENICE. 171 
 
 therefore, before daybreak, and reached the ZuflFasine about 
 two o'clock in the day. Going alongside, in order to accom- 
 plish another vow at S. Maria di Gratia before going home, 
 I met my brother, Messer Agustin, in the Canal della Giu- 
 decca, and two of my brothers-in-law. They were very 
 much astonished to see me, as they had made certain that I 
 was dead, and when we had embraced each other affection- 
 ately we went to S. Maria di Gratia. As on Thursday there 
 was a Council of Pregadi, I considered it also my duty, be- 
 fore going home, to pay the respects to the Illustrious 
 Signory, and to report how I had executed my commission. 
 I went, therefore, just as I was, to the Council of the Pre- 
 gadi, and after the necessary salutations, was ordered to 
 mount the rostrum and report what I had to say, which I 
 accordingly did. And, as our Serene Prince was rather 
 unwell, and not at the Council, when I had concluded and 
 taken leave of the Signory, I went to him. He was over- 
 joyed to see me, and I related briefly a part of what I had 
 done. I then went home, and immediately returned sincere 
 thanks to our Lord God, who had vouchsafed me such 
 favour in delivering me from so many dangers, and bring- 
 ing me back to my family, whom I had so often despaired 
 of ever seeing again. 
 
 Here I conclude this voyage. I might possibly have 
 written in a more elegant style, but I preferred stating the 
 truth in the way I have done to adorning falsehood in fine 
 and elegant language. And if anything relating to Germany 
 has been omitted, let no one be surprised, as it did not 
 appear to me necessary to speak at length in this relation 
 of a country which is so near and familiar to us. 
 
BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE DOMINIONS 
 
 OF USSUNCASSAN. 
 
 Thk extensive country of Ussuncassan is bounded by the 
 Ottoman empire and by Caramania. Turcomania, his first 
 province, joins the dominions of the Soldan towards the dis- 
 trict of Aleppo. Persia, which Ussuncassan wrested, more 
 by good fortune than superior power, from lausa, whom he 
 caused to be put to death, has Tauris for its capital and seat 
 of government. At the distance of twenty-four days' jour- 
 ney from this city, in an east-south-easterly direction is 
 Siras, the last town in Persia. The Persian empire is also 
 bounded by the country of the Zagatai, who were the child- 
 ren of the Tartar Sultan Busech with whom there is fre- 
 quently war, and who still cause some anxiety. It is also 
 bounded by Media, belonging to Sivanza, the Lord of Suma- 
 chi, who pays an annual tribute to Ussuncassan ; by Gior- 
 giania, belonging to King Pancrati ; and by Gorgora, be- 
 yond the plain of Arsigan.^ It is said that Ussuncassan also 
 possesses some territory on the other side of the Euphrates 
 towards the Ottoman empire. The whole of Persia, as far as 
 Spama,^its capital, where I have been, at a six days' journey 
 from Siras, is a most arid country; there is scarcely a tree to be 
 seen, and the water is for the most part bad. The country 
 is, nevertheless, tolerably well supplied with all kinds of pro- 
 visions and fruits, which are grown by artificial irrigation. 
 Ussuncassan appeared to me to be about seventy years of 
 age. He was tall, thin, and handsome, but did not appear 
 prosperous. His eldest son, by the Curd lady, was named 
 ■ Arsingan. ' Isfahan. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF UZQN HASSAN's COUNTRY. 173 
 
 Gurlumameth j he was very famous, and it was with him that 
 his father was at war. By another wife he had three sous. 
 The eldest, called Sultan Chali, was said to be about thirty- 
 five years of age. It was to him that Ussuncassan had 
 given his city of Siras. The second, named Lacubei, might 
 have been about fifteen years old. The name of the third, 
 a boy of about seven, I do not remember. By another 
 wife he had a son called Masubei, who had made war 
 against him, his father, whom I saw every day, and whom 
 he kept in chains for having conspired with Gurlumameth, 
 and finally had put to death. I was desirous of learning 
 from different persons the extent of Ussuncassan's re- 
 sources. Those who give the highest estimate say that he 
 has fifty thousand horsemen, though these are not all of the 
 .best. I also wished to know how many men were brought 
 into the field during the war with the Ottoman, and was 
 told that there might have been upwards of forty thousand. 
 This I heard from persons, most of whom had served in that 
 war. But they were of opinion that this army was not in- 
 tended to fight against the Ottoman, but only 'to restore 
 Pirameth, the Lord of Caramania, to his country, which was 
 in the possession of the Ottoman. Nor did Ussuncassan 
 exert himself for any other purpose. Those who hold a 
 different opinion are considered by most people to be wrong. 
 I have had the opportunity of hearing and understanding 
 everything, and only state what I have seen and heard. I 
 will refrain from mentioning many other things, — which 
 are, however, not very important, — that I may not make my 
 narrative too long. 
 
 END OF THE TRAVELS IN PERSIA OP 
 M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Page 19, Note.— "Tesells". This word here means "thistles", 
 "teasells"; and "garzi", in the Italian text, should be "cardc". 
 
INDEX. 
 
 A dan a, 47 
 Alani, 5, 30 
 Astrakhan, 29, 150 
 
 Baltracan, herb, 102, 103 
 Barbaro plundered, 51 
 
 returns to Venice, 95 
 
 Bendemii-, 80 
 Buza, 31 
 
 Cambalu, 75 
 Chehlminar, 81 
 Chinese paper money, 77 
 Contarini leaves Venice, 108 
 
 meets Barbaro, 130 
 
 returns to Venice, 171 
 
 Curco, 44 
 
 Derbend, 87, 145 
 
 Famagosta, 38 
 
 Georgia, 36, 90, 117-122, 139-145 
 
 Gori, 122 
 
 Gothic language, survival of, 30 
 
 Hassan Beg, King, his death, 93 
 
 Kaffa, 27-29, 116, 140 
 Kashan, 72 
 Kinara, 80 
 Kum, 73, 129 
 Kutais, 91, 119 
 
 Ispahan, 72, 130 
 
 Kashan, 72 
 Kinara, 80 
 Kum, 73, 129 
 
 Ledil or Volga, 4, 31, 156 
 
 Mardin, 48 
 Mingrelia, 26, 139 
 Moscow, 32, 158 
 
 Novgrod, 34 
 
 Orfa, 47 
 Ormuz, 79 
 
 Persian army, 64-68, 137 
 
 king's jewels, 56, 59 
 
 sports, 53, 54, 62 
 
 i'oland, 34, 35, 110, 111, 114, 167 
 Poti, 117 
 
 Routes, 82-86 
 Russia, 31, 33, 157-165 
 
 Seleucia, 45 
 Sena, 129 
 Sert, 49 
 Shamakhy, 86 
 Sultaniah, 68, 128 
 
 Tabriz, 51, 125 
 
 Tana, 12 
 
 Tarsus, 46 
 
 Tatar customs, 12, 15, 16, 21, 33, 34, 
 
 88, 155 
 Tumulus, excavation of, 6-8 
 
 Varti, 117 
 Vastan, 51 
 
 Uzun Hassan's dominions, 172, 173 
 
 Yezd, 73 
 
A NAKEATIVE 
 
 OF 
 
 ITALIAN TRAVELS 
 
 IN 
 
 PERSIA, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH CENTURIES. 
 
 CTransIattti ani lEtsikt 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLES GREY, Esq. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAOE 
 
 Travels in Pehsia, bv Caterixo Zeno - - 1 
 
 Discourse of Messer Giovan Battista Ramusio on the 
 
 Writings ok Giovan Maria Angiolello, etc. - 67 
 
 The Travels ok a Merchant in Persia - - 139 
 
 Narrative of the Most Noble Vincentio d'Alessandri 209 
 
A NARRATIVE 
 
 ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA. 
 
 The close of the fifteenth century is an epoch in the 
 history of the East, and especially of Persia, of which 
 but little is known. The blast of Timour's invasion 
 had swept over that historic land and left it deso- 
 late. These four Accounts of Travels by Europeans 
 are, therefore, especially interesting in a geographi- 
 cal and historical point of view, and will, with the 
 books of Barbaro and Contarini, which are in 
 Ramusio's collection, complete the series of Italian 
 voyages about that period. In order clearly to un- 
 derstand the facts brought forward, it will be neces- 
 sary to glance at the motives of policy which started 
 the embassies, and the historical changes which in- 
 fluenced their results. 
 
 In Eastern Europe the Byzantine empire had, 
 after a long and gradual decline, at length crumbled 
 into ruins beneath the power of the Ottomans, which 
 threatened to be as great a scourge to Europe as 
 that of Timur (or Tamerlane) had been to Asia, 
 while the stability and vitality of their empire 
 offered a great contrast to the ephemeral charac- 
 
11 A NARRATIVE OF 
 
 ter of Timur's dominion. Singly, the powers of 
 Christendom could in vain hope to withstand 
 their terrible foe ; and Venice, the Great Republic, 
 then rich and flourishing, with a far-sighted policy, 
 endeavoured to induce all the Christian princes 
 to make common cause against the Ottoman 
 Turks. 
 
 Hungary and Poland were engaged in continuous 
 warfare with the Musulmans ; but the petty jealou- 
 sies, which no danger, however imminent, could lull, 
 caused the other powers to look coldly on the pro- 
 posed alliance. Venice, in her need, then cast her 
 eyes to the East, where she found a new dynasty 
 firmly established in the ancient kingdom of Persia, 
 the inveterate foe of the house of Othman. That 
 country, after the death of Timour, had been nomi- 
 nally subject to his descendants, though two rival 
 Toorkoman tribes had established principalities in 
 Azerbigan and Diarbekr. These were the Kara 
 Koinlu, and Ak-koinlu, or the Black and White 
 Sheep, between whom a deadly feud existed ; the 
 former were the first to rise to power, under their 
 chief, Kara Mahomed ; while his son, the famous 
 Kara Yusuf, threw off the yoke of the descendants 
 of Timour in 1410. Secunder, the son of Kara 
 Yusuf, waged war with Shah Rokh ; and, after his 
 death, his brother Jehan Shah, in 1437, not only over- 
 ran Irak, Pars, and Kerman, but in 1457 besieged 
 and pillaged Herat. The Kara Koinlus kept the 
 throne until 1486. 
 
ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA. Ul 
 
 Kara Koinlu Rulers. 
 
 Kara Mahomed. 
 
 I 
 Kara Yiisuf. 
 
 Secunder. Abouseyd, Jehaii Shah, 1437- 
 
 put to death by Secunder. 
 
 1468. 
 Hassan Aly. 
 
 In that year the chief of the rival tribe of the Ak- 
 koinloos, named Uzun Hassan, who had estabhshed 
 himself at Diarbekr, succeeded in defeating Jehan 
 Shah in a battle in which the latter fell. The Ak- 
 koinloos were now masters of Persia, and Uzun 
 Hassan carried his victorious arms against Sultan 
 Abouseyd, the reigning prince of the house of 
 Timour, who also fell before him. 
 
 Malcolm's account of the reign of Uzun Hassan is 
 very meagre. He w^as the chief of the Ak-koinlu, or 
 Turks, of the tribe of White Sheep, and established 
 a powerful principality at Diarbekr. He defeated 
 and killed Jehan Shah and his son Hassan Aly, 
 whom he had taken prisoner, with all his family. 
 The dynasty which Uzun Hassan founded is termed 
 Bayenderee ; the family date their rise from the 
 reign of Timour, who made them grants of land in 
 Armenia and Mesopotamia. Hassan, after defeating 
 his rival, engaged in a war with Sultan Abouseyd. 
 He owed his triumph to his skill and activity in 
 a predatory warfare, and at last having taken his 
 enemy prisoner, made himself master of a great part 
 of the dominions of the house of Timour. Malcolm 
 
IV A NARRATIVE OF 
 
 says : " Uzun Hassan, after making himself master 
 of Persia, turned his arms in the direction of Turkey ; 
 but his career was arrested by the superior genius 
 of the Turkish emperor, Mahomet II ; he suffered a 
 signal defeat, which terminated his schemes of am- 
 bition. He died after a reign of eleven years, at the 
 age of seventy. All authors agree in ascribing valour 
 and wisdom to this prince. We are told by an 
 European ambassador, who resided at his court, that 
 he was a tall thin man, of a very open countenance, 
 and that his army amounted to fifty thousand horse, 
 a great proportion of which were of very indifferent 
 quality." He adds that this ambassador was an 
 envoy from Venice, sent by that Republic to solicit 
 the aid of Uzun Hassan against the Ottoman. The 
 personage alluded to by Malcolm must have been 
 M. Josafat Barbaro, the successor of M. Caterino 
 Zeno. 
 
 Uzun Hassan had already been in collision with 
 the Turks, having, when ruler of Diarbekr, under- 
 taken to defend Calo Johannes of the noble house of 
 the Comneni, one of the last of the Christian empe- 
 rors of Trebizond, against Mahomet II. This alliance 
 had been cemented by his marriage with the beauti- 
 ful princess Despina, daughter of Calo Johannes, in 
 which manner he was connected with some of the 
 princely families of Venice, so that the way for an 
 embassy was easily paved. The Venetians might 
 hope much from the ambitious and turbulent charac- 
 ter of the Persian prince ; and in this they were not 
 disappointed, as it needed but little persuasion to 
 
ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA. V 
 
 induce the hitherto ahnost invincible soldier to take 
 up arms against his hereditary foe. Worn out by a 
 state of anarchy, rival chiefs and tribes struggling 
 for power before the land had fully risen again after 
 the blast of foreign conquest had passed over it, the 
 ancient glory of Persia had paled before the brighter 
 light of its rival ; but the old hatred still remained, 
 with the will, if not the power, to oppose the 
 Turkish arms. An embassy to Uzun Hassan being 
 determined on, the difficult task of sending an envoy 
 still remained. The duty would be a ha.zardous one, 
 as any one proceeding from Venice to Persia would 
 have to run the gauntlet of the Turks. The sister 
 of Queen Despina had married Nicolo Crespo, the 
 Duke of the Archipelago, whose four daughters were 
 in turn wedded to four of the merchant princes of 
 Venice, one of whom was M. Caterino Zeno, a man 
 of courage and talent. He, of all others, appeared 
 the fittest to undertake this honourable but perilous 
 mission, and the patriotism of Zeno induced him to 
 overlook the dangers he would run in traversing 
 hostile and almost unknown regions before reaching 
 his destination. He was rewarded for his courage 
 by arriving safely in the presence of the king, though 
 not without meeting serious obstacles in his journey 
 through Caramania. 
 
 Zeno was well received by the monarch ; and, 
 being supported in his arguments by his aunt, the 
 Queen Despina, succeeded in inducing Uzun Hassan 
 to take up arms against the Turk. 
 
 In 1472 the Persians marched into the Turkish 
 
VI A NARRATIVE OF 
 
 dominions and ravaged them, but a flying column 
 under Mustafa, the second son of Mahomet IT, 
 routed a force of Persians under one of Uzun Has- 
 san's generals. In the following year the Grand 
 Turk invaded Persia with an immense army, but 
 met with a severe check while endeavouring to cross 
 the Euphrates near Malatia, and was forced to re- 
 treat. Uzun Hassan, however, following up his 
 success too rashly, was routed by the Turks at 
 Tabeada. M. Caterino Zeno was then sent as am- 
 bassador from Uzun Hassan to various Christian 
 princes, among others to Poland and Hungary, to 
 incite them to take up arms against the Ottoman. 
 M. Josafat Barbaro and Ambrogio Contarini were 
 sent from Venice to take his place at the Persian 
 Court ; but no arguments could again induce the 
 Persian monarch to meet the Turks in the field. 
 
 The account of Zeno's Travels in Ramusio's col- 
 lection was prepared from Zeno's letters, as the 
 editor was never able to get possession of a copy of 
 Zeno's book. For this reason the geographical de- 
 tails in these Travels are not so explicit as in the 
 others, and Ramusio has in his book put Zeno's nar- 
 rative after several others, although in date he was 
 the first. It is supplemented by a sketch of Persian 
 histoiy subsequent to M. Caterino's embassy, taken 
 from other sources. MM. Barbaro and Contarini suc- 
 ceeded Zeno. The account of their travels will form 
 a separate work. 
 
 The second author in this collection is a M. Giovan 
 Maria Angiolello, who was in the service of the 
 
ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA. VU 
 
 Turks, and present in their campaign against the 
 Persians. He describes, shortly, the rise of Uznn 
 Hassan, and gives a full description of the Turkish 
 invasion from the Turkish point of view, and the de- 
 tails of the march. Unghermaumet's rebellion 
 against his father Uzun Hassan is also mentioned by 
 him as well as by Zeno. After the death of Uzun 
 Hassan and his son Yakoob, Persia fell into a state 
 of anarchy caused by the civil wars between various 
 membei'S of the dominant Akkoinloo family ; from 
 this the country rose at length, through the process 
 of a revolution, almost without a parallel in the 
 history of the world. Not only was there a change 
 in the dynasty and form of government, but the 
 empire was revived in a native Persian family, and 
 an end was put to the long foreign domination. 
 More than all, the very religion of the people was 
 essentially altered : a fact which, by widening the 
 gulf which separated them from their surrounding 
 enemies, consolidated the empire and created a 
 nationality. The family which now rose on the 
 ruins of the Ak-koinlu power traced their descent 
 from Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet, through 
 Mussa, the Seventh Imaum : — 
 
 Mussa. 
 
 Sheikh Saffy-u-diii Ishak (from whom the dynasty is 
 I named Suftavean). 
 
 Sadder-u-din. 
 
 a 
 
VIU A NARRATIVE OF 
 
 a 
 
 I 
 Khaujah Ali. 
 
 . I 
 Sheikh Ibrahim. 
 
 Juneyd (married a sister of Uzun Hassan). 
 
 Sheikh Hyder (rn. Martha, daughter of Uzun Hassan and Despina). 
 
 Shah Ismail Sofi. 
 
 I 
 Shah Tahmasp. 
 
 Mahomet Khodabendeh Ismail. Hyder. 
 
 I 
 Shah Abbas the Great. 
 
 The chiefs of this family were regarded by the 
 Persians as saints, and when Sheikh Hyder, a son- 
 in-law of Uzun Hassan, rose in arms against Rustan, 
 King of Persia, he was joined by great numbers. 
 This insurrection was, however, ineffectual, and it 
 was reserved for Sheikh Hyder's son, afterwards 
 Shah Ismail Sofi, to overthrow the fast decaying 
 power of the Ak-koinlus, which was still further 
 weakened by the struggle for the throne between 
 two brothers named Alwung Beg and Morad Khan. 
 The victorious career of Ismail is treated of by An- 
 giolello, as also his wars with the Uzbegs under 
 Sheibani Khan, and the Turks under Selim I, the 
 former of whom were routed at the great battle of 
 Merv Shah Jehan in 1514 ; but from the latter 
 Ismail sustained a defeat in the plains of Chalderan, 
 near Khoi, which left Tauris at the mercy of Selim. 
 
ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA. IX 
 
 Anglolello, leaving Persian history, gives a full and 
 ^ animated account of Selim's expedition against Egypt, 
 which resulted in the conquest by the Turks of that 
 great country and the deaths of the two last Soldans, 
 Khafur el Ghouri and Tomant Bey. 
 
 The Third Book of Travels from Bamusio is that of 
 an unnamed author trading from Damascus and 
 Aleppo to Persia, where he remained upwards of 
 eight years, from 1511 to 1520; so that he also was 
 an eye-witness of the glory of Shah Ismail. The style 
 of this latter is more involved ; but while his histo- 
 rical facts correspond, his description of the towns 
 and country is more detailed, as is but natural, from 
 his occupation, which was more suited than that of 
 an ambassador for gaining geographical information. 
 He opens his narrative by describing, with a good 
 deal of minuteness, the route from Aleppo to Tauris, 
 finishing with an account of that city and of the 
 historical events that took place during his stay. 
 
 There is a long gap between these two latter 
 writers and Vincentio d'Alessandri, an envoy from 
 Venice in 1571 to the Court of Shah Tahmasp, the 
 son and successor of Shah Ismail Sofi, who had died 
 in 1524. This writer is mentioned by KnoUes in 
 his General History of the Turks, from whom the 
 following account of the intermediate history is also 
 taken. In the year 1534 Solyman was persuaded 
 by Ibrahim Pasha to make war on Persia, stirred up 
 against the new Shiah religion which had been in- 
 troduced by Shah Ismail Sofi. The purpose of Ibra- 
 him was also furthered by a Persian named Ulemas, 
 
A NARRATIVE OF 
 
 brother-in-law of the King Tahmasp, who had revolted 
 from him/ fearing to be called to account for his 
 extortion. After making preparations, Solyman sent 
 Ibrahim and Ulemas with an army into Syria, and 
 in the spring they advanced, without resistance, as 
 far as Tam^s. Tahmasp, the Persian monarch, was 
 then absent, engaged in a war with Kezienbassa, 
 Prince of the Corasine Hyrcanians ; but, hearing of 
 the taking of his capital, returned in haste for the 
 defence of his empire. Solyman, on reports reaching 
 him of the successes of his generals, crossed the 
 Euphrates at Malatia, and joined them at Tauris. 
 Tahmasp, not daring to join battle with Solyman, re- 
 treated to the mountains above Sultania, where the 
 Turkish army, endeavouring to follow him, was 
 greatly distressed, and forced to retreat from the in- 
 clemency of the weather. Solyman now retired to 
 Mesopotamia, where he took Bagdad and added the 
 provinces of Babylonia and Mesopotamia to the 
 Turkish empire. In the following year, 1535, Soly- 
 man again entered Tauris and ransacked it ; but, 
 finding that nothing was to be done against Tahmasp, 
 withdrew to his own dominions greatly harassed on 
 his journey by Persian cavalry, who at last surprised 
 and routed his army near Betilis, under the com- 
 mand of Delimenthes. This last reverse was the 
 occasion of the fall of the great Pasha Ibrahim, the 
 friend and counsellor of Solyman, by whose orders 
 he was murdered. Ulemas was afterwards made 
 
 1 According to Alessandri, Shah Tahmasp would allow no one to 
 be avaricious but himself, 
 
ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA. XI 
 
 Governor of Bosina. In 1549 the cause of Ercases 
 Imirza, Prince of Shirvan and brother of Shah 
 Tahmasp, was espoused by Solyman against Tahmasp; 
 but, in a tedious war, except the capture of Van by 
 the Turks, nothing of any importance took place, as 
 the Persian monarch, pursuing his usual tactics, acted 
 on the defensive, and retreated to the mountains. 
 Discord being sown between Solyman and Ercases 
 Imirza, the latter fled to Chaldea, where he was 
 treacherously delivered into the hands of Tahmasp, 
 who caused him to be murdered in prison. Bajazet, 
 the son of Solyman, after his rebelion in 1556, fled for 
 safety to the Court of Tahmasp, who received him 
 with favour at first; but his mind becoming embittered 
 against him, he caused his followers to be dispersed 
 and slain, and Bajazet himself to be cast into prison. 
 Solyman used all the means in his power to have 
 Bajazet delivered into his hands, but Tahmasp would 
 not consent ; but afterwards, in consideration of a 
 large sum of money, agreed to allow him to be made 
 away with.^ Bajazet accordingly was strangled, 
 with his four sons. On the accession of Selim II, 
 Tahmasp sent ambassadors to Constantinople to ratify 
 a peace between them, which was concluded in the 
 year 1568. About Vincentio d'Alessandri Knolles 
 says, A.D. 1571 : — 
 
 " Whilest these things were in doing, the Venetians^ the 
 more to entangle the Turke, thought it good to make proofe, 
 if they might by any means stirre up Tamas, the Persian 
 king, to take up armes against him; who, as hee was a prince 
 
 1 Angerius Busbequius legationis Turcicte epist. 4. 
 
Xll A NARRATIVE OF 
 
 of great power, so did hee exceedingly hate the Turks, as 
 well for the difference between the Persians and them about 
 matters of their vaine superstition, as for the manifold in- 
 juries he had oftentimes sustained. There was one Vincent 
 Alexander, one of the secretaries for the State, who, having 
 escaped out of prison at Constantinople, was but a little 
 before come to Venice, a warie wise man, and of great 
 experience, who, for his dexteritie of wit and skilfulnesse 
 in the Turkish language, was thought of all others most fit 
 to take in hand so great a matter. He having received 
 letters and instructions from the Senat, and furnished with 
 all things necessarie, travelling through Germanic, Polonia, 
 and the forrests of Msesia, in Turkish attii'e, came to Monc- 
 astron, a port towne upon the side of the Euxine or Black 
 Sea, at the mouth of the great river Boristhenes, where he 
 embarked himself for Trapezond, but was by a contrarie 
 wind driven to Sinope, a citio of great trafficke ; from 
 whence he travelled, by rough and broken ways, to Cutay, 
 keeping still upon the left hand because he would not fall 
 upon any part of the Turk's armie (which was then march- 
 ing towards Cyprus through all those countries) ; neverthe- 
 lesse, he fell upon a part thereof, from which he with great 
 danger rid himselfe, beinge taken for a Turke, and by blind 
 and troublesome wayes, through rockes and forrests, arrived 
 at length at Erzirum, a strong citie of the Turks, then upon 
 the frontiers of the Turk's dominions toward the Georgians. 
 This journey of Alexander's was not kept so secret, but that 
 it was vented at Constantinople by a spie, who, under the 
 colour of friendship haunting the Venetian embassadour's 
 house at Pera, had got certaine knowledge of the going of 
 Alexander in Persia. Whereupon, certaine courrours were 
 sent out with all speed to beset the three straight passages 
 into Persia, whereby it was supposed he must of necessitie 
 passe, with certaine notes also of the favour of the man, of 
 his stature, and other marks wherby he was best to be 
 knowne. But he in so dangerous a countrie doubting all 
 things, and fearing such a matter, leaving his companie be- 
 
ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA. XIU 
 
 hind him, with incredible celeritie posted from Erzirum to 
 
 Tauris, and was a great way gone before the Turk's courrours 
 
 came into those quarters; who, yet hearing of him, followed 
 
 after as far as they durst, but could not overtake him. 
 
 Alexander, comming to Tauris, understood that the court lay 
 
 at Casbin, about twelve days' journey farther up into the 
 
 country. Comming thither the 14th of August of this year, 
 
 1571, he chanced to meet with certaine English marchants, 
 
 with whom he had beene before acquainted ; by whose 
 
 helpe he not only got to speak with Ayder Tamas, the 
 
 king's third sonne, but learned of them also the manners 
 
 and fashions of the Persian court, and how to beare himselfe 
 
 therein. The Persians, by reason of the intollerable heate, 
 
 doe most of their business at that time of the yeare by 
 
 night. Wherefore, Alexander, about midnight brought 
 
 in to Aider, declared unto him the cause of his comming : 
 
 and the next night admitted into the speech of his aged 
 
 father, delivered his letters of credence, and in the name of 
 
 the Senat, declared unto him, with what perfidious dealing 
 
 Selymus, the Turkish emperor, was about to take away 
 
 Cyprus fi'om the Venetians, with wKat greedinesse and pride 
 
 he had set upon the Chi-istians, and that discharged of that 
 
 warre, he would of all likelyhood set upon the Persians ; 
 
 having the selfesame quarrell unto the Persians that he had 
 
 unto the Venetians, that is, an ardent and insatiable desire 
 
 of soveraignetie ; a sufficient cause for*the greedie Turke to 
 
 repute every king, the richer that he was, the more his 
 
 enemie. After that, setting foorth to the full the prowesso 
 
 of the Christians, the wonderfull preparation they had made, 
 
 both at sea and land, he persuaded the king, with all his 
 
 power, to invade the Turke, now altogether busied in the 
 
 warres of Cyprus ; and to recover againe such parts of his 
 
 kingdom as Solyman, the father of Selymus, had taken from 
 
 him. Warres, he said, were more happily managed abroad 
 
 than at home; that, sithence he alone (the Christian princes 
 
 all then at quiet) had withstood the Turk's whole force and 
 
 power, he needed not now to doubt of his most prosperous 
 
XIV A NARRATIVE OF 
 
 successe, the Christian princes now joynin^ with him. That 
 he was much unmindful of his former losses and wrongs, if 
 he thought he enjoyed an assured peace, which he should 
 find to be nothing els but a deferring of war unto more 
 cruell times; and that the Turke, if he should overrun Cyprus, 
 would forthwith turne his victorious arms upon him. The 
 end of one warre was (as he said) but the beginning of an- 
 other ; and that the Turkish empire could never stay in one 
 state ; and that he would observe not the Turke's words, 
 but his deeds ; and how that the Othoman emperours, 
 according to the oportunitie of the times, used by turnes 
 sometimes force, sometimes deceit, as best served their 
 purposes. That no princes had at all times, by dissembled 
 peace and uncertaine leagues, more deluded some, untill 
 they had oppressed others. He wished also, that at length 
 this his cunning dealing might appeare unto the world ; and 
 that princes would thinke, that being combined together, 
 they might more easily overcome the Turke, than being 
 seperated, defend their owne ; that in former times, some- 
 times will, sometimes occasion, was wanting to them to 
 unite their forces ; and that, therefore, they should now 
 combine themselves for their common good against the 
 common enemie ; that it conserned no lesse the Persians 
 than the Christians, to have the power of the Turke abated; 
 and that this taking up of amies should be for the good of 
 the Persian king, howsoever things should fall out; if Avell, 
 he should then recover what he had befox^e lost, with much 
 more that was the Turke's ; if otherwise, yet by voluntarie 
 entering into armes, to countenance himselfe, and to give 
 the Turks occasion to think that he feared him not, which 
 was (as he said) the only way to preserve their common 
 safetie, which would be unto all the confederat princes easie 
 enough, if they themselves made it not more difficult than 
 the power of the enemie. The speech of the embassadour 
 was willingly heard ; whei'eunto the king answered, that he 
 would consider thereupon what he had to doe ; and, in the 
 meanwhile, a faire house was appointed for the embassadour 
 
ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA. XV 
 
 and his followers, and bountifull allowance appointed for 
 the king's charge. He was also many times sumptuously 
 feasted by the noblemen whom he still requested to be 
 mediatours unto the king, to take that honourable warre in 
 hand. The king had at that time a sonne called Ismael, a 
 man of great spirit, whom he then kept in durance, for that 
 he, with too much insolencie, made roades into the frontiers 
 of the Turke's dominions, to the disturbance of the leagues 
 his father had before made with the late Turkish emperor, 
 Solyman : unto him, Alexander having accesse, was of him 
 courteously heard, who, fretting and languishing for verie 
 griefe of revenge upon the Turkes, wished that either the 
 king, his father, had his mind, or he himselfe the power of 
 a king, and said. That if ever it were his good fortune to 
 obtaine, he would indeed shew what he then in mind 
 thouo-ht. But of him more shall be said hereafter. Whilest 
 this matter went more slowly forward in the Persian court 
 than the embassadour would have had it, newes was brought 
 unto the court of the gi-eat victorie which the Clmstians 
 had much about that time obtained of the Turkes at sea ; 
 upon which occasion the embassadour solicited the king 
 more earnestly than before, to make himselfe partaker of 
 the victorie of the Christians by entring into confederation 
 with them, and by taking up of armes, rather than to hold 
 uncertain friendship with the Turkes in their miseries, b}'- 
 whom he had been so often wronged! This he said, was 
 the only time for the Persian king to recover his former 
 e-lorie, the like offer whereof would neither often chance, 
 neither long stay ; and that if he suffered so fit an oppor- 
 tunitie to slip away, he should afterwards in vaine wish for 
 the same, when it were so late. This so wholsome coun- 
 sell was well heard, but prevailed nothing to stir up the 
 aged king, who, then troubled with rebellion in Media, or 
 wearie of the former warres he had had with the Turke, and 
 glad of such peace as he had then with him, answered the 
 embassadour : That, for as much as the Christian princes 
 had nuidc a porpetuall league amongst themselves, he would 
 
XVI A NARRATIVE OF 
 
 for two yeares expect the event, and afterward, as occasion 
 served, so to resolve upon peace or warre. This improvident 
 resolution of the king brought afterward unprofitable and 
 too late repentance unto the whole Persian kingdome, when, 
 as within a few yeares after, all the calamities which the 
 Senat had by their embassadour (as true prophets) foretold, 
 redounded unto the great shaking thereof. For the Cyprian 
 warre once ended, and peace concluded with the Venetians, 
 Amurath, the sonne of Selymus, succeeding his father in 
 the Turkish empire, invading the Persian king, tooke from 
 him the great country of Media, now called Silvan, with a 
 great part of Armenia the Great, and the regall citie of 
 Tauris, as shall be here after in due place declared. At which 
 time the Persian, who now refused to take up armes or join 
 in league with the Chi'istian princes, repented that he had 
 not before hearkened unto the wholsome counsell of the 
 Venetians ; and, taught by his owne harmes, wished in 
 vaine that the Christian princes would againe take up armes 
 and joyne with him against the Turke." 
 
 In the year 1576 troubles arose in the Persian 
 kingdom consequent on the death of Tahmasp, which 
 were taken advantage of by Sultan Murad III. 
 Tahmasp had eleven sons ; Mahomed Khodabendeh, 
 who suffered from a weakness in his eyes ; Ismael, a 
 turbulent warrior, confined in the fortress of Cahaca, 
 between Tauris and Casbin ; Hyder, the third, with 
 a powerful party in the State ; and the others, 
 Mahmoud, Solyman, Mustafa, Emanguli, Alichar, 
 Ahmed, Abrahim, and Ismael the younger. 
 
 Before his death he appointed Ismael his successor, 
 to the great discontent of Hyder, who, being in the 
 palace, caused himself to be crowned ; but Ismael's 
 friends being strong he was imprisoned in his palace 
 and soon after murdered. Ismael, on ascending the 
 
ITALIAN TRAVELS IN PERSIA, XVll 
 
 .throne, caused his eight younger brothers to be mur- 
 dered, and greatly oppressed the country ;^ he him- 
 self, after a year's reign, met with his fate, being 
 murdered by his sister. The Persian chiefs raised 
 Mahomed Khodabendeh to the throne, who, in endea- 
 vouring to avenge his brothers' deaths, caused great 
 discord in the kingdom, of which Murad determined 
 to take advantage, inducing the Georgians under 
 Levent Ogli and the people of Shirvan to revolt. 
 After a few years, however, the incapable Mahomet 
 was dethroned by the Persian nobles to make way 
 for his son Abbas. This prince, perhaps the best 
 ruler Persia had had for many centuries, began to 
 reign in 1585, and is known to history as Shah 
 Abbas the Great. 
 
 ^ He also sent to put Mahomed Khodabendeh to death, but died 
 himself before the order was executed. 
 
TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 BY 
 
 CATERINO ZENO. 
 
 EAMUSIO^S PREFACE.! 
 
 Having undertaken to describe a journey made in Persia by 
 M. Caterino Zeno^ kniglit, at the time tliat our Republic, 
 being at war with the Turk, desired that he should be 
 harassed on the East by the arms of the king Ussun Cassano, 
 who, some years before with great skill in the art of war, 
 had made himself Master of Persia, and a great part of the 
 neighbouring provinces ; I have considered it suited to my 
 undertaking, to treat of all the wars, which were waged in 
 Persia, both between the members of the royal family and 
 by the Persians against the Turks, And particularly to 
 narrate the manner in which this Ussun Cassano, a poor noble- 
 man, and the weakest in condition of many brothers^ (Giausa,^ 
 the eldest, having become King of Persia), not possessing 
 
 ^ This Preface is by Ramiisio; the rest is prepared by the same writer 
 from the otlicial letters of M. Caterino Zeno. 
 - Kara Mahomed, chief of the Kara Koinloo. 
 
 Kara Yusoof. 
 I 
 
 Secunder. Abouseyd. Jehau Shah. 
 
 K&,ra Yussoof or Hussun Ali, according to Malcolm. 
 ' Jehan Shah, Uzun Hassan was not his brother, as they were the 
 respective chiefs of the rival tribes of Kara Koinloo and Ak-Koinloo. The 
 dynasty founded by Uzun Hassan of the Ak-Koinloo tribe is termed 
 Bayenderee ; the influence of the family dates from the reign of Timour, 
 who made them grants of land in Armenia and Mesopotamia. 
 
RAMUSIO'S PREFACE 
 
 more than tliirty soldiers besides a small castle^ afterwards 
 raised himself to such grandeur, that he had the courage to 
 dispute the empire of all Asia with the Ottoman house, 
 which, under Mahomet 11,^ was a terror to the East. 
 
 But the arts by which he made himself king, his valour 
 and cunning, I shall narrate as briefly as possible, as I con- 
 sider tJiese things worthy to be reported to our nation ; for, 
 amongst all the kings of the East, who existed since the 
 Government was taken awav from the Persians, and trans- 
 ferred to the Greeks, there have been none who equalled the 
 glory of Darius Hystaspes and Ussun Cassano ; and if fortune 
 had favoured him in the second battle at Tabeada in the 
 campaign of Tokat, as it did in the first he had with the 
 Turks on the Euphrates, there is no doubt that by these 
 two victories he would have made himself master of all Asia 
 and Egypt. But it is to be regretted that some Eastern 
 kings, great in power and intellect, have not had historians 
 to celebrate their deeds, since among the Sultans of Egypt 
 and among the Kings of Persia, there have been men most 
 excellent in war," and worthy not only of being compared 
 with ancient barbarian kings famous in arms,^ but even with 
 the great Greek and Roman commanders, in all those things 
 which constitute able generals of armies. For the record 
 of the deeds of such reach us Europeans, who are admirers 
 of the virtues of men abroad and at home, in a condition so 
 mutilated and imperfect, that from the few particulars we 
 
 ' Mahomet II, the first Emperor of the Turks, reigned from 1450-1481. 
 
 ^ " Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona 
 Multi." — Horace^ Book iv, ode 10. 
 
 ' It was by no means the case that at that time the Persian monarchs 
 had no poets or historians to celebrate their deeds, as the Augustan age, 
 so to speak, of Persian literature was just then coming to a close, the two 
 last of the great poets, Jami and Hatifi, flourishing at the Court of Abou- 
 said and his successor Hoossein Meerza, the enlightened descendants of 
 Timour. Ilatifi died iu 1522 ; his great poem was written to commemorate 
 the victory of Ismael Shah over the Usbegs at Merv m 1511. The two 
 famous historians, Mirkhond and Khondemir, also flourished at this time. 
 
TO CATERING ZENO. 6 
 
 cannot draw up a complete history. Therefore, let no one 
 marvel if in these my notes I do not describe things as fully 
 in some places as I should have done, if I had had ampler 
 information ; since M. Caterino, who, as has been said, went 
 as ambassador to Ussun Cassano, wrote several letters, from 
 which I have drawn the pith of this short history, for the 
 satisfaction of those who, hearing discussions aboat the Sufi, 
 and of his great pomp, are desirous of being informed of the 
 affairs of the Persian Empire. And I know well that in 
 thus writing to a purport different from what has been 
 written by others, many will be apt to criticise me, as it is 
 difficult to efface early impressions from the mind ; but be- 
 fore they do so, I beg they will rather consider my good 
 intentions than impute to me any desire to gain a reputa- 
 tion for being better acquainted with the affairs of the world 
 than other writers. But surely we ought far sooner to credit 
 what is told u^ of the doings of Ussun Cassano, by one 
 who was connected with him, and who got his information 
 from the Queen Despina, his own aunt, than by those who, 
 in their histories, have only availed themselves of the nar- 
 rations of some Armenians, who, to take away his reputation, 
 went about spreading the report that he was not born of 
 royal blood, and that while he governed certain places in 
 Armenia, by lavish expenditure, and gaining the favour of 
 the soldiery, he seized an opportunity of casting off the sway 
 of Giausa, and treacherously putting him to death with his 
 son.^ And they add, to further embellish this lie, that in 
 this Giausa the descendants of Moleoncre, formerly a great 
 sultan of the Parthians, became extinct. These things are 
 all well known not to be true, since how could Ussun Cassano 
 have made himself Lord of Persia, if he had not been of 
 royal blood ; particularly, for this reason, that there is no 
 nation which holds noble birth and royal descent in more 
 estimation than the Persians, And to omit the ancient ex- 
 > Jehan Shah, Kara Yusuf. 
 
RAMUSIO'S PREFACE. 
 
 ample of Darius Hystaspes/ the son of Atossa, the daughter 
 of CyruSj there is the more recent one of Ismail ; for, al- 
 though he was not born of royal blood on his father's side, 
 nevertheless his mother, called Martha, was daughter of 
 Ussun Cassano, through whom the new king was tolerated, 
 as formerly Darius was, as the son of Atossa. We must not 
 believe that the partizans of the ancient kings^ (if indeed 
 there was a party, as these authors say) would be so soon 
 swept away ; because it is impossible that a new dynasty 
 should appear without causing great commotions and tumults, 
 as we have seen in many kingdoms of Christendom ; and, 
 nevertheless, the reign of Ussun Cassano, as regards inter- 
 nal affairs, was not visited by any blast of domestic or civil 
 war, except that raised by his son Unghermaumet ; but this 
 was caused by lust of power and not by a faction of a former 
 reign. Therefore, read without chiding these my commen- 
 taries, in which, if I had been able to find the ''Book of 
 Travels of M. Caterino", who first gave information of the 
 affairs of Persia, and preceded M. Giosafat Barbaro, and M. 
 Ambrogio Contarini as ambassador to Persia from our Re- 
 public, I should have touched upon many other particulars, 
 which would have been most acceptable to those who take 
 an interest in such things. 
 
 As, in spite of all my research, I have never been able to 
 get into my hands this Book of Travels, if I should find it 
 (and I am sure there is no one so malicious as not to shew 
 it), I will supply what I have now missed. But, as we say, 
 he who does all he can, does much. Since we cannot aret 
 further particulars, let us accept these, and j^i'aise the in- 
 dustry of the good M. Caterino, and it being evident that, 
 not being able to find more on this subject among his writ- 
 ings, I cannot communicate it. 
 
 1 Darius was the husband, not the son, of Atossa. 
 
 - There were two rival Toorkman tribes, as has already been noticed, 
 the Kara-Koinloo and the Ak-Koinloo, who were engaged in continual 
 struggles for the supremacy in Persia. Uzua Hassan was a chief of the 
 Ak-Koiiiloo, or White Sheep. 
 
CATEIUNO ZENO. 
 
 FIRST BOOK. 
 
 In tlie year of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand four 
 hundred and fifty, (1450), Giausa/ being King of Persia, 
 Assimhed^ (who, from that time, on account of his deeds, 
 called himself JJssun Cassano,^ which in the Persian tongue 
 signifies "'great man'^), not contenting himself with being 
 Lord of a small castle, began by little and little to usurp the 
 states, and the jurisdictions of his other brothers less power- 
 ful than himself,^ who, either not being of a warlike disposi- 
 tion or for some other reason, preferred living in ease and 
 not opposing his ambition. Thus he without difficulty raised 
 himself in credit and reputation. Ussun Cassano was a war- 
 like, valiant man, and above all of great liberality, which is 
 a rare virtue, to enable great lords to gain over the affections 
 of the soldiery, provided it is exercised at the proper time 
 and place, and towards the deserving (so that he who makes 
 
 ' Jehan Shah. "^ Hassan Beg, called Alymbeius by KnoUes. 
 
 ^ He was called Uzun Hassan and Hassan et Taneel by the Arabs, from 
 the fact, as the appellative denotes, of his height, which was far above 
 the standard. Barbaro describes him as a very tall, thin man. Taneel, 
 Arabic, is the translation of Uzun or Oozoon, Turkish, and means "tall", 
 not ''great". Oozoon, in Turkish, means essentially long, not great. 
 
 ^ Ak-Koinloo Chiefs: — 
 
 Kara Osman put to death by Secunder, chief of the Kara, Koinloo. 
 
 Uzun Hassan, first of the Bayenderee kings. 
 
 I I. I I I 
 
 Unghermaumet. Ezeinel. Calul. Yakoob. Martha m. Sheikh Hyder. 
 
 Alwung Bog (Aluimit). ]\Iorad Khan. Isniael Soli, 
 
6 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 use of it be not esteemed of small judgment or a prodigal). 
 By this means he was soon followed by people of war, so that 
 he brought together five hundred good horsemen, assaulted 
 the great and famous city of AmiUo ;^ in which fortune was 
 so favourable to him, that he took it with so much reputation 
 that from that time he had the support of all those regions. 
 Hence, he thought he should easily be able to make himself 
 master of the kingdom of Persia, provided his partizans, who 
 now favoured him so readily, continued to do so. There- 
 fore, having made of them a large army, he took the field 
 with the intention, if Giausa^ opposed him, of trying the 
 fortune of battle. Giausa, who had been half apprehensive 
 
 1 Araida (Diarbekr) was founded, according to Oriental tradition, by 
 Tahmuras of the Paishdadian dynasty, and fortified by the Emperor 
 Constans, who probably surrounded it with the stupendous wall of black 
 stone, from which the citj'- is often called by the Turks Kara Amid, or 
 Black Amid. Some of the masonry is evidently Roman, though 
 there are Cufic inscriptions on different parts of the wall. Kinneir says: — 
 
 " The houses are built of stone, and have a good appearance, but the 
 streets, although paved, are narrow and filthy. The castle is on the 
 north side of the town ; it is also surrounded by a strong wall, and 
 divided into many courts and handsome buildings, where the Pasha and 
 his officers reside. The population of the town is said to amount to thirty- 
 eight tTiousand souls, of Avhich the greater proportion are Turks, and 
 the remainder Armenians, Kurds, Jacobites, and Catholics. The bazar 
 is well supplied with corn and provisions, and the adjoining country is 
 fruitful and well cultivated. Cotton, silk, copper, and iron are manu- 
 factured by the natives, and exported to Bagdad and Constantinople. 
 "When viewed from a distance, the city of Diarbekr has a fine appear- 
 ance. The elevation of the surrounding mountains, the windings of the 
 Tigris and height of the walls and towers with the cupolas of the mos- 
 ques, give it an air of grandeur far above that of any other city which I 
 have visited in this quarter of the world. In the spring the Tigris rises 
 to a great height at this place, but in the month of December it was so 
 shallow, that the water did not reach much above my horse's knees. It 
 is generally passed on a bridge of twelve arches, situated about half a 
 mile below the town. Diarbekr is sixty miles from IMerdin, two hundred 
 and eighty-seven from Orfa, and a hundred and seventy-two and a half 
 from Malatea. Its position is fixed in latitude 37° 55' 40" N., and longi- 
 tude 39° 52' E., as ascertained from actual observation by Mr. Simon."' 
 
 » Jchan Shah. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. / 
 
 of the designs of liis brother^ hearing of the assault and 
 capture of Amitto,^ did not think it politic to keep himself 
 aloof and so allow Ussun Cassano to increase in power and 
 also to repair the other disadvantages, which usually follow 
 in the course of war. Therefore, having levied an army, he 
 advanced, with almost all the forces of Persia, against Ussun 
 Cassano. At this juncture, some Persian lords, who were 
 friends of both, knowing what desolation would follow in 
 Persia if they came to blows, thrust themselves between 
 the brothers, and would have brought, with much difficulty, 
 matters to a good understanding, if it had not been that 
 Giausa, demanding a tribute of three hundred boy slaves from 
 Ussun Cassano, and the latter not being willing to consent 
 to it, proved the cause of all proposals of reconciliation being 
 broken off. As he said, " Have I command over the sons 
 of my vassals, that I should pay them as a tribute to Giausa; 
 or can I forsooth dispose of them as my own ? If Giausa 
 wished to take them by force of arms from the hands of 
 their fathers and mothers, I should never consent to it, 
 even if I were certain of losing my life, as it is equally en- 
 joined on the Prince to defend his people, as on the people 
 to obey ; it is not now to be thought of, that I should give 
 them of free will." 
 
 This answer so touched to the quick, as it were, the hearts 
 of those people, that there was not one who would not have 
 risked his life for Ussun Cassano. Being held in this favour 
 he artfully drew Giausa^ to the plains of ArsPMga,* where, 
 having come to an engagement, he defeated and took him, 
 pursuing his son, who sought safety in flight beyond Tauris. 
 
 1 Uzun Hassau was not a brother of Jehan Shah, but of a different 
 tribe. ^ Diarbekr. 
 
 3 Jehan Shah was killed in the battle and his son Kara Yusuf taken 
 prisoner. 
 
 * Erzingan, Eriza, a town and district of the same name. The town 
 is situated on the eastern branch of the Euphrates, below Erzeroum. 
 The fine plain slopes gently from north to south, acting as a kind of 
 
8 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 The Persian histories say, that Mahomet the Second^ the 
 lord of the Turks, who was afraid lest the greatness of Ussun 
 Cassano should harra him in time, undertook to favour and 
 replace Giausa in power. Wherefore, Ussun Cassano, expect- 
 ing some great commotion on this side, sent Unghermau- 
 met, his son, a valiant young man, as far as Tauris, which 
 was the chief place of a great region ; while he himself 
 on the other side went on reducing the whole of Persia to 
 his sway, and conquered as far as the Indian Sea, possess- 
 ing a mighty empire; which empire was comprised in these 
 limits — on the east, the river Indus and the Tartars;^ on the 
 west, Gorgora,^ Trebizond, Caramania, Soria,^ and Lesser 
 Armenia, on this side of the Euphrates; on the south, 
 the Arabs and the Sea of India ; on the north, the Sea 
 of Baccu.^ This his country was for the most part in- 
 habited by Armenian Christians, and by native Persian races, 
 separated by a continuous rampart of mountains, inhabited 
 by Kurds, an independent people, and partly ruled over by 
 the Lord of Betelis,^ who, some years later, seeing the great- 
 ness of Ussun Cassano, gave in his submission. And be- 
 
 vast drain for the waters of the mountains on the north and two other 
 sides— viz., the Mezoor Dagh and the Kesheesh Dagh, thus conveying 
 them to the Kara Su. Otherwise, it is a perfect level, free from stone 
 or elevation of any kind, but some artificial mounds at the east corner. 
 It is a garrison town, with new barracks just built; the town and villages 
 contain about twelve thousand houses, or, by the usual calculation, sixty 
 thousand inhabitants. The soil is rich, producing abundance of grain, 
 cotton, fruits, and melons. 
 
 1 His dominions hardly extended so far, even after defeating Abou 
 Said, the reigning prince of the House of Timour, as Khorassan, Herat, 
 Cabul, etc., were governed by the successors of that prince. 
 
 2 Georgia. ^ Syria. ^ The Caspian Sea. 
 
 5 Bitlis, the Armenian Pangesh, about an equal distance between 
 Diarbekr and Van, the scene of the signal defeat sustained by Solyman 
 the Magnificent in 1535. Kinneir gays : — 
 
 " The town extends across the greater part of the valley, the houses 
 being built at some distance from each other in the manner of Rutnuz. 
 The castle is situated on the top of a high mountain, which bounds the 
 plain to the west. The inhabitants of the town and the neighbouring 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. W 
 
 cause at that time the Turkish arms were more than ever 
 flourishing and illustrious under Mahomet 11^ Grand Turk, 
 and made themselves felt gloriously in Asia and in Europe, 
 Ussun Cassano, as generally happens to great Princes who 
 live in jealousy about their states if they see another Prince 
 of enterprise make great progress in war, fearing lest the 
 immense power of the Ottoman house should in time de- 
 stroy the Persian kingdom, made a close alliance and con- 
 nection with Caloiane,^ Emperor of Trabisonda, taking as a 
 wife Despina, his daughter, under the condition that she 
 might Hve in the Christian faith. This same Emperor had 
 also married another of his daughters to the Lord Nicolo 
 Crespo, Duke of the Archipelago, from whom were born 
 four daughters, who were afterwards most honourably mar- 
 ried to as many Venetian gentlemen, of the first nobility, 
 and of one named Fiorenza settled in the Cornaro house, 
 was born Madame Caterina, the Queen of Cyprus, and M. 
 Giorgio, the Procurator; Valenza married to M. Giovanni 
 Loredano dalla Samitara, son of the late M. Aluise, the 
 Procurator, had no issue ; of another, called Lucretia, mar- 
 ried into the house of Priuli, was born M. Nicolo, the Pro- 
 curator. Lastly, from Violante, who married M. Caterino 
 Zeno, knight, who was afterwards ambassador in Persia, was 
 
 ■villages amount to about twenty-six thousand — Kurds, Turks, Arme- 
 nians, and Syrians. The Armenians have four churches and four monas- 
 teries, and, upon the whole, enjoy more liberty and are treated with 
 greater respect than in most Mahomedan States. The lands around 
 Betlis are highly cultivated, and produce grain of several kinds— cotton, 
 hemp, rice, olives, honey, truffles, and mushrooms. There is abundance 
 of gravel in the neighbourhood, and'the mountains are infested by lions, 
 wolves, and bears. Quarries of red and white marble have also been 
 discovered at a short distance from the town." 
 
 ' Calo Johannes, or Black John, brother of David, last Christian Em- 
 peror of Trebizond, was of the noble family of the Comneni, which became 
 extinct with them. Trebizond was taken in 1461 by Mahomet II, Sultan 
 of the Turks. Uzun Hassan had married Despina while still Prince of 
 Diarbekr, before he had gained the throne. 
 
10 TKAVELS IN PEKSIA, 
 
 born M. I'ietio, who begot M. Caterino, who died last year, 
 whose soul God hath taken to himself, and whose son, M. 
 Nicolo, still liv^es. This same M. Caterino, knight^ in the 
 tnisgiviugs which nearly all the powers of the world had of 
 the power of Mahomet, the Grand Turk, was despatched as 
 ambassador from our Eepublic to Ussun Cassano, in order 
 that if they were not able to raise the Sovereigns of the 
 West to combat the common enemy, who, insatiable in his 
 lust of power, aspired to the empire of the world, they might 
 at least induce those of the East, by the same misgivings 
 to become anxious and mistrustful of their affairs. 
 
 Fortune, whicli often opposes itself to the loftiest de- 
 sires of men, caused that our Republic, being then at the 
 zenith of its greatness, and most flourishing through many 
 acquisitions, having in recent years waged a glorious war 
 in Lorabardy against Philippo Yisconte, and having in- 
 creased her dominion in that province, excited a certain 
 jealousy in the Sovereigns of Europe, who feared lest such 
 power and opulence should in time prove their ruin ; and 
 especially lest this Republic, being superior to the Roman in 
 civil government, might in course of years attain the same 
 grandeur ; therefore, as if they had conspired together, 
 when she invited each one into a league against Mahomet, 
 they all plainly declined. On this account our ancestors, 
 who, animated by an honourable zeal, were eager for this 
 politic enterprise, were filled with much anxiety, seeing that 
 envy of their greatness would occasion the ruin of Christen- 
 dom. As, in the event of a Republic, which was powerful 
 at sea and in Greece, and enriched by many large islands,^ 
 which were in her possession, meeting with any slight de- 
 feat, what obstacle would remain to the Turk, to prevent 
 him attackinn Italv, as was afterwards shown in the capture 
 of Otranto.- 
 
 ' ll!io(Us, Cyprus, etc. 
 
 - Otraiito \v;is takco by the Turks in 1480, under Achmet Pasliii,who 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 11 
 
 But what gave tliem greater disgust and anxiety of mind 
 was, that the Turk knowing the iinportance of keeping this 
 Eepublic friendly, sought for peace ; and the senators saw- 
 that after the other Powers had been beaten by his arms, 
 they themselves his allies, would remain an easy prey to 
 the conquerors. Now, while they found themselves in 
 this dilemma, four ambassadors sent by Ussun Cassano, 
 arrived at Venice, — namely, Azimamet, Morat, Nicolo and 
 Chefarsa, venerable men, and of great authority with the 
 king, who, with many proffers from their master, offered to 
 make a league and an honourable alliance against the Turk 
 and against the Soldan, provided the Venetians would not 
 fail with their fleet to attack both powers. These (Vene- 
 tians) being delighted to have the greatest and most power- 
 ful king of the East as their confederate and ally in this 
 war, accepted the offer, and professed to have always been 
 good friends with the king, and assured him that this war 
 would be more agreeable to them than ever so many others 
 they had waged. 
 
 And thus, Azimamet remaining at Venice, the other three 
 passed on to the Pope and to the King of Naples to excite, 
 if possible, both of these powers to enter the league. Hence 
 the Senate thought proper to elect an ambassador to reside 
 at the Court of the King Ussun Cassano ; as much to be 
 ready to inflame and excite him to take up arms for the com- 
 mon offence and defence as to represent the grandeur and 
 dignity of the Republic. Therefore, M. Francesco Michele 
 was first elected, who refused ; then the senators elected M. 
 Giacomo da Mezo, who also would not accept this charge. 
 At last, in the year 1471, M. Caterino Zeno was elected, 
 who cheerfully undertook the journey moved only by zeal 
 
 embarked at Vallona in Macedonia, and ravaged a great part of Apulia; 
 but, being called away to join Mahomet in his wars in Asia, the Turkish 
 garrison, after holding the place for a year, surrendered at discretion to 
 Alfonso, Duke of Calabria. — KnoUes, Hist, of the Turks., p. 483. 
 
12 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 for the holy faith. I^tie was the son of M. Dragon Zeno, 
 who died at Damascus, having been many years before as 
 far as Bassera/ to Mecca and to Persia; therefore, M. Ca- 
 terino had some acquaintance with those regions, and from 
 the knowledge that he was nephew of the Queen Despina, 
 wife of Ussun Cassano, considered himself alone fitted to 
 serve his country well and efficiently in this embassy. But, 
 because this journey was unknown, long, and full of dangers, 
 and there was no one to be found to go with M. Caterino, 
 our Government, not wishing to desist from the enterprise, 
 and perceiving this difficulty, provided more pay and better 
 provisions for those attendants Avho would go with him, by 
 which means they procured some valiant men, accustomed 
 to all kinds of hardships, who, induced by the high salary, 
 and by a desire to see the world, gladly entered his service. 
 By this means M. Caterino was despatched on the 6th June 
 of the same year that he was elected, with a commission to 
 Ussun Cassano, our Government offering to arm one hun- 
 dred galleys and many other large and small ships, and with 
 them to attack the empire of the Turk from the sea, if he 
 from the East would not fail to press them with all his 
 forces. With these commissions M. Caterino left Venice, 
 arrived at Rhodes in a few months, and thence having 
 entered the country of the Caramanians, \Yith much difficulty 
 reached Persia. I cannot give the particulars of his journey, 
 because, as I mentioned above, I could never, with all my 
 research, get his book that was printed, into my hands. 
 
 M. Caterino, having arrived at the Court of Ussun Cas- 
 sano," was received by him with great rejoicing and honour, 
 as the ambassador of a Republic so illusti'ious and power- 
 
 1 Bussora, or Basra, was founded by Omar in G36 ; has a population 
 of sixty thousand at tlie present time. It is situated on the western bank 
 of the Shat-ul-Arab and seventy miles from its mouth, with an inmiense 
 trade. It was conquered by the Turks in 1668. 
 
 - At Tauris. or 'I'abrecz. Sec Travels of a }Fer':hant. cx\y. 7. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 13 
 
 ful, his new confederate and ally ; then^ after having visited 
 the king, he asked to be allowed to visit the Queen Des- 
 pina. This matter^ as it was not the custom to grant it to 
 any of the Persians, was refused, it being the habit among 
 them for the ladies not to allow themselves to be seen by 
 any one, and they consider being seen as bad as if among us 
 a person committed adultery. 
 
 Therefore, while they walk about the cities and the fort- 
 resses, or ride with their husbands to the war, in the follow- 
 ing of the king, they cover their faces with nets woven of 
 horsehair,! so thick that they can easily see others, but cannot 
 be seen by them. Nevertheless, M. Caterino, by the special 
 permission of the king, was allowed to visit her in the name 
 of the Republic. Then, being taken into the presence of 
 the queen, and she being informed who he was, he was wel- 
 comed and received by her with the greatest favour as a dear 
 nephew and relation, asking him with great instance if all 
 her nephews were alive, and in what condition they were. 
 M. Caterino replied with great pleasure, and gave satisfac- 
 tory answers to all her questions. .Afterwards, when he 
 wished to return to his lodging, she would not hear of it, 
 but kept him in her palace, giving him separate apart- 
 ments for himself and suite, and presenting him every day 
 (a thing which is considered very honourable from the King 
 of Persia) with the same victuals, which were put before 
 their majesties. And then, having heard more particularly 
 the reason of his coming, she promised him all her influence, 
 and showing herself friendly towards our illustrious Govern- 
 ment. And in reality this queen was instrumental, through M. 
 Caterino, in inducing Ussun Cassano to declare war against 
 the Turk. Nor can one deny that through the relationship 
 M. Caterino had with Despina, he attained to such favour 
 and intimacy with Ussun Cassano, that he even went in and 
 out of the private apartments of the king and queen at 
 ' This covering, called Peychar, is now only used in Bagdad. 
 
14 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 whatever time and hour he pleased, and what is still more 
 extraordinary, even when both their majesties were in bed; 
 whicli I do not think any other Mahometan or Christian 
 king ever granted, even to their nearest relations. This 
 Despina was the most religious lady in the world, always re- 
 mained a good Christian, and every day had mass solemnly 
 celebrated in the Greek manner, which sh.e attended with 
 much devotion. Nor did her husband, although he was of 
 a different faith and an enemy of her own, ever say one word 
 to her about it, or persuade her to change her religion; cer- 
 tainly it is curious that the one bore so much with the other, 
 and that there was so much love and affection between them. 
 Nor did M. Caterino fail, after seeing this good Christian, to 
 incite her to persuade her husband to wage a stubborn war 
 with tlie Turks, bitter enemies of all the Christians and most 
 particularly hostile to her and to her race, as they had slain 
 her father,^ and taken away his realm. Prevailed on by these 
 arguments, the queen did so much and said so much to her 
 husband, that he who was of himself much inclined to hum- 
 ble the greatness of the Ottoman power, wrote with his own 
 hand orders to the King of Gorgora, Lord of the Georgians, 
 to commence war with, the Turks in that quarter. And 
 Despina, while her husband was engaged in this project and 
 was collecting troops, hurriedly dispatched M. Caterino^s 
 chaplain, with letters written by her own hand to the most 
 Illustrious Government and all her relations. 
 
 But the spring having passed, and there being no news of 
 the preparations which M. Caterino said our Republic was 
 making to attack the Ottoman, the king began to lose hope 
 and to give less credit to him than before. On this account, 
 having in readiness a magnificent army, he thought of lead- 
 ing it against some Tartar chiefs, his enemies. But our Re- 
 public, which did not fail to send messages and letters, to 
 
 ' David, last Emperor of Trebizond, was Despina's uncle. Her father 
 had died before. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 15 
 
 keep him acquainted with affairs and to confirm him in his 
 knowledge^ that the Venetians would never fail in what 
 they had promised^ on the 6th of January^ twenty months 
 after the departure of M. Caterino, elected M. Giosafat Bar- 
 baro ambassador 'to Persia, and sent with him several gifts 
 to the king, which were six immense siege guns, arquebuses, 
 and field-pieces in great number, powder, and other muni- 
 tions of war ; six bombardiers, one hundred arquebusiers, 
 and other men skilled in artillery. And, on the other hand, 
 they made a captain-general of the sea, and sent him with a 
 great fleet to the coasts of Caramania, where, having arrived, 
 and after waging some minor battles with the enemy, he took 
 some castles which the Turks had occupied, giving them 
 over to the generals of the Caramanian prince.^ This chief, 
 for having given a passage to M. Caterino, was unexpectedly 
 attacked by the Turk, and deprived of his power ;- having 
 left several fortresses well garrisoned with men and muni- 
 tions, he fled to Ussun Cassano, by whom he was graciously 
 received, and given hopes of being reinstated, provided 
 those fortresses, which he said still held for him, remained 
 in his allegiance. But hope, which often disappoints the 
 desires of men, now disappointed the Caramanian; since the 
 captains who had charge of these strong places, corrupted 
 by Turkish gold, although with the dishonoured name of 
 traitors to their sovereign, gave up the fortresses in their 
 possession, to the enemy. Having made this acquisition, 
 Mahomet sent ambassadors from Constantinople to Persia, 
 to excuse himself to Ussun Cassano for what he had done, 
 and to confirm an honourable peace and friendship with him. 
 But very early on the day they were to have had an 
 audience of the king, M. Caterino entered his room, and 
 spoke to him with such convincing arguments, that, being 
 
 ' Peer Ahmed, who was afterwards defeated and killed in 1486 by 
 Bajazet II, for having aided his brother Zizini in his revolt. See Knolles, 
 Hist, of the Turks, p. 440. - See Angiolello, cap. 2. 
 
16 TRAVELS IX PERSIAj 
 
 backed up by Despiua aud by i^ity for tlie Caramanian 
 monarcli exiled from his home, and who, having come into 
 his presence, supphcated, and entreated him not to abandon 
 him in his adversitv, the ambassadors were dismissed with- 
 out ceremony. And having given immediate orders for war, 
 he put his army in readiness; and he himself having arrived 
 in greai haste at the city of Betilis,^ sent for M. Caterino, 
 and said that he wished him to come with him to his army 
 that he might see with what promptitude he had undertaken 
 the war, partly for his own sake and for the safety of the 
 kingdom of Persia, and partly incited by our Republic, and 
 by the recent injury done to the Caramanian lord, his friend 
 and ally, whom he could not desert, as he had thrown him- 
 self altogether into his hands. 
 
 These things M. Caterino heard with great delight, and 
 thanked him with many words for the affection he had for 
 our most illustrious Government, and joining one of his 
 captains, called Amarbei Giusultan Nichenizza, went to 
 make a muster of the king's warriors, who, as he writes in 
 a private letter, were one hundred thousand horse, reckon- 
 ing attendants, who accompanied their masters ; some of 
 them and their horses armed after the manner of Italy, and 
 some covered with strong, thick hides, able to save the 
 wearer from any heavy blow. Others were clothed in fine 
 silk with doublets quilted so thickly that they could not be 
 pierced by arrows. Others had gilt cuirasses and coats of 
 mail, with so many weapons of offence and defence, that it 
 was a marvel to behold how well and skilfully they bore 
 themselves in arms.- Their servants also were excellently 
 
 > BitlLs. See p. 8. 
 
 2 Kinneir, speaking of the Persian soldiery, says: — " AVhat is deno- 
 minated the standing army of the empire consists of the king's body- 
 guard, which amounts to about ten thousand men, and the Gholaums 
 or royal slaves, in number about three thousand. The former are a 
 kind of militia, which are obliged to have their habitations in the 
 capital or its vicinity, and are liable to be called out at a moment's M'arn- 
 
BY catj:rino zeno. 17 
 
 mounted, with cuirasses of polished iron and in place of 
 bucklers which our people use, they have round shields, 
 with which they cover themselves, and make use of the 
 keenest scimitars in battle ; the masters made a total of 
 
 ing : the latter are in constant attendance upon his majesty and more 
 feared and respected than any other troops in his service. But it is the 
 numbers and bravery of the wandering tribes v^'hich constitute the mili- 
 tary force of the Persian empire. When the sovereign is desirous of as- 
 sembling an army, the chiefs of the different tribes are commanded to 
 send to the royal camp a number of men proportionate to the power and 
 strength of his tribe : each town and village is also under the necessity 
 of furnishing its quota. The army thus assembled, is consequently en- 
 tirely irregular, chiefly consisting of cavalry; and, as they seldom receive 
 either clothing or pay, only kept together by the hope of plunder. The 
 present king, as an extreme effort, might probably in this manner be able 
 to collect together a force of a hundred and fifty thousand or perhaps two 
 hundred thousand men. To their cavalry, which is excellent, the rulers of 
 Persia have hitherto, with success, solely entrusted the defence of ^their 
 dominions. Their arms are a scimitar, a brace of pistols, a carabin, and 
 sometimes a lance, or a bow and arrow — all of which they alternately use, 
 at full speed, with the utmost skill and dexterity. The pistols are either 
 stuck in the girdle or in the holsters of the saddle ; the carabin or bow is 
 slung across the shoulder; and the lance, which is light and shafted with 
 bamboo, is wielded in the right hand. There is one great defect inherent 
 in the constitution of tlieir cavalry — a defect which cannot fail of proving 
 highly detrimental to its success in the field, and of repressing the natural 
 impetuosity and courage of the troops. His arms and horse in general be- 
 long not to the public, but to the individual ; his whole property is often 
 vested in these articles ; and, as he receives no compensation in the event 
 of losing them, his whole attention is naturally turned towards their pre- 
 servation. This single circumstance, as must be obvious, may often be 
 productive of the most disastrous consequences, and has, on more than one 
 occasion, proved fatal to the ho^iour and reputation of the Persian arms. 
 They are not so gaudy in the trappings of their horses as the Turks; their 
 saddles and bridles are more adapted for use than show ; and the Arabian 
 bit and stirrup were thrown aside by the orders of Nadir Shah for a plain 
 snafiie and light iron stirrup. The saddle also is much more light than 
 that in use among the Turks or Mamelukes, but somewhat too short in 
 the seat, and inconvenient to a person who has not been accustomed to 
 it. They ride with very short stirrups ; but have, notwithstanding, a 
 wonderful command over their horses, and can stop them in an instant 
 in the midst of their career. 'J'heir cavalry, like all irregular horse, are 
 incapable of acting in unison or of making any serious imjiression on 
 
18 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 forty thousand men, all brave soldiers, and their servants 
 sixty thousand, and finer cavalry were never seen in any 
 army : the men were tall and very muscular, and very dex- 
 terous in wielding their weapons, so that it is reported that 
 a small troop of them would have I'outed ever so great a 
 squadron of the enemy. The muster being completed, he 
 made fo'rced marches with the whole army towards the 
 country of the enemy, and with him went Pirameto,^ the 
 Caramanian chief, and all the king's sons who were valiant 
 young men. And M. Caterino, who also wished to be with 
 them, went to bid adieu to the Queen Despina; but the 
 army marched ahead with such speed that he could not re- 
 
 a body of troops disciplined in the European fashion : but, as their evo- 
 lutions and movements are extremely rapid and each individual is aware 
 of the part he ought to act, they are nearly as formidable when broken 
 and dispersed as when united. The Persian armies, as I have said before, 
 receive no regular pay, and are only kept together by the hope of plunder; 
 we therefore find, that it is considered as incumbent on the king to take 
 the field once a year, either against the Russians, Affghans, or Turko- 
 mans, his immediate neighbours. They knoAv nothing of the modern 
 science of war, being entirely ignorant of the principles of fortification 
 and of the arts of attack and defence. The field artillery is chiefly com- 
 posed of zumbarooks or small swivels, mounted on, and fired from, the 
 backs of camels. There are also small field-pieces attached to the army ; 
 but the roads on the frontier are but ill adapted for the transportation of 
 cannon, and as the carriages are of a miserable construction, they are 
 either broken by the rocks and precipices, or go "to pieces after firing a 
 few rounds. Another great defect in the organisation of the armies of 
 this country is the total want of good ofiicers, and therefore of a proper 
 degree of subordination. Without able and experienced men to direct 
 and command, and a regular system of payment, it is next to impossible 
 that an army can arrive at anything like perfection. There is no sepa- 
 ration of the civil from the military authorities. The troops are com- 
 manded by the chiefs of their own tribes, who are jealous of each other, 
 and therefore not likely to act in concert or yield that obedience so ab- 
 solutely necessary in military affairs. In the absence of the King and 
 Prince, the Grand Vizier is the general-in-chief ; and, as he is not un- 
 frequently raised to that dignity from offices entirely civil, the army may 
 be commanded by a man who has never witnessed an engagement." 
 1 Peer Ahmed. See p. 15. 
 
BY CATERING ZKKO. 19 
 
 join it, and therefore was much disgusted. Going on his 
 way with a squadron of five hundi'ed hoi'se he was attacked 
 in Giauas^ by the people of the country, who caused them 
 much loss ; thus, having lost many soldiers, and having 
 suffered several other inconveniences, he turned towards 
 Tocat, and led them at last to the city of Carpeto,^ where 
 he heard, to his great comfort, that Ussun Cassano was 
 soon to arrive. The Persian army entered Giauas in the 
 month of September, and carried fire and sword through 
 the country far and near, plundering and cutting people to 
 pieces, to the great terror of the inhabitants, so that every 
 one fled before this tempest. And passing Arsenga^ and 
 Tocat, he burnt the towns and villages everywhere with the 
 same fury, and assaulted and took Carle, which belonged to 
 the Caramanian. 
 
 Mustafa, the son of the Turk, who, with Acomat Pasha, 
 was in Lulla, a city of Caramania, being alarmed at this, 
 fled towards Cogno :* and removing his mother, sent her to 
 Saibcacarascar,^ four days' journey in the interior, towards 
 Constantinople. But the Persians coming towards Cogno, 
 the Turk wrote letters to his son that he should reti'eat, and 
 not rashly seek to come to blows with the enemy, because 
 any little victory would raise their courage, and make them 
 attempt anything. On account of these letters Mustafd, 
 who knew that his father was right, retired to Cuteia,^ where 
 he found Daut^ Pasha, Beglerbeg of Natolia, making great 
 assemblies of people of war. The Grand Turk then did not 
 
 ' Gerjamies, a district of Erzingan. 
 
 2 Kharput, in the Valley of Sophene, as it was called by the ancients. 
 See Travels of a Merchant. ^ Erzingan. See p. 7. 
 
 * Konieh (Iconium). Konieh, a city of Asia Minor, with a population 
 of thirty thousand, employed mostly in the manufacture of carpets ; it. 
 was a capital of the Seljook Sultans. 
 
 5 Ofium Kara Uissar, a town of fifty thousand inhabitants, two hun- 
 dred miles from Smyrna, where opium is raised in great quantities. 
 
 8 Kutaiuh. ' Daood. 
 
20 TRAVELS IN PERSIA. 
 
 think it right to linger lest his men, missing his presence, 
 might lose spirit and allow the enemy boldly to enter the 
 country and to capture the strongholds. On this account, 
 having passed into Asia with his whole court, he expected 
 soon to encounter Ussun Cassano with the Persian army. 
 But having heard from his spies that the disturbances in 
 those provinces arose from a captain of Ussun Cassano's, 
 who, with forty thousand horse, went plundering, burning, 
 and slaughtering, and who just then was marching towards 
 Bursia^ to burn it (the king having remained behind with 
 the rest of the army), the Turk despatched Mustafa with 
 sixty thousand of the best cavalry of the army, who moved 
 by forced marches towards the enemy, desirous of encounter- 
 ing them and of putting a stop to such devastation. The 
 Persian army being warned of this, commenced a retreat, 
 knowing themselves to be much inferior in number to the 
 enemy; and, as they were loaded with booty and made slow 
 progress, four thousand Turks who pursued at great speed 
 under Armaut,~ came up with them and at once attacked, 
 when the Persians, beginning to fight bravely, pressed them 
 hard, and routed them in a moment, and cut to pieces two 
 thousand Turks with their leader Armaut. Scarcely was 
 this action over when Mustafa arrived with the rest of his 
 men, who, closing in one squadron, attacked the Persians 
 fiercely ; while the latter, on their side, resisted not less 
 courageously. Both parties bore themselves bravely for 
 many hours, and it is thought that anyhow the victory would 
 have been on the side of the Persians, if they had not first 
 fought with those four thousand horse, since Mustafa, who 
 came up with fresh men, found them fatigued with that 
 battle and with the journey, and thus remained the con- 
 queror, although with great loss on his side.^ The number 
 
 ' Boorsa. - Amurath. 
 
 ' This, according to Knolles, was a Persian victory, Mustafa being 
 forced to fly. — History of the Turks, p. 410. Sec below, p. 25. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 21 
 
 of the slaiu is not given in the letters from which this his- 
 tory is taken ; it is only mentioned that Usufcan/ the gene- 
 ral of Ussun Cassano, was taken pinsoner by the Turks, and 
 that Pirameto/ the Caramaiiian Prince, fled and saved him- 
 self with a great part of the army. The whole of the suc- 
 ceeding winter the king and the Turk busied themselves in 
 making fresh preparations for war, that they might in the 
 spring again confront each other. 
 
 And Ussmi Cassano, in the beginning of the summer, 
 took the field with his army, and having captured some of 
 the spies of the Turk, commanded their hands to be cut off 
 and hung round their necks^ and that they should be sent 
 back to the Ottoman in this manner. 
 
 At this vei'y time arrived letters for M. Caterino, written 
 by M. Pietro Mocenigo, who was afterwards Doge, then 
 Captain-General of the Sea, and M. Giosafat Barbaro^ giving 
 him intelligence, both of the presents which onr most Illus- 
 trious Government was sending to the king, and of the arri- 
 val of the fleet on the coast of Caramania. And above all, 
 he heard with great satisfaction of the castles which they 
 had taken and restored to the generals of the Caramanian 
 Prince; these letters filled Ussun Cassano with such joy and 
 hope, that he ordered the news to be spread through the 
 whole arm3'-, and commanded as a greater token of affection 
 and honour towards our Republic, that at the sound of the 
 trumpet, and Zamblacare,* the Venetian name should be 
 lauded and saluted, and such was the din, that the noise 
 mig-ht be heard at several miles' distance. 
 
 The Turk also having made greater exertions than before, 
 passed into Asia, and shut himself up in Amasia, a city of 
 Cappadocia, which was the Sangiacato^ of his son Bajazet,'' 
 
 ' Yusuf Khan. ^ Peer Ahmed. 
 
 3 M. Josafat Barbaro's account of his travels is in Ramusio's Collection. 
 ^ Zuniburka. ^ Sanjak. 
 
 " Afterwards Bajazet II, reigned from 1481-1512. 
 
22 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 who too-ether with Mustafa, went with his father to this war, 
 Gieu/ his third son, remaining in Constantinople. And 
 since the difficulty of leading armies into Persia consists in 
 supplying provisions, it being the custom of the Persians to 
 desolate the country for fifteen or twenty days' journey on 
 the side on which they expect an invasion; so that, whoever, 
 in attacking Persia, does not go well provided with neces- 
 saries, either dies of hunger on the road, has to retire much 
 to his dishonour, or else becomes a prey to the enemy. Ma- 
 homet, who had deliberated well about this with his people, 
 after having made a good provision of victuals, divided all 
 his army into five columns. 
 
 The first he led in person, in which, with the corps of 
 Janissaries, were thirty thousand soldiers — the flower of the 
 Turkish nation, so to speak. 
 
 The second, of another thirty thousand, Bajazet com- 
 manded. 
 
 Mustafa led the third, also of thirty thousand, includ- 
 ing twelve thousand Wallachians, led by Basaraba, their 
 captain, who came to the aid of the Turks in this war. 
 
 The fourth was under Asmurat Palgeologus, a Turk, Beg- 
 lerbeg of Roumania, numbering sixty thousand men, among 
 whom were many of his Christian subjects. 
 
 The fifth was under Daut, Beglerbeg of Natolia, of forty 
 thousand men. There were besides, the Acangi,- volunteer 
 cavalry, with their chief, to the number of thirty thousand. 
 These traversed the country thirty, forty, and fifty miles be- 
 fore the Turkish armies, plundered, burnt, and slaughtered 
 whatever they found before them. They are most vahant in 
 person, and it is their dutj to bring provisions to the camp. 
 
 With this immense army the Turk started from Amasia, 
 
 ' The unfortunate Djim-Zizim, or Zemes, who, being defeated by 
 Bajazet in his struggle for empire, fled first to Egypt and then to Rhodes. 
 He was sent to Rome to the Pope Innocent VIII, but was poisoned at 
 the instigation of the infamous Alexander Borgia, who had been forced 
 to give him up to Charles VIII of France. ' Ikindjis. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 23 
 
 and having with him several large pieces of artillery, took 
 the road to Tocat in capital order, and leaving on the left 
 the town of Siuas^ on the river Lais,^ which flows from the 
 mountains of Trebizond, entered a low plain between that 
 city and Mount Taurus. On their way they found Nicheset/ 
 a very strong Persian castle, which they did not attack, in 
 order not to lose time on the way. Thus marching, they 
 had on the left the city of Coiliutai-,* situated among moun- 
 tains, and surrounded with villages ; descending the moun- 
 tain they halted near the city Carascar,^ famous for its mines. 
 The inhabitants of this place had all fled to the mountains; 
 therefore, without halting, the army proceeded to the city of 
 Argina,^ situated in a wide plain. Here they found in a 
 church a philosopher studying with many books around 
 him, and who,'' not ceasing to read, in spite of all the noise 
 and uproar they made, was cut to pieces by the Acangian® 
 horsemen. All the other people had fled beyond the Eu- 
 phrates. Having left this, the Turks passed the country 
 called Arsenga,^ which is Lesser Armenia, and approached 
 the Euphrates not far from Malatia,^° where, on eleven dro- 
 
 1 Siwas, sixty miles from Tokat on the Kizzil Irmak, with manufac- 
 tures of coarse woollen, etc. 
 
 2 River Iris, the present Kizzil Irmak. ^ Niksar. 
 
 * Koili Ilissar, according to Kiepert's Map on the Schonak or Owad- 
 mish Schai, which falls into the Yekyl Irmak. It is a little below Sheb- 
 ban Kara Hissar ; it is also called Koyunlu Hissar. 
 
 5 Shebban Kara Ilissar, still noted for its alum mines. The castle is 
 built on an isolated mountain about six hundred feet high and three 
 miles in circumference, and is of great natural strength ; it has the same 
 contrivance common to most of the old castles for the supply of water 
 during a siege, namely, a staircase excavated in the solid rock. It was 
 probably one of the treasure-cities of Mithridates mentioned by Strabo. 
 The ti-ade in alum has greatly diminished, as it is now exported to 
 Turkish provinces solely. 
 
 ^ Probably Egin on the Euphrates, on the route from Erzingan to 
 Malatia. See Angiolello, cap. 6. 
 
 ' Compare the death of Archimedes. 
 
 ^ Ikindjis. ^ Erzingan. See p. 7. 
 
 ^" Malatia, the ancient Melitene, near the Euphrates or Murad, in 
 lat. N. .30 dog. 2G min., long. E. 38 deg. 27 min. 
 
2 t TRAVELS m PERSIA. 
 
 medaries, there arrived before the sovereign the ambassa- 
 dors of the Soldan of Cairo to dehver an arrow with a letter 
 on its pointy to which an answer was soon given ; and they 
 having remounted their dromedaries departed^ getting over a 
 deal of ground in one day, the dromedary being so swift as 
 to travel without intermission further than any other animal. 
 And St. John Chrysostom, upon Matthew, explains the diffi- 
 cult passage as to how the Magians could have come from 
 the East to Judsea to worship Christ in such a short space 
 of time, as is mentioned in the Evangelist, by supposing 
 that they came upon dromedaries, which are said to be the 
 ftistest animals for a long journey. Leaving this place the 
 Turkish army marched along the banks of the river towards 
 the north-east, going up against the course of the stream, 
 when on the other bank Ussun Cassano presented himself 
 with the whole Persian army in array. 
 
 In this place the Euphrates, which is an immense river 
 with very high banks, forms many sandy islands ; so that 
 it is easy to ford it from one side to the other.^ 
 
 Ussun Cassano had a magnificent army of Lesdians who 
 ai'e Parthians, of Persians, Georgians, Kurds, and Tartars, 
 and the principal captains who led them were Unghermau- 
 met, Calul, and Ezeinel, his sons, and Pirameto, the Cara- 
 manian Prince.^ But, although his army was so large, he 
 nevertheless saw that of the Turk as immense, and occupy- 
 ing as large a space of ground, a thing which he had not at 
 first believed, from hearsay. He marvelled at it for a time, 
 and then all astonished, said : " Hai cabesen ne dentider,"^ 
 
 which in the Persian tongue signifies " Oh, son of a , 
 
 what an ocean"; comparing this immense army to a sea. 
 Then the Turk, who thought that by boldness he might 
 anticipate and check the forces of Ussun Cassano, com- 
 manded the Beglerbeg of Eoumania, Asmurat Palgeologus, to 
 
 1 This is only in the dry season, as there are no islands, only sandbanks. 
 f Peer Ahmed. ' See Augiolello, cap. 7. 
 
BY CATERFNO ZENO. 25 
 
 cross the river with his men and gain possession of the other 
 bank, wliich would be an evident defeat for Ussun Cassano 
 and his whole army ; and since Palgeologus was young and 
 bold, in order that his rashness might not cause some mis- 
 take, he joined to him Mahomet Pasha to direct him in any 
 emergency. 
 
 He led out an immense squadron to the sound of kettle- 
 drums and other mai"tial instruments, with banners flying, 
 descended into the bed of the river, and crossed from one 
 sand-bank to another. Then Ussun Cassano, irritated by 
 this bold proceeding, sent a powerful force of the flower of 
 his army into the river, where the Persians having joined 
 battle with the Turks, either party without yielding as much 
 as an inch of water or ground, fought bravely for more than 
 three hours continuously, while both armies stood on the 
 banks looking on and encouraging. At last, the Turks 
 being repulsed by the Persians with great loss, were routed 
 and driven from the sand-banks ; many were drowned in the 
 tumult, being carried away by the stream ; and the Persians 
 falling upon them persistently, caused a renewal of the bat- 
 tle more fiercely and cruelly than before ; since, in this re- 
 treat Paleeologus, carried away by the water, was nearly 
 drowned, and the Turks wishing to assist him made des- 
 perate head again, regardless of their lives.^ Thus the 
 assault was renewed so fiercely that no advantage could be 
 discerned on either side ; however, the Persians at last ob- 
 taining the victory, again broke the enemy, and beat them 
 back with great slaughter, Asmurat" remaining drowned in 
 the waters. 
 
 1 This battle took place near Malatia 1473. 
 
 * Knolles says that Mustafa, Mahomet the Second's eldest son, and 
 Amurath, Pasha of Roumania (the latter of whom was killed in the battle), 
 commanded the Turks when they were defeated in 1473. He also men- 
 tions another battle the next year in which Mahomet was present in per- 
 son and was defeated, one of his great Pashas being killed. Perhaps 
 two battles were made out of this one, or more probably the battle pre- 
 viously mentioned (p. 20) was a Persian victory. 
 
26 TRAVELS IN PEKSIA, 
 
 Mahomet Pasha, who was in array on a neighbouring 
 sand-bankj seeing this, adroitly withdrew to the bank, where, 
 on the an-ival of the Persians pursuing the enemy, he a third 
 time made head, and valorously sustained the Persian as- 
 sault ; and there would have been fiercer fighting than ever 
 if the night had not come on and separated the combatants. 
 
 And there is an opinion that the closing in of the day 
 robbed Ussun Cassauo of a great victory ; as, if Mahomet 
 Pasha had been beaten, the Persians, to their great honour, 
 would have made themselves masters of the other bank; and, 
 as the Turk in the elevated country could not use his artillery 
 or occupy an open space of ground with his cavalry, he would 
 certainly have become a prey to the enemy ; since, in the 
 passage of arms in the river not more than five hundred 
 Persians were killed, and from the Turkish army there were 
 fifteen thousand missing in killed and drowned, and num- 
 berless prisoners. 
 
 On this account the Turk, harassed by a thousand conjec- 
 tures, kept his army under arms all the night, fearing an 
 attack. The next day he gave an extra donation to all the 
 troops, liberated the slaves on' the condition that they should 
 return with the camp to Constantinople, and having arrayed 
 the army, marched up the river, leaving it near the city of 
 Braibret,^ which he left on his right hand, across the moun- 
 tains which separate Greater and Lesser Armenia, which 
 road was towards the north-west in the direction of Trebi- 
 zond. 
 
 The Turks being defeated at the fords of the Euphrates 
 in the manner I have described, Ussun Cassano was incited 
 by his sons and by the whole army to follow on, so as not 
 to lose the fruits of so great a victory; since the Persians, 
 who had proved the force of the enemy, despised them, and 
 expected to come off victorious in every encounter. There- 
 
 ' Baiboort, on the river Turak or Delchoroch Su, which flows into the 
 Euxiiienear Batoum. It is situated nearly flue nortli of Erzingan. 
 
T3Y CATEKINO ZENO. 27 
 
 fore, the king followed the Turks on the other bank, to see 
 what was their design; but when the Persians saw that they 
 kept away from the Euphrates, they called on Ussun Cassano 
 with great importunity, to cross the river, as they plainly 
 saw the Turk was in flight. He gave way to this, although 
 against his will (as, being a clever, practical, and veteran 
 soldier, he remembered that noble precept of military 
 science, " that one ought to pave the i-oads with gold and 
 make bridges of silver for a flying enemy"), and acceded 
 to the Vv'ishes of his men, to see how so much ardour and 
 longing for battle would succeed. Thus, having chosen 
 forty thousand of his most skilful and daring soldiers, he 
 crossed the Euphrates, and began, with forced marches, to 
 pursue the hostile army, having left Calul, his eldest son, on 
 the other side of the river with all the Georgians, Tartars, 
 and many other soldiers in charge of the baggage. By the 
 end of August he reached the top of some mountains, from 
 the summits of which he saw the Turkish, army in the valley 
 leading in the direction of Trebizond. Thinking, from his 
 recent victory, that he could easily overcome them and put 
 them to flight, he arrayed himself for battle. 
 
 The Turks, seeing the road closed to them, and knowing 
 that they must either open it sword in hand or, to their 
 great disgrace, be routed and cut to pieces, as happens 
 when inspired by desperation, made a virtue of necessity, 
 and also arrayed themselves with great ardour for the battle.^ 
 The Turk then having left Ustrefo with a considerable gar- 
 rison in charge of his camp, set out to scale the mountain 
 on another side, which was not occupied by the Persian 
 troops. Ussun Cassano, seeing them leave the camp, sent 
 Unghermaumet, his son, with a squadron of ten thousand 
 cavalry to oppose Ustrefo, and to cut off all hope of safety 
 from the Turk. And having made three other large divi- 
 sions, he gave the riglit wing to Pirameto,^ the Carainanian 
 1 The battle of Tubeada. * Peer Ahmed, 
 
28 TRAVELS IX PERSIA, 
 
 Priuce, and the left to Ezeinel, his son, commanding in per- 
 son the centre with all the infantry, which was in magnifi- 
 cent condition. And the battle having begun at the four- 
 teenth hour, the action lasted eight hours continuously, the 
 Persians resisting that great army with such valour, that 
 their personal prowess was wonderful to see; and if Mustafa, 
 the son of the Turk, had not attacked with a fresh squadron 
 the right flank of the Caramanian, the victory would have 
 remained uncertain still longer ; as, when the Caramanian 
 gave way before the fresh assault of Mustafa, everything 
 was thrown into confusion in that quarter.^ Thus it was, 
 that in his retreat he disordered the flank of the line of 
 battle of Ussun Cassano, who, on account of the confusion of 
 his troops and the attack of the enemy in front, saw himself 
 so pressed that he was afraid of being surrounded. There- 
 fore, seized with no small fear on account of the uncertainty 
 of affairs, he jumped off his horse and mounted a swift mare, 
 which he always kept ready for such emergencies ; and see- 
 ing himself pressed more and more every hour and driven 
 in on the right wing, he turned round and fled. His son 
 Ezeinel seeing this, threw himself with great courage into 
 the midst of the infantry and endeavoured to make head, so 
 that the whole army might not be routed by one charge of 
 the enemy ; but, however much this gallant young man 
 might sustain the fury of the Turks, being at length killed 
 by them, the Persians were routed and put to flight. Un- 
 ghermaumet, who had gone to attack the camp of the Turks 
 guarded by Ustrefo, met with great resistance, but never- 
 theless hoped to have taken it in time ; but, seeing the rout 
 of his father, withdrew little by little, and was in great dan- 
 ger of being made prisoner ; since, before his retreat, the 
 Turks had occupied all the plain. However, by making 
 great exertions, he escaped and rejoined his father. The 
 
 ' Knolles says that the Turkish artillery did great mischief to the 
 Persians, as in the battle of Schalderan. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 29 
 
 latter not considering himself safe in his camp, which was 
 ten miles distant from the field of battle, crossed the Eu- 
 phrates, and retired with the rest of his men to the interior of 
 his country. This fight took place in the year 1473, in which 
 ten thousand Persians and fourteen thousand Turks fell. 
 
 Mahomet, thus remaining conqueror, decided to follow up 
 this good fortune, and in the course of war to make himself 
 master of some place of the enemy's. Therefore, having 
 mustered his army, he marched a second time towards the 
 city of Baibret,^ and the Acangi^ who preceded him were cut 
 to pieces by the people of the country in great numbers. 
 After this feat the inhabitants, warned by scouts, that the 
 Turk was marching up in haste with the rest of his army, 
 fled to the mountains, having, so to speak, given vent to 
 their fury on their enemies. The Turks having arrived at 
 the ford of tlie river Euphrates, where the first battle had 
 taken place, crossed without any resistance, the Acangi 
 still in advance. 
 
 Then mai'ching towards Erseagan,^ they found the coun- 
 try and towns everywhere abandoned ; and four days after 
 they reached Carascar,'* a fortress posted on the top of a 
 mountain ; the Turks preparing to attack it, dragged some 
 pieces of artillery up another mountain^ which commanded 
 the fortress, and thence bombarded it fifteen days continu- 
 ously. At last a captain named Darap, a vassal of Ezeimel, 
 the son of Ussun Cassano, who was in command, hearing 
 of the death of his master, surrendered it. From Carascar, 
 the army marched to Coliasar,^ a city which, not wishing 
 to essay its strength against so daring an enemy, also 
 
 1 Baiboort. See p. 5. ^ Ikiudjis. 
 
 ' Erzingan. ■■ Shebban Kara Hissar. See p. 23. 
 
 ^ After crossing the river the Turkish army evidently began to retreat 
 to their own country. "Why they went near Malatia is not very evident. 
 
 ^ Koili Hissar. See p. 23. According to Angiolello, it was near 
 Erzingan that the Turks reached the Euphrates, and only the Acangi 
 crossed on a foraging expedition, which is much more probable. 
 
30 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 yielded. At that time news came to the Turk that Ussun 
 Cassano was restoring his army with the design of driving, 
 if possible, the enemy out of the country, and on this account 
 he did not think it right to advance further, that he might 
 not run into dangers from which he might not afterwards 
 be able to extricate himself. Then, having faced about, he 
 returned in great haste to Sevas, and thenco to Tocat,^ 
 where was the ambassador of the King of Hungary, whom ho 
 had cajoled with many dissembling words in this way, say- 
 ing to him that he wished first to free himself from the war 
 with Persia, and that he would then conclude a peace with 
 his king who was in treaty for one. All this he did with 
 the object in this crisis not to be molested by the Hungarian 
 arms. But after his victory he dismissed him without any 
 conclusion of the affair, by which artifice the Hungarian 
 king was deceived, to his great hurt and to that of all 
 Christendom ; as there is little reason to doubt that if he 
 had availed himself of this opportunity, he wonld^ even with 
 very small forces, have driven the Turks from Greece, and 
 also have terrified the whole of Asia, 
 
 And the Persian war having been concluded in the man- 
 ner narrated above, the Turk returned in great triumph to 
 Constantinople, leaving MustaftY in his Sangiacato,^ where 
 he soon afterwards died. And Acoraat^ Pasha went with a 
 large army towards Laranto, a city of the Caramanian mo- 
 narch, situated near Mount Taurus, where, pretending to 
 have peaceable intentions towards the inhabitants^, he gradu- 
 ally gained over the chiefs by inviting now this one and now 
 that, with courtesy and familiarity, to eat with him. By 
 using these arts for some time, so as to rid them of all sus- 
 picion of him and of the army, he fixed a certain day for his 
 departure, before which he made a solemn feast for all these 
 
 ' Tocat, fifty-six miles from Sivas, with a population of forty thousand, 
 and a very extensive trade. 
 
 - Sanjak. ^ Achmet. 
 
BY CATERINO ZENO. 31 
 
 lords, who, while they were eating and drinking merrily 
 with him, were made prisoners by some of his men told off 
 for the purpose, and strangled in some secret places ; then, 
 having entered the mountainous country without difficulty, 
 he took away the p'eople and sent them to Greece, putting 
 others in their stead to inhabit the country. While these 
 things came to pass in the Caramanian dominions, Ussun 
 Cassano, who had had in a short space of time, first the 
 best fortune and then the most adverse he had ever expe- 
 rienced, found himself in great distress of mind on account 
 of his recent defeat ; as the reputation of being invincible, 
 which he had acquired in so many wars, seemed to disappear 
 at one blow. For this reason, having at his court two am- 
 bassadors — one a Pole and the other an Hungarian — he dis- 
 missed them both, that they might not witness his misery, 
 and, by so. doing, increase it.i | 
 
 And as his greatest hope was in the Christian princes, and 
 as he saw that they had the same interests as himself, he 
 despatched M. Caterino with letters written to all the kings 
 of Europe, to beg assistance of them, urging the danger 
 that both parties ran, and that he had taken up arms 
 against the Ottoman, principally at the instigation of our 
 Republic and the other Christian powers. 
 
 And thus all these ambassadors, setting out in company 
 from the king, passed into Gorgora; and M. Caterino having 
 left the other two to continue their journey, arrived at Sal- 
 vatopolo on the Greater Sea, whence he crossed to Cafa^ in 
 a ship of Lugi da Pozzo, a Genoese ; who, having heard on 
 the voyage that he was ambassador to Ussun Cassano, wished 
 to take him to Constantinople to the Turks, as Cafa obeyed 
 
 1 It seems that the other Christian princes were not altogether so blind 
 to the advantages of a Persian alliance as the Venetian writer would 
 have us think. 
 
 2 Caffa, anciently called Theodosia, situated in the Crimea, and then 
 belonging to the Genoese, was a rich and busy port. It was subdued, 
 with the rest of the Crimea, by Achmet Pasha in 1470. 
 
32 TRAVELS IN PERSIA. 
 
 the latter and paid tribute. Therefore, they sent a procla- 
 mation under severe penalties, that no one should lodge, re- 
 ceive, or assist him in any way. However, Andrea Scara- 
 nelli, an honest citizen of our Republic, without thinking of 
 the penalties he would incur, esteeming the favour of our 
 Government more than life or fortune, came alongside the 
 ship secretly by night in a boat, and having told him where- 
 fore he was come, took him off and brought him safely to 
 land, hiding him in his house. M. Caterino not finding any 
 money here was in great difiiculty about his affairs, when a 
 servant of his, named Martin, persuaded him with many 
 words to sell him by auction, and to use the money. M. 
 Caterino, although he admired the peculiar liberality and 
 fidelity of Martin, still pressed by the want in which he found 
 himself, had him sold, as he proposed, by auction, making use 
 of the money he got for the sale : a rare example of a faith- 
 ful servant, and worthy of being compared with any other in 
 ancient times, when they say there were such devoted ser- 
 vants, that they would offer to be killed to save the lives of 
 their masters. Nor did our Republic fail to I'ecognise such 
 a service done to so worthy a citizen, as, in addition to his 
 ransom, they gave hitn a pension, on which he lived: an ex- 
 ample for others to see of what value it is to serve the State 
 faithfully. 
 
 From Cafa M. Caterino wrote letters to the most Illus- 
 trious Government, narrating in them all the events of the 
 two recent battles, and how Ussun Cassano had despatched 
 him with secret commissions to all the kings of Europe, to 
 incite them to wage war with spirit against the common- 
 enemy, as he intended in the beginning of spring to take 
 the field with all the forces of Persia, and to try afresh 
 the fortune of battle. These letters were most accept- 
 able to the Government on account of their news, none of 
 which had yet reached them from any other source. But, 
 hearing that M. Giosafat Barbaro had not yet arrived in 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 33 
 
 Persia, according to the commission lie received when lie 
 accepted the embassy, they did not think it was consistent 
 with their dignity to leave a most friendly king, and one 
 most constant to "his word, without an ambassador, now 
 that M, Caterino had left him. For this reason, on the 10th 
 September, in the year 1473, the Senate elected M. Ambro- 
 sio Contarini as ambassador to Persia, who set out on the 
 13th of February, as is narrated in his travels. This man, 
 also going through Germany and Poland on the way to Cafa, 
 at last crossed into Persia, where he found M. Giosafat Bar- 
 baro ah^eady arrived, but was not very well received by the 
 king, — perhaps, because he had found in our other rulers 
 promises and words enough, but few deeds. Our Republic 
 had always kept inviolate all it had promised him, and was 
 again most ready to join him in the same risks. Perhaps, 
 also, because he found his soldiery inferior in strength to 
 the Turkish, as it was not paid, but served the king in war 
 when called out.^ For this reason, he dismissed him with 
 general words of being willing at some future time to wage 
 war against the enemy; and, on his refusing to return, saying 
 that that was not his commission from the Republic, com- 
 pelled him by force to leave with another ambassador — the 
 Duke of Burgundy's ; and, M. Ambrosio being indignant 
 with this king, on account of this slight, tried with many 
 words to lower his I'eputation. M. Caterino, in the mean- 
 while, with the aid of S. Michele Aman, after having suffered 
 many fatigues and gone through many great dangers, went 
 to Poland, and found the King Casimir^ waging a desperate 
 war with the Hungarian king. Notwithstanding this, M. 
 Caterino announced his mission from Ussun Cassano, and 
 entreated him, in consideration of the great danger to 
 Christendom, if after the conquest of the mighty sovereigns 
 
 ^ See note, p. 16. 
 
 2 Casimir IV reigned from 1447 to 1492. He defeated the Teutonic 
 knights and also the Hungarians. 
 
34 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 of the East, Mahomet were to turn his arms towards the 
 West, to make an alliance with this king, and to harass the 
 enemy on his side, as he also would do on the East. 
 
 The king heard him graciously, and repHed that, on ac- 
 count of the war with Hungary, he could not fight against 
 the Turks with whom he was in league. M. Caterino per- 
 ceiving from this answer the disposition of this monarch, and 
 that he would not be able to get either ambassadors or a 
 letter written to Ussun Cassano, exhorted him in a long 
 speech to make peace with the Hungarians, saying that 
 since he would not make war on the Turks, at least he 
 ought not to be the reason of Hungary's not doing her 
 duty by Christendom in this crisis, as she had been accus- 
 tomed to do in so many other wars with the very same 
 enemy ; and so efficacious were his words, that Casimir 
 having given an audience to the Hungarian ambassadors 
 concluded and ratified a peace in three days. 
 
 While M. Caterino was in Poland he found M. Paolo Og- 
 nibene, who was going as Nuncio from our most Illustrious 
 Government to Ussun Cassano, and gave him letters written 
 to the king, full of encouragement and warm words, exhort- 
 ing him to persevere boldly in the war he had begun, as, then 
 at any rate, he would be seconded by the Christian princes, 
 when they saw him really begin to act against the Ottoman; 
 and that he himself would not fail by importunity, and all 
 the pains in his power, to express all his commissions to the 
 Europeans from him. With these letters he also wrote in 
 the same tenor to the King of Gorgora and to Melico, King 
 of Mingrelia ; and having bidden Ognibene God speed, he 
 set out for Hungary. Being honourably received there by 
 the King Matthias Corvinus,^ who was the most illustrious 
 sovereign in arms and learning, not only of the Hungarians, 
 but also of all the kings of Christendom, he discoursed 
 
 1 Matthias Corvinus, son of the Great Huniades, the champion of 
 Christendom against the Turks, reigned from 1458 to 1490. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 35 
 
 to him so powerfully about the commissions he had from 
 Ussun Cassano, that the king, who was of himself much in- 
 clined to go to war with the Turks, promised that he would 
 never fail a king who deserved so much from the Christian 
 commonwealth. Then, having conversed more intimately 
 with M. Caterino, and having recognised his valour and vir- 
 tue, he dubbed him knight with many honours, as may be 
 seen in the special grant made at Buda on the 20th April, 
 1474, in which are related all his works and exertions in 
 this enterprise. 
 
 M. Caterino left Hungary and came to Venice, where, as 
 he had been in such distant regions, and as no Venetian in 
 the memory of man had been a longer or more memorable 
 journey in the service of his country, he was received by all 
 the nobility and people with great acclamations, and his re- 
 lations in particular looked upon him as a god come down 
 from heaven. The Senate having afterwards heard the 
 commissions of Ussun Cassano and the goodwill he had to- 
 wards our Republic, elected four ambassadors to the Pope 
 and the King of Naples, and sent -with them M. Caterino as 
 ambassador of the King of Persia, who was to take pre- 
 cedence of the others. They were despatched by the Senate 
 on the 22nd of August, in the year one thousand four hun- 
 dred and seventy-four. These embassies, however, produced 
 no good effect, since, at that time, on account of the bitter 
 discords existing among our princes, it seemed that a certain 
 fatal jealousy prevented them from taking up arms with so 
 great and valorous a king, and one who, moreover, had just 
 exposed himself and his kingdom to the sport of Fortune, 
 in order to show that he had this enterprise at heart against 
 an enemy, who evidently aspired to make himself master 
 of the world. 
 
 And before the departure of these ambassadors they wrote 
 to M. Giosafat Barbaro, who was in Cyprus, that he should 
 proceed to Ussun Cassano and not render his mission use- 
 
36 TRAVELS IN PEKSIA^ 
 
 less, as he had spent so long a time between Venice and the 
 coast of Caramania (since, having been elected in the Senate 
 on the 5th of January, 1471, he set out after having received 
 this letter, which was written on the last day of January, 
 1473). Wherefore, having laid aside all care for his life, he 
 at last set out for his destination to serve his country, and 
 thus after having gone through many dangers he arrived at 
 Tauris in the presence of Ussun Cassano, as he relates in his 
 travels, in the year one thousand four hundred and seventy- 
 four, where he was welcomed and favourably received by that 
 sovereign. And this same M. Giosafat writes that he found 
 him in the height of his grandeur and reputation, as at that 
 time the Indian ambassadors, who were accustomed every 
 year to bring certain gifts in sign of subjection, were received 
 with the greatest pomp. But the war which broke out be- 
 tween him and Unghermaumet, his valiant son, was the oc- 
 casion of taking from him all his reputation and of blunting 
 the forces of his mind, which till that time had been con- 
 sidered invincible ; so that on account of the grief he felt 
 for the rebellion of so gallant a son, and one so famous for 
 his prowess in Asia and Europe, he had to give up all the 
 duties of a king, and more particulai'ly to cast away all 
 thought of the enterprise against the Ottoman. 
 
 The reason of this war between father and son was, that 
 the Kurds, people of the mountains, being envious of Ussun 
 Cassano and the grandeur of the Persian kingdom, in order 
 to sovv^ the seeds of discord in the midst of peace in that 
 realm, spread a report around that Ussun Cassano was dead, 
 to which rumour Unghermaumet gave ear readily, as after 
 the death of his father he aspired to the throne of Persia. 
 Thus, having collected the army his fatlier had given him 
 to guard Bagadet,^ which was formerly Babylonia, and all 
 the country of Biarbera,^ he immediately seized Seras,^ a city 
 on the confines of Persia, gaining over almost all the Kurds 
 ' Bagdad. - Diarbukr. ^ Shiraz. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 37 
 
 to his party, as they, when they heard that Uughermaumet 
 had made himself master of Seras, caine together in great 
 numbers and traversed and plundered the country up to 
 Tauris. Hence Ussun Cassano took tlie field with the "porta", 
 that iSj the standing army, which he always kept as a guard 
 about his person, and marched in great haste towards Seras. 
 Uughermaumet being terrified at this, as he had already 
 discovered tlie falsehood of the Kurds, and that his credulity 
 had made him rashly endeavour, by force of arms, to com- 
 plete a matter of sucli importance, left the territory, and by 
 means of some chiefs, friendly both to him and to his father, 
 tried to obtain forgiveness from him for his fault; but, hear- 
 ing that Ussun Cassano was coming with, a mind embittered 
 against liim, he considered that he had made a mistake, and 
 therefore became apprehensive of being betrayed and losing 
 his life. And his imagination coloured it so highly, that 
 without even confronting the troops of his father, he fled, 
 and reached the country of the Ottoman on the frontiers of 
 the Sangiacato^ of Bajazet, son of the Grand Turk, from whom 
 with the consent of the latter, he obtained a safe conduct 
 to allow him to seek an asylum under Turkish protection ; 
 and haviug sent his wife and sons to Amasia,^ to give more 
 assurance to Bajazet, he also rode in his direction, and was 
 welcomed and greatly honoured by that prince. And since 
 this gallant young man could not endure being thus, so to 
 speak, deserted by fortune, desirous of trying his chance 
 (which, as is said, often changes about from troublous to the 
 most prosperous, provided one does not fail in duty to one- 
 self), he passed on to Constantinople to incite, if possible, 
 Mahomet, the Grand Turk, to give him some assistance, and 
 was received with the greatest demonstrations of love and 
 
 1 Sanjak. 
 
 2 Amasia, the birthplace of Strabo and ]Mithiidates, is now au im- 
 portant town with thirty thousand inhabitants and great trade in silk, 
 situated on the Yekyl Irinak. 
 
38 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 many promises, as Mahomet was a mau of valour, and ad- 
 mired nobleness and bravery in illustrious men more than 
 any of his predecessors among the Ottoman princes. Nor 
 were his deeds less than his words, since Mahomet, wishino- 
 to take away Ussun Cassano^s fame and reputation, and to 
 gain such a friend that for the future the Persian arms 
 might not oppose him in his full career of conquest, thought 
 that he would do much for his advantage by assisting Ung- 
 hermaumet in this enterprise, and by these discords between 
 father and son exhaust the force of Persia, in order that in 
 later times, either he or his descendants might subdue that 
 country. 
 
 Unghermaumet having obtained these Turkish auxiliaries, 
 entered the province of Sanga, on the confines of Persia, 
 and thence damaged the country of his father by frequent 
 inroads ; the latter, although he sent several bands of 
 cavalry and infantry to those frontiers to repulse his son 
 who was thus at war with him, did not seem to wish to re- 
 venge himself for so many injuries, as both in public and in 
 private he gave out that he felt such grief on this account, 
 and so after a little feigned to have fallen ill, and gradually 
 retiring with those he had most faith in, either on account 
 of benefits he had done them or otherwise, caused it to 
 be rumoured in Persia and Turkey that he was very ill, and 
 at last published abroad his death through the same people. 
 Hence letters and messages were quickly sent to Ungher- 
 maumet, furnishing him with information of the death of 
 his father and the requests of the principal nobles of the 
 kingdom to come in haste in order that his other brothers, 
 namely, Calul and Giacuppo,^ might not by chance take away 
 his kingdom, which of right belonged to him, on account of 
 his great valour, rather than to them ; and, in order to hide 
 the deceit better, they celebrated the obsequies of the dead 
 king with great pomp in the city. 
 
 ' Yakoob, who succeeded Ussun Cassano in 1478. 
 
BY CATERING 2lEN0. 39 
 
 Tlius the unfortunate Unghermaumet^ who was led by his 
 fate by the hair of his head to die^ not recollecting that his 
 too great credulity had already driven him from his home 
 and exiled him to seek assistance from his enemies who 
 favoured him outwardly^ in order to gain a better oppor- 
 tunity for themselves to pi'ofit by his still lower fallj gave 
 full credence to the matter^ and having given the messages 
 brought to him in charge to some of his people set out for 
 Persia in such haste that in a few days he reached Tauris. 
 Here, having sought out those who had written to him of 
 the death of his father and given him hopes of gaining the 
 kingdom, he was conducted by them to where his father 
 was with such secrecy, that the unhappy wretch did not dis- 
 cover it till he found himself face to face with him ; and 
 being then received with severe words and threats, he was 
 put in prison, and soon afterwards murdered. This was the 
 end of Unghermaumet who, on account of his great courage, 
 was always called by the Persians "The Valiant": a man with- 
 out doubt most excellent in arms and worthy of his father's 
 kingdom, if, attracted by the lust of power, he had not been 
 so hasty of belief; as, if he had lived longer, the kingdom 
 of Persia would have gained greatly in glory from him, and 
 would have risen to greater fame than it afterwards did 
 under Ismail, his nephew ; nor after his death was Persia 
 again molested by the Turks ; nor did Ussun Cassano do 
 anything remarkable until his decease. 
 
 And M. Caterino, also, after he had completed all the 
 missions he had undertaken by the command of Ussun Cas- 
 sano and of our Republic returned to Venice so well thought 
 of and welcomed by all the nobles as well as people, that 
 on account of the universal favour he was held in, all turned 
 their eyes towards him, beholding a man who, through great 
 dangers, had compassed not only Europe, but also a great 
 pai't of Asia. And, as an example of the favour he was held 
 in, at his election to the Council of Ten, what is most singu- 
 
40 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 lar and a great honour in our Eepublic, he had only seven- 
 teen adverse votes in the great Council. But what is still 
 more extraordinary is, that v.-lien he used to walk in the 
 street, so many persons ran together to see him, that he 
 could hardly proceed. 
 
 And thus it is true what is said, that the path of glory 
 is narrow and difficult, and like Hercules^ mentioned by 
 Xenophon, who chose rather to become famous through 
 great trials, than live at ease without a name in the world, 
 the good M. Caterino, to serve his country, and to gain an 
 honourable fame, never thought of dangers and difficulties ; 
 whence one may for certain conclude that sham honours 
 paid by the common people are but dust and ashes in com- 
 parison with those meritoriously gained by a man's own 
 exertions. 
 
 1 It was Achilles, not Hercules, who is said to have preferred a short 
 and famous career to a long life of inglorious ease. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST BOOK. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 41 
 
 SECOND BOOK. 
 
 Knowing well how universally people enjoy novelty in things, 
 and above all, how acceptable an account of the deeds of 
 illustrious kings is to those who are versed in history, I 
 have thought fit to add to the above narration a short 
 account of the other Persian wars which took place after 
 the death of Ussun Cassano. From these few particulars 
 they may see what wonderful things might be written about 
 these kings if, in addition to civilisation in manners and 
 valour in arms, they had a literature^ to collect an account 
 of their actions and hand them down to the admiration of 
 posterity. And the kings of the East have no other thing 
 to complain of, but that neither study nor polite literatui'e 
 flourished among them, as, if the love of learning were joined 
 to that of military glory, the one would support the other, 
 and their fame become greater than that of our kings. Since, 
 in the same way that fine subjects draw out powers of com- 
 position, a fine writer will often enable lofty subjects to 
 shine forth and to become models of splendour even among 
 more illustrious ones. 
 
 Coming at length to the task I have prescribed for my- 
 self, I say that after the death of Unghermaumet, Ussun 
 Cassano survived but a short time, and died on the eve of 
 Epiphany in the year one thousand four hundred and seventy- 
 eiffht, leaving: four sons, three born from one mother, and 
 one from Despina Caton," the daughter of the Emperor of 
 
 1 Persian literature at that time was in a most flourishing condition, 
 the age comprising some of the most illustrious names in their annals. 
 Vide p. 2. 
 
 2 Caton-Khatoon, meaning " Madam" or " Lady", and so "Queen." 
 Despina, Aco-Trod/a, means the same thing. 
 
42 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 Trebizond/ which son on the very night of his father's death 
 was killed by his three brothers. Between these three the 
 desire of reigning they each had, produced great rivahy 
 and hatred, so that the second assassinated his elder 
 brother,- and reigned alone, being named Giacuppo Chior- 
 zeinal.^ 
 
 Despina had already been separated from her husband, 
 and lived on the confines of Riarbera, in the city of Caval- 
 leria,* where she died, and was buried in the town in the 
 Church of St. George,^ where even to this day her sepulchre^ 
 is greatly honoured. Ussun Cassano had three daughters 
 by her: the first, named Marta, was married to Secheaidare,''' 
 Ruler of Arduil,^ a town towards the north-east, thi'ee days' 
 journey distant from Tauris. This chief was the head of the 
 faction of the " Cacarineri"^ (black sheep), which is the Sufi 
 party, very powerful by the number of its partizans,^^ and the 
 new doctrine, the whole of Persia being divided into two 
 factions, one of which is called the White Cacari,^^ and the 
 other the Black Cacari, which are like what the Guelphs and 
 Ghibellines, the Bianchi and Neri used to be in Italy. And 
 the other two daughters lived with their mother with great 
 riches, and after her death still dwelt in Cavalleria; but 
 hearing of the death of their father, and how cruelly their 
 half-brothers had killed their full brother, fearing what 
 might happen to them also, they collected their jewels and 
 other valuables, and fled to Aleppo and thence to Damascus. 
 
 1 Calo Johannes. See p. 9. ^ Calul. ^ Yakoob. 
 
 * From what appears in the other books this must be meant for Carti- 
 biert Kharput, in the province of Diarbekr. See Angiolello, cap. 1. 
 
 = See Travels of a Merchant, cap. 3. 
 
 8 She was buried in the town of Diarbekr. 
 
 ' Sheikh Hyder. 
 
 8 Ardebil, where are the tombs of Sheikh Hyder and Shah Ismael 
 Sufi, is situated in the plain of Mogam. It has now entirely decHned from 
 its former importance. * Kara Koyun. 
 
 lo This was not the case, as the Suffavcan family did not belong to 
 either of the Toorkman tribes. '> Ak Koyun. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 43 
 
 In this place one of them was living in the year one thousand 
 five hundred and twelve, and saw M. Caterino, son of M. 
 Pietro, the son of the M. Caterino who had been ambassador 
 in Persia, which young merchant was then trading in Da- 
 mascus, and having recognised him as a relation, she re- 
 ceived him with the greatest demonstrations of love, and 
 wishing to return to Persia, as she had heard of the good 
 fortune of Ismail, her nephew, who had possessed himself 
 of the kingdom of Persia, she endeavoured to take him with 
 her, promising him great things and certain rank. But M. 
 Caterino, who was restrained by the love of his country and 
 further by affection for his relations, thanked her for her 
 goodwill and kindness of disposition, but remained, excusing 
 his not going on account of the importance of his affairs, 
 and the affection he bore to his native country. 
 
 This Giacuppo, who had slain his elder brother, reigned a 
 long time, and at last, as they say, was killed by an intrigue 
 of his wife, who was not a very virtuous woman. After him 
 Allamur,^ his son, reigned, who, besides Persia, possessed 
 Diarbec, and part of Greater Armenia, near the Euphrates ; 
 in his time the faction of the Black Cacari- was held in such 
 credit, through Secheaidare, that the other of the White 
 Cacari declined altogether. Secheaidare was a Saint or 
 Master or Prophet,^ as we should call him, who, by preach- 
 ing a new Dogma in the Mahometan creed, that AH was 
 superior to Omar, obtained many disciples and people who 
 favoured his doctrine. So great was his success, that at 
 this time he was considered by all a Saint, and a man almost 
 divine. He had by Marta, the daughter of Despina, and of 
 Ussun Cassano, six children: three sons and three daughters; 
 
 ' Also called Alumut or Eluanbeg ; he was not left in undisturbed 
 possession of the throne, as his brother Morad Khan disputed it with 
 him, and established himself in Babylonia and Fars. 
 
 * Kara Koinloo. See previous page. 
 
 ^ Follower of Ali, Alanee. 
 
4i TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 and, althougli his wife was tlie daughter of a Christian lady, 
 he nevertheless remained an enemy to our faith ; as, having 
 made himself captain^ of a foraging party, he made frequent 
 hostile inroads as far as Circassia, plundering everywhere 
 and bringing back an immense number of slaves into Persia 
 to Arduil/ his city. These incursions, in addition to the 
 advantages he reaped from his booty, raised his reputation 
 so high, that he soon had the support of all the chiefs of his 
 faction, and having raised a large army marched on another 
 similar invasion of Circassia, and passing Sumachi^ in eight 
 days^ journey from Arduil, arrived at Berbento,* which is 
 five days distant from Sumachi, having with him a force of 
 between five and six thousand men, all warriors and brave, 
 well-trained soldiers. Berbento is a city which was built in 
 the passes of the Caspian Mountains by Alexander, to resist 
 the incursions of the Scythians, where the pass is so narrow 
 that one hundred resolute soldiers could bar with their pikes 
 
 1 See Angiolello, cap. 12. " Ardebil. 
 
 3 Shirvan, the largest and most important division of the Southern 
 Caucasus, is watered by numberless rivers, the largest of which is the Kur. 
 Its capital is Schamachi, under which name, according to Kinneir, there 
 are two cities, the old and the new. He says: "New Schamachi is 
 situated in a plain on the river Aksui, about fifty versts from the Kur, 
 and the same distance from the sea. The form is quadrangular, each 
 side being eight hundred paces in length. The walls are in tolerable 
 repair, built of unburnt brick, and surrounded with a very deep and 
 broad ditch. When this town was taken by Aga Mahomed Khan in 
 1795, the inhabitants were supposed to amount to six thousand souls ; 
 but the city, as well as the villages nearest the plain, were reduced to 
 ruins by that relentless tyrant, who did not retire till the month of Feb- 
 ruary of the following year. The ruins of the old Schamachi, once a 
 large and populous city, are still extant, but they are almost hid from 
 the view by thick brushwood. This is the Schamacha of the ancients 
 and stands in a fine situation, in an angle formed by the southern branch 
 of Mount Caucasus." 
 
 * Derbend, a strong fortress on the Caspian, the Peninsula of Apsher- 
 non, near the Demir Kajioo or Iron Gates of the Caucasus. See note to 
 Angiolello, cap. IG. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 45 
 
 the passage of a million of men. Its site is considered the 
 strongest of all the cities of the Eastj as it is situated on the 
 summit of some mountains and has two walls^ as far as the 
 sea enclosing the town and the port, where the vessels lie, 
 in a space not exceeding three hundred paces in extent; and 
 this space is so strong and well fortified that, by keeping 
 guard, no one can enter. It is the only pass by which one 
 can enter Circassia, and the people of the country call it 
 Amircarpi,^ which signifies gates of iron, not because there 
 are any, but because the place is so strong and secure 
 against attack. For this reason, being safe themselves, the 
 inhabitants would neither give free passage to Secheaidare,^ 
 nor let anyone enter, from fear of the men he had with him; 
 then, immediately despatching letters and messages to the 
 King Alamur to inform him of these things, they prepared 
 to defend themselves, if Secheaidare tried to force a pas- 
 sage. 
 
 The king, greatly disturbed by these designs of Secheai- 
 dare, entertained no slight suspicion of him, as it seemed to 
 him that he, by the esteem in which he was held, and his 
 numerous followers whom he enriched from the great booty 
 he made, might make himself so great in time as to be able 
 to overthrow the kingdom, and establish a dynasty of his 
 own firm and safe against any attack. 
 
 Secheaidare, seeing the passage barred to him, being 
 greatly enraged against the people of Berbento, commenced 
 attacking the country, and used all his power to get them 
 into his hands. Alamur hearing this, did not think fit to 
 hold back any longer, as too much procrastination might be 
 productive of some misfortune. Therefore, having hastily 
 collected an army, he advanced towards Berbento, and by 
 marching quickly arrived in time for the support of his 
 
 ' Compare the Long Walls at Athens. 
 
 2 Demir Kapoo. 
 
 3 Sheikh Ilyder. 
 
46 TRAVELS IN PEESIAj 
 
 people. Seelieaidare, when he heard of the approach of the 
 army of Alamurj left off attacking the place, and set him- 
 self in array against him ; and, the fray beginning fiercely 
 on both sides, a stubborn fight was kept up for several hours 
 before either side appeared to be getting the best of it. At 
 length Secheaidare, overcome by the number of his enemies 
 was cut to pieces, and his men, although but few, performed 
 prodigies of valour, and there was not one who was not dead 
 or mortally wounded. The head of Secheaidare, fixed on 
 the point of a lance, was sent to Tauris and kept in a public 
 place that it might be seen by everyone; and after rejoicing 
 and celebrating the victory obtained over him, they threw 
 him to the dogs. And this news being brought to Arduil, 
 where the wife of Secheaidare and his children were, all 
 those of the Sufi faction lamented greatly ; nevertheless, 
 they kept silence and dissimulated in order not to give the 
 king cause for anger against them. But his sons, seized 
 with fear for themselves and their lives, as in sudden emer- 
 gencies one is afraid of everything, fled, one to Natolia, an- 
 other to Aleppo, and the third to an island in the lake At- 
 tamar,^ inhabited by Armenian Christians and called by the 
 name of the Holy Mother of God, where he remained four 
 years concealed in the house of a priest, without anything 
 being known of it in Persia.^ 
 
 This youth, who was called Ismail, was thirteen years old,^ 
 of noble presence and a truly royal bearing, as in his eyes 
 and brow there was something, I know not what, so great 
 and commanding, which plainly showed that he would yet 
 some day become a great ruler. Nor did the virtues of his 
 
 ^ Aktamar or Van Lake, so called from the island of Ak Tamar, 
 where the Catholicos of the Armenians resides. 
 
 2 Knolles says he fled into Hyrcania to Pyrcales. See Travels of a 
 Merchant^ cap. 13, and next page. 
 
 3 The accounts of authors vary as to Ismael's age (see Travels 
 of a Merchant^ cap. 13) ; but I believe this to be the correct state- 
 ment. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 47 
 
 mind disaccord with the beauty of his person, as he had an 
 elevated genius, and such a lofty idea of things as seemed 
 incredible at such a tender age. Therefore the good priest, 
 who professed to be an astrologer and to know the course of 
 events from the aspect of the heavens, cast his horoscope, 
 and foresaw that he would yet become lord of all Asia. On 
 this account he set himself with greater solicitude to serve 
 him, and treated him to the extent of his power with every 
 sort of indulgence and courtesy, thus laying up a debt of 
 the greatest gratitude from him. 
 
 Ismail, longing to recover his paternal possessions, left 
 this place before he had reached the age of eighteen years, and 
 went to Carabac/ and then to Gillon,^ finding out the house 
 of a very old friend of his father's, named Pircale. He, 
 moved with compassion for the condition of Ismail, as 
 he had once seen his father a great ruler, wrote secretly 
 to Arduil to all those of the Suffavean faction,^ who he 
 knew had lost fathers, brothers, or kinsmen in the bat- 
 tle of Derbent against the opposing faction of the white 
 Cacari, in order that when they were reminded of all 
 that Secheaidare had done for them, they might assist his 
 son Ismail, who had come to him from his place of conceal- 
 ment, both to gain his father's inheritance, and to restore 
 the party. Also that, if ever one could expect great things 
 from a young man as handsome and nobly-born as he was, 
 he would promise wonderful things from him, as he saw that 
 he had vigour of mind, quickness of perception, and a per- 
 
 1 Kara Bagh, the country between the rivers Kur and Aras, the 
 former river dividing it from Shirvan. 
 
 '•^ Ghilan, a province along the south-west shore of the Caspian, is 
 rich and populous, the soil exceedingly fertile, fruits, rice, and grain 
 being cultivated with great success ; but the cultivation of silk consti- 
 tutes the principal trade, and quantities are exported annually to As- 
 trakhan from Resht and Lankeroon, the two principal towns in the pro- 
 vince. Its population amounts to about six hundred thousand. 
 
 ' Followers of AH, or rather of Sheikh Hyder, from the name of his 
 
48 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 sonal valour which he had never yet seen equalled by any 
 of his contemporaries. 
 
 Gained over by these letters, the people of Arduil offered 
 for this object and for any other, which would help Ismail, all 
 their ;power and influence. Therefore, he having sent secret 
 orders as to what they would have to do, and having col- 
 lected two hundi'ed men of his faction in Gillon, and another 
 two hundred given by the people "of Arduil, with whom he 
 was prepared to bring, by a prosperous start, his affairs to 
 a happy termination, took up a position in a valley favour- 
 ably situated for an ambush, Avhence at a favourable moment 
 he hurried in the direction of the Castle Marmurlagi,^ and 
 having made a sudden assault cut to pieces all the garri- 
 
 ancestor Sheikh Suffee-u-deen Ishack. The family were lineally 
 descended from Moossah, the seventh Imaum. 
 
 Moossah. 
 
 I 
 
 Sheikh Suffee-u-deen Ishack. 
 
 Sudder-u-deen. 
 
 I 
 Khaujah All. 
 
 I 
 Sheikh Ibrahim. 
 
 Juneyd married a sister of Uzun Hassan. 
 
 Sheikh Hyder married Martha, daughter of Uzun Hassan and Despina. 
 
 Ismael Soft. 
 
 I 
 Tamasp. 
 
 I I I 
 
 Mahomed Codabundah. Ismael. Hyder. 
 
 Shah Abbas, the Great. 
 ' Also mentioned at page 57. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 49 
 
 son ; then, having set it in order and left a better guard, he 
 entered the town and gave it up to his soldiers to sack, put- 
 ting all the inhabitants to the edge of the sword. This 
 fortress was very rich from its position on a harbour of 
 the sea of Baccu, eight days' journey distant from Tauris, 
 and to this harbour came ships from Namiscaderem^ and 
 other places, laden with merchandise for Tauris, Sumachi, 
 and the whole of Persia. 
 
 Having captured the fortress, Ismail caused the booty to 
 be brought into it, and distributed freely among his soldiers, 
 not keeping anything for himself from so many precious 
 things, as he wished by this liberality to gain over as much 
 as possible the affections of his men ; knowing that in this 
 devotion consists thewhole stability of kingdoms and empires. 
 Thus the fame of his liberality and boldness was quickly 
 rumoured abroad, and the memory of his father, who was 
 considered a saintly man, came out more bright and illus- 
 trious than ever, and the Suffavean faction, which since his 
 death had been greatly reduced, began to agitate and rise, 
 attracting adventurers in great numbers to it. Thus he, 
 having assembled five thousand good soldiers, began to hope 
 that he might safely attempt greater things than he had 
 yet done. 
 
 Then seeing how easy it would be to make himself master 
 of the town of Sumachi, as there was no suspicion of war in 
 
 1 Mazenderan, part of ancient Hyrcania, is separated from Irak by the 
 Elburz Mountains ; in its soil and climate it resembles Ghilan, except in 
 being more mountainous and wooded. Silk is not cultivated to so great 
 an extent, though the commerce of the province is considerable. The 
 inhabitants were regarded as the most warlike of the Persians, and even 
 held out for a considerable time against the whole power of Tamerlane. 
 The population is about one million five hundred thousand ; the principal 
 towns are Sari, the capital, Balfrush, with upwards of a hundred thousand 
 inhabitants, Amol, Ferrabad, and Ashraff, famous for the palace of Shah 
 Abbas the Great, who also executed that stupendous work named the 
 Causeway of Mazenderan, which at present has been allowed to fall 
 into disrepair. 
 
50 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 the country,^ and consequently few people in the garrison, he 
 hurried towards it hy forced marches. The King Sermen- 
 dole, who ruled over it, hearing of this, and seeing that 
 defence was hopeless against Ismail, fled to the impregnable 
 fortress of Culifan,^ in the same country of Sumachi. Thus 
 Ismail found the city without defenders, took it without loss, 
 and havii^g cut to pieces the Sumachians all over the place, 
 enriched himself with the immense treasure he found there ; 
 this was divided by him, and, as before, bestowed on his 
 men, who thus became very rich. 
 
 This second enterprise, so successfully accomplished, raised 
 him to the highest credit ; so that the army being reinforced 
 from all the neighbouring regions was greatly augmented in 
 number. 
 
 For this reason Alamur, being more alarmed than he ever 
 was in the time of his father, summoned all the great Per- 
 sian lords to court, and, having collected fighting men, 
 marched with his army against Ismail, The latter, finding 
 his forces too weak to take the field, and, if an opportunity 
 offered, to give battle to the king, sought the aid of some 
 Georgian Christian chiefs whose land bordered on that coun- 
 try, whose names were Alexander Beg, Gurgurabet, and 
 Mirabet. These, as they had an ancient enmity against 
 Alamur, and wished to overthrow his power, availing them- 
 selves of the opportunity given by Ismail, decided to assist 
 him against Alamur, and therefore each of them sent three 
 thousand horse, so that they were altogether nine thousand 
 excellent soldiers ; these are the people who were anciently 
 called Iberians, and as they then were, and still are. Chris- 
 tians, have continually waged war with the Turks on the 
 frontiers of Trebizond. They were joyfully welcomed, and 
 
 ' Alamur, or Eluan Beg, was not in sure possession of the throne, as 
 he was engaged in a struggle with his brother IMorad Khan, who ruled 
 over Bagdad, Shiraz, etc. See page 43. 
 
 ^ Also mentioned at page 56. 
 
BY CATERINO ZENO. 51 
 
 received many presents from Ismail, who, with these 
 Georgian auxiliaries, found himself with an excellent army of 
 sixteen thousand men in the field. 
 
 Thence he advanced with the intention of giving battle to 
 Alamur, if he had an opportunity, and thus both approached 
 each other between Tauris and Sumachi, near a great river,^ 
 where A.lamur, who had an army of thirty thousand men, 
 infantry and cavalry, having placed himself on his guard, 
 occupied the only two bridges by which Ismail could cross 
 into the territory in which he was posted. He did it with 
 the intention that the enemy, finding the passage barred to 
 them, might not, with the daring which they say is often 
 favoured by fortune, stake all on one throw, and force him 
 to fight against his will. 
 
 But Ismail, who was fearful of losing his reputation by 
 any check or loss of time, and the more so, as he saw that 
 Alamur, by his occupation of the bridges, was safe in his 
 position from any attack, and looked slightingly on any 
 skirmish, having by great good luck found a ford of the 
 river, crossed it silently by night, and forming into a heavy 
 column attacked the enemy and caused great slaughter. 
 This happened, as the king's men being half-naked, and not 
 having time to seize their arms, were cut to pieces in im- 
 mense numbers by armed and ferocious soldiers; and if here 
 and there some bolder spirits made head, so fierce was the 
 onset of the Suffaveans, that they were driven back in an in- 
 stant by a continuous shower of blows, and forced to share 
 the fortunes of the others. And never has a more horrible 
 nocturnal struggle than this been recorded; because, in the 
 greatest darkness of the night, the whole field of battle was 
 lighted up with the flash of arms, and throughout the whole 
 region were heard the clash and din and confusion caused by 
 the rout and massacre of so large an army, which fled before 
 the pursuit of the enemy. Alamur, having escaped with 
 ^ Either the Kur or the Aras, more probably the latter. 
 
52 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 difficulty with a few friends,, retired to Amir,^ fortifying him- 
 self in that city. 
 
 And Ismail having, to his great reputation, put that great 
 army to the edge of the sword, caused all the booty to be col- 
 lected and divided among his men, without keeping a single 
 thing for himself. The second dayhe appeared before Tam-is,^ 
 and, meeting with no resistance, took it and gave it up to 
 plunder, cutting to pieces those of the opposing faction ; and 
 then, in order to avenge his father on those captains and 
 chiefs who were said to have opposed Secheaidare in the 
 battle of Berbent, and to have had a hand in his death, he 
 caused their bodies to be disinterred and burnt in the mar- 
 ket-place. And, whil-e they were carrying them there, he 
 drew up a procession before them of two hundred harlots 
 and four hundred thieves ; and to show a greater indignity 
 to those chiefs, he ordered the heads of the thieves and harlots 
 to be cut off and burnt with the bodies. And, not satisfied 
 with this, he had his stepmother brought before him, who 
 after the death of his father had married a certain great lord, 
 who was on the side of the king in the same action of Ber- 
 bent, abused her to her face, insulted her in every possible 
 way, and at last commanded that she should be decapitated 
 as the vile and worthless woman she was, in revenge for 
 the slisrht estimation she had held his father in. 
 
 All the people and neighbouring chieftains being terrified 
 by the capture of Tauris and the rout of the king, sent in 
 their allegiance to Ismail, except those of Alangiacalai, a 
 fortress two days' distant above Tauris towards the north, 
 which place, with ten adjacent towns, is inhabited by Catho- 
 lic Christians, who at last, having remained faithful to 
 Alamur for five years, hearing of his death, surrendered it 
 on conditions to Ismail with its immense treasure. When 
 he had gained possession of this castle, Ismail caused him- 
 
 ' Diarbekr. 
 
 ■•^ Tauris, or Tabreez. See Travels of a Merchant, cap. 7. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 53 
 
 self to be proclaimed sovereign of Persia under the new title 
 of Sofi. 
 
 But Moratcan/ son of Alamur, having assembled an army 
 of thirty thousand men with some Turkish auxiliaries, en- 
 deavoured to recover the throne which rightly belonged to 
 him, with the design of regaining his father^s dominions, 
 and at the same time to avenge the defeat of his relative on 
 the SufFavean faction. Ismail, hearing this, quickly assembled 
 an army and advanced to meet Moratcan, when these two 
 young princes came to blows in the plain of Tauris, and for 
 a time both performed great feats with arms in their hands ; 
 but the Suffaveans were brave, and being veteran soldiers 
 and accustomed to be victorious under the fortunate general- 
 ship of their commander, routed the soldiers of Moratcan 
 with great slaughter, and this unhappy young man seeing 
 no hope of re-establishing his affairs, fled to Diarbeca^ with 
 a few soldiers who escaped from the rout. These things 
 happened in the year one thousand four hundred and ninety- 
 nine, Ismail gaining a great reputation for good fortune, 
 but more for courage, so that from that time he began to 
 become a terror to all the East. 
 
 The following year Ismail made an enterprise against 
 Diarbeca, which was still in the allegiance of Moratcan, and 
 made himself master in that region of some important places. 
 And since Aladuli^ had assisted Moratcan from distrust of 
 Ismail and his greatness, he collected an army of more than 
 sixty thousand men and marched against him, not, however, 
 without great fear of exciting against himself the Soldan and 
 the Turk, as the country of Aladuli was situated between 
 these two powers. Then, taking the road of Arsenga and 
 Seras, he arrived in Maseria, through the dominions of the 
 Turk, paying for provisions and tolls, without molesting the 
 
 1 Morud Khan, brother, not son, of Eluan Beg, ruler of Fars, Baby- 
 lonia, etc. 
 
 2 Diarbekr. Eluan Beg had also taken refuge here. 
 ■' Alla-ed' Douleh. 
 
54 TRAVELS IN PERSIA. 
 
 inhabitants in any way^ showing himself desirous of being 
 on a good footing with the Ottoman. Thus, having arrived 
 in Aladuli's country, at the town of Alessat,^ he crossed 
 some mountains in one day, in this way reaching Amaras,^ 
 putting all the country to fire and sword and rapine. But 
 Aladuli, who had escaped to the mountains of Catarac,^ and 
 fortified himself there, not wishing to stake all his power at 
 once, took particular care not to give battle to Ismail. In- 
 stead, he sent out some bands of good cavalry and, by at- 
 tacking the SufFaveans, sometimes by day and sometimes by 
 night, and retiring to the mountains, kept continually harass- 
 ing the hostile army, wherefore Ismail having remained 
 from the twenty-ninth of July to the middle of November, 
 without succeeding in his undertaking, was forced to retreat 
 from want of supplies, the winter, and dearth, to Malatia, a 
 city of the Soldan's, from whence he passed on to Tauris, 
 ha.ving lost on the road many soldiers and an almost count- 
 less number of his horses and camels, through the bitter- 
 ness of the cold and the quantity of the snow. 
 
 But, not being in the least cast down by this repulse, the 
 following year, assembling an army of forty thousand men, 
 he attacked Casan, a town in Babylonia belonging to Morat- 
 can, to free himself from all apprehension of his ever doing 
 him any harm. On this account, Moratcan having collected 
 an army of thirty-six thousand infantry and cavalry, ad- 
 vanced to Sevas,* to draw the enemy ofi" from attacking 
 Casan ; then Ismail following him, advanced to Spaam'' to 
 join battle with Moratcan, staking the whole of his fortune 
 on this battle, knowing well the valour of his men, and that 
 already the Persians and all the others who had been under 
 the sway of Alamur began to desire that he should rule over 
 
 ' Albistan, sixty miles from Marash ; ten thousand inhabitants. 
 
 * Marash, sixty miles from Iskenderoou ; ancient capital of Karamania. 
 » Kara Dagh, or Black Mountain. 
 
 * Shiraz in this case, not Sivas. * Ispahan. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 55 
 
 them. This move of Ismail's cast such terror into the hos- 
 tile army, that gi'adually they began to desert and to escape 
 into the Suffavean camp; hence, Moratcan being thrown into 
 consternation, attempted to make peace with Ismail, and 
 sent ambassadors to announce his willing submission, if he 
 would only leave him Bagadet ;^ but, as neither the ambas- 
 sadors nor the conditions of peace were received by Ismail, 
 who aspired to become sole master, Moratcan, despairing of 
 his life if he fell into his hands, fled with a squadron of three 
 thousand cavalry towards Aleppo. As he was not received 
 here from the fear the Soldan had of irritating Ismail, he 
 went on to Aladuli, and was most graciously received by 
 that lord, who had formerly been his great friend and who 
 gave him hopes of re-establishing him in his power, if an 
 opportunity showed itself; and, in order to increase his 
 hopes, gave him one of his daughters as his wife. 
 
 Ismail having in the manner related, defeated Moratcan, 
 came with his whole army to Bierbeca,^ and made himself 
 master of Bagadet and Seras,^ cutting to pieces many of 
 the opposing sect in that region, and then having established 
 laws and settled a garrison, returned to Tauris. The follow- 
 ing year, which was 1508, after making great preparations 
 for war, he advanced in person against the Tartar Leasilbas,^ 
 ruler of Samarcant, whose subjects are the Zagatai, other- 
 wise called the Green Caftans.^ This chief was at that time 
 on the frontier of Persia with a victorious army, having per- 
 formed many feats of arms in the vicinity, as, after seizing 
 the country of the Saracens, he had then taken the great 
 
 1 Bagdad. "^ Diarbekr. « Shiraz. 
 
 * Sbeibani Khan, or Shahabeg Khan, a descendant of the Great 
 Zengis, the enemy of Baber the first of the Moguls, was the founder of 
 the Usbeg power on the ruins of that of Timour, in Central Asia. He 
 was defeated and killed by Shah Ismael Sofi at the battle of Merv Shah 
 Jehan in loM. See Baber's Memoirs, translated by Mr. Erskine. 
 
 5 Sunnees. 
 
56 TRAVELS IN PERSIA. 
 
 town of Eri^ and Caradisca, and Cara/ and^ last of all, San- 
 derem^ and Sari/ two large cities situated on the Sea of 
 Baccu/ and close to the dominions of Ismail ; by these con- 
 quests he had thrown all the East into the greatest alarm, 
 and particulai'ly raised great apprehension in the Sofi, who 
 was an enemy of those of the Green Caftans. On this 
 account he retired to Spaam/ and encamped with his whole 
 army, but the victorious Lasilbas,''' in order to gain a pretext 
 for coming to blows with the Suffaveans, demanded a free 
 passage from Ismail, in order that he might pay his vows at 
 Mecca. This demand made Ismail still more apprehensive; 
 therefore, having refused point blank, he strengthened all 
 the region on the frontiers of Lasilbas with a strong force 
 of cavalry, keeping his army the whole year, ] 509, in those 
 parts with the intention of opposing the Tartar if he at- 
 tempted to force a passage. At length, by the intervention 
 of some Tartar and Persian lords friendly to both, they con- 
 cluded a peace between them. 
 
 And Ismail, who, from one war was urged on to another, in 
 the following year went against the Euler of Siraan,^ who 
 had refused the tribute which he paid every year, and having 
 entered the plains of Carabac,'-' which are more than one 
 thousand miles in extent, in the midst of which is the terri- 
 tory of Chianer,^° whence come the Canary silks, he sent to 
 take Sumachi, and having attacked Culofan,^^ a very strong 
 
 • Herat, a city of great importance in the history of Persia, and the 
 key or gate of India, as it has been aptly described ; it is well fortified, 
 and the emporium of commerce between Cabul, Bokhara, Hindostan, 
 and Persia, with a population of forty thousand ; it is now subject to 
 Affghanistan. ^ Khaf. 
 
 3 Sanderem, probably Amol or Balfrush, in Mazanderan. 
 
 * Sari, the capital of Mazanderan, a well fortified town of fifteen thou- 
 sand inhabitants, with a brisk trade with Astrakhan and the interior of 
 Persia, twenty miles from Balfru?h. 
 
 5 The Caspian. ^ Ispahan. ' Sheibani Khan. 
 
 8 Shirvan. " Kara Bagh. 
 
 «> Canar. " See page 50. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 57 
 
 fortress situated in the same region as Sumachi, he reduced 
 it, together with Mamurcagi,^ a castle of great importance 
 in those parts, from its strength. And then, marching by 
 the shores of the Sea of Baccii, he took many other strong 
 castles, since the country of Servan is seven days' journey 
 in extent along the coast of this same sea, beginning at 
 Mamurcagi as far as Berbento, in which tract there are 
 three large cities and three castles. With this conquest he 
 returned in triumph to Persia, and feasted several days in 
 honour of the victory he had obtained, with almost all the 
 great lords and princes of the realm. 
 
 And a short time after there broke out a fierce war with 
 the above-mentioned Tartar Lasilbas, from a certain ambi- 
 tion and rivalry which existed between them; when Lasilbas 
 came with a great army against the Suflfaveans, and, joining 
 in a fierce and sanguinary contest,^ bore himself as a valiant 
 man for many hours ; nevertheless, the forces of the enemy 
 prevailing, he was repulsed and routed, and saved^ himself 
 by flight to Samarcant. 
 
 This victoiy was the most illustrious that Ismail ever ob- 
 tained, as he fought against enemies who were great war- 
 riors and famous in all the East. For this reason the Turk 
 and the Soldan became greatly apprehensive of the power 
 of Ismail, both considering, that if after all the Tartar hap- 
 pened to be conquered, the road would be opened for Ismail 
 to acquire Asia and Egypt, as in all the East there were no 
 princes more powerful than they, but the Tartar Lasilbas. 
 
 ^ See page 48. 
 
 2 The great battle of Merv Shah Jehan, 1514. The city of Merv, 
 the ancient capital of Margiana, was founded by Alexander the Great, 
 and embellished by Antiochus Nicator, who gave it the name of Antio- 
 chia. It was long the seat of the Seljooks and also of the great Alp 
 Arslan, whose tomb is there. It has now declined in importance, having 
 been repeatedly sacked by the LTsbegs. 
 
 ^ He was killed in the battle. 
 
58 TRAVELS IN PERSIA. 
 
 On this account Selim, the Grand Turk^ having heard that 
 Ismail was engaged with the war waged against the city of 
 Samarcant,^ which was the largest in the possession of the 
 Tartar prince^ brought together an immense army of Turks, 
 and advanced in person against Persia, in the year 1514; 
 he marched towards the river of Sivas,~ which is six hundred 
 miles distant from Constantinople and six hundred and 
 forty from Tauris : so that one may say that it is about half 
 way between the two cities, and having passed the river 
 Lai,^ he inarched forward quickly through the country of 
 Arsenga.'* Ismail, who was in Tauris without his regular 
 troops, who were engaged in besieging Samarcant, hearing of 
 this, began to levy other forces in haste, and having collected 
 a tolerably good army placed it under two of his most valiant 
 captains, one named Stacalu Amarbei and the other Aurbec 
 Samper, and sent them against Selim, in order, by skirmish- 
 ing, to retard his advance until he had assembled sufficient 
 men to oppose his enemy openly in the field. This army 
 consisted of fifteen thousand horsemen, all good soldiers, 
 and, so to speak, the flower of the Persian people, as the 
 kings of Persia are not accustomed to give pay on the occa- 
 sion of war, but to a standing force, which is called the 
 " porta'^ of the king. Thus it is that the Persian gentlemen, 
 to be well brought up, pay great attention to horsemanship, 
 and when necessity calls, go willingly to war, and bring with 
 them, according to their means, a certain number of ser- 
 vants as well armed and mounted as themselves ; neverthe- 
 less, they do not come out except for the defence of the 
 country; so that, if the Persian soldiery were paid, as is the 
 Turkish, there is no doubt but that it would be far superior 
 
 1 Saraarcand, a city once almost the capital of the world, being well 
 known as the seat of Timour, but now greatly declined in importance. 
 Tt is a hundred and thirty miles from Bokhara, and is still the entrepot 
 for a caravan trade, with ten thousand inhabitants. 
 
 2 The Iris, present Kizzil Innak. ' Iris. ■• Erzingan. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 59 
 
 to that of the Ottoman princes. This thing has been ob- 
 served by all those who have had anything to do with both 
 these nations. 
 
 The Persian ladies themselves follow in arms the same 
 fortunes as their husbands, and fight like men, in the same 
 way as those ancient Amazons who performed such feats of 
 arms in their time. 
 
 Now, the two captains, Amarbei and Samper, marched 
 ahead, and hearing that Selim had crossed the Euphrates 
 and was advancing by forced marches, retreated to Coi,^ 
 where Ismail, who had come from Tauris, was in person. 
 Being informed of the large forces Selim was bringing with 
 him on this enterprise, he caused his army to be strongly 
 entrenched, and returned to Tauris to collect more troops, 
 and then to show front to the enemy. ^ Coi is a city which 
 
 1 Khoi, the capital of a rich district, with a considerable trade between 
 Turkey and Persia ; it has a population of twenty- five thousand, and is a . 
 well-built, handsome town, on the Ak Schai, a tributary of the 
 Aras. 
 
 2 Battle of Schalderan, fought, according to Knolles, on the 7th August, 
 1514. He says that Isniael himself was present in the battle and did 
 wonders in arms, as, with only thirty thousand men he attacked the 
 Turkish army three hundred thousand strong. The Persian cavalry 
 bore down the Turks on every side, though with tlie loss of one of their 
 great chiefs, Usta-ogli. " The Persians were now ready on everie side 
 to have assailed Selymus in his greatest strength ; when Sinan Bassa, 
 although the wing he led was sore rent and weakened, yet following the 
 Persians through the middest of the heaps of the slaine footmen, came 
 in, in good time for Selymus, and with certaine fresh troups which had 
 escaped from the furie of Usta-ogli restored the battell before almost 
 lost ; but, especially by the invincible courage of Alisbeg and Mahomet 
 his brother, descended of the honourable familie of the Molcozzii, which 
 for nobilitie among the Turks is accounted next unto the Ottomans ; 
 both of them for courage resembling their warlike father jNIolcozzius, 
 famous for that wof nil expedition he made into Friuli against the Vene- 
 tians in the raigne of Baiazet. Selymus, also not yet discouraged, but 
 still in hope, commaunded all the great ordinance wherewith he was 
 environed which he had reserved as his last refuge, to be discharged; by 
 the violence whereof such slaughter was made as well of his owne men 
 
GO TRAVELS IN PERSIA^ 
 
 they say was built on the ruins of the ancient Artasata,^ not 
 more than three days^ journey distant from Tauris ; on this 
 accountj it appeared Hkely to Ismail, from its proximity, 
 that he might in a very short time find himself engaged in 
 a battle, and therefore expressly commanded the above- 
 mentioned captains to wait, and when he arrived with fresh 
 forces they would drive back the enemy together. However, 
 shortly after the departure of Ismail, the Turkish army came 
 up in array, on the 24th of August, and spread itself over 
 the plains called Calderane, where the Persians also had 
 their encampment. 
 
 The latter, seeing the enemy behave with such audacity 
 and provoke them to battle, could not refrain from attack- 
 ing them, as they had been victorious in so many past wars 
 under the auspices of the greatest monarch of the East : 
 hence, having been joined the night before by some bands 
 of horse from Tauris, making them in all twenty-four thou- 
 sand men, divided in two deep columns, of which one was 
 led by Stacalu Amarbei and the other by Aurbec Samper, 
 signal of battle being given, they attacked the enemy bravely. 
 Amarbei, who was foremost, assaulted the troops of Natolia 
 with such a terrific rush, that he broke and routed them 
 utterly, and the Persians made such a slaughter of the Turks, 
 that in that quarter they already had the victory in their 
 hands, if it had not been that Sinan Pasha, to aid that side 
 of the conflict advanced the Caramanian troops, and, taking 
 the Persian force in flank, enabled those who were routed 
 
 as of his enemies, mingled togither, that what for dust, what for smoake, 
 and thundering of the artillerie, having on both sides almost lost the use 
 of sight and hearing ; and their horses being so terrified with the thun- 
 dering report of the great ordinance that they were not now to be ruled, 
 the battell was broken off, the victorie yet doubtf ull." lie goes on to say 
 that Ismael was slightly wounded, and had to retii-e from the field, which 
 gave the Turks breathing time. 
 
 ' The site of the ancient Artaxarta is fixed on the Aras, a little to 
 the south of Erivan. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 61 
 
 and preparing to fly to make head again. The Persians, re- 
 sisting Sinan, bore themselves as valiantly as before ; nor 
 even when Amarbei was cut to pieces did they fail to keep 
 up the fight courageously. 
 
 Samper, seeing the Caramanians change their positions 
 and attack Amarbei, also closed his column and attacked 
 Sinan on his flank, routed the Caramanians, and in a moment 
 was on the royal forces, and the cavalry, though in disorder 
 and badly led, cut to pieces the foremost ranks of the janis- 
 saries, and cast into confusion that famous infantry, so that 
 it appeared a thunderbolt cleaving that large and mighty 
 army. The monarch, seeing the slaughter, began to retreat, 
 and to turn about, and was about to fly, when Sinan, 
 coming to the rescue at the time of need, caused the artil- 
 lery to be brought up and fired on both the janissaries and 
 Persians. The Persian horses hearing the thunder of those 
 infernal machines, scattered and divided themselves over the 
 plain, not obeying their riders' bit or spur any more, from 
 the terror they were in. Sinan, seeing this, made up one 
 squadron of cavalry from all that which had been routed by 
 the Persians, and began to cut them to pieces everywhere, 
 so that, by his activity, Selim, even when he thought all 
 lost, came oS" the victor. It is certainly said, that if it had 
 not been for the artillery, which terrified in the manner 
 related the Persian horses which had never before heard 
 such a din, all his forces would have been routed and put to 
 the edge of the sword ; and if the Turk had been beaten, 
 the power of Ismail would have become greater than that of 
 Tamerlane, as by the fame alone of such a victory he would 
 have made himself absolute lord of the East. 
 
 As it happened, the Persians being discomfited, in the 
 manner related, by Selim, not without great loss on his side, 
 Aurbec Samper was led before him covered with wounds, 
 and on his hearing that Ismail had not been in the action, 
 he said to him, full of indignation, ''Dog that thou art, thou 
 
62 TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 hast had the audacity to come against me, who am in the 
 place of a prophet, and hold the post of God on earth." To 
 this, without any sign of fear, Samper replied, " If you held 
 the post of God on earth, you would not come against my 
 master ; but God has saved you from our hands, that you 
 may fall alive into his, and then he will avenge his and our 
 wrongs." Selim, being greatly enraged by his words, said, 
 " Go and kill this dog." And he replied, " I know that 
 this is my hour ; but do you prepare your soul to pay the 
 sacrifice of mine ; since my master will meet you in a year, 
 and will do the same to you, which you order to be done to 
 me"; whereupon he was immediately cut to pieces. Having 
 done this, Selim raised the camp and came to Coi, in which 
 city he rested with his whole army some days; he then pub- 
 lished abroad, and wrote in many letters sent to different 
 places, that he had gained the victory, and that Ismail had 
 been in person in the battle which had taken place in the 
 Calderani^ plains. This, however, was written falsely, as 
 
 1 Knolles says: — "This was that notable battell fought in the Calderan 
 fields neare unto the city of Coy, betwixt these two great princes, the 
 7th day of August, in the yeare of our Lord 1514. In which battell 
 Selymus lost above thirtie thousand men, amongst whom was Casan 
 Bassa, his great lieutenant in Europe ; seaven Sanzackes, in which were 
 the two Malcozzian brethren, who, labouring the one to rescue the other, 
 were both togither slaine. Beside his common footmen, of whom he 
 made least reckoning, he lost most part of his Illirian, Macedonian, Ser- 
 vian, Epirot, Thessalian, and Thracian horsemen, the undoubted flower 
 and strength of his army, which were in that mortall battell almost all 
 slaine or grievously wounded. Selymus, for all this great losse, by the 
 confession of his enemies having gotten the victorie, and receiving em- 
 bassadours from Coy and the cities thereabout, and the great citie of 
 Tauris, promising to relieve him with whatsoever he needed, and to doe 
 what else he should commaund, marched directly to Tauris, desiring 
 both to see and possesse himself of that citie as one of the chiefe pallaces 
 of the Persian kings. This citie is two dales' journey distant from Coy, 
 where the battell was fought, and is probably supposed to be the famous 
 citie called in auntient time Ecbatana, about an hundred and fiftie miles 
 distant from the Caspian Sea. The citizens were readie at the comming 
 of the Turks, and brought them great store of victuals out of the gates 
 
BY CATEKINO ZENO. 63 
 
 Ismail was not there in person, nor even the corps of his 
 veteran soldiers, who were then round Saraarcant, investing 
 that city. Ismail, hearing the news of the rout of his army, 
 collected some of the men who had escaped from the action 
 and had made head in Tauris. With his wife and all his 
 riches he left the city and went to Caseria,^ which is six days' 
 journey distant from Tauris towards the East, assembling 
 another army to try again in person the fortune of battle. 
 
 After his departure the Turk leaving Coi, arrived at 
 Tauris, and was received with favourable and courteous de- 
 monstrations by those of the city, because it did not seem 
 fit to them to peril their lives, as they had no chance against 
 the enemy, before whom so many valiant men who had armed 
 in defence of Persia had' not been able to make head; and 
 remaining there only three days, and not seeing that any 
 of the people or neighbouring chiefs came to give in their 
 submission to him,^ Selim began to be apprehensive lest 
 Ismail should be more powerful than he had thought him, 
 as he in truth was, since all the principal men of Persia be- 
 gan to join him with their forces for the safety of the king- 
 dom. Therefore, taking with him different men skilled in 
 arts and five hundred loads of treasure, without injuring the 
 city in any other way, he left it and marched towards the 
 Euphrates, being continually harassed on the road by the 
 Georgians,^ who, with some troops of light cavalry, pillaged 
 
 of the citie, where Selymus had lociged his army in the suburbs, thinking 
 it no safetie to lodge within that great and populous citie, contenting 
 himselfe to have the gates thereof delivered unto him, which he kept 
 with strong guard." 
 
 1 Caseria, probably Casbin. 
 
 ^ The janissaries mutinied, according to Knolles. 
 
 3 Knolles says : — " Yet for all the speed he could make, the Georgian 
 horsemen, the forerunners of Hysmaell, his armie being come within 
 sight before the Turkes were all got over, raised such a feare and a 
 stirre all alongt that side of the river that two thousand of the Turkes 
 were iu their hastie passage there drowned, divers field pieces left stick- 
 
Gl TRAVELS IN PERSIA, 
 
 the baggage of the army, and cut to pieces all those who 
 quitted the ranks ever so short a way. Their assaults were 
 so frequent, that the Acangi^ who wei'e accustomed to i^ange 
 forty or fifty miles at least from the army, did not dare to 
 forsake it as these fierce guerilla foes made a great slaughter 
 of them everywhere ; nor did they fall by the sword alone, 
 but also by hunger; since, as they were accustomed to 
 forage for the army, and not being able to perform this 
 office from fear, it followed that in avoiding one miserable 
 death, they perished by another still more wretched one. 
 
 Ismail, in the meanwhile, had greatly strengthened his 
 army, and therefore, hoping soon to fall in with the enemy, 
 advanced to Tauris, where, hearing that the Turk had de- 
 parted, and was retreating in such haste that he would not 
 be able to overtake him, thought fit to remain and to take 
 steps with more caution in this enterprise. He therefore 
 wrote letters and sent ambassadors to the Soldan, to Prince 
 Aladuli, and to the King of Gorgora, to show them the 
 great peril they ran if they did not take up arms with him 
 against Selim, since if Persia were subdued, all their States 
 would become a prey to the enemy. These ambassadors 
 were willingly listened to, from the fear these princes enter- 
 tained on account of Selim's victory over the Suffaveans. 
 On this account they formed a league, into which Ismail, 
 the King of Gorgora, the Soldan," and Aladuli entered, 
 these monarchs promising to aid one another in case of 
 need against the Ottoman, with the express condition that 
 they should not receive any ambassador from the Turk ; 
 this condition not being observed by the Soldan, was after- 
 wards his ruin, and that of all the power of the Mamelukes. 
 As, the Tui'k having sent an ambassador a short time^ater, 
 
 ing in the mud, and much of their baggage carried away with the force 
 of the river. The Georgians contenting themselves with such things as 
 were left, pursued them no farther." 
 
 ' Ikindjis. ^ Khafour el Ghouri. 
 
BY CATERING ZENO. 65 
 
 he received and heard him against the condition of the 
 league; therefore, when Selim entered Soria^ to fight against 
 the Soldan, Ismail would not give him his assistance from 
 fear of being left in the lurch.^ 
 
 The league being concluded in the manner related, Is- 
 mail, who was fully prepared for the enterprise against the 
 Turks, sent ambassadors to Selim, who was then in Araasia,^ 
 with presents, a baton of massive gold, a saddle and richly- 
 mounted sword, with a letter to this effect : — '' Ismail, great 
 Sovereign of the Persians, sends to you Selim these gifts, 
 quite equal to your greatness, as they are worth as much as 
 your kingdom ; if you are a brave man, keep them well, 
 because I will come and take them from you, together with 
 your head and kingdom, which you possess against all right, 
 as it is not proper that the offspring of peasants should bear 
 rule over so many provinces." This letter so enraged the 
 haughty spirit of Selim, that he wished to kill the ambassa- 
 dors, but refrained, being kept back by his Bashas. However, 
 in his rage he could not restrain himself from having their 
 ears and noses cut off, and sent them back in this state with a 
 letter written to Ismail, saying : — Selim, great Sovereign of 
 the Turks, replies to a dog without taking the least notice of 
 his baying; telling him that if he will show himself, he will 
 find that I will do to him what my predecessor Mahomet 
 did to his predecessor Ussun Cassano." 
 
 1 Syria. 
 
 " KnoUes gives a different reason, namely, that the Persian soldiery 
 ■were well suited for defending, but not for figliting out of their own 
 country : so Ismael would not risk an invasion. 
 
 ^ Amasia, birthplace of Strabo. See page 37. 
 
DISCOURSE OF 
 
 MESSER GIOVAN BATTISTA RAMUSIO 
 
 ON THE 
 
 WRrnNGS OF CxIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO AND OF A 
 
 MERCHANT WHO WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE 
 
 OF PERSIA; IN WHICH ARE NARRATED 
 
 THE LIFE AND DEEDS OF USSUN 
 
 CASSANO. 
 
DISCOURSE OF 
 
 MESSEE GIOVAN BATTISTA RAMUSIO. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Everyone who considers the various changes brought by 
 the course of events to human affairs^ will, on reflection, be 
 filled with wonder; but I think that those who read ancient 
 history have greater reason to be so, seeing many republics 
 and many great and powerful kingdoms, so to speak, col- 
 lapse without, in certain cases, leaving even a name, or any 
 memorial behind. The same course of events has caused 
 many races to leave their native countries, and, like proud 
 and rapid rivers, invade those of others, chasing away the 
 ancient inhabitants, and, not content with that, even change 
 their names. So it happens that, nowadays, there are 
 many races whose origin is not known, of which miserable 
 Italy is an example, as, after the ruin of the Roman empire, 
 a multitude of strange and barbarous nations entered from 
 the North, ousted the inhabitants, changed the vulgar 
 tongue, the names of the provinces, rivers, and mountains, 
 moved the towns from their proper sites, and built them up 
 afterwards at a distance from the spots where they first 
 stood. This has not happened to Italy alone, but also to 
 the province of Gallia, which, on its occupation by the fierce 
 nation of the Franks, lost its name as well as its inhabitants. 
 The same happened to Britain, now called England; to Pan- 
 nonia, which is now Hungary ; and to many other countries 
 which it would be tedious to enumerate ; But I cannot hold 
 my peace about poor, afilicted Greece, celebrated by all 
 classic writers, which was anciently the home of science and 
 the example of humanity, but now fallen low indeed, being 
 subjected to the empire of the Turks, and inhabited only by 
 
70 DISCOURSE OP 
 
 barbarous and unlettered tribes. This same calamity has 
 fallen also on the whole of Asia, since (as one reads in the 
 books of M. Marco Polo and the Armenian), great hordes of 
 Tartars issued from the regions of Cathay and overran the 
 countries, and, having settled in their new abodes, changed 
 the names of the provinces to others familiar to the con- 
 querors. Thus Margiana, Bactriana, and Sodiana, provinces 
 near the Caspian Sea, being taken by Zacatai, brother of 
 the Great Can, were called instead the country of Zacatai, 
 from the province of Turquestan, which is beyond the rivers 
 Jaxartes and Oxus. 
 
 There came another great multitude of people, who set- 
 tled themselves in Asia Minor, — that is, in Bithynia, Phry- 
 gia, Cappadocia, and Paphagonia, and called it Turkey. 
 At the same time, Hoccota Can^ having made himself 
 master of the provinces of Media, Parthia, and Persia, now 
 named Azemia;^ his successors gave them diflferent names; 
 and even in our times the Sophi, who was the son of a 
 daughter of Ussun Cassano, King of Persia, had these pro- 
 vinces named after him. As there have come into my 
 hands some carefully composed writings, in which are nar- 
 rated the life and acts of the above-mentioned Ussun Cas- 
 sano, or Assambei,^ which are synonymous, and of Sheikh 
 Ismail, who is the Sophi, I thought them suitable to follow 
 the books of M. Marco Polo, and of the Armenian. More- 
 over, they treat of the same matter, and though agreeing, 
 are different versions, so I think they will greatly amuse 
 my readers. I find that the first author, who speaks of the 
 life of Ussun Cassano, was named Giovan Maria Angiolello, 
 who relates in his history that he served Mustafa, son of 
 Mahomet II, Grand Turk, and that he was in the action* 
 with the same Grand Turk, in which he was routed on the 
 
 1 Hulakoo Khan, son and successor of the great Zingis, and the con- 
 queror of Bagdad. * Ajemi. ' Hassan Beg. 
 * This action was fought near Malatia, at a point previous to the 
 
MESSER GIOVAN BATTISTA RAMUSIO. 71 
 
 islands in the bed of the river Euphrates by the army of 
 Ussun Cassano. The name of the second author is not 
 known ; but it is evident that he was of a cultivated intel- 
 lect, and that in the course of his business he went through 
 almost the whole of Persia. To these two authors we have 
 added two Travels, one of the Illustrious M. Josapha Bar- 
 baro, and the other of the Illustrious M. Ambrosio Contarini, 
 Venetian gentlemen, who treat of the same matters; so that 
 of the affairs of Persia of late times, we have a history, if 
 not continuous, at least leaving little to be desired. I wish 
 that fortune had been favourable enough to allow me to get 
 into my hands the Travels of the Illustrious M. Caterino Zeno, 
 knight, who was the first ambassador who went into that 
 region to the monarch Ussun Cassano; but, although printed, 
 it has been lost, owing to the length of time that has elapsed. 
 And truly the above-mentioned M. Caterino was one of the 
 rare and worthy gentlemen who existed at that time in this 
 most excellent Republic. Therefore, in the year 1471 he 
 was elected ambassador to the King Ussun Cassano, to in- 
 cite him to attack the Turk, with whom the Republic was 
 then engaged in the fiercest war. He, moved by the love 
 he bore to his country, like a good citizen, not considering 
 the length or danger of the journey, accepted the charge 
 cheerfully, and went the more willingly as he hoped to be 
 a more fitting instrument for good than anyone else. Since 
 Caloianni,^ Emperor of Trebizond, having given one of his 
 daughters, named Despinacaton,"^ in marriage to Ussun Cas- 
 sano, King of Persia, married another of them called Valenza 
 to the Duke of the Archipelago, named the Lord Nicolo 
 Crespo, by whom the duke had four daughters and a son, 
 Francesco, who succeeded his father, and whose descendant, 
 
 Euphrates entering the Gerger Gorge (Elegia). The islands do not now 
 exist, and they were probably (considering the time of year) only sand- 
 banks left by the fall of the river. 
 
 ' Calo Johannes. See Zeno, p. 9. 
 
 2 Despina Khatoon ; i. e., " Lady" or " Queen" Dfespina. 
 
72 DISCOURSE OF MESSER GIOVAN BATTISTA RAMUSIO. 
 
 Giacomo Crespo, the twenty-first Duke of Naxo, is still 
 living. The daughters were all honourably married at 
 Venice : one named Firunza was mother of the Queeu of 
 Cyprus and of the most Illustrious M. Giorgio Cornaro, 
 knight^ and his brother^ the Procurator^ from whom are 
 descended many reverend Cardinals. Another named Lu- 
 cretia was married to the noble M. Jacomo Prioli^ who was 
 the father of M. Nicolo Prioli, the Procurator. Valenza, the 
 third, was the wife of the noble M. Gio. Loredano, and Vio- 
 lante, the fourth, was the wife of the above-mentioned M. 
 Catharin Zeno. Now this Despinacaton, though she was in 
 Persia and at a distance, continually kept up the remem- 
 brance of her relatives, her afiectiou for her sister Va- 
 lenza, wife of the Duke of the Archipelago, and her nieces 
 at Venice. For this reason, this gentleman went readily 
 and was not deceived in his opinion, as, after many hard- 
 ships and dangers, when he arrived at Tauris in the presence 
 of Ussun Cassano and Despinacaton his wife, he was recog- 
 nised by her as her nephew, and had great honours and 
 favours paid him ; and by the influence he acquired with 
 that monarch he was able to perform many things for his 
 Eepublic, described in his book, which, as we have said 
 above, we have not been able to get into our hands. King 
 Ussun Cassano, to do greater honour to the noble M. 
 Catharin, chose him for his ambassador to the Christian 
 princes, to incite them against the Turk, and principally to 
 the Kings of Poland and Hungary ; but, when he came to 
 them and found them at war with each other, he passed on 
 to others. At this time, the most Illustrious Government 
 hearing of the departure of M. Catharine, elected in his 
 place M. Josapha Barbaro, and after him M. Ambrosio Con- 
 tarini, whose travels, on his return journey to Venice, by 
 the Caspian Sea, the river Volga, and the country of Tartars, 
 I think will greatly amuse his readers from their novelty 
 and the account of the various accidents that befel him from 
 day to day. 
 
A SHORT NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE AND ACTS 
 OF THE KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 BY 
 
 GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 
 
 Chap. I. — Assambei, King of Persia, takes as wife the daughter of the 
 Christian Emperor of Trebizond, and after he has had sons by her, 
 she, with two daughters, goes to lead a solitary life in the Christian 
 faith ; her father is taken prisoner to Constantinople. 
 
 Assambei/ the most powerful King of Tauris and Persia, 
 had several women as his wives ; and, among others, one 
 named Despinacaton, who was the daughter of an Emperor 
 of Trebizond, named Caloianni, who feared the might of 
 the Ottoman, Mahomet II, and hoped in this way to 
 strengthen himself, with the assistance of Assambei, in case 
 of need, so gave her to him as his wife, with the condition 
 that she might hold to the Christian faith, employing chap- 
 lains to perform the sacred offices. By this lady Assambei 
 had one male and three female children. The first of these 
 daughters, named Marta, was married to Sachaidar,^ father of 
 Ismail Sophi. The other two remained with their mother, 
 who, after a certain time, determined to lead a solitary life 
 apart from her husband, who consented and gave her a large 
 income, assigning as a residence a city named Iscartibiert,^ 
 on the frontiei-s of the land of Diarbet.* This lady remained 
 in this place a long time, and with her her two daughters, 
 
 1 Hassan Beg. « Sheikh Hyder. See Zeno, p. 48. 
 
 3 Present Kharput. See Travels of a Merchant, cap. 3 ; and Zeno, p. 42. 
 * Diarbekr. 
 
74 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING DSSUN CASSANO. 
 
 leading a Christian life^ and after her death was buried in 
 the city of Amit,^ in the church of San Giorgio, where her 
 tomb is to be seen even to this day. The son, Jacob or 
 JuibiCj remained with his father, Assambei, and, when about 
 twenty years of age, the very night on which his father 
 died, was strangled by three other brothers by another 
 mother. His sisters, named the one Eliel and the other 
 Eziel, hearing of their brother's death, decided to fly; and, 
 after packing up their goods, went to Aleppo, and thence 
 to Damascus ; where they have been often seen by our 
 countrymen, one of them being still alive. Now, to return 
 to Caloianni, who thought, by giving his daughter as wife 
 to Assambei, that he would strengthen his country against 
 the enemy and remain in possession of Trebizond, I will 
 mention that the Turk quickly came down upon him with 
 his army, before he could obtain succour. The unhappy 
 monarch,^ not finding help on any side, was constrained to 
 give himself up to the enemy. Thence he was taken to 
 Constantinople and treated honourably enough, but died 
 before a year was over, in 1462.^ 
 
 Chap. II. — Pirahomat makes war on Abrain, his brother, in order to 
 take from him the kingdom of Caramania, and obtains his end by 
 the aid of the Grand Turk, against whom he afterwards rebels, and 
 flies to Persia. 
 
 The King Assambei afterwards had a war with the Otto- 
 man monarch on account of the kingdom of Caramania, to 
 which both preferred a claim. This kingdom was anciently 
 called Cilicia, but afterwards, and to the present time, called 
 
 1 Amid (Diarbekr.) The Church of San Giorgio, or Mar Jurjees, was 
 an old Jacobite church, but is now in ruins. See Zeno, p. 42. 
 
 * It was David Comnenus who was the last Emperor of Trebizond. 
 Calo Johannes, his elder brother, having died before the Turkish in- 
 vasion. 3 Trebizond was taken by Mahomet II in 1461. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 75 
 
 Caramania, from an Arab chief named Caraman, who^ in 
 course of time, had a descendant named Turuan, who had 
 seven sons. After his death these sons came to blows 
 amongst themselves, and five of them dying, there were two 
 left, Abrain and Pirahomat. Abrain,^ by having more ad- 
 herents, made himself master, and Pirahomat- fled to the 
 Grand Turk, who claimed relationship with them. Piraho- 
 mat, while in Constantinople, continually solicited the Turkish 
 monarch to give him aid to oust his brother and to make 
 him king, offering, in return, to be his subject. The Otto- 
 man monarch, seeing that this offer suited his purpose, 
 agreed, and gave him sufficient forces. Abrain, Prince of 
 Caramania, hearing this, made preparations to defend his 
 State. In the year 1467 the two armies met between Cara- 
 sar^ and a city called Aessar,^ a great slaughter taking place 
 on both sides. However, at length Pirahomat gained the 
 victory, and remained master of the country without any 
 opposition ; his brother turning to fly, fell from his horse, 
 and breaking his ribs, died from it. Pirahomat, however, 
 remained in peaceable possession of the throne for two years 
 only ; for it being the custom for all the Turkish barons to 
 go to visit the monarch once a year and to kiss his hand, 
 giving him presents in proportion to their incomes and 
 dignity, and for the monarch to caress them, and to give 
 them many presents, Pirahomat, not caring to observe this 
 custom like the others, the Turk sent to tell him to come to 
 his assistance with part of his forces, as he wished to march 
 against the Christians. But Pirahomat would not obey ; 
 wherefore the Turk, enraged at his disobedience, went in 
 person to attack him, and took from him part of the country 
 as far as the Cogno,^ putting in command his second son, 
 
 ^ Ibrahim. * Peer Ahmed. See Zeno, p. 15. 
 
 ' Shebban Kara Hissar. See Zeno, p. 23. * Niksar? 
 
 * The city of Konieh ; but the text denotes a river rather, probably 
 the Iris. 
 
76 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 named Mustafa Celebi,^ leaving a large force with him and 
 sending a good commander with a number of men to go on 
 occupying the rest of the country. Pirahomat, seeing that 
 he could not resist the Turkish forces, left some governors 
 in certain fortresses, departed from the country, and went 
 to Persia to the King Assambei. On his arrival in Taiiris 
 he was greatly welcomed, and his prayers for aid against 
 the enemy being favourably listened to, a force of about 
 forty thousand men was set in order. The commander was 
 named Yusuf,^ a man of great reputation, ability, and 
 courage, who, taking the field with the army, soon arrived 
 at the city of Toccat,^ and put the whole country to fire and 
 sword, burning the towns belonging to that city, not delay- 
 ing to attack fortresses, but went plundering and devastating 
 the country, so that every one fled to the fortresses. At 
 this time Mustafa, the son of the Turk, was sent with one 
 of his father^s generals, named Agmat Bassa,"* to take the 
 fortresses of Caramania, and was encamped before a strong 
 city named Lula, the inhabitants of which, unaccustomed 
 to hear the terrible sound of artillery, surrendered, and were 
 cruelly treated by Mustafa. Having placed a garrison in 
 the city and hearing that the Persian camp was in the 
 neighbourhood, but that Ussun Cassano was not there in 
 person, he retired to the Cogno, and sent his women and 
 goods away for safety, to a place four days' journey to 
 the west, towards Constantinople, named Sabi Carrahasar,^ 
 situated on a high mountain. The camp remained some 
 days at the Cogno, Avhen they, hearing of the approach 
 of the Persians, and not considering themselves strong 
 enough for resistance, retired to the city of Cuthey,^ where 
 Daut' Bassa, Beglerbeg of Natolia, happened to be collecting 
 
 1 Tchelebee or the noble, a common title among the Ottoman princes. 
 « Yusuf Khan, ^ Tocat. * Achmet Pasha. 
 
 * Afioom Kara Hissar. Zeno, p. 19. 
 6 Cutaych. ' Daoud. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 77 
 
 men to resist the Persians. The Grand Turk also had 
 crossed the strait with all his court and part of the Rouman 
 troops to join his other camp, being deceived as to the 
 strength of the enemy, who had been joined by some Cara- 
 manians and were marching boldly through the country. 
 
 Chap. III. — Mustafa comes to an engagement with the Persians who 
 had come with Pirahomat to defend Caramania, and routs them. 
 Ussun Cassano exhorts the Venetians to make war on the Turk and 
 to send him artillery. 
 
 Mustafa, hearing that Ussun Cassano was not there in 
 person, and that in all, both cavalry and infantry, there 
 were about fifty thousand men, taking leave of his father 
 with Agmat Bass^,^ and a force of sixty thousand men, the 
 greater part cavalry, set out against the Persians. The 
 enemy, hearing of this movement, advanced no further, but 
 retired to the country of Caramania to get reinforcements 
 and provisions. Now, the Turkish army riding forward in 
 great haste for several days, arrived not very far from where 
 the enemy were encamped. A force of four thousand 
 cavalry under a captain named Arnaut was sent in advance, 
 and at the dawn of day attacked the Persian camp, and 
 during the engagement the rest of the Turkish army came 
 up to the aid of the four thousand horse who had already 
 been roughly handled, Arnaut and more than two thousand 
 of his men being slain. The Persians, seeing their advantage 
 met the Turkish squadron boldly and showed great courage 
 in the contest. But after a great number had been slain on 
 both sides, about the third hour the Persians began to yield, 
 and were routed by the Turks ; Yusuf, the commander, and 
 other chiefs, were taken prisoners, while many others were 
 slain. The tents and baggage were captured with a great 
 booty in horses, camels, and other plunder. Pirahomat, 
 
 ' Achmet Pasha. 
 
78 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 Prince of Caramania, having the country in his favour, 
 found means to escape, but not feeling safe in his own 
 dominions, returned to Ussun Cassano in Persia. The 
 Turkish sovereign, hearing of this victory, caused great 
 feasts and rejoicings to be held in Constantinople, sending 
 many presents to his son Mustafa and his captains. After 
 this defeat the King Assambei sent an ambassador to per- 
 suade the Venetian rulers to make war on the Turk, since 
 the latter was coming in person against him. And, in ad- 
 dition, he requested artillery from them, which a short time 
 after was sent to Cyprus with their fleet, but arrived too 
 late, after Assambei had come to blows with the Turks, in 
 which action he had suffered a defeat and retired to Tauris, 
 where he was followed by Messer Josaphat Barbaro and the 
 artillery. 
 
 Chap. IV. — The preparations made by the Turk to go in person against 
 Ussun Cassano and the array of his army in the camp and on the 
 march. 
 
 The Turk having gained the victory and made himself 
 master of Caramania, perceiving that Ussun Cassano was 
 hostile to him, by giving aid to Pirahomat, in the year 1473 
 determined to show him that he was not in the least afraid 
 of him. This he had already done in the battle, but he re- 
 solved to do more, and make him feel his immense power. 
 Therefore, the following spring, he made preparations for 
 going in person against Ussun Cassano, ordering great 
 musters of men to be made. And when the time for open- 
 ing the campaign was come, in the above-mentioned year 
 he crossed the Strait of Constantinople, with his whole court, 
 into Asia. On arriving in Capjoadocia he halted in a plain 
 near a city called Amasia,^ the residence of Baiesit^ Celebi, 
 
 ' Amasia. See Zeno, p. 37. ^ Bajazet Tchelebee. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 79 
 
 the eldest son of the Turk. This plain is called Casouasi/ 
 which, in our language, signifies the plain of the goose ; it 
 can support great armies, and has great resources of water 
 and forage, as there are many towns round it. As this was 
 on the route the Sultan intended to take, it was determined 
 on as the rendezvous for the grand army. Having (as we 
 have already mentioned) ordered all his generals and captains 
 to be prepared, and at the appointed time, with everything 
 in readiness, to appear in this place, — it was done as he 
 commanded. But the Turkish monarch, knowing that this 
 enterprise was of the greatest importance, determined to 
 make all the preparations that the number of his men, the 
 scarcity of necessaries, and the safety of his country and 
 himself required. Therefore, of his three sons, he wished 
 the two elder ones to come on this enterprise, namely, 
 Baiesit the eldest, and Mustafa his second son; the third, 
 by name Gien,^ remained at Constantinople with good ad- 
 visers to watch over the safety of his realm. The army 
 being mustered and arranged in this plain of the goose, he 
 resolved on the order it was to hold in the camps and on the 
 road, and the means by which there might be no want of 
 any necessaries or comforts. 
 
 It was first resolved to make five principal commanders, 
 one of whom was the Turkish monarch at the head of hia 
 court, and other troops to the number of thirty thousand 
 infantry and cavalry. The second was his eldest son, 
 Baiesit, who had a following of another thirty thousand, 
 with his position on the right of his father. The third 
 was his second son, Mustafa, who also had thirty thou- 
 sand men, among whom were twelve thousand Walla- 
 chians from the Basha of Wallachia, under a chief named 
 Bataraba, and this column had its position on the left of the 
 Turk. The fourth was the Beglerbeg of Roumauia, named 
 
 1 Quzbvassi. The Goose's Plain. 
 '^ Djim or Zizim. See Zeno, p. 22. 
 
80 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 Asmurat/ of tlie family of the Palseologi ; and^ as he was 
 young, Maumet Bassa was given him as an adviser, as he 
 was the first, and considered the most prudent man of the 
 whole empire of the Turk ; he was a counsellor of the sove- 
 reign, as he had also been of Amurat, the father of the 
 present monarch. This column was sixty thousand strong, 
 comprising many Christians, Greeks, Albanians, and Sorians 
 in their number ; and this column had its post in front of 
 the Turk. The fifth commander was the Beglerbeg of 
 Natolia, named Daut Bassa, a man of authority and mature 
 discretion. The column was forty thousand strong, including 
 Mussulman infantry and cavalry, and their post was behind 
 the Grand Turk ; so that the Sultan, with his court, 
 remained in the midst surrounded by the four abovemen- 
 tioned columns. And the commands were that they should 
 pitch their tents, which are very numerous, according 
 to their rank, but without disturbing the order of the 
 march, or leaving their own divisions, arranging close 
 together like a fortified place ; but, that they should 
 always leave roads for passage in the camp, and in the 
 middle of each column a large space for a square, since in 
 each column was a market for cooked foods, forage, and 
 other comforts. There were besides in each column senes- 
 chals and marshals with full powers for keeping order and 
 providing against disturbances. Each of these four com- 
 manders was obliged to send out sentinels and to keep guard 
 in his division. Besides the five columns we have men- 
 tioned, there was also another of the Aganzi,^ who are not 
 paid, except by the booty they may gain in guerilla warfare. 
 These men do not encamp with the rest of the army, but go 
 traversing, pillaging, and wasting the country of the enemy 
 on every side, and yet keep up a great and excellent dis- 
 cipline among themselves, both in the division of the plunder 
 and in the execution of all their enterprises. In this 
 ' Amuratli. * Ikindjis. 
 
BY GIOVAN MAEIA ANGIOLELLO. 81 
 
 division were thirty thousand men, remarkably well raountedj 
 and as a commander they had given them a valiant chief 
 named Maumut Aga. 
 
 Chap. V. — The supplies of provisions made by the chief, Arphaemiler, 
 that the army might be in plenty. 
 
 In the matter of provisions great care and diligence were 
 required to keep the army in plenty, and for this, two Arphae- 
 miler (as the chief commissainat officers are called, who have 
 two hundred and fifty men under each) were appointed. Their 
 duty is, when the Grrand Turk takes the field to send word 
 on a day in advance, to let the people know that the army 
 is about to encamp in that region. And the governors and 
 rulers of those districts provide abundant provisions for the 
 army ; and people of every condition come willingly in order a 
 to find a market for their produce, as well as for the sake of 
 fellowship and a welcome, being perfectly sure that no vio- 
 lence will be offered them ; and woe to anyone who dares to 
 do them violence, as he would be severely punished. There 
 also follow the camp many sutlers, as butchers, bakers, cooks, 
 and many others, who go about buying goods, and bringing 
 them to the camp to make a profit, and in this traffic great 
 and rich men also engage. And those who pursue this trade 
 are favoured and protected by the authorities in all the things ^ 
 they do for the accommodation of the camp ; so that at all 
 times when the army is in the field, if the roads are not 
 blocked up by the enemy, there is the greatest abundance. 
 
 When the Turkish monarch wishes to go against the 
 enemy and begins to leave his territories, and plenty of pro- 
 visions are not easily obtained, they determine on the road 
 they are to take, as when in this case against Ussun Cassano 
 we entered the country and advanced ten days' journey from 
 the Turkish frontiers. All safe communication with the 
 frontiers was cut off for three months; so that Gien Sultan, 
 
82 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 his sorij to whom was left the Government of the State at 
 Constantinople, remained more than forty days without news 
 of his father or of the army. At length it was rumoured 
 that we were all routed and cut to pieces, which he behoved, 
 and endeavoured to gain over to his allegiance the governors 
 of the fortresses as well as the other magistrates, with 
 which tlie Turk became so indignant, that he put to death 
 the counsellors who had advised Gien to do so. One of these 
 was named Carestra Solciman and the other Nasufabege. 
 Now, when it happens that the army is past the frontiers 
 and in the enemy's country, and there is need of provisions, 
 these Arphaemiler have the charge of sending to all parts 
 of their sovereign's dominions, where they know there is 
 plenty of grain, and of ordering each city to send so many 
 camel loads of com and barley. The cities, with their terri- 
 tories, are bound to obey and to furnish their overseers with 
 the quantity of corn and barley which has been imposed 
 upon them. Besides, they must send sufficient provisions 
 for the use of the men and animals, who convey it on the 
 way, so that the victuals ordered by these lords for the army 
 be not aught diminished, but that at the time of distribution 
 there be found as much as was ordered, otherwise, the com- 
 munities would suffer reproofs and loss. When these over- 
 seers arrive in the camp at their appointed time, they pre- 
 sent themselves to the officials of the abovementioned masters 
 of the camp, who, taking note of their arrival, assign to 
 them their places of encampment. Similarly, they take note 
 of all the loads of provisions, and do not touch them without 
 the order of these Arphaemiler, and do not distribute them 
 while they can obtain provisions in any other way. And 
 when the roads are blocked up, and there is a want of pro- 
 visions, the seneschals of the camp go to these Saraphaemiler 
 masters of the camp, and mention that such and such dis- 
 tricts are in want of corn and barley, and these lords con- 
 sign one or more of the overseers with his convoy to them. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 83 
 
 sending one of their clei-ks with them, while sometimes 
 a commissary of the seneschals of the camp accompanies 
 them, when, putting the provisions into the market with 
 prices set upon them, they thus sell them, taking equally 
 good reckoning of the quantity of grain as of the money 
 received, lest they should be cheated. After the sale, 
 the money is handed over to the overseer in the name of the 
 community, and receipts taken for the quantity of supplies 
 sold, and of the money consigned. When the overseer 
 arrives at his home he hands over the money to the com- 
 munity, which is distributed in proportion to the quan- 
 tity of supplies each man has forwarded to the camp, and as 
 such good order reigns, the supply of necessaries is easy. 
 And it is a thing almost incredible to those who have not 
 witnessed it, to see the vast numbers of camels carrying 
 provisions, more especially in this expedition against Ussun 
 Cassano ; in which the Turk, in addition to the ordinary 
 pay, gave an advance of three months, that is, one quarter, 
 according to the person's rank. He also gave assistance to 
 the paymasters, as they have the payment of the incomes 
 assigned to them. 
 
 Chap. VI. — The Grand Turk holds a consultation as to the route to be 
 followed by the army on leaving Amasia ; of the places passed on 
 the way ; and of the dromedaries bringing presents from the Lord 
 of Sit and the Soldan. 
 
 Everything necessary for the journey being got ready, they 
 held a consultation about the route to be followed in going 
 against Ussun Cassano. There was at this consultation 
 the great chief, Jussuf, with other great captains of Ussun 
 Cassano, who, as I have mentioned before, were taken 
 prisoners the previous year, 1472, when the army was routed 
 at Begisar J the Grand Turk had promised to liberate them, 
 if he found that they told the truth about the things that 
 
84 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 were asked them of the route to be pursued; neverthe- 
 less, they were conducted with the army under a safe 
 escortj and were often questioned about the passes, pro- 
 visions, water, and encampments. The Turk, also by means 
 of his attendants, treated with and brought to his camp 
 some merchants and other persons accustomed to this 
 journey ; and they also were examined separately on these 
 matters. Similarly, the Aganzi,^ scouring the country and 
 making prisoners of people well acquainted with the country, 
 sent them to the court, where they were likewise examined, 
 and the information given by all being then weighed, they 
 advanced with the greatest caution. 
 
 All the necessary preparations being made, the Grand 
 Turk moved the array from the Plain of the Goose and from 
 the city of Amasia,~ and advanced towards Toccat, a city of 
 Cappadociaj and the army following its route arrived at the 
 city of Civas,^ situated near the mountains, and near it crossed 
 a large river named the Lais/ flowing from the mountains of 
 Trebizond, over which is an immense stone bridge. Leaving 
 this city on the left, and having crossed this river, we 
 entered a valley of Mount Taurus and arrived at a fortress 
 called Nicher,^ belonging to King Ussun Cassano. Here 
 the Aganzi were attacked by the enemy, and a small skirmish 
 took place, in which as many were killed on one side as on 
 the other, and twelve prisoners were brought to the head- 
 quarters of the Turk. The rest of the garrison, not waiting 
 to be attacked, departed,leaving the castle undamaged, where 
 the army arrived, but not delaying to besiege fortified places, 
 proceeded on its way, leaving on the left not very far dis- 
 tant a city called Coiliuasar,^ situated among mountains in 
 a valley surrounded by many villages. Still advancing, we 
 
 ^ The Ikindjis, irregular troops. 
 
 2 Araasia, birthplace of Strabo and Mithridates. 
 
 =• Sivas. See Zeno, p. 23. ■■ The Iris or Kizzil Irmak. 
 
 5 Kiksar. « Koili Ilissar. See Zeno, p. 23. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 85 
 
 arrived on the slope of a high mountain at another city 
 named Careafar/ where alum is found ; the army encamped 
 half a mile from this city^ and the cavalry scoured and 
 ravaged the country^ so that the greater part of the peasants, 
 with their cattle and goods, fled to the strongholds in the 
 mountains and other safe places. Having raised the camp 
 and continued our march, we arrived at a large plain, in 
 which is the city of Argian/ on a site a little elevated above 
 the plain, which is called the country of Arsingan.^ But, 
 as the citv was not fortified, the inhabitants had fled across 
 the river Euphrates. Nevertheless, some few remained, 
 among whom was found, on the arrival of the Aganzi, an 
 aged Armenian, in a church, surrounded by many books ; 
 and, although those who found him called to him several 
 times, he did not answer, but continued most attentively 
 reading the books before him, and the anger of the soldiers 
 being aroused, he was killed and the church burnt over him, 
 with which the Grand Turk, on hearing it, was very indig- 
 nant ; as it was said that this man was a great philosopher. 
 Continuing our journey through this country of Arsingan, 
 which is a part of Lesser Armenia, and approaching the 
 river Euphrates not very far from Malacia,'* which journey 
 we performed in eight days, and the arm.y having already 
 halted about the hour of nine, behold there arrived eleven 
 dromedaries coming with presents from the lord of Sit, and 
 from the Soldan, and on these dromedaries were men closely 
 wrapped up in white cloth, as othei'wise they could not bear 
 riding these animals, as the great pace would shake their per- 
 sons too much. Of these eleven men some were white, and 
 others black, and the first of them had in his hand an arrow, 
 on the point of which was fixed a note ; all the others had 
 
 1 Shebban Kara Hissar. The alum mines are still worked, but yield 
 little revenue. See Zeno, p. 23. 
 
 2 Probably Egin. See Zeno, p. 23. 
 
 3 Erzingan. •* Malatia. 
 
86 LIFE AND ACTS OP KING USSDN CASSANO. 
 
 before them a covered box, with various sweetmeats inside ; 
 others carried bread and cooked meat, wliicb was still hot. 
 When they arrived at the pavilion of the Turk, without 
 alighting or stopping, they put down the note and the boxes, 
 and said that they had come ninety miles in six hours. Their 
 answer was given them without speaking, in another note 
 fixed on the same arrow ; and when they departed, it seemed 
 as if they disappeared before our eyes, so marvellous is the 
 speed of those animals. 
 
 Chap. VII. — The Grand Turk, arriving at the river Euphrates, deter- 
 mines to cross, and orders Asmurat to force a passage with his men, 
 whereupon he is defeated by the Persians. 
 
 Now on arriving at the river Euphrates, and march- 
 ing north-east along, its bank, we perceived that Ussuncas- 
 sano had arrived with his array on the other side, at the spot 
 where he thought that the Turk would cross. The river was 
 wider in this place — divided into many streams by banks of 
 mud ; here the armies encamped opposite each other, with 
 the stream separating them. Ussuncassano had an immense 
 army, and with him were three of his sons, the first named 
 Calul,^ the second TJgurlimehemet,^ and the third Zeinel, 
 and also Pirahomat, the prince of Caramania, and many other 
 lords and men of various nationalities, namely, Persians, 
 Parthians, Albanians (?), Georgians, and Tartars. On Us- 
 suncassano's seeing the Turkish army encamped, he was 
 quite astonished at the multitude, and stood some time with- 
 out speaking, and then said in the Persian language, "Bay- 
 cabexen node riadir," which means, " 0, son of a whore, 
 what a sea \" comparing the Turkish army to an ocean. On 
 the same day that the armies encamped in this place, about 
 nine, it was decided to attempt a passage and to attack the 
 
 ' Khalul. ^ Called Unghermaumet in Zeno. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 87 
 
 enemy, and that Asmurat,^ Beglerbeg of Romania should at- 
 tempt it with all his men^ and, as he was young, Mahumut 
 Bassa was given him as a colleague. Then having raised 
 the standards, sounded the drums, the naccare, and other 
 warlike instruments, they began to cross, swimming over 
 certain streams, and going from sandbank to sandbank, and 
 so arrived nearly at the other side of the river. 
 
 Ussuncassano, seeing that the Turkish troops began to 
 cross, and were already near his bank, sent a body of his own 
 men against them, who also entered a good way into the 
 river ; but as a deep stream separated them, they began the 
 fight with arrows. Still the Turks, wishing to cross, made 
 great exertions ; and a part of them crossing the stream, 
 came to blows with the Persians, the fight lasting more than 
 three hours, with great slaughter on both sides. The Per- 
 sians being nearest their bank of the river, easily received 
 support from their own people ; while the Turks, being only 
 able to cross by a narrow ford, arrived a few at a time, 
 swimming over with their horses, many also being drowned 
 by the rush of water which carried them away from the ford. 
 At length the Turks were overcome by the Persians, and 
 made to retreat, recrossing the stream in their flight. Ma- 
 humut Bassa, who was on a bank, half a mile distant from 
 the place where they were fighting, not only did not give 
 them assistance, but retreated across several streams to ano- 
 ther sandbank. The Persians pursued the Turks, killing 
 and taking prisoners ; and the Turks in their flight got 
 into disorder, and blocked up the passage, many being 
 drowned by falling into the whirlpools of which there are a 
 great many in this river, and among others Asmurat, Beg- 
 lerbeg of Romania. When he, with many others, fell into 
 a large whirlpool, the Turks, and in particular his slaves and 
 retainers, endeavouring to assist him, made head, and at- 
 tacked the Persians again. And numbers of them being 
 
 ' Amurath Palseologus. 
 
88 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 killed and drowned^ the Persians crossing several streams in 
 pursuit of the Turks, arrived at a muddy bank on which 
 Mahumut Bassa had formed many squadrons, and where 
 the contest was renewed. 
 
 But the Persians, with all their efforts, could gain no 
 ground in the hand to hand fight that ensued with the 
 troops of Mahumut, neither party gaining the least advan- 
 tage. And as the evening began to come on, and the day 
 to close, the Turk, who the whole time with all the 
 rest of the army had been under arms on the bank of the 
 river, sounded a reti^eat, and Ussuncassano, who had been 
 also under arms on the other bank, did the same. And the 
 retreat being sounded on both sides, each withdrew without 
 any further attack ; still Ussuncassano had the best of the 
 fight, as of his men fewer were killed, but few drowned, and 
 not one taken prisoner. But on our side, when the muster 
 was made, there were twelve thousand men missing, among 
 whom were several persons of note. Sentinels were posted 
 on the banks of the river, the Persians doing the same, as 
 both parties were apprehensive of an attack. 
 
 The Turkish monarch was very indignant that Mahumut 
 Bassa had retired from one bank to another instead of giving 
 assistance to Asmurat, and suspected that he had done so 
 on purpose, not being very friendly with him. Neverthe- 
 less, the Turk did not at this time show ill-will towards 
 Mahumut, as neither the time nor place appeared conveni- 
 ent, but principally because this Mahumut^ was beloved by 
 all; dissimulating now, he awaited the time that he could 
 punish him without risk to himself, which happened six 
 months later, when he caused him to be strangled with a 
 bowstring. 
 
 1 Knolles, in his History of the Turks, says that a great Pasha Maho- 
 met was assassinated by the janissaries on the accession of Bajazet II to 
 the throne, but makes no mention of this incident. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARFA ANQIOLELLO. 89 
 
 Chap. VIII. — Ussun Cussano pursues the Turk, who, after his defeat, 
 returns to his country, and a battle takes place, in which, by the 
 flight of Ussun Cassano from the army, the Persians are routed, and 
 the Grand Turk remains victorious. 
 
 Having suffered this defeat, the Turk became very appre- 
 hensive, and determined to lead his army back to his coun- 
 try by the shortest route ; and, to console his soldiers, be- 
 sides their usual pay, he gave them another advance, making 
 them a present of the former one which he had given 
 at his departure. Also he liberated all his slaves that were 
 in the camp, on the condition that none should abandon him, 
 but should serve him like the other troops, who are not 
 slaves, and who can do what they like with their own ; he a 
 made many other concessions to the captains. The army 
 having started, we marched along the bank of the river, 
 and the Persians did the same on the other side, not attempt- 
 ing to cross, but keeping on their guard, seeing that the 
 Turkish army was still larger than theirs ; nevertheless, as 
 was afterwards reported, Ussuncassano was incited by his 
 sons and the other commanders to cross the river and attack 
 us, as we were in flight in consequence of the defeat we had 
 sustained, many consultations being held about it. At the 
 end of about ten days the Turkish forces, having turned 
 away from the river, with the city of Baybret^ on their right, 
 among the mountains which separate Greater and Lesser 
 Armenia, took their way towards the north-west, entering 
 a valley on the route to Trebizond. At the second halt we 
 made after entering the valley, at the end of August, at the 
 fourteenth hour of the day, behold the Persians appeared on 
 the mountains on our right." 
 
 Then the Turk faced round towards the enemy, and gained 
 the heights, but first fortified the camp, leaving the brother 
 of the ruler of Scandeloro, named Eustraf, to guard it and 
 ' Baiboort. See Zeno, p. 26. * Tabeada. 
 
90 LIFE AND ACTS OP KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 the baggage-waggons. All the arrangements being made, 
 he mai'ched by the mountains towards the enemy, placing 
 Daut Bassa Beglerbeg of Natolia, with his whole column, 
 and all those of Romania who remained from the first rout 
 in the van, Bajesit, the Grand Turk's eldest son, being on 
 the right of his father, and Mustafa, the second, on the left. 
 Thus marching over mountains and rocky ground, we ar- 
 rived at a valley on the other side of which the Persians 
 were drawn up, with a very extended line, opposite which 
 the Grand Turk had his men arrayed. Then both sides 
 sounded a countless number of naccare, drums, and other 
 warlike instruments, the noise and din being so great that 
 one had to hear it to imagine it. The slopes of the valley 
 where the armies fronted each other were easy of ascent and 
 descent ; it was a quarter of a mile wide and rather long, 
 in a wild situation among mountains. 
 
 Here began a stubborn contest, first one party and then 
 the other repulsing the enemy, each giving assistance to 
 their own side wherever the need was greatest, until Pira- 
 homat, prince of Caramania, who was on Ussuncassano's 
 right, after a fierce resistance, was defeated by Mustafa, son 
 of the Grand Turk, and recoiling on the flank of Ussun- 
 cassano, who, fearing to be surrounded, which might easily 
 have happened, from the superiority of the Turks on every 
 side, and principally on the right, where the great captain 
 Mustafa fought, began to get very much afraid, mounted 
 an Arab mare, and in a very short time took to flight. In 
 this way they were routed and chased as far as the tents, 
 which were nearly ten miles ofi" in a plain, and some of the 
 prisoners taken at the rout of the fords were rescued.' The 
 tents were also plundered and an immense booty taken, and 
 among the slain was a son of Ussuncassano named Zeinel, 
 whose head was presented to the Turk by a foot-soldier 
 
 * How this happened it is not easy to understand, as Zeno says the 
 Persian king pursued the Turks with only a flying column. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 91 
 
 ■who had killed him in the battle ; since this prince Zeinel, 
 leaving his father when he mounted the mare, entered among 
 the infantry, and was surrounded and slain with many of 
 his followers. This was a great rout, about ten thousand 
 of the Persians being killed, and many more taken pri- 
 soners, of whom some were put to death each day. 
 
 The night was all spent in rejoicing, with bonfires, 
 and music, and shouting. But because Mustafa the Sul- 
 tanas son had pursued Ussun Cassano, and it was now the 
 second hour of the night, the Turk became anxious, and 
 sent some couriers after him, with whom he returned. His 
 father came out of his tent with a cup of gold full of julep, 
 which he presented to him with his own hand, kissing him 
 and commending him greatly for his bearing and valour. 
 This battle lasted eight continuous hours before the Persians 
 were put to rout, and if it had not been for Mustafa and 
 Ussun Cassano's cowardly flight, they might not have lost, o 
 In this battle, of Turks there were in all about one thousand 
 killed.^ There were found in the baggage- waggons of Ussun 
 Cassano some vases of gold, with their sheaths covered with 
 copper, and other vases of gold and silver ; there were also 
 some fine suits of armour, made at Syras,~ quite master- 
 pieces, like mirrors, with gilt borders wonderfully polished 
 and a marvel to behold. They also captured a thousand 
 horses and a great number of camels. I must not omit to 
 mention that in this battle Ugurlimehemet, Ussun Cassano's 
 second son, came with a great number of men to assail our 
 camp, but he also was repulsed by the lord Cusers^ and the 
 rest of the garrison, and so much so that he narrowly escaped 
 being taken prisoner, but got away through his acquaintance 
 with the country. Thus if Ussun Cassano had remained 
 content with his first victory, the Turk would have gone 
 
 ' Zeno says fourteen thousand. 
 
 " Shiraz ; it has still a great manufacture of sword-blades and armour. 
 
 » See p. 89. Eustraf ? 
 
92 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 o away ignominiouslyj and he would not have lost the terri- 
 tories he did. 
 
 Having rested the army for three days, the Turk resolved 
 to go back again by the way he had come. Therefore, rais- 
 ing his camp, he marched towards Baibret,^ where, on 
 account of the rout of Ussun Cassano, he found that the 
 inhabitants of this city and of the surrounding country had 
 fled to the strongholds in the mountains. Nevertheless, the 
 Aganzi took some prisoners and plunder, and some of these 
 Aganzi were assailed by the Persians, and the prisoners and 
 booty recaptured. On being pursued they retired to the 
 city of Baibret. And the Persians following in pursuit, the 
 Aganzi defended the place, the whole of one night and 
 half of the folloAving day, until the news came to the army, 
 when relief was sent to them. The Persians hearing this, 
 went off, not wishing to await the attack. Proceeding on 
 the march, we arrived on the banks of the great river 
 Euphi'ates, finding the castles and villages all abandoned, 
 and a good many of them burnt. Coming to the ford, the 
 Aganzi crossed without opposition, and traversed the coun- 
 try on the opposite shoi-e for one day\s journey in distance, 
 seizing some small flocks as booty. When they returned to 
 the camp we directed our route towards Erfenia,^ a city in 
 front, which had been abandoned ; here we fixed our camp 
 for one night, and four days after leaving it we arrived at 
 Carassar,^ which is situated on a black mountain, and has a 
 very strong natural position, from having high precipices all 
 tound, except on one side, where there is one place that one 
 can get up to the gate by a tortuous and rocky path. Hav- 
 ing encamped here, the people of the place stood silently on 
 the walls provided with sharp pikes and many bows ; at first 
 they would not listen or speak to any one, but fired and hit 
 everyone who approached, so that they were obliged to 
 
 ' Baiboort. ■ Erzeroum or Erzingan. 
 
 5 Shebban Kara Ilissar. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 93 
 
 direct five cannon against them. Two of these were drawn 
 up a hill not very far from the city, and did great harm. 
 And after they had bombarded it fifteen days, and killed a 
 considerable number of the people of the place, the latter 
 were obliged to capitulate. The governor of it was named 
 Aarap,^a retainer of prince Zeinel, the son of Ussun Cassano, 
 who was killed in the above-mentioned battle, and who pos- 
 sessed this Sangiacato^ or territory. Aarap, hearing that 
 his master was dead arid his head being shown him, wept 
 bitterly, and then, with some of the inhabitapts, determined 
 to make sure of his life and property. The Turk promised 
 him the conditions, and the seventeenth day after we en- 
 camped they surrendered the place, and we returned, taking 
 Aarap with us, who, however, was shortly afterwards re- 
 stored to liberty, the Turk giving him a Sangiaccato on the 
 borders of Hungary. In fact, if he had held out eight days 
 longer, we should have been forced to raise the siege from 
 want of provisions, and principally of fodder for the horses, 
 which had to be fed on oak leaves and twigs cut small. 
 
 The army, marching thence, came to the city of Coliasar^, 
 which town, hearing that the strong fortress of Carcasar had 
 surrendered, and that prince Zeinel had been killed, sent 
 ambassadors and surrendered to the Turk, while Nieser* did 
 the same. All necessary provisions having been made for 
 their government, the army proceeded and arrived at Sivas. 
 
 Chap. IX. — Assambei, being defeated, returns to Tauris; the following 
 year he goes into the country ; his son rebels, and flies to the Grand 
 Turk ; but Ussun Cassano, causing a report to be spread of his 
 death, induces him to return to Tauris, where he causes him to be 
 put to death. 
 
 After this defeat Assambei returned to Tauris. In 1473 
 M. Josaphat Bai'baro arrived, who relates that the lord 
 
 ' Called Darap by Zeno. ^ Sanjak. 
 
 ^ Koili, or Koyumlu Hissar. < Niksar. 
 
94 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 Assambei, after remaining quiet that year, in the following 
 year, 1474, determined to go with his people into the coun- 
 try, as was his wont. He accordingly asked this M. Josa- 
 phat if he would accompany him, and as he said he would, 
 they therefore set out together. In the month of May, 
 therefore, the lord Ussun Cassano set out with his troops, 
 the number being twenty- five thousand foot-soldiers, eighteen 
 thousand country-people, three thousand tents, six thousand 
 camels, thirty thousand baggage mules, five thousand riding 
 mules, two thousand baggage horses, five thousand women, 
 three thousand boys and maid-servants, and many animals 
 of different kinds. These all went into the country, and 
 found plenty of pasture. This was his standing army ; I 
 leave you to judge of the number he could levy on an emer- 
 gency. 
 
 "While the lord Assambei was in the country near Sul- 
 tania, the news came to him that Ugurlimehemet, his son, 
 had seized Syras. The king Assambei having heard this, 
 immediately raised his camp and marched towards Syras. 
 His son, hearing that his father was coming against him 
 with a large army, fled, and leaving his dominions, escaped 
 with his wife and all his family into the Turkish territory, 
 where he sent messengers to beg a safe-conduct from the 
 Sultan Baiesit, who had his residence not far from Ussun 
 Cassano's frontiers. Baiesit immediately sent to let his 
 father know, who approved of giving the safe-conduct, but 
 told him that by no means should he go out of the territory 
 of Amasia to meet him, but should show him every other 
 honour, while still keeping an eye upon his actions, from 
 fear of Persian treachery. And you may know that the city 
 of Syras,^ which this same Ugurlimehemet had taken from 
 his father, is the most important city of Persia on the fron- 
 tiers near Chirmas,^ and is walled with stone. It is twenty 
 
 ' Shiraz, a far more important town then than it is now. 
 ^ Kerman. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 96 
 
 miles in circumference, and has two hundred thousand inha- 
 bitants. It has a great trade, with manufactures of arms, 
 saddles, bridles, and all equipments of men, as well as horses, 
 and supplying Soria,^ Constantinople, and all the East with 
 them. Ugurlimehemet having thus escaped to Sivas, sent 
 his wife with his small family in advance, to avert every sus- 
 picion his coming might awaken, while he himself followed 
 with three hundred horsemen. He was favourably received 
 by Baiesit, who embraced him and made sumptuous feasts 
 in his honour. Some days after, Ugurlimehemet left with 
 his troop, and having arrived at Usuhuder, the Grand Turk 
 sent a guard of honour to meet him, with whom he pro- 
 ceeded to Constantinople. Here he was honourably lodged, 
 and provided with sustenance both for himself and suite at 
 the expense of the Grand Turk, who then opened his court, 
 and arriving at the place in which he was accustomed to give 
 audiences, Ugurlimehemet came to the court to visit the 
 monarch whom he had not yet seen. The Grand Turk sent 
 councillors and captains to meet him, and commanded that 
 he should be permitted to come on horseback into the second 
 seraglio, which it is the custom for no one to enter except 
 the monarch ; and that when he dismounted he should be 
 admitted to his presence girt with his sword, which no one 
 is permitted to wear, however great a lord he may be, 
 not even the princes themselves. On the entry of Ugurli- 
 mehemet, the Grand Turk rose from his seat, and greeted 
 him kindly, and made him sit down beside him, where they 
 conversed on different subjects for the space of an hour, 
 Mahomet calling him " son'', and making many proposals to 
 him. On this occasion he left without asking any safe- 
 conduct or any other favour ; but after visiting the monarch 
 several times, he thought fit to ask for a command on the 
 Hungarian frontiers, promising to be always a good and 
 faithful subject. The Grand Turk replied that he would 
 
 ' Syria. 
 
96 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 make him King- of Persia in the room of his father^ who was 
 his enemy ; and giving him troops and means of commencing 
 operations, sent him to Sivas, on the boundary between the 
 Grand Turk and Ussun Cassano, Ugurlimehemet having 
 arrived tDn the frontiers, was but a short time before he began 
 to make ini'oads and forays, doing great damage to his 
 father's territory, who sent troops to protect his dominions, 
 without, however, showing much interest in this expedition 
 against his son. On the contrary, he feigned great grief 
 and mortification on account of his rebellion, and then gave 
 out that he had fallen ill. He then retired to his apartments 
 for some days, and would not allow himself to be visited by 
 anybody but those in whom he could trust. While thus 
 dissembling, a report was spread abroad to Constantinople, 
 that Ussun Cassano had fallen dangerously ill from melan- 
 choly, on account of the rebellion of his son, and a rumour 
 of his having got worse being whispered about, some of his 
 most faithful adherents, as had been arranged, announced 
 his death, while messengers were sent to Ugurlimehemet 
 with letters and tokens, as is customary, giving informa- 
 tion of the death of his father, and beg-o-ino- him to re- 
 turn and take possession of the throne, before either of his 
 brothers, Halul or Jacob, ^ could do so. And in order 
 to give greater semblance to the affair, funeral rites were 
 paid, and his death was really believed in throughout the 
 country. Ugurlimehemet having received three different 
 messages, with secret pledges such as are used in affairs of 
 state, thought it safe to go to Tauris. He arrived there in 
 a few days with a small escort, and on going to the palace to 
 make himself sovereign, was taken to where his father was 
 in perfect health, who ordered him to be confined, and after- 
 wards put to death, without showing any consideration for 
 his being his son. 
 
 ' Khaleel and Yakoob. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO, 97 
 
 Chap. X. — Assambei goes to ravage the country of the Georgians, and 
 having made them pay tribute, returns to Tauris, where he dies. 
 One of his captains defeats the Mamelukes. 
 
 These things kappening in the year 1475, Assambei re- 
 mained at peace till 1477, when he assembled a large army, 
 giving out that he was going to attack the Ottoman, when 
 in fact he meant to ravage Georgia. His troops con- 
 sisted of about twenty or four and twenty thousand horse- 
 men, and about eleven thousand foot soldiers. I have already 
 made mention of the numbers of women, children, camp- 
 followers^ and others; so I shall say nothing about them. 
 Marching for seven days in a westerly direction, they turned 
 off to the right towards Georgia, which country the king 
 wished to plunder, because the Georgians had given him 
 no assistance in his war with the Turk. According to their 
 custom, he sent forward his light cavalry, about five thou- 
 sand strong, who on their march went burning and cutting 
 down the woods, as they had to cross mountains and pass 
 through immense forests. After two days' journey through 
 Georgia^ we found a castle named Tifiis, commanding a pass, 
 but deserted, which we took without any resistance. And 
 advancing to Geri- and other places in the vicinity, he sacked 
 them and also ravaged a great part of the country. The 
 chief, Pancratio, with the King of Congiurre, which borders 
 on Georgia, and seven other lords, sent to sue for peace, 
 and agreed to pay a tribute of sixteen thousand ducats, 
 while Assambei promised to leave the country free, except 
 Tiflis,^ which he wished to keep from the importance of its ^ 
 position. The prisoners taken were about five thousand. 
 The peace being made, and the payment of tribute being 
 
 ' Angiolello had evidently by this time left the Turkish camp and 
 joined the Persians. ^ Gori. 
 
 ' Tiflis, the present capital Russian Trans- Caucasia, on the river Kur, 
 was founded in 1063. It has a population of fifty thousand, and, under 
 the Russian sway, has become almost like a European town. 
 
98 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 settled^ Assambei returned to Tauris, and died in the year 
 1478, leaving four sons : three by one mother and one by 
 the Princess of Trebizond. This prince, who was twenty 
 years of age, was strangled by his three brothers^ who 
 divided the realm among them, after which the second, 
 named Jacob Patissa,^^ made a coalition with the eldest, 
 named Marco f whereupon the youngest fled, and Jacob 
 made himself sovereign, ascending the throne in 1479. 
 
 In the year 1482 (?) it happened that the people of Amit,^ 
 the principal city of Diarbec, heard that the Mamelukes had 
 seized and plundered Orfa,^ doing great damage to all the 
 country. The general of Assambei determined to go against 
 them, crossed with his troops some mountains between 
 Amit and Orfa, and entered the plains of Orfa, three days' 
 journey from Amit. The Mamelukes hearing this put them- 
 selves in order of battle, and the two armies marching to 
 meet each other, at length joined battle, the contest lasting 
 till midday. Though both armaes in turn repulsed the 
 enemy, the Persians came off victors, cutting to pieces more 
 than half of the Mamelukes, with manv lords. The Persians 
 following up their victory, advanced to Albir,^ and took it 
 with many other fortresses, finding immense booty; they then 
 returned to Tauris, where they found that the King Assam- 
 bei had died on the eve of Epiphany in the year 1487 (1478). 
 
 Chap. XI. — Jacob, the son of Assambei, on ascending the throne takes 
 a wife of a wicked disposition, who, to raise her paramour to the 
 throne, gives the king poison, which also causes her own death and 
 that of her son. 
 
 Jacob Patissa, as I have already mentioned, after the 
 death of his father, made himself master of Tauris and 
 
 ' Padishah. 
 
 * Khaleel is generally called the eldest of Czun Hassan's sons. 
 ' Amida, present Diarbekr. 
 
 * Orfa. See Travels of a Merchant^ cap. 2. 
 
 ' Birjik, or Bir, ancient Apamea. See Travels of a Merchant, cap. 2. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 99 
 
 Persia, and took for wife a daughter of the lord of San 
 Mutra, who was of a lascivious disposition, and being en- 
 amoured of one of the principal lords of the court, sought 
 wickedly to put her husband to death, that after his decease 
 this lord might succeed to the throne. Then, having 
 arranged a plan with her paramour for murdering Jacob, she 
 prepared poison. The adulteress prepared a bath, as 
 usual, with perfumes, knowing her husband's habits, who, 
 with his son of eight or nine years of age, entered the bath 
 and remained from the twenty-second hour of the day, till 
 sunset. When Jacob Sultan came out and entered the 
 ladies' seraglio, his wife, who had prepared a poisoned cup, 
 knowing that Jacob was always accustomed to drink on 
 coming out of the bath, came to meet him with a gold cup 
 in which she had put the poison, appearing more friendly 
 than usual. But he, seeing her face rather pale, became 
 suspicious, as he had already seen some evil symptoms in 
 her that day ; but the wicked woman had dissimulated and 
 excused herself so well, that he partly believed her, although 
 his suspicions were not altogether cleared up. Therefore, 
 when the lady came to meet him with such a pallid counte- 
 nance holding the cup, Jacob commanded her to taste it 
 first. The terrified woman could not refuse, and after she 
 had drunk, her husband drank also, giving some to the little 
 boy. This happened at the twenty-fourth hour of the day, 
 and so noxious was the beverage, that by midnight they 
 were all dead. The death of these three personages being 
 announced the following day, all the great lords were thrown 
 into consternation, and also the whole of Persia. Many of 
 Jacob's relatives seized different places, as you shall hear. 
 After the death of Jacob Patissa, there being no other son 
 of Assambei, the throne was seized by a lord, a relation of 
 Jacob, named Julauer, who, although he reigned three 
 years, did nothing of importance. To him succeeded a Bay- 
 
100 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 singir/ who reigned two years. Rustan, a youth about 
 twenty years of age, succeeded him and reigned seven 
 years ; in his time the father of the Sophi was killed, as the 
 king himself was afterwards by the hands of a lord with the 
 connivance of his own mother, with whom this lord, named 
 Agmat,^ was in love, who, after the death of Rustan, made 
 himself king, and reigned five months. After Rustan's 
 murder his troops joined one of his captains, named Carabes, 
 who lived at Van, and who, hearing of the king's death and 
 the succession, after biding his time, marched to Tauris, 
 met this Agmat, and cut him to pieces. The kingdom now 
 came to a youth named Aluan,^a relation of Ussun Cassano, 
 who lived at Amit, whence he was summoned by the popular 
 voice, and made king, but reigned only a short time, being 
 expelled by the Sophi. 
 
 Chap. XII. — Secchaidar, the father of the Sophi, marches against 
 Rustan King of Persia, but is defeated and slain ; Rustan sends to 
 take his wife and three sons, and gives them in custody, but the 
 latter escape. 
 
 During the reign of Rustan in Tauris, Sechaidar,* the 
 father of the Sophi, who had married a daughter of the King 
 Assambei, through his wife, became rightful heir of the 
 realm of Persia.^ He resolved to raise an army and drive 
 out Rustan, and for this purpose collected a number of 
 Sufiaveans, who all followed him as their chief and also be- 
 cause he was considered a saint ; he was accustomed to re- 
 side in the city of Ardouil,*^ three days' journey distant from 
 Tauris, towards the East, like an abbot with a number of 
 
 ' Baisongor. ^ Ahmed. 
 
 3 Eluan-Alwung, or Ahimut, son of Sultan Yakoob. 
 ♦ Sheikh liyder. 
 
 " 'I'here were sons of Shall Yakoob living, namely, Aluan Beg and 
 Morad Khan, who were more direct descendants of Uzun Hassan. 
 ® Ardebil. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA. ANGIOLELLO. 101 
 
 disciples. Having assembled an ai-my of twenty-two thou- 
 sand men^ he marched towards Tauris ;^ but the King 
 Rustan having heard of the preparations of the enemy^ had 
 also raised an army of fifty thousand men, and as he him- 
 self was very young, he gave the command in this enter- 
 prise against Sechaidar to one of his captains, named Suli- 
 manbec. Sechaidar, hearing that the hostile army was 
 more powerful than his, retreated to a place named Van, 
 near Coi,^ expecting to be joined from the West by some 
 other chiefs, hostile to Rustan. But such was the rapidity 
 , of Sulimanbec, Rustan's general, that Sechaidar was forced 
 to join battle without waiting for further reinforcements, 
 and a fierce contest began .^ The Suffaveans fought like 
 lions ; nevertheless, at length after numbers of men had 
 been killed on both sides, those of Tauris came off victorious, 
 Sechaidar being killed with numbers of his men. After the 
 rout they sought out the body of Sechaidar, which was found 
 by an Armenian priest and taken to Ardouil to be buried. 
 In Tauris the victory caused great rejoicings. Rustan, hear- 
 ing the news of the defeat of the enemy, and the death of 
 Sechaidar, sent immediately to Ardouil to seize his wife and 
 three son, and wished to put them to death ; but to please 
 some lords, they were liberated, keeping them, however, in 
 charge in an island in the lake of Astumar,* inhabited by 
 Armenian Christians. There are there more than six hun- 
 dred houses, a church named after the Holy Cross, in which 
 are more than a hundred priests governed by a patriarch. 
 Here, then, were sent the three sons of Sechaidar, but the 
 
 ' The other authors give a different account ; they expressly state that 
 Sheikh Hyder was not up in arms against tlie king, whatever his ulterior 
 object may have bean, but was engaged in an expedition into Circassia. 
 
 2 Khoi. 
 
 3 Zeno says the battle took place near Derbend — far enough, certainly, 
 from Van. 
 
 * Ak Tammar, the Van Ijake, so called by the Armenians. The island 
 is, to this day, the scat of the Catholicos, and is fully desciibed by Ijayard. 
 
102 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 mother remained in Tauris^ and was married for the second 
 time to a lord who was an enemy of her former husband. 
 The sons remained three years in the island ; but Rustan, 
 being apprehensive of their escape^ and being persuaded by 
 some of his friends to put them to death, sent to take them. 
 The day that the messenger asked for them on behalf of 
 Rustan, they were given up to him by the Armenians, 
 although very reluctantly, as they were very much beloved, 
 especially Ismael the second, for his beauty and pleasing 
 manners. After they had given them up (notice well the 
 influence of Providence to carry out what it has de- 
 termined) one of the principal Armenians addressed the 
 others, saying, " We have given up these boys to this 
 messenger without having seen any command from the 
 King Rustan ; it may easily happen that we have been de- 
 ceived, and that they may be taken away and escape some- 
 where, so that we would receive great blame, and our sove- 
 reign might well say, ' Where is my order\ Thus it is 
 my opinion that we ought not to deliver them to him unless 
 he brings credentials in writings, which we may keep for 
 security." All the others agreed to this, more especially be- 
 cause they were very loth to give them up. Then they told 
 themessenger to bring credentials from the king; and as it 
 was some distance thence to Tauris, he was more than seven 
 days before he returned. During this time the boys and 
 their^ mother were conducted in a boat from the island to 
 the country of Carabas^ on the east. This country boi'ders 
 on Sumacchia^ and Ardouil, which belonged to the father of 
 these boys, and its inhabitants are for the most part Suffa- 
 veans, and had great reverence for the father. Here they 
 were hidden without anyone hearing anything of them for 
 
 1 See above, where it is stated that their mother was married a 
 second time ; and page 105, where it is said Ismail put her to death. It 
 is more probable that another of their father's wives is denoted in these 
 other cases. ' Kara Bagh. ' Schainachi. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 103 
 
 the space of five years. Ismael at this time was nine years 
 old, and when he attacked Sumacchia was not quite four- 
 teen.^ 
 
 Chap. XIII. — How Ismael, the son of Haidar, was born and brought 
 up ; he becomes a captain, attacks and defeats Sermangoli, possess- 
 ing himself of his realm ; he marches against, and takes Tauria. 
 
 During these five years these boys were incited by many 
 of their father's friends, who came to visit them, to assemble 
 troops to recover his possessions ; having collected five 
 hundred brave and faithful men, and the whole country 
 being friendly disposed towards them, they elected Ismael 
 their captain, as he was a fiery, brave, and courteous youth. 
 This Ismael, when he was born, issued from his mother's 
 womb with fists clenched and covered with blood : a re- 
 markable fact, and when his father saw him, he said, 
 " Surely he will grow up a bad man"; and agreed with 
 his mother that he should not be reared ; but God 
 disposed otherwise, as when they sent him away to be put 
 to death, those who were charged with the deed, touched by 
 his beaut}^, had pity on him and brought him up. After 
 three years the boy giving great promise, they determined 
 to show him to his father, and when an opportunity occurred 
 they placed him before him, and when, he being taken 
 with him, asked who he was, they told him he was his son, 
 at which he was delighted, and received him with great show 
 of affection. 
 
 Then, having assembled five hundred horse and foot 
 soldiers, they crossed a large river called the Cur,^ flowing 
 in the direction of Sumacchia,^ into the Caspian Sea ; then 
 mai'ching towards Sumacchi they received intelHgence that 
 the lord of that place, named Sermangoli, was assembling 
 
 ' Vide Travels of a Merchant^ cap. 13. 
 
 2 Kur, or Cyrus. ' Schamachi. 
 
104 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 his chiefs to collect an army against them. One of these 
 chiefs saidj " Sire, leave the business to me, and I will en- 
 gage to bring you this fellow's head"; and, then collecting 
 seven thousand men, marched against him. The Suffaveans, 
 seeing the Sumacchians coming against them in great force 
 in a plain, retreated to the top of a hill. The Sumacchians 
 surrounded it to besiege the enemy, but fortune was propi- 
 tious to the Sophi, who attacked them in the weakest 
 quarter, and intending to fall sword in hand, their assault 
 was so impetuous that fifteen hundred of the enemy sur- 
 rendered at once, the others being cut to pieces. The Suffa- 
 veans provided themselves with arms and horses fx'om the 
 booty, and followed up their victory, by marching towards 
 Sumacchia. The king, hearing of this defeat, issued into 
 the plain with the rest of his men ; but, being without dis- 
 cipline, they were routed, and the King Sermangoli taken 
 prisoner. Ismael spared his life, and having captured the 
 city, .made great presents to his soldiers ; he also took the 
 other numerous forti'esses in the country of Sermangoli. 
 Ismael having made himself lord of this country, besieged a 
 castle called Pucosco on the way to Tauris, a very rich place, 
 which he took by assault (his younger brother, Bassingur, 
 being killed in the fight), and gave all the wealth they found 
 in the place to his soldiers. Hence, the fame was spread 
 abroad, that Ismael, the son of Sechaidar, had recovered his 
 dominions, and that his liberality to his men made them de- 
 voted to him; and an almost incredible number of people 
 joined him ; thus, having about forty thousand raen^ under 
 him, he determined to march on Tauris. Before he set out 
 he inquired what the Greeks did, when they held the empire 
 of Persia; and hearing that they would not harm the country 
 in anything, but were friendly to everyone, he then marched 
 to Tauris, committing such severities that everyone was 
 
 ^ Zeno, p. 5i, says he had only sixteen thousand men under him after 
 being joined by the Georgians. 
 
BY GIOVAN MAKIA ANGIOLELLO. 105 
 
 thrown into moi'tal terror and dared not take up arms against 
 him. Aluan^ who was then king^ seeing that he could not 
 defend himself from the fury of the enemy, resolved to fly. 
 Taking with him his wife and treasure, he went to Amit, 
 his former city.^ Thus, in 1499, in the same year, and six 
 months from the commencement of the war, the Sophi made 
 himself master of Tauris. On his entry he used great cruelty 
 towards the opposing faction, as he cut to pieces many peo- 
 ple, doctors, women, and children ; wherefore, all the sur- 
 rounding places sent in their allegiance, and all the city 
 wore his ensign, that is, the red caftan ; in this war more 
 than twenty thousand people were killed. He then caused 
 the bones of several lords who were already dead to be dis- 
 interred and burnt ; he put to death his own mother,^ re- 
 collecting, as he had been told, that she had wished to kill 
 him after his birth, and also because she was by birth of the 
 opposing faction. 
 
 Chap. XIV. — Ismael raises war against Moratcan, defeats liim, and 
 makes himself king. After his victory he is advised to marry, which 
 he does, and then attacks Bagadet, is victorious, and thus becomes 
 master of many countries. 
 
 Ismael having remained all the winter at Tauris, in 1500, 
 early in the year, determined to go against a certain Morat- 
 can,^ who had seized the country of Erach* after the death 
 of Jacob, which country comprises Spaan, les, and Syras,^- 
 with many other cities, which used to be under the dominion 
 of the kings of Persia. He therefore assembled an army of 
 twenty thousand men, all brave Suffaveans, and, marching 
 towards the enemy's country, he heard that Moratcan was 
 prepared to receive him with fifty thousand men. Never- 
 
 ' Diarbekr, the hereditary city of the Ak Koinloos. 
 
 2 Step-mother, according to Zeno, which is certainly more probable. 
 
 3 Morad Khan, brother of Aluan Beg. '^ Irak-el Ajim. 
 ' Ispahan, Yezd, and Shiraz. 
 
106 LIFE AND ACTS OP KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 thelesSj he continued his route to Chizaron, having advanced 
 a long way from Tauris, and from thence to Syras, bordering 
 on the country of Carason^ or Gon. Here they met in battle, 
 and at length Moratcan was killed^ and his men defeated 
 and dispersed, when Ismael made himself master of all those 
 realms. After this victory, before returning to Tauris, all 
 his friends counselled him to marry ; but while he was con- 
 sidering this step, they could find no lady worthy of such a 
 match. At length, after many discussions, they said that a 
 certain lord had a lady in his house, a granddaughter of 
 Sultan Jacob, the son of Ussun Cassano, who was beautiful, 
 and named Taslucanum ; wherefore, he sent to the lord de- 
 manding her of him. The lord replied to the messengers 
 that she was not there ; but Ismael, insisting on her being 
 sent, the lord had another dressed up instead of her, saying 
 he had no other in the house. The messengers, seeing that 
 she did not correspond to the description given of her, said 
 that it was not this one that they wanted, and ordered all 
 the girls to be brought, among whom was Taslucanum, but 
 went away without recognising her. The Sophi ordered 
 them to return and have the girls shown again, which they 
 did, and recognised her this time, and had her dressed up 
 and brought with them. Ismael, when he saw her, said 
 " This is she I was told of"; and took her for wife. But, as 
 the king was very young, only fifteen or sixteen years old, 
 he gave her to a lord to take care of. After three years 
 the king asked for her, and said to the lord, "You have been 
 able to do just as you liked with her during three years." He 
 replied, " Sire, do not believe it ; I would sooner kill my- 
 self". The Sophi said, " You have been a great fool"; and 
 took her as his wife. After the Sophi had conquered the 
 country of Erach, he returned to Tauris in 1501, and caused 
 
 1 Khorassan. 
 
 * The other authors agree in statiug that he escaped to Alla-ed 
 Douleh's country; at any rate, he was no further trouble to Ismail Sofi. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANQIOLELLO. 107 
 
 great rejoicings to be made on account of his victory. The 
 following year he determined to invade the country of Baga- 
 det, three hundred miles distant from Tauris towards the 
 south and south-west^ a large district, and having assembled 
 an army, he set out. The lord^ of the country held himself 
 in readiness with many troops, not in the field, but in the 
 city of Baldac,^ anciently called Babylon the Great, through 
 the midst of which flows the river Euphrates. The king, 
 arriving two miles distant from it, one night a great part of 
 the wall fell down, and caused so great a panic in the city, 
 that everyone fled. The lord also was forced to fly across 
 the sandy plains of Arabia Deserta, sixteen days' journey in 
 extent, from Baldac to Damascus, and thence to Aleppo, 
 where, after residing some time, the Prince Aladuli gave him 
 his daughter in marriage, and settled him there. The Sophi 
 remained in Baldac and took the land of Bagadet, and after- 
 wards Mosul and Gresire,^ a large city, through which the 
 river Tigris flows. This is also called the country of Meso- 
 potamia. The Sophi having made these conquests in 1503, 
 returned to Tauris and made great feasts and rejoicings in 
 honour of his victory. While he was in Tauris, after his 
 return in 1 504, he heard that while he was away at Mosul 
 and Bagadet the King of Gilan had rebelled, and, de- 
 termining to be revenged, he prepared an army and marched 
 against him. Hearing this the King of Gilan sent ambas- 
 sadors to him immediately, asking pardon. With great re- 
 luctance, after many entreaties, the Sophi pardoned him, 
 but doubled the tribute. He then returned, and remained 
 in peace and quiet till the year 1507. 
 
 ' Morad Khan. 
 
 * Bagdad is situated on the Tigris, not the Euphrates, but the modern 
 city of Hillah is supposed to represent the site of the ancient Babylon. 
 ' Jezireh ebn Omar on the Tigris. See Travels of a Merchant^ cap. 4. 
 
108 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSDN CASSANO. 
 
 Chap. XV. — Ismael goes against Alidoli ; ruins his country and people. 
 Aluan, who had escaped from Tauris, is taken prisoner. The son 
 of Alidoli is killed at the capture of the city. Then, repulsing the 
 Great Khan of Tartary when invading Persia, he returns to Tauris, 
 and causes great feasts and rejoicings to be held. 
 
 The Sophi, having under his sway a part of the country 
 of Diai'beCj that is, Orfa, Moredin,^ Arsunchief/ and other 
 places^ and hearing continually that Abnadulat^ was ravaging 
 that part of the country, and had taken the city of Carti- 
 biert/ placing one of his sons in it, determined to make an 
 expedition against this Abnadulat ; since these places had 
 always been under the sway of Persia, until this Alidoli/ 
 after the death of Jacob, while Persia was in a state of 
 anarchy, had seized them. Then, having assembled seventy 
 thousand men, he marched towards Arsingan,^ a fine city 
 on the borders of Trebizond and Natolia. Having arrived 
 here, he halted forty days, fearing lest the Ottoman and the 
 Soldan should take into their heads to defend Alidoli, as his 
 country was on the frontiers of both. While in this doubt, 
 he sent two ambassadors, one named Culibech,'^ to the 
 Ottoman Emperor of Constantinople ; and the other named 
 Zaccarabech,^ to the Soldan of Cairo, swearing by his head 
 and other oaths that he would do them no harm, but that 
 he only wished to destroy his enemy Alidolit. After forty 
 days Ismael left Arsingan, from which place it is four days' 
 journey to the country of Alidoli. But he would not take 
 
 ' Orfa and Mardin. See Travels of a Merchant^ caps. 2 and 4. 
 
 ' Hesn Keyf, Ciphas of Procopius. Baldwin de Bourg and Jocelyn de 
 Courtenay were confined here after their capture by Sookman, the Orto- 
 kide lord of the place, and Dejekermish, lord of Mosul. See Travels of 
 a Merchant^ cap. 4. ^ Alla-ed Douleh. 
 
 * Kharput. Jocelyn was again captured, together with his kinsman, by 
 Balak, the Ortokide, and confined in this place. See Travels of a Mer- 
 chant, cap. 3. 
 
 ^ Alla-ed Douleh, written "Abnadulat" above. 
 
 " Erzingan. ' Ko-li Beg. * Zekkaria Beg. 
 
BY GIOVAN MAKIA ANGIOLELLO. 109 
 
 the ordinary route, but went to Caisaria/ a city belonging- 
 to the Ottoman, where he suppHed himself with provisions, 
 paying for everything, and proclaiming abroad that every- 
 one might bring supplies to the camp for sale, and that 
 anyone taking anything without paying for it, would be put 
 to death. In this city he remained four days, and then ad- 
 vanced to Albustan,^ situated on a river^ and in a beautiful 
 plain, and belonging to Alidoli. From this to Maras'* is a 
 journey of two days, and after burning the country of Albu- 
 stan, he advanced to Maras. But Alidoli had disappeared, 
 and retired to some strongholds in the mountains. These 
 mountains are called Carathas,^ and have only one very diflEi- 
 cult pass. Ismael ravaged the country, and cut to pieces 
 many soldiers, who from time to time descended from the 
 mountains to attack the SufFaveans, but who were discovered 
 by his sentinels and by the people of the country. It was in 
 the month of July 1507 that Ismael entered the country of 
 Alidoli, and he remained there till the middle of November. 
 Then, on account of the snow and cold, he determined to re- 
 turn to Persia, and on his way to Tauris arrived at Malacia,^ 
 where he met one of his adherents, named Amirbec/ 
 who wore the seal of the Sophi, and was a man high in 
 authority. He had taken Sultan Aluan, who had escaped 
 from Tauris, prisoner, in the following manner : he seb out 
 from Mosul with four thousand fighting men to support 
 the Sophi, and passing by Amit,® where Sultan Aluan was, 
 he gave out that he had come to assist him against the 
 Sophi, and was thus received in Amit. Having entered 
 Amit, he threw Aluan into chains, took him prisoner in the 
 name of Ismael, and conducted him to Malacia, where he 
 was shortly afterwards put to death ; and I myself saw him 
 
 ' Kaisarieh. 
 
 
 2 El Bostan, or Albistan. See Zeno, p. 54. 
 
 3 The Jihoon 
 
 * Marash. See Zeno, p. 54. 
 
 ^ Kara Dagh 
 
 « Malatia. ' Amir Beg. 
 
 * Diarbekr. 
 
110 LIFE AND ACTS OP KIKG USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 in chains there. After this, Ismael proceeded and crossed 
 the Euphrates, which river is ten miles distant from Mala- 
 cia on the east, and advanced to Cartibiert/ which was 
 governed by a son^ of Alidoli. This place was well provided 
 with men and provisions, but these were of no avail, as the 
 place was taken, and the governor put to death. They then 
 advanced towards Tauris, but were overtaken by snow six 
 days' journey distant from Coi,^ so that many men, horses, 
 and camels died of the cold, and a great portion of the booty 
 they had taken in the country of Alidoli was lost. At last 
 they arrived at Coi, where was a magnificent palace built by 
 Ismael, and there they remained till the spring. He then 
 returned to Tauris, where he rested that summer, and in the 
 following year was forced into another war, as Jesilbas,'*^ the 
 ruler of Samarcand, called the Grand Tartar, whose people 
 are named after the green caftans, had assembled an im- 
 mense army, and entered the country of Corasan and Strave,'* 
 places belonging to Persia, and then seized the lands of some 
 neighbouring chieftains to be able to advance against the 
 Sophi. But Ismael was in readiness, and went with an im- 
 mense camp to Spaan,^ fourteen days' journey distant from 
 Tauris towards the east, and there halted. The Tartar, 
 hearing this, advanced no further, but thought to outwit 
 Ismael by demanding a free passage to Mecca through his 
 territory; but the latter perceived the stratagem, refused 
 him a passage, and while the Tartar was in Corasan, Ismael 
 remained in Spaan, watching the movements of the enemy. 
 At the close of the year 1508 the Tartars returned to their 
 country, and Ismael likewise to Tauris. In honour of his 
 return they arranged and ornamented the bazaars and 
 palaces, causing great feasts and games to be held, as you 
 will hear. The Sophi had a high pole or mast erected in 
 
 ' Kharput. * Named Becarbec. ' Khoi. 
 
 * Sheibani Khan. See Zeiio, p. 55. 
 
 ' Khorassan and Astrabad. * Ispahan. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANQTOLELLO. Ill 
 
 the maidan, that is, in the piazza, on which was placed a 
 golden apple, and whoever running past could knock it 
 down with their arrows or other missiles, took it for their 
 own. After the golden one they set up a silver one, and so 
 on, twenty in number, ten gold and ten silver; between 
 the knocking down of each apple, Ismael rested a short 
 time, drinking several confections and delicate wines ; and 
 while he was amusing himself, there stood before him two 
 beautiful boys: one of whom held a vase of gold with a cup; 
 and the other, two jugs of refreshing drinks. At his sport 
 he has a guard of a thousand soldiers, besides whom, a crowd 
 of perhaps thirty thousand soldiers and citizens stand by to 
 see the game. After his recreation he goes with his lords 
 to sup in a palace^ in the country built by Sultan Assambei, 
 but the lords sup apart. This Sophi is fair, handsome, and 
 very pleasing ; not very tall, but of a light and well-framed 
 figure; rather stout than slight, with broad shoulders. His 
 hair is reddish ; he only wears moustachios, and uses his 
 left hand instead of his right. He is as brave as a game 
 cock, and stronger than any of his lords ; in the archery 
 contests, out of the ten apples that are knocked down, he 
 knocks down seven: while he is at his sport they play on 
 vai'ious instruments and sing his praises. 
 
 Chap. XVI. — Ismael being with his army in the country of Carabas,^ 
 sends two captains to invade Sumacchia, while he himself went to- 
 wards the Caspian Sea, taking many places, and among others the 
 castle of the city of Derbant, an important place. 
 
 Ismail having remained fifteen days in Tauris, set out in 
 1510 with his camp to Coi, where he remained two months, 
 and whence in the year 1509 he determined to attack Ser- 
 mangoli, to whom, besides his life, he had presented for the 
 
 1 Called Astibisti in the Travels of a Merchant^ cap. 8. 
 ' Kara Bajrh. 
 
112 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 second time the realm of Servan and Sumacliia ;^ but who, 
 when he was engaged in the war with the Tartars, had 
 broken the conditions of peace. Therefore, having assembled 
 his army, he marched towards the country of Carabas, where 
 there is a plain of immense extent, in which is situated a 
 fortress named Canar, with many villages belonging to it. 
 Here they manufacture the silk which is called Canarian, 
 after the name of the place. As this region was very rich, 
 he halted here eight days, and having nominated two cap- 
 tains, one named Dalabec and the other Bairabac," he gave 
 them charge of the expedition against Sumacchia, making 
 them a present of the city. When they arrived there, ac- 
 cording to their instructions, they found the city deserted, 
 the king having fled to Culustan, a large and well fortified 
 castle, situated on a mountain, but whose governor had 
 orders to surrender it if Ismael appeared in person. The 
 two captains, with ten thousand valiant men, encamped 
 round this place, which is half a mile distant from the city, 
 but were not able to assault on any side, as there were no 
 engineers or artillery with them. About this time Ismael 
 left Canar and went to the castle of Maumutaga, a port on 
 the shores of the Caspian Sea, eight days' journey distant 
 from Tauris, which he took, and with it much booty. 
 He then marched along the coast to take possession of 
 all the other fortresses of the country of Servan. Fi'om 
 Maumutaga to Derbent is seven days' journey along the 
 coast, on which are many towns and castles, Sumacchia 
 being one day's journey distant. On our march we reached 
 a place named Baccara, four days' journey from Maumu- 
 taga, and two from Sumacchia. It is also called Baccuc,^ 
 and is one of the ports of Tauris, with an excellent har- 
 bour; it was anciently the principal place on the sea, which 
 
 1 Sliirvau and Schamachi. 
 
 ^ Bairambec, the conqueror of Van and Ismael's brother-in-law. See 
 Travels of a Merchant, cap. 6. ^ Baku. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 11 
 
 Q 
 
 is called the Sea of Baccuc after it, although others call 
 it the Caspian, from the Caspian mountains ; others, the 
 Hyrcanian Sea from Hyrcania, now called the country of 
 Strava,^ from whence comes the silk of Strava. One day's 
 journey further from Baccara is a fortress named Sirech, 
 situated on a mountain. The inhabitants held out three 
 days before coming to terms with Ismael, who, at length 
 agreeing to their conditions, sent in sixty men, leaving the 
 former governor ; but these sixty Suffaveans, behaving 
 outrageously, wei^e cut to pieces by the former occupants, 
 who, from fear of the consequences, fled by night to the 
 heights of the mountains ; the castle was in consequence 
 demolished. A little further was an unwalled city, named 
 Sebran, which we found deserted, as everyone had fled : 
 some in order to lay waste the country, and others from fear. 
 Leaving this, we arrived at Derbant- in four days, and found 
 all the people fled: some to the country of the Tartars; some 
 to the head of the Caspian Sea ; and some to the heights of 
 the mountains: so that only the castle, which is large, well- 
 built, and strong, held out; the towers were all newly erected, 
 and on their summits were men with lances, slings, bows, 
 etc. This castle has two gates, which are walled round with 
 immense stones, like flint ; and while about this city, I will 
 give a description of it before going on to anything else. 
 The city of Derbant, called by some Tenicarpi,^ is situated 
 on the Caspian Sea, near a high chain of mountains, called 
 the Caspian Mountains, the only pass into Tartary or Cir- 
 cassia being in this place. Near this mountain there is an 
 open bit of sea-beach of about a mile in extent, from the 
 sea to the mountain, enclosed by two walls, commencing at 
 the sea and going as far as the mountain, half a mile distant 
 one from the other. These walls project into the sea up to 
 six feet depth of water, so that no one either on foot or 
 
 > Astrabad. ^ Derbend. See Zeno, p. 44. 
 
 3 Demir Kapoo, or the Iron Gate. 
 
114 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 horseback can pass except by the gates. Between these 
 walls there are numerous houses, as this place is a port 
 with many ships, which trade to Citrachan^ and other 
 places. They used to have large ships of eight hundred tons 
 burden, but now only those of two hundred can enter. 
 On the mountain is an almost impregnable castle, before 
 which the Sufi monarch encamped. Passing this city to- 
 wards the west, one has the sea on the east for a space 
 of sixty miles, and when it bends round to the left the 
 mountains recede from the sea, near which place, on the 
 summit of a mountain, is the Church of Saint Mary of the 
 Caspian Mountains. But I will not relate anything more 
 about this, as it is not the proper place for it. The Sophi 
 remained besieging the castle for twenty days, having dug 
 three mines without any effect. They then excavated under 
 the foundations of a tower, and filled the hollow up with 
 wood ; having set fire to this, a great smoke rose in the air, 
 which, being seen by the governor, he sent to Ismael at 
 midnight and proposed to capitulate on condition of safety 
 for their lives and property ; Ismael, seeing that very little 
 was gained by the fire, was satisfied and agreed to their re- 
 quest. The following morning he took possession of the 
 castle, in which was a great quantity of provisions, ammu- 
 nition, and arms ; and I myself saw many of the suits of 
 armour which were brought into the presence of the sove- 
 reign. 
 
 Chap. XVII. — Many chiefs give in their allegiance to Ismael, who, after 
 his return in great triumph to Tauris, makes a second expedition 
 againsl. the Lord of Sammarcant, defeats, and puts him to death ; 
 he makes his sons swear fealty to him, but, having released them, 
 they revolt. 
 
 Having made himself master of the castle he remained 
 there eight or nine days to rest his men, aud during this 
 
 ' Astrakhan. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANQIOLELLO. 115 
 
 time many of the neighbouring chiefs came to give in their 
 submission to him^ putting on the red caftan, and swearing 
 obedience to the Sophi. After that he returned to Tauris, 
 where, on his arrival, the bazaars were richly decked out, a 
 triumphal procession taking place in the city and rich 
 banquets being held, according to custom. This monarch 
 is almost, so to speak, worshipped, more especially by his 
 soldiers, many of whom fight without armour, being willing 
 to die for their master. They go into battle with naked 
 breasts, crying out " Schiac, Schiac",^ which, in the Persian 
 language, signifies " God, God". Others consider him a 
 prophet; but it is certain that all are of opinion that he will 
 never die. While I was in Tauris I heard that the king is 
 displeased with this adoration, and being called God. Their 
 custom is to wear a red caftan, coming half a cubit over the 
 head, which widens at the part which covers the head; it gets 
 narrower towards the top,aud is made with twelve fringes, a 
 finger in thickness, symbolising the twelve Sacraments' of 
 their religion ; neither do they ever shave their beards or 
 moustachios. They have made no change in their dress ; 
 their armour consists of cuirasses of gilt plates made of the 
 finest steel of Syras. Their horse-armour is of copper : not 
 like ours, but in pieces like those of Soria ;^ they also have 
 helmets or head-pieces of a great weight of metal. Everyone 
 of them rides on horseback : some with a lance, sword, and 
 shield ; others with bow and arrows, and a mace. While 
 Ismael was in Tauris in the winter, there came three Negro 
 ambassadors, who were received with great honour by the 
 Sophi monarch, and having fulfilled their mission, returned 
 to their master with many presents. Ismael, while resting, 
 as we have related, received news that Jesilbas,* the Lord of 
 Sammarcant, with an Usbec chief, with an immense array, 
 
 1 " Sheikh, Sheikh." In this sense it means simply a holy man, 
 not God. ^ Rather the twelve Imaums. 
 
 3 Syria. * Sheibani Khan, the Usbeg. See Zeno, p 55. 
 
116 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 was ravaging the country of Hirac,^ that is, lespatan^ and 
 other places. He determined to take vengeance, and 
 taking the field, ordered all his troops to assemble at 
 Cassan,^ a place twenty days' journey to the east of Tauris ; 
 v,he chose this city for the muster, as it abounded in pro- 
 visions. This city is walled with stone, and is three miles 
 in circumference ; there are great manufacturers of silk and 
 cotton. After he had collected a hundred thousand men, 
 learning from an Armenian Bishop of his adversary's im- 
 mense army, he set out to meet him, having a deep grudge 
 against these Tartars ; as, on the previous occasion when 
 peace was made with them, they broke the treaty before 
 the year was out. Thus Ismael marched against the hostile 
 army, which was at Strava,* on the confines of Hirach, in 
 the year 1501. Leaving Cassan with his army, he went to 
 Spaan, four days' journey from Cassan, then hurried eagei'ly 
 forward in pursuit of the enemy, who, hearing that Ismael 
 was coming, retired to a river named Efra, anciently called 
 larit,^ rising in a lake called the lake of Corassan. In the 
 middle of the river is a town named Chiraer, in which the 
 Tartars took up a position, making head against the Suffa- 
 veans, who, on their arrival, encamped close to them, and 
 prepared for battle; Ismael exhorting his troops and making 
 such great promises, that all were eager for the fight. Then 
 the Sufi"aveans were arrayed in three columns, the first be- 
 ing given to Busambet,^ Lord of Sumacchia ; the second to 
 Gustagielit;''' while the king commanded the third in per- 
 son: the Tartars doing likewise. The following morning the 
 Sophi ordered all his martial instruments to be sounded, 
 while everyone shouted, " Long live Ismael our king". In 
 this manner, at the first hour of the day the two armies en- 
 
 ' Irak Ajenii. ^ Ispahan. * Kashaii. 
 
 * Astrabad. ^ Jarood. 
 
 « Most probably Bairambec, the king's brother-in-law, mentioned be- 
 fore. ' Custagialu, another brother-in-law of the king. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 117 
 
 gaged^ and^ at the first assault, the Tartars repulsed the So- 
 phi's division^ and cut numbers to pieces. The Tartars still 
 gaining, the Sophi seeing his destruction iraminentj threw 
 himself into the front rank of the battle, fighting bravely 
 and giving new courage to his soldiers, who were confused 
 by the rout of the first division ; so that they, seeing their 
 monarch in danger, made head and fought bravely against 
 the Tartars for four hours. At length they put to flight the 
 division commanded by Usbec, the others following the 
 example ; so that the Sophi gained great honour by his 
 victory over the Tartars, and by showing in this, as in his 
 previous enterprises, his great valour and generalship. 
 Usbec and Jesilbas were taken prisoners with their sons ; 
 the heads of the two former were immediately cut off and 
 sent, one to the Soldan, and the other to the Turk. In 
 this battle there was greater slaughter on both sides than 
 has ever taken place in Persia. He did not put the princes 
 to death, but threw them into prison, and took away their 
 realm: Strava,^ Rassan, Heri, and other neighbouring places 
 coming under his sway. When the Sophi was about to set 
 out on his return journey, he caused the sons of Jesilbas to 
 be brought before him, and said to them : '' You are the 
 sons of a great monarch, who, having broken his faith, and 
 ravaged my territories, forced me to attack him ; I have 
 conquered him, and put him to death; but I will spare your 
 lives, and allow you to return to your country on condition 
 that you wear the red caftan, and that this river be your 
 boundary." The young men replied, '' Sire, we are content 
 with what pleases your majesty, and will give in our sub- 
 mission." Thus they were released, and went to Sammar- 
 cant, while we returned to Cassan^ and remained there all 
 the winter of 1510.^^ When the young men returned to 
 
 1 Astrabad, Khorassan, Herat. - Kasban. 
 
 3 The battle of Merv Shah Jehan, in which Sheibaui Khan was killed, 
 took place in 151-i. 
 
118 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 Sammarcant, the report reached their maternal uncle that 
 they had promised allegiance to the Sophi. This uncle was 
 one of the seven Soldans of Tartary^ and came to them, and 
 said: '^Oh, fools, you have disgraced our name by wearing 
 the ensign of a dog, who is neither Christian nor Mahome- 
 tan/'' being exceedingly enraged with them. The young 
 men answered : " We did all in our power, seeing our 
 father dead, ourselves captives, our realm seized, and the 
 troops dispersed." They then recanted, and put on the 
 green caftan, while their uncle promised to assist them with 
 troops against the Sophi. The year 1512 these princes, 
 with their uncle, collected an immense army and entered 
 the country of Corassan, belonging to the Sophi, and took 
 the city of Chirazzo, cutting to pieces the SufFaveans, and, 
 following up their victory, took several other places. The 
 news coming to the Sophi, who was with his army at Coral- 
 dava, he set out immediately against the wearers of the 
 green caftans, and chased them out of the country of Coras- 
 san, beyond the river Efra^ into some mountains near the 
 Caspian Sea, where he did not think it prudent to follow 
 them, and so returned^ to Chirazzo, leaving one of his sons, 
 four years of age, with a wise and brave general. He then 
 went on to Tauris, leaving his whole army behind him from 
 apprehension of the return of the Tartars. 
 
 Chap. XVIII. — Some Persian noblemen invite the Ottoman to attack 
 the Sophi in Persia, which he does with a great number of men, and 
 having joined battle gains the victory, and thereupon returns to 
 Amasia. 
 
 "While the Sophi was in Tauris, some of his tributary 
 chiefs in the territory bordering on the Turks seeing that 
 the army was away in Corassan, came to an understanding 
 with the Ottoman, and invited him to attack Persia; but for 
 
 ' Jarood. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANQIOLELLO. 119 
 
 wliicli invitation the Turk would never have mustered cou- 
 rage to do so. Being summoned by such great chiefs and 
 principally by the Curds, who were enemies of the Sophi 
 monarch, who inhabited the mountains of Bitlis,^ knowing 
 the power of the Tartars, and thinking that the Sophi would 
 be in difficulties, he determined in 1514 to form an army 
 and invade Persia, apprehensive that if the Sophi were 
 victorious against the Tartars, he would make an alliance 
 with the Soldan for his destruction. Hence he set out from 
 Constantinople, and made his way with a great number of 
 men to Amasia. Having provided all that was necessary in 
 this place, he marched towards Toccat in the month of May. 
 Here it will be convenient to recount the distance in miles 
 of some places one from the other. First, then, from Con- 
 stantinople to Amasia there are five hundred miles. Thence 
 to the river Lais,^ that is, Sivas, passing through the coun- 
 try of Toccat, are a hundred and fifty miles. From Lais, the 
 frontier of the Sophias dominions, to the Euphrates,^ are a 
 hundred miles ; thence to Carpierf^ eighty miles ; to Amit 
 fifty miles ; thence to Bitlis two hundred and forty miles ; 
 from Bitlis to the lake^ fifty miles ; the lake is a hundred 
 miles long ; from thence to Coi® are fifty miles ; and from 
 Coi to Tauris seventy-five miles. Through the Sophias do- 
 minions seven hundred and forty-five miles to Tauris, to 
 Constantinople, in all 1395 miles. Having crossed the 
 Toccat, he reached Sivas, and then the country of Arsingan,'' 
 making great booty, and sending many people to Amasia 
 and Constantinople, principally artizans and skilled work- 
 men, and also men of rank. The Sophi, who was in Tauris, 
 hearing this, as his army was still in Corassan, determined 
 
 ' Bitlis. See Zeno, p. 8. 2 ji-jg^ 
 
 3 At Gumish Knaneh. * Kharput, 
 
 * The Van lake, at its nearest point, is scarcely twenty English miles 
 
 from Bitlis. ^ Khoi is nearly a hundred miles from the Van lake. 
 
 ' This is the shortest and most direct route from Tocat to Persia and 
 
 quite different from the one just mentioned. 
 
120 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 to collect as many men as he could. Therefore he hastily 
 sent two great generalSj one called Stugiali Mametbei, the 
 other Carbec Sampira, into the country of Diarbec, who 
 collected about twenty thousand men and marched with 
 them to the fords of the Euphrates. But hearing that 
 Selim was coming in great force, they did not feel strong 
 enough to oppose him, but returned to Coi, where there is 
 a wide valley or plain named Calderan. Here they halted, 
 and the Sophi joined them in person. While they were 
 here the Turk kept on advancing, so that he arrived not far 
 from that place, ravaging and burning all the country he 
 passed through. The Sophi monarch having left for Tauris 
 in order to assemble more troops, the two generals seeing 
 the enemy approaching so near determined to attack them. 
 On the other hand, the Turks fought with desperation, as 
 their provisions were failing, and if they had been defeated all 
 would have perished. On the 23rd^ of August, therefore, in 
 the year 1514, the first division of the Sufifaveans under 
 Stugiali Mametbei, with half the troops, began the fight by 
 routing those opposed to them, who were all inhabitants of 
 Natolia, dispersing and cutting them to pieces. But Sinan 
 Bassa, with his troops, who came from Roumania, coming 
 up, many on both sides were killed, and at length the squad- 
 ron of Stugiali was defeated, he himself being taken prisoner 
 and his head cut ofi", which was afterwards sent to the Sophi. 
 At this moment the second division of the Persians came up, 
 and fought so valiantly, that they put the enemy to flight, so 
 that the Turk was compelled to retire with his whole force to 
 where the janissaries and the artillery were, his troops being 
 in confusion; but the genius of Sinan Bassa rallied them, and 
 the Suffaveans were routed and all the camp taken, together 
 with one of the Soi^hi's wives. The whole army being lost, 
 both generals were killed ; but one of them named Carbec, 
 before he died, was taken before the Turk, who said to him: 
 
 ' Zeno, p. 60. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARFA ANGIOLELLO. 121 
 
 " 0, dog, who art thou, who hast had the courage to oppose 
 our majesty ; knowest thou not that my father and I are 
 vicars of the prophet Mahomet, and that God is with us V 
 The captain Carbec repHed : " If God had been with you, 
 you would not have come to fight against my master the 
 Sophi; but I believe that God has taken away his hand from 
 you." Then Selim said : '' Kill this dog ;" and the captain 
 replied : " I know it is my hour now, but you, Selim, prepare 
 yourself for another occasion, when my master will slay you 
 as you now ai-e slaying me ;" upon which he was immediately 
 put to death. The Turk, after his victory, rested at Coi, as 
 many of his troops had been killed ; the news of the defeat 
 came to the Sophi in Tauris, who immediately set out with 
 his men who had escaped, his wife named Tasluchanum, and 
 his treasures, to Casibi,^ in order to collect another army to 
 oppose the Turk. This place is seven days^ journey to the 
 east of Tauris. The people of Tauris, seeing their king 
 escaping, were in dread of the Turk, and sent two ambassa- 
 dors to him with presents. The Turk then came to Tauris, 
 and immediately seeking out seven hundred families of 
 skilled workmen, sent them to Constantinople. He re- 
 mained in Tauris three days when, being in want of provi- 
 sions and fearing lest the Persians should attack him in 
 great force, he departed ; on his journey he was greatly 
 distressed for want of supplies and harassed by the Iberians, 
 but at length arrived at Amasia. 
 
 Chap. XIX. — The Sophi sends ambassadors to the Soldan, to Alidolat, 
 and the Iberians, making a league with them against the Turk ; to 
 whom he also sends ambassadors, ironically making rich presents to 
 him, and threatening him. The Turk, having attacked Alidolat, 
 defeats him, and puts him to death, with two of his sons. 
 
 On the return of the Sophi to Tauris he determined to 
 send ambassadors to Cairo, to Alidolat, and to the Iberians, 
 
 ' Ciusvcen. 
 
22 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 i^-i 
 
 this happeniug in the month of October. Those sent to 
 the Soldan^ arrived in December, and made known to 
 him the object of their mission, to which the Soldan re- 
 plied that he would be well satisfied to assist the Sophi 
 and make an alliance with him against the Turk, send- 
 ing him aid in troops and trying their fortune together. 
 The Sophi, however, made it a condition, that if the Turk 
 sent any ambassadors to him he should not receive them, 
 either publicly or secretly, or else the peace would be broken 
 between them ; and thus was the alliance concluded between 
 the Soldan and the Sophi. The other ambassadors who 
 went on the same mission to Alidolat, had the same success, 
 and equally so with the Iberians, who besides agreed to 
 assist Ismael with the largest force they could raise every- 
 time he went against Selim. After this the Sophi sent le- 
 gates to the Turk in Amasia, with a sceptre of gold orna- 
 mented with jewels, a saddle and a sword likewise covered 
 with jewels," and a letter, saying : " We, Ismael, Lord of 
 Persia, herewith send you these regal presents, equal in value 
 to your realm ; if you are a man, keep them well, as I shall 
 come and take them back, and not them only, but also your 
 throne and life." Selim hearing this wished to put the am- 
 bassadors to death, but his Pashas dissuaded him, and so 
 contenting himself with cutting off their noses and ears he 
 let them go, saying : " Tell your master that I treat him as 
 a dog, and that he may do his worst." [The countries I am 
 about to mention are under the sway of the Turk, kept in 
 subjection by his janissaries. They rule over the country of 
 Arsingan and Baibiert,^ where there are many towns and 
 castles ; these countries are the Turkish frontiers towards 
 Trebizond,'*and are both in Lesser Armenia. Thence from the 
 
 1 Khafour el Gliouri, called Cainpson Gauri later on. 
 ^ We have an instance of this sort in our own annals, viz., the presents 
 sent by the Dauphin to Henry V. •• Baiburt. 
 
 * Tliose were the latest conn[Ucsts made by Selim from Persia. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 123 
 
 Euphrates, the country of Diarbec, the metropolis of which is 
 Amitj in Greater Armenia ; also, the land of Mosul and the 
 great plain as far as the borders of Bagadet, being part of 
 Mesopotamia.] Matters being at this crisis, the Turk came 
 to the Toccat and to Amasia in 1515, with a few of his troops, 
 as he had divided his forces into two parts. One he had 
 given the command of to Scander, sending him to attack a 
 city belonging to Ismael called Tauia,i of a hundred and fifty 
 thousand inhabitants. With the other division he set out 
 on an enterprise against Alidolat, who had taken up a posi- 
 tion in the strongholds of the mountains. The latter prince 
 hearing of the intention of the Turk, sent ambassadors to 
 him, saying that he had always been his friend, and that he 
 did not know his reasons for seizing his dominion ; but, 
 nevertheless, he resolved to die like a brave man. The Turk 
 replied that he wished to give him a lesson as to what busi- 
 ness he had to receive ambassadors from the Sophi, and 
 promise him aid against himself. The general Scander 
 took Tania by assault with great slaughter. The Ottoman 
 marching towards Cassaria,^ near Alidolat, the Alidolians 
 attacked him, but were repulsed and roughly handled, Ali- 
 dolat^ being taken prisoner with two of his sons, and their 
 heads cut off; the others fled to the mountains. Thus the 
 Turk gained a great victory, and the captain, Scander, an 
 equal one, as he caused a great massacre among the people 
 of Tania. Having achieved these successes, the Turk de- 
 termined to leave his sons in Amasia, while he himself re- 
 turned to Constantinople. 
 
 1 Euxaghly, near Malatia, called Ciamassum by Knolles, who says it 
 was situated near the conflueuce of the Melas (Kara Su) with the 
 Euphrates. 2 Kaisarieh, 
 
 ^ Knolles says that Aladeules was betrayed by his nephew, Alls Beg, 
 who became the Turkish governor of the country. 
 
124 LIFE AND ACTS OP KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 Chap. XX. — The Turk makes an expedition against the Soldan, and 
 meeting, him in battle, defeats him, the Soldan being slain. 
 
 In the year 1516, tlie Turk hearing of the agreement be- 
 tween the Soldan and the Sophi, and seeing that Ismael was 
 hard pressed by those of the green caftans, determined to 
 set out Avith a large army against the Soldan. In the 
 same year, in the month of May, he sent his troops across 
 the strait into Natolia under his general Sinan Bassa, with a 
 number of arquebusiers and artillerymen, commanding him 
 to march towards Caramania. Traversing the country of 
 the Turcomans he arrived at a place named Albustan, and 
 remained there several days to refresh his troops. The 
 Sophi hearing this sent envoys to the Sultan of the Mame- 
 lukes, Campson, named the Gauri, to tell him that he would 
 advance from one quarter and that the Gauri should do the 
 same from the other, and together crush Sinan Pasha. The 
 Soldan agreed to all, and, having assembled a great number 
 of soldiers, leaving Cairo, went to Aleppo ; the Turk 
 hearing this, set out from Constantinople on the 5th June, 
 1516, to join Sinan Bassa, and while on the journey sent 
 forward as his envoys the Cadi Lascher,^ and Zachaia 
 Bassa to enquire of the Soldan his reasons for coming 
 in this unexpected way to Aleppo. But he received no 
 satisfactory answer, which plainly shewed an understand- 
 ing with the Sophi. Therefore the Turk summoned all 
 the Doctors and learned men, and enquired of them the 
 will of God. They answered that it was his duty first to 
 root out that obnoxious thorn, and then to follow the path 
 in which God would guide him. Hearing the reply he 
 marched toward Aleppo with an immense army, and great 
 rejoicings, and on his arrival there encamped in a beautiful 
 plain near the venerated tomb of the prophet David, sending 
 
 ' Kazi Asker. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA AXGIOLELLO. 125 
 
 the vanguard in advance in four divisions ; so that the 
 troops were under arms both night and day. The Mame- 
 lukeSj arriving the following day, arrayed themselves in order 
 of battle.^ The Turk having information of this, rose to his 
 feet in his tent, making supplication to God, beseeching him 
 for his great name's sake and the reverence they bore him, that 
 he would give the victory that day to the army of good Mussul- 
 mans. Having ended his prayer, he mounted his horse 
 and went to exhort the Bassas to put their troops in ai'ray, 
 which was done ; the different pieces of artillery, both large 
 and small, being put in order, they began to march ; all his 
 pages, about twelve hundred in number, mounted on horses 
 and clad with rich vests, while attentive to their rank and 
 order, made prayer to God for the success of their Sovereign. 
 The monarch also arrayed himself, having in attendance 
 a noble youth named Mergis, and three thousand men clad 
 in dresses embroidered with gold, and armed with bows, 
 who were his slaves. On the left were three thousand five 
 hundi-ed of the men of his court, then seventeen hundred 
 Solacchi and the white roses of the garden of the camp, 
 and thirteen thousand janissaries with 'arquebuses and 
 pieces of artillery. Ou the left of these were the troops of 
 Natolia, armed with lances, at the head of whom was their 
 Sangiacco^ named Sachinalogier, chief of the Turcomans. 
 On the right were the fighting men of Greece with their 
 captain Sinan Bassa, and the Begliarbei of the newly ac- 
 quired teri'itory of Azimia, named Buichimehemet, with all 
 the warriors of Amasia sword in hand. Arrayed in this 
 manner on the 24th^ of August, at the third hour of the day 
 they joined in a fierce and sanguinary contest which lasted 
 till mid day. Opposed to the Greeks was the ruler of Da- 
 mascus, a great chief named Sibe?,* and opposed to the 
 
 ' This was contrary to the advice of Algazeli, who advised Campson 
 to protract the war and not to risk all on one battle. 
 
 2 Sanjak. ^ Knolles says the 7th. ■• Sybeius Baluan. 
 
126 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 Natolians was Caierbec^ the ruler of Aleppo ; Sinan Bassa 
 fighting bravely drove back those opposed to him as far as 
 their standards^ and the other troops seeing the valour of 
 the Bassa followed up their success, both parties bearing 
 themselves bravely, and repulsing the enemy in turn five 
 or six times. At last the ruler of Aleppo turned his back, 
 and fled with all his troops, when the Bassa turned his arms 
 against the ruler of Damascus, who was not able to resist 
 any longer and fled to the great Soldan, He was pursued 
 by one of the Grecian warriors, who cut ofl" his head, and 
 shortly afterwards the Soldan^ Campson the Gauri was slain. 
 Their army being routed, abandoning their tents, arms, and 
 treasures, a great number of the Mamelukes fled to Aleppo, 
 and having remained there a short time went on to Damas- 
 cus and Caii'O. The Turkish monarch coming to Aleppo, 
 remained there some time in order to make himself master 
 of several castles in which he placed garrisons of janissaries, 
 and then sent Janus Bassa,^ with some of the Greek troops 
 to pursue the enemy. Having overtaken them near a city 
 called Caman, Caierbec, the lord of Aleppo, and another 
 chief named Algazeli approached. The lord of Aleppo ad- 
 vanced to meet the Bassa, promising allegiance to the 
 great Turkish monarch ; Algazeli fled to Cairo, and Caierbec 
 came to the presence of the Sultan, by whom he was well 
 received and presented with rich gifts of gold, silk, wool 
 
 1 Knolles says that the Mamelukes lost the battle through the treachery 
 of Caierbec, who bad a secret understanding with Selim. The Turks 
 were almost put to rout by Sibes and Algazeli, when the desertion of 
 the Governor of Aleppo and the opportune arrival of Sinan Pasha turned 
 the fortune of the fight. Sibes and Campson Gauri were both killed in 
 the battle, which took place, according to Knolles, on the 7th of August, 
 1516, the same day that the battle of Schalderan took place two years 
 before. 
 
 ^ Kafoor el Ghouri, tile last Soldan of Egypt but one, died 1516, and 
 was succeeded by Tomant Bey. 
 
 ^ .Tonuses Pasha put to death soon afterwards by Selim. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 127 
 
 and cotton^ and made to sit down with tlie great lords. 
 The monarch rode towards Damascus, and, before entering 
 it, had his tent erected near the city, and held a court with 
 great splendour and magnificence, as there were people speak- 
 ing seventy-two diflferent languages in the city. This court 
 was one of the most splendid ever seen. Having rested 
 several days in the city he ordered two of the Greek captains 
 named Mametbei and Scanderbei, to advance with their 
 troops to Gazzara^ on the frontiers of the district, and to 
 halt there. Setting out with this command, they were on 
 the journey greatly harassed by Moors and Arabs, but 
 nevertheless arrived at Gazzara and entered the place^ ex- 
 pecting to enjoy themselves. 
 
 Chap. XXI. — Tomombei, the new Soldan, hearing of the victory of the 
 Turk, sends Algazeli against the Turks in Gazzara ; but Sinan 
 Bassa going to their assistance, confronts and defeats him. The 
 Turk leaves Damascus and goes to Jerusalem, where he gives alms 
 and oifers sacrifices. 
 
 The new Soldan of Cairo, the great Diodar^ surnamed 
 Tomombei,^ was quickly informed of this victory; and Al- 
 gazeli who was a brave General, on his arrival at Cairo asked 
 permission to go and attack this force. The Turks who had 
 arrived at Gazzara stood firm, and this Algazeli, setting out 
 from Cairo with five thousand well armed Mamelukes, hur- 
 ried through the country raising troops. The Turks at 
 Gazzara became apprehensive, but nevertheless determined 
 to perish sword in hand ; the Grand Turk, on receiving 
 the news, determined to reinforce the troops at Gazzara, and 
 for this purpose send Sinan'* Bassa with fifteen thousand 
 
 > Gaza. ^ Devetdar. 
 
 3 Tomant Bey, last Soldan of Egypt. 
 
 * Sinan Pasha, Selini's best general — his valour and generalship had 
 .saved him upon more than one occasion ; for instance, at the battle of 
 Schalderan, and again in the conflict with the ^lamelukes. 
 
128 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 men. Algazeli having left Cairo arrived at Catia, and after 
 crossing the sandy desert and coming to a caravanserai or 
 villa where he halted, received intelligence of Sinan^s arrival 
 at Gazzara ; thongh this was to his great disgust, as it 
 prevented him accomplishing his object, he nevertheless 
 plucked up spirits, and exhorted his men to fight valiant!}^, 
 promising them the victory. Having arranged an assault 
 on the Turks during^ the nicrht, news of this determination 
 came to the ears of the enemy, and Sinan Bassa arrayed his 
 troops for the battle, and resolved to conquer or die ; there 
 being no other alternative left them, as they were surrounded 
 by such a number of Moors. That night they held great 
 rejoicings with salutes and bonfires, praying to Allah for 
 victory, and set out on their march'; hence the people of 
 Gazzara imagined that they were retreating to join their 
 sovereign, the Grand Turk, and therefore they put to death 
 all the wounded in Gazzara, and informed Algazeli that our 
 troops had fled. This caused him great satisfaction, but at 
 the third hour of the day, seeing the dust made by the army 
 which he thought had fled, coming to meet him in battle, 
 his satisfaction was turned to disgust, and he seemed struck 
 with astonishment. Our men drawing near, dismounted, 
 tightened the girths of their horses, and then asking for- 
 giveness one of another, they shook hands, embraced, and 
 commenced praying to God for the sake of his prophet 
 Mahomet, and his four vicars, Abu Beker, Omar, Osman, 
 and Ali, and all the other prophets, his predecessors, that 
 he would give the victory to the army of the true Mussul- 
 mans. Then Sinan Bassu, turning to the army, exhorted 
 them all, saying that they had often before routed larger 
 armies and gained more important battles than these ;^ tell- 
 
 ^ KnoUes says, in his History/ of the Turl-s, p. 535: — " Tlie Bassk 
 had placed his harquebusiers in tlie wings of his battell, which were 
 raunged of a great length in their rankes, thereby to use their peaces at 
 more liberty and with more ease to enclose the encniie : in the middle 
 
BY aiOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 129 
 
 ing tliem that tliey should stand firm, as he who was destined 
 to die would perisli even if he fled, and he who was not des- 
 tined to fall would not do so even if he fought on ; and that 
 as male wethers are proper for saci'ifices, so ought they to 
 fight for their sovereign. " Let us avenge our friends, whom 
 these dogs have slain at the first outset, whose corpses, if 
 they could speak, would cry, ' Slay, slay^; if you conquer 
 you will receive great rewards from our ruler, and obtain 
 great fame, as many of you who are now of low rank will be 
 promoted." They all replied, saying: ''God give long life to 
 
 were placed the horsemen to receive the first charge of the Mamalukes. 
 Gazelles approaching the enemy, sent before the troupes of the Arabian 
 light horsemen to trouble the wings of the enemies battell, and with a 
 square battell of his Mamalukes charged the middle battell of the Turks. 
 The battell was a great while most terrible, and the victorie doubtf ull ; 
 for, although the Turkes in number farre exceeded, yet were they not 
 able to endure the armed and courageous Mamalukes, but were glad to 
 give ground ; and, quite disordered by the breaking-in of the Mama- 
 lukes, as men discouraged, began to look about them which way they 
 might flie ; when, by the commaundement of Sinan, the harquebusiers, 
 who, with the first volley of their shot, had repulsed the Arabians, 
 wheeling about enclosed all the enemies battell. By which means both 
 men and horse were a farre off slaine, with the multitude of the deadly 
 shot, where true valour helped not them, so on every side enclosed. 
 For where any troupe of the Mamalukes pressed forward upon the 
 Turkes, they quickly retired, and in all places of the battell, as much as 
 they could, shunned to encounter their enemies with their horsemen, 
 labouring onely to gaule them with shot. Gazelles seeing his horses 
 spent with extreame wearinesse, and that he was not to expect any 
 further lielpe, his Arabians now beginning to fall from him ; and also, 
 considering that many of his most valiant souldiours were either slaine 
 or wounded, and having also himyelfe received a great wound in his 
 necke, he, with the rest of his armie, made way through the middest of 
 his enemies, and having lost divers of his ensignes, fled back againe to 
 Carre, through the same sandie deserts whereby be came. In this battell 
 was lost the Governor of Alexandria and Orchamus, Governor of Caire 
 (both men of great account t.mong the Mamalukes), and beside them 
 a great number of Arabians, with a thousand or more of the Mamaluke 
 horseman. Neither got Sinan a joyful! or unbloudie victorie, having 
 lost above two thousand of his best horsemen, and amongst them cer- 
 taine commaunders, men of great marke." 
 
130 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSDN CASSANO. 
 
 our sovereign ; may the wliole earth be subjected to liim ; 
 and let him who does not submit be put to death. Forward ! 
 forward \" Having marched, therefore, and the two armies 
 having met, the Circassians resisted our attack with 
 great courage and daring, each side repulsing the other in 
 turn several times from the third hour till noon, numbers 
 being: slain. At last the Circassians were routed, while our 
 troops were highly elated with the victory and immense 
 booty ; the Mamelukes fled to Cairo, pursued by some of 
 our men. The others returned to Gazzara with Sinan Bassa, 
 stuffino- with straw the heads of the dead chiefs, while the 
 others they fixed to the palm trees in memory of the battle. 
 The o-i'eat monarch sent two hundred Solacchi to meet 
 
 O 
 
 Sinan Bassa, and request him to ride forward and meet him 
 in a certain place. But not finding the Bassa, they set out 
 on their return. On the march, numbers of them died, 
 and being again attacked by the Arabs, all but six were 
 killed. These rejoined the great monarch and reported 
 that they had heard nothing of Sinan or of his army. 
 The Sultan hearing this rose up in a great fury to march to 
 the rescue of the valiant Greeks; but just then there arrived 
 some Moors with the news of the rout of Algazeli by the 
 Turkish troops, who had returned in triumph to Gazzara. 
 The Moors were rewarded for their tidings, and the emperor 
 was in the highest spirits ; marching from Damascus he 
 came to Peneti, where the two hundred Solacchi were slain, 
 which place he sacked and burnt. He then went to Jerusa- 
 lem, but had a great deal of rain and bad weather on the 
 road, which caused much suffering and the death of many. 
 In Jerusalem the monarch bestowed much money on the 
 poor of the city, and also made off'erings of good rams; so 
 that the sacrificing priests were satisfied with his bounty. 
 Proceeding on the route to Gazzara they arrived at a fearful 
 gorge,^ where only two horses could advance abreast. The 
 
 1 Petra? 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 131 
 
 Arabs tad seized the defile and had collected huge stones 
 above to roll, down when the Sultan was passing ; they had 
 also numerous archers. The monarch having heard this, 
 ordered the artillery and the arquebuses to be prepared ; but 
 when the need came they could not be discharged, owing 
 to the wind and rain. Nevertheless, the valiant janissaries 
 managed to make use of the arquebuses and put to flight 
 the Moors with great slaughter. When we approached 
 Gazzara the valiant Greek troops, fully armed and sumptu- 
 ously clad in the spoils of the enemy, came a bowshot out 
 of the city to meet their sovereign. The Moors seeing this 
 great array were filled with astonishment, while the Sanzac- 
 chi dismounted to kiss the hand of the Sultan, and the whole 
 army separated into two parts, having the monarch in the 
 centre, and saluted him. Then he met Sinan Bassa, and 
 thanked him, the army, and the Spachi, which means noble- 
 men, and made them many presents. Having remained 
 four days at Gazzara, they advanced to Casali, where they 
 had not been able to go previously from want of water. 
 But the desert being full of water from the rains, they 
 proceeded at their ease, and immediately on arriving Casali 
 was given up to pillage, in retaliation for the attack on 
 the Sultan in the valley above mentioned. 
 
 Chap. XXII. — The Turk marches on Cairo, and the Soldan, with Al- 
 gazeli, confronts him ; but in the battle is defeated and flies in dis- 
 guise ; while the Turk enters the capital of the Soldan, 
 
 We then set out on the straight route to Cairo, where the 
 newly created Soldan Tomombei^ was making preparations 
 by digging moats and raising embankments of earth^ with a 
 great number of labourers. He also posted pieces of artillery 
 with the design when our army appeared of sweeping it all 
 
 ^ Tomant Bey. * At Maharra, six miles from Cairo. 
 
132 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSDN CASSANO. 
 
 away^ and by a sally of fourteen thousand Mamelukes and 
 twenty thousand auxiliaries to rout it utterly. When we 
 arrived in the country six thousand Mamelukes deserted, 
 and informed the Grand Turk of everything. Therefore he 
 turned suddenly into another road, which was unguarded, 
 and in which he could not be molested by the enemy's artil- 
 lery. The Circassians and the Soldan seeing that the Sultan 
 was advancing by another route, attacked us with great 
 shouts and yells : Algazeli against the Greek troops, a vizier 
 named Allem^ against those of Natolia, and the Soldan 
 against the Grand Turk himself; so that, from the morning 
 till mid-day, there was a fierce fight. And in the battle, 
 unfortunately, Sinan Bassa was killed,- and with him a great 
 number of his retainers who had partaken of his bread and 
 salt, and who, clad in garments he had given them, devoted 
 themselves to death with their master. They bathed him 
 with their tears, and having enveloped him in a fine cloth, 
 and having sprinkled him in some water called Abzenzora 
 found at Mecca,^ they buried him in a grave they dug for 
 him. Mustafa Bassa, seeing that all depended on him, with 
 loud shouts and great valour began the combat, which 
 being seen by the men of Natolia, at the head of whom he 
 was, they got so enraged that they cut down the Circassians 
 like grass in the most marvellous manner. The troops of 
 the monarch and of Greece also fought bravely, but at 
 the hour of evening prayers each retired from fatigue, 
 and the Circassians, wearied out, were put to flight, part 
 into Cairo and part to the open country.* The Greeks 
 pursued them till night, plundering and slaughtering them ; 
 
 > AUem, called Heylims the Devetdar, by Knolles. 
 
 2 By a Mamaluke captain named Bidon, frequently mentioned by 
 Knolles. 3 xhe well of Zemzem. 
 
 * Knolles says, Tomant Bey, after showing great personal courage, 
 was forced to order a retreat, which soon became a flight. The battle 
 was fought on the 24th January, 1517. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 133 
 
 the monarch remained that night on the field of battle, and 
 ordered all the prisoners to be put to death, which was 
 done. They remained here three days, and on the fourth 
 reached the river Nile at a place called Bichieri, where they 
 halted two days. The Mamelukes who had advanced joined 
 the Soldan to the number of nine thousand, planning a 
 night attack ; but the Sultan, hearing this, ordered the 
 troops to remain under arms all night. But the enemy, 
 hearing this, changed their plan and determined to attack 
 us by day, and thus came on with fearful yells. The 
 janizzaries fought bravely, and the troops of Greece mounted 
 and fought on horseback. Still, not being able to conquer 
 the enemies that day, both armies retreated. The following 
 morning the great monarch rose with the dawn, and, 
 having returned thanks to God, ordered all the army to be 
 put in array, all mounting, moving with great solemnity and 
 display against the Circassians, who, with their usual cries, 
 began the battle, one side being soon hidden from the other 
 by the dust. The Mamelukes^ were desperate, and wished 
 for nothing better than to die sword in hand, it appearing 
 to them a disgrace to escape and leave all their possessions 
 in the hands of the enemy, a calamity from which God 
 preserve every one, and more especially all good Mahometans. 
 The monarch, seeing that he could not destroy the Cir- 
 cassians, ordered the city to be set on fire, which the 
 janizzaries did in several places. The Mamelukes, seeing 
 this, cried out for quarter with loud and terrible yells ; and 
 the Sultan, having pity on them, ordered the fire to be 
 extinguished, it being almost by a miracle that the whole 
 city was not burnt down. The Circassians renewed the 
 contest with such vigour that the arrows fell like rain; and 
 so many fell on both sides, that the streets of Cairo ran 
 blood, the fight continuing the entire day. At night, the 
 
 1 The Mamelukes were repulsed, and were then attacked in Cairo by 
 Selim. 
 
134 LIFE AND ACTS OP KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 Circassians, being faint and exhausted, retired into a mosque, 
 in which, as a citadel they kept up a gallant defence for 
 three days and three nights. But at length, a grand attack 
 being made, the mosque was taken by storm. The Soldan 
 Tomombei escaped in disguise, when the great monarch 
 went to rest and his followers to get booty and prisoners ; the 
 heads of these prisoners were afterwards cut off by the 
 banks of the Nile. Algazeli, who had been away from 
 Cairo in order to collect forces of Arabs, was already 
 approaching the city when he was informed that the Turk 
 had proclaimed a free pardon to all the Circassians who 
 came in in the course of three days. Hence many Circas- 
 sians who had been concealed presented themselves and 
 received gifts ; Algazeli also did the same, and gave in his 
 submission to the king. And to him also were presents 
 made. After this the Grand Turk, with the great white 
 standard, with drums, fifes, and naccare, went to the 
 residence of the Soldan ; while on the way, they discovered 
 a conspiracy of some Mamelukes who wished to escape, for 
 which some were put to death, and others confined in 
 certain prisons till some days afterwards, when they were 
 drowned in the Nile. In this manner did this monarch 
 Sultan Selim revenge himself on his enemies ; also, when 
 at Cairo, hearing that the people of a town named Catia 
 had insulted our soldiers who had been sent there, he 
 commissioned Algazeli and a Beglerbei to go and chastise 
 the Moors and to plunder the city. This being done and 
 the Moors being all put to death, the other places in the 
 vicinity became quite submissive. 
 
BY aiOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 135 
 
 Chap. XXIII. — The Turk sends Ambassadors to the Soldan, who had 
 fled, advising him to submit ; but, these men being killed by the 
 Circassians, he sends Mustafa with an army to revenge them. The 
 Soldan is defeated ; and, being pursued by Mustafa, is taken 
 prisoner, and brought to the Grand Turk, who causes him to be 
 impaled by one of the gates of Cairo. 
 
 We remained at Cairo alert to all the movements of the 
 SoldaUj who had crossed the Nile and taken flight into the 
 country of the Saettb.^ As he wished to be informed of 
 what the Turks were doing, he sent secret emissaries to 
 Cairo to stir up the citizens to molest our troops. While 
 things were in this train, Omar,^ a lord of the Moors, came 
 secretly to kiss the hand of the Sultan, told him all, and 
 was rewarded by a good Sangiacato in the regions of the 
 Saetto. Sentinels were posted everywhere, and artillery to 
 command the river, so that not even a bird could have 
 crossed. They then determined to send two chiefs with the 
 Cadis of Cairo to the Soldan to advise him to submit himself 
 to the Grand Turk, who promised to give him the govern- 
 ment of Cairo. But the Circassians, when they got the 
 ambassadors into their power, put them to death. The 
 monarch, hearing of this cruelty, caused bridges to be 
 erected over the river, and commanded Mustafa to cross 
 with the entire army, which was reported to the Soldan, 
 who, with five thousand Circassians and ten thousand 
 Arabs, advanced to meet them by forced marches in one 
 day and one night. At this juncture part of the Greek 
 ti'oops had crossed and others were crossing, not having any 
 intelligence of this; but God so willed it that those who 
 were seeking a good spot to pitch the Sultanas tent, saw 
 the dust raised by the approaching squadrons, and, being 
 utterly amazed, rode off to tell the news. The monarch 
 ordered Mustafa to mount and set the army in array. The 
 
 1 Delta? * Called Albuchomar by KnoUes. 
 
136 LIFE AND ACTS OF KIXG USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 Circassians charged and drove back our troops as far as the 
 standard, but, being reinforced, we repulsed them ; the 
 Circassians, seeing this, again closed and drove us back 
 with such slaughter that the blood ran in rivers. The 
 Moors fought only to give the Circassians time to rest, so 
 that our men were at a great disadvantage, fighting on 
 bravely still, but with immense loss. The Bassa, who was 
 in attendance on the Saltan, seeing this, and that the day 
 was in a way to be lost, seized his scimitar and bosdocan 
 furiously, and rushed towards the Soldan, intending to cut 
 the life out of his body before dying himself. The Greeks, 
 seeing this act of valour, struggled on to assist their 
 chief. And it is certain that if their courage had failed 
 them then, they would have lost their lives, as they would 
 all have been cut to pieces. But their bravery showed the 
 Soldan that they would gain the victory, and, seeing that 
 from a great and rich monarch he would become a poor and 
 solitary outcast, looking up to heaven he bewailed his sad 
 lot with such bitter words as to make all who heard him 
 pity him. After many words, accompanied with tears, he 
 took to flight, riding night and day till he reached a bridge, 
 where he rested a short time. Mustafa^ and the Greeks 
 pursued him, but he managed to keep in advance of them. 
 The Turk set out from Cairo, and halted half a day's journey 
 distant from Mustafa, who had pursued the Soldan for four 
 days and as many nights, till he forced him from fatigue to 
 take refuge in a Casal of the Moors. Our men, also being 
 very much fatigued, could not get possession of him ; so 
 they determined to write to the people of the Casal ordering 
 them under pain of fire and sword to prevent the Soldan 
 proceeding any further. Thence the chief of the fortress, 
 named Sheikh Assaim, told all his men, and Tomombei and 
 the Circassians were surrounded by the Moors, so that they 
 could not escape till the arrival of our men, who soon got 
 > Mustafa, Algazeli, and Caierbec were sent in pixrsuit. 
 
BY GIOVAN MARIA ANGIOLELLO. 137 
 
 them into their power. The Circassians threw themselves 
 into a neighbouring lake, while our soldiers cut some of 
 them to pieces and made prisoners of the others. Tomombei 
 was taken standing up to his knees in water, and conducted 
 to the Bassa, who despatched a troop to the monarch with 
 intelligence of all that had occurred. The messenger on 
 his arrival was received with great rejoicings, and all the 
 Sangiacchi and the lords kissed the Grand Turk's hand. 
 The Soldan was not brought to his presence, but kept in 
 good custody in a tent near his. After this there was 
 another battle with the Moors in another fortress near the 
 Nile ; the inhabitants and some Mamelukes were continually 
 killing and robbing our men. Mustafa set out and destroyed 
 the fortress, and, after remaining four days, returned to the 
 Turk, who was holding a court, and had commanded that 
 Tomombei Soldan^ should be led through the country of 
 Cairo on a mule, with a chain round his neck, and that at a 
 gate of the city called Bebzomele he should be impaled, 
 which was immediately done. This was the termination of 
 the kingdom of the Mamelukes and the commencement of 
 the greater power of Selim Sultan. The history of this last 
 expedition of Selim against the Soldan and the Mamelukes 
 was carefully written by a Cadi Lascher,^ who was with the 
 army, to a Cadi in Constantinople, and translated from the 
 Turkish into Tuscan on the 22nd October, 1517. 
 
 In 1524, in the month of August, news came that the 
 celebrated Sophi monarch was dead, and that his younger 
 son had seized the power, but was opposed by the elder 
 with a great number of soldiers. Ismael had left four sons, 
 the eldest named Schiacthecmes,^ the second Alcas el Mirza,* 
 
 1 He was first tortured to make him reveal where he was supposed to 
 have hidden the great treasures of Campson Gauri. 
 
 ' Cazi Asker. • ' Shah Tamasp. 
 
 * Ehas Mirza, King of Shirvan. Vide Alessandri. 
 
138 LIFE AND ACTS OF KING USSUN CASSANO. 
 
 the third Paerham^ el Mirza, the fourth Sam el Mirza; 
 Mirza being a title meaning prince. The eldest was then 
 fourteen years old, and his father had left him as a governor 
 a man, named Chiocha Sultan, to govern the kingdom till 
 the boy came of age to rule. This regent was wise, and of 
 a great influence. But it came to pass that some of the 
 other nobles, from envy of the regent, began to make war 
 on one another, and having taken the field, came as far as 
 the tent of Schiacthecmes,^ wishing to slay the regent; but 
 the matter was compromised. 
 
 ^ Bahram Mirza. * Shah Tamasp. 
 
THE TRAVELS 
 
 MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
THE 
 
 TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 Chap. I. — The apology the Author makes for this his Narrative. 
 
 It is well-known that naturally all men, and especially 
 students, love knowledge, and, therefore, always go out of 
 their way to investigate new things. On this account I 
 have thought that by writing an account of my travels 
 in Persia and narrating all that I have, with my slight 
 genius, been able to learn in the east, in the space of eight 
 years and eight months of my stay there, that these my 
 writings might be interesting to my readers, both by the 
 novelty of the subject and by the information respecting so 
 many great cities, peoples, and foreign customs. And if in 
 any passage I become confused and lengthy, I ask my kind 
 readers' pardon, as it will not proceed from anything but 
 my being unaccustomed to composition ; but they may be 
 assured for the rest that I will tell nothing but the truth of 
 what I have seen and heard, not exaggerating anything, 
 but simply narrating as becomes an honest merchant who 
 does not know how to adorn his tale by his words. 
 
 And, to begin about the places and regions where I have 
 been, I will say that when Shiec Ismael came against 
 Aladuli^ in Caramania, in 1507, I happened to be in his 
 army at Arsingan,^ where I remained forty days, and after- 
 wards at Cimischasac,^ when I crossed the river Euphrates, 
 
 1 Alia ed Douleh. 2 Erzingan. See p. 7, Caterino Zeno. 
 
 » Tchimish Gazak, or birthplace of Zimisces ; identified by the Ar- 
 menians with the ancient Hierapolis, though called by its present name 
 
142 THE TRAVELS OF A, MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 entering the country of Aladuli. I was present also during 
 his expedition against Sirmacchia^ and the country of 
 Sirvan/ and in Tauris, on Siech Ismael's return there with 
 his army. I was absent, howevei', when there were districts 
 and castles taken, and some battles fought and victories 
 gained, by the same Siech Ismael near Dierbec. Neverthe- 
 less, I will recount them, having been enabled to learn the 
 facts from different persons who were present. This I did 
 easily, as I knew perfectly the languages of Ajemi,^ Turkey, 
 and Arabia. 
 
 Chap. II. — The cities one finds on leaving Aleppo to go to Persia ; of 
 the city of Bir, of Orfa, and of the fountain of Saint Abram ; the 
 ■water of which cures fever ; and the fishes there are in it ; of a 
 well which cures lepers ; and of the magnificence of the above- 
 mentioned city of Orfa. 
 
 And to return to my journey, I say that on leaving 
 Aleppo to go to Persia in general, and to Tauris in parti- 
 cular, at three days' journey distant is a place named Bir,'* 
 which is on the bank of the river Euphrates on the other 
 side, and is of small extent. Sukan Cartibec^ had it walled 
 round, as it was not fortified before, but always had a 
 strong fine castle, which has been besieged by many, and 
 also by Diodar,^ who rebelled against the Soldan, without 
 anyone having been able to take it. All the country, the 
 city, and castles which are across the river, have always 
 
 after the birth of Zimisces, the Byzantine Emperor ; it is now a town 
 of about five thousand inhabitants, but without any relics of the Roman 
 period. ' Schamachi. 
 
 2 Shirvan. ' Irak-Ajemi. 
 
 * Bir, on the Euphrates ; formerly a large town. It was taken and 
 destroyed by Timour, the ancient Apamea. " Kaiid Beg. 
 
 * Devetdar, an ofiicer of Mamelukes. Tomant Bey, the last of the 
 Soldans of Cairo, defeated and put to death by Selim I. in 1517, after 
 a gallant resistance to the Turkish arms ; he succeeded Campson Gauri. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 143 
 
 been, and still are, under the sway of the King of Persia ; 
 on this side of the river, towards Aleppo, all is governed by 
 the Soldan of Cairo. In all the counti'ies, provinces, towns, 
 and fortresses between Aleppo and Tauris, and from Tauris 
 as far as Derbant, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, I 
 have remained some time and traded, as you will learn 
 when I come to relate about them. Two days^ journey 
 from Bir there is a large town named Orfa,^ which the in- 
 habitants and their chronicles say was anciently founded 
 and walled round by the great Nembroth ;- and in truth 
 they show very ancient walls extending ten miles in circuit 
 without a ditch round them. There is within it a magni- 
 ficent castle with walls of immense size and thickness, but 
 also without any fosse, and in it there are two fine lofty 
 columns, equal in size to those of Venice, in the Piazza of 
 St. Mark, on which they say that Nembrot had his idols, 
 and they are still as upright as when they were first erected. 
 In this city is also the place where our father Abraham was 
 about to sacrifice to God his son Isaac (?). 
 
 1 Orfa, anciently called Edessa by the successors of Alexander, and 
 more recently Rhoa. It became a Roman colony, and one of their chief 
 strongholds against the Parthians. At the time of the Crusades it was 
 the residence of the Courtneys, who were called Counts of Edessa, and 
 was taken from them by Saladin. Tiraour sacked it in 1426 ; it is now 
 subject to Turkey. Kinneir, in his Geographical Memoir of Persia, 
 says : — " It is situated in a barren country, sixty-seven miles from Bir 
 and two hundred and thirty-two from Diarbekr. The town is sur- 
 rounded by a stone wall and defended by a citadel. The ditch, which 
 is broad and deep, is hewn out of the rock, and, when necessary, can be 
 filled with water from the river Scirtus. The houses are well built, and 
 the inhabitants, who are composed of Turks, Arabs, Armenians, Jews, 
 and Nestorians, are said to amount to about twenty thousand souls. The 
 chief ornaments of the city are a magnificent mosque consecrated to 
 Abraham, and the cathedral of the Armenians, now fallen to decay. On 
 a mountain, which overlooks and commands the citadel, are the ruins of 
 a building called by the Arabs the Palace of Nimrod, and several extra- 
 ordinary subterraneous apartments apparently of great antiquity." 
 
 - Niuirod. 
 
144 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 And it is said tliat in this very place at that time there 
 sprang forth an excellent clear fountain, large enough to 
 work seven mills in the city and to irrigate the country 
 round. And where it sprang forth the Christians built a 
 church dedicated to the holy Abraham/ which when they 
 had ^ lost power was changed by the Mahometans into a 
 mosque, while to the present the fountain is called the 
 fountain of Abraham (which in Turkish is ''Ibrahim calil 
 bonare"). It is even now much reverenced by both 
 Christians and Mahometans for the virtue it possesses of 
 curing anyone ill of fever who goes in with faith. In this 
 fountain are many fish,^ which are never caught, but are 
 considered sacred. 
 
 Six miles outside the city is a wonderful well which 
 heals lepers, provided they go there with devotion, keeping 
 this order. First they must fast five days, and each day of 
 the fast they drink frequently of the water, and every time 
 they drink they must wash themselves with it, but after the 
 five days they do not wash any more, but still drink up to 
 the tenth or twelfth day; and so the virtue of the holy 
 water frees them from this infirmity, or at least keeps it 
 from going further. And I have seen this effect with my 
 own eyes in Orfa, many who came infirm going away well. 
 On my way back to Aleppo from Tauris, I came to Orfa, 
 where was a Cypriote named Hector, who lived at Nicosia ; 
 this man, by going to the sacred well, came back freed from 
 many complaints. This city used to be a regal one, as is seen 
 by the ancient monuments and buildings. There are ten or 
 twelve large churches built of marble, more imposing than 
 I can describe in words. This city has as beautiful and 
 pleasant a country about it as one could wish.^ Towards 
 
 1 Now the mosque of Ibrahim al Khaleel. 
 
 ^ The same tradition prevails now, and the fish alluded to seem as 
 plentiful as ever, it being held sacrilege to catch them, 
 ' The region is now very barren. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PEHSIA. 145 
 
 the west there is a fine hill covered with inhabited villas, 
 and many ancient castles now deserted. There are vast and 
 beautiful gardens close to the city, full of all kinds of fruit, 
 with as great an "abundance of provisions as one can desire. 
 Besides, it is on the routes from Bagadet,^ Persia, Turkey, 
 and Soria -^ and the inhabitants are honest and good. This 
 city is the first in the dominions of Sultan Sciech Is- 
 mael, and is a metropolis and capital city of a province 
 named Dierbec, in which are six large cities with five 
 hundred fortresses, as shall be related. 
 
 Chap. III.^ — Of the castle Jumilen; of the great city Caramit, founded 
 by the Emperor Coiistantine ; and of the fine buildings, churches, 
 and streams there are in it, and which is inhabited more by Chris- 
 tians, Greeks, Armenians, and Jews, than by Mahometans ; of the 
 province of Dierbec, its cities, and by whom it is governed. 
 
 Two days' journey from Orfa is a castle named Jumilen,^ 
 which is on a mountain, with walls not very strong, and 
 with a small fosse dug out of the rock. Eound the castle 
 is a town of houses dug into the mountain like grottoes, in 
 which the peasants live : a low race like gipsies. This dis- 
 trict is very arid, and has no water; but in the grottoes they 
 have excavated they have made deep reservoirs, which they 
 fill with water in the spring, and which serve them the 
 whole year. Three days' journey from this castle is the 
 great city of Caramit,* which, according to their chronicles, 
 was built by the Emperor Constantino, and has a circuit of 
 ten or twelve miles. ^ It is surrounded by walls of black 
 stone, so placed, that it appears painted, and has in the 
 whole circumference three hundred and sixty towers and 
 
 ^ Bagdad. ' Syria. ' Jemeleyn. 
 
 * Kara Amid, or Arnid-Diarbekr. See Zeno. 
 
 ' An error. The Emperor Constantine repaired the old Roman walls 
 only. 
 
146 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 turrets. I rode the whole circuit twice for my pleasure, 
 looking at the towers and turrets of very different forms and 
 sizes j^ still no one who is not a geometrician would not be 
 pleased to see them, so marvellous are the structures ; and 
 in several parts on them I saw the imperial arms carved 
 with an eagle with two heads and two crowns." In this 
 city are many wonderful churches, palaces, and marble 
 monuments, inscribed with Greek letters. The churches 
 are about the size of that of SS. Giovanni and Paulo or the 
 Frati Minori at Venice. And in many of them are relics of 
 saints and particularly of Saint Quirinus, which, at the time 
 the Christians had the upper hand, were shown openly ; 
 and in the church of St. George I saw the arm of a saint in 
 a case of silver, which they say was the arm of St. Peter, 
 and which they keep with great reverence. In this church 
 is also the tomb of Despinacaton,^ the daughter of the King 
 of Trebizond, named Caloianni,* who is meanly buried under 
 a portico near the door of the church in the earth, and 
 above the tomb is a thing like a box one cubit high and 
 one wide and about three in length, built of bricks and 
 earth. There is also a church of St. John, beautifully built, 
 and several others of great beauty and splendour ; and 
 while I remember, I must not pass over one of them named 
 the church of St. Mary, the account of which will interest 
 my readers. It is a large edifice,^ with sixty altars, 
 as one sees before chapels ; the interior is built up with 
 
 ^ These towers were built at various periods by the chiefs of the 
 different dynasties that reigned there. There are inscriptions from 
 Valens down to Sultan Selim, that each successive possessor placed on 
 the walls. 
 
 ^ This was the emblem of the Ortokide and Eioobite rulers, and not 
 the Imperial arms. 
 
 ' Despina Khatoon, the latter word meaning " lady" or "madam", 
 and so " queen". 
 
 * Calo Johannes, or Black John. See p. 42, Zeno. 
 
 ' Now the Ooloo Jami. 
 
THE TRAVELS OP A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 147 
 
 vaults, and the vaults are supported by more than three 
 hundred columns. There are also vaults above vaults, 
 equally supported by columns; and, as far as I could judge, 
 this church was never covered in, in the middle, as taking 
 into consideration the mode of its erection, and, above all, 
 the sacred christening font, which I saw was in the open air. 
 This baptismal font is situated in the middle of the church, 
 and is of fine alabaster, made like an immense mastebe,^ 
 carved inside with various designs and most splendidly 
 worked. It is covered by a magnificent block of the finest 
 marble, supported by six columns of marble as clear as 
 crystal, and these columns also are worked with fine and 
 gorgeous carvings, while the whole church is inlaid with 
 marble. Nowadays, the eastern part of this church has been 
 made a mosque, while the other part is in the same state it 
 always has been, as it was the convent where the priests 
 lived ; in it there is a wonderful fountain of water, as clear 
 as crystal. This church is so nobly built that it appears 
 like a paradise, so rich is it in fine and spleudid marbles, 
 having columns upon columns, like the palace of St. Mark 
 at Venice. There is also a campanile with bells, and in 
 many other churches there are steeples without bells. 
 
 This city abounds in water, as springs rise in many places ; 
 and it is partly on a plain and partly on a mountain — in the 
 midst of a great plain, round which many fresh-water springs 
 gush forth. It has six gates," well guarded by corporals 
 and soldiers ; the corporal of every gate has ten, twelve, or 
 twenty men under him, and by every gate there is a large 
 clear fountain. There are here, also, people of many re- 
 ligious persuasions in greater numbers than Mahometans, 
 namely. Christians, Greeks, Armenians, and Jews. Each 
 religion has its separate church with its own service, with- 
 out being molested by the Mahometans. 
 
 Among the other rivers flowing through this city is one 
 ' A stone seat fastened to a wall. « It has only four now. 
 
148 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 from the East named the Set,^ which, in the spring, rises 
 wonderfully and flows rapidly towards Asanchif and Gizire/ 
 in Bagadet, entering the river Euphrates, and the two then 
 fall into the Persian Gulf. Custagialu Mahumutbec rules 
 this city with the whole province of Dierbec, Sciech Ismael 
 having given it to him as his relative, being his sister's 
 husband, and most devoted to him. This province has six 
 great cities and five large fortresses, as I have said : of 
 which cities there were three, namely, the one we have been 
 relating about, i.e., Caramit,^ thesecond Orfa, and the third 
 Cartibiert, formerly ruled over by Aliduli,* who had sub- 
 dued them. At the time that Jacob Sultan passed from 
 this life, they were occupied by Aliduli ; although it cost 
 him dear, as, when Sciech Ismael gave the fine province of 
 Dierbec to Custagialu Mahmutbec, he commanded him at 
 all hazards to recover Orfa and Cartibiert, and this com- 
 mission he, as a faithful vassal, prepared to execute. There- 
 fore, he siezed Orfa, cutting all within it to pieces, but could 
 not take Caramit,-^ since Sultan Custalumut had surrounded 
 it with walls, neither could he take Cartibiert. Custagialu, 
 seeing this, left Orfa, and came to Mardin,^ which he took 
 
 > The Tigris, or Shat (Arabic for river). After the junction of the 
 Euphrates and Tigris, the river, on its way to the Persian Gulf, goes by 
 the name of the Shat ul Arab. 
 
 2 Hisn Keyf and Jezireh. » Kara Amid-Diarbekr. 
 
 * Kharput, called by Arabic historians Khutburt and Hisn Ziyad, 
 now Mauooriet el Azeezeh in Turkish official documents. It was a chief 
 seat of the Orlokides, and here it was that Balak, the son of Behram, 
 the son of Ortog, confined the gallant crusaders, Jocelyn de Courtenay 
 and Baldwin du Bourg, after they had been liberated by their con- 
 querors, Dejekermish and Soukman Ibn Ortok. Balak destroyed all his 
 prisoners, with the exception of the royal captives, by throwing them 
 over the battlements. It is now fast falling into decay, the fine old 
 castle in the lower part of the town being now in ruins. 
 
 * Diarbekr. 
 
 * Mardin, the ancient Roman colony of INIarde, still a prosperous 
 town. Kinneir says, "Although in so elevated a situation, it has within 
 itself a plentiful supply of the finest water; and, as the vine is cultivated 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 149 
 
 without bloodshed or resistance, as they surrendered volun- 
 tarily. While Custagialu* remained at Mirdin, Aliduli ad- 
 vanced and endeavoured to recover Orfa, ravaging the coun- 
 try, plundering and slaying the inhabitants, and threatening 
 to do great things against Sciech Ismael, who then came to 
 subdue Aliduli, as 'shall be related at the proper time and 
 place, to the satisfaction of those who desire to hear of the 
 origin of Sultan Sciech Ismael. 
 
 Chap. IV. — Of the castle of Dedu ; of the magnificent city of Mirdin, 
 built on a high mountain near a vast plain ; of the city of Gizire, 
 situated on an island, and very wealthy ; of the royal city of Asan- 
 chif , filled with innumerable inhabitants and different religions ; 
 the two castles which Custagialu, the relative of Sciech Tsmael, ia 
 now besieging ; and of the wonderful bridge in this city. 
 
 Now, continuing my journey one day from Caramit, one 
 arrives at a fine castle named Dedu; which is on an emi- ^ 
 nence, near a high mountain, and has many villages below 
 it, and is a very rich place. Proceeding a day's journey 
 further, one sees the magnificent city of Mirdin, which is ' ^ 
 
 with success in the recesses of the mountains, wine and brandy (arrack) 
 are made by the Armenians in considerable quantities. The houses are 
 all built of fine hewn stone, and appear to be very old. The windows 
 are small, grated with iron, and, from the position of the town on a de- 
 clivity, added to the narrowness of the streets, the buildings seem, pro- 
 gressively, to rise one on the top of the other. The population of Mer- 
 din amounts to nearly 11,000 souls, of which fifteen hundred are Arme- 
 nians and two hundred Jews; the remainder are Turks, Arabs, and Kurds. 
 The Armenians have here several churches, and a patriarch who was edu- 
 cated at Rome ; he is a well-informed man, highly respected even by the 
 Turks. The walls of the city are kept in tolerable repair, and a few old 
 pieces of cannon are mounted on the towers of the castle, which is now in 
 a very dilapidated state, and has never been completely repaired since the 
 place was taken by Timour. Merdin is forty-six furlongs from Mosul and 
 eighteen from Diarbekr, It is the frontier town of the Pashalik of 
 Bagdad, towards Constantinople, and under the government of a Mus- 
 saleem appointed by the Pasha." 
 
150 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 about four or five miles in circumference, on a tigli moun- 
 tain, with a castle a long crossbow shot above the city, and 
 one mile in circumference, which, if one looks at from be- 
 low, is terrifying, as, when one is on the mountain at its 
 foot, one sees numerous huge rocks as lai'ge as houses, and 
 which always seem about to fall. At the foot of this castle 
 the city is surrounded by high walls, and, as I have said, 
 is situated on a high mountain, and has within it beautiful 
 palaces and mosques. It is true there is a want of water,^ 
 since the water of this region is salt and scarce ; otherwise, 
 this would be the finest city of Diarbec, being in a most 
 beautiful and pleasant climate. This city is so high, that 
 from within, looking down towards the east, it appears 
 hanging over, like the battlement of a fortress. It is also 
 appalbng, looking from the foot of the walls of the city up 
 to the height of the castle ; which is so far off, that the 
 colour becomes softened off into that of the sky, and this is 
 seen principally from the plain on the east below the city. 
 This plain commences at Orfa, goes as far as Bagadet, and 
 thence extends to Gizire, wonderfully wide and grand. 
 This city is inhabited far more by Armenian Christians and 
 Jews than by Mahometans, and each sect officiates in its 
 separate church, according to their custom. 
 
 Travelling from this city for two days towards the East, 
 one finds another city named Gizire,^ inhabited by the same 
 people, by Curds, and very many other races, and is situ- 
 ated on an island. The river Set spreads itself out in that 
 region, flowing by another mountain, where they are build- 
 ing a fine castle. This city is governed by a Curd, although 
 in subjection to Custagialu Mahumutbec, and abounding in 
 
 " According to Kinneir this is not the case now. See preceding note. 
 
 * Jezireh, on the Tigris, representing the old fortress of Bezabde, was 
 an important town till the invasion of Timour, by whom it was taken 
 and destroyed. It was a chief seat of the Atabegs, the ruins of whose 
 castle still exibt. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 151 
 
 everything that one can ask. I have thought fit to make 
 mention of this city although it is not on the direct road to 
 Tauris, but on one's right hand on the route to the East. 
 But following the direct road to Tauris in the ordinary 
 manner, I say that in four days from the above-named city 
 of Mirdin, one comes to another city named Asanchif/ 
 which is a royal city, and a metropolis of the province of 
 Diarbec, and is ruled over by a lord named Sultan Calil/ 
 who is a Curd, has married a sister of Sultan Sciech Ismael, 
 and is chief of several Curdish lords of those territories. 
 This city is four or five miles in circuit, and is fortified at 
 the foot of a high mountain, while by the opposite side of 
 the mountain flows the large river Set,^ the city being built 
 
 ^ Plesn Keyf. 
 
 ^ Sultan Khalil, the Eioobite. His tomb exists there yet. Hesn 
 el Kahef or Hesn Keyf, three hours and a half from Redhwanis, men- 
 tioned by Procopius as Ciphas, while an Armenian author, writing 
 about the first crusade, speaks of it under the name of Harsenko, and 
 says that after the defeat of Baldwin de Bourg, Count of Edessa, and 
 Jocelyn de Courtenay by Dejekermish and Soukman, which resulted in 
 the capture of those two chiefs, Jocelyn was sent a prisoner to Hesn 
 Keyf, while Baldwin was incarcerated at Mosul. They were ransomed 
 for a considerable sum, but fell into the hands of Balak the son of 
 Behram, the son of Ortok, who confined them at Kharput. The modern 
 town is perched on the top of a steep and nearly inaccessible rock, 
 having at the eastern end the old castle built by the Ortokides on the 
 ruins of a more ancient edifice. In a small plain at the foot of the 
 mountains that here press down upon the Tigris, are the ruins of the 
 old town of the same name, the seat of the Ortokides and Eioobites. A 
 noble bridge of three large and three smaller pointed arches, but now 
 in ruins, spanned the river close under the town. But by far the most 
 interesting relics of the place are the myriads of grots that stretch for 
 three miles in one direction, and occupy the sides of six other separate 
 ravines, scooped out of the hills to the east of, and round the town. They 
 exist, tier above tier, in parallel lines all up to the top, communicating 
 with each other by stairs and by a narrow zigzag path, that passing each 
 cell reaches from the highest cave to the plain. In the same manner the 
 water of some springs on the top of the hill was conducted by a narrow 
 channel past each of them and within easy reach of their inhabitants. 
 
 ^ Tigris. 
 
152 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 between tlie mountain and the river, and in it there is a 
 countless population of Christians, Mahometans, and Jews — 
 a very rich and trading community.^ I remained there two 
 months, kept in by the deep snow on the road to Tauris, 
 where I was sent by my correspondents. Custagialu 
 Mahumutbec was there with an army of ten thousand men, 
 since Sultan Calil, the relative^ of Sciech Ismael, as we have 
 said, ruled that country, but not in his allegiance, since he 
 was a Curd, and the Curds are disobedient and insubordinate ; 
 and although they wear the red caftans^ they are not Suffa- 
 veans at heart, but only outwardly. Sciech Ismael, there- 
 fore, who is of a masterly and sagacious character, easily 
 understood the need of his realm ; and as he wished Asan- 
 chif and the whole of Diarbec, of which Asanchif is one of 
 the principal territories, to be ruled by Custagialu, who is a 
 Natolian and a true Suffavean of the spot of Sciech Ismael, 
 very devoted, and as nearly related to him, took the measure 
 of sending him in person to take possession of this territory 
 from Sultan Calil, Having thus entered Asanchif, as I 
 have said, with ten thousand men, this Sultan Calil, seeing 
 his enemy upon him by order of Sciech Ismael, having 
 hastily furnished himself with provisions, shut himself up in 
 two castles, upon two mountains commanding the city, one 
 being a mile in circuit, and the other about half a mile. In 
 the larger one there are no rooms nor any habitations, only 
 a very steep mountain about a mile round, rising as perpen- 
 dicularly as a wall, and inaccessible, except in one quarter, 
 where high walls are built, with many towers for the defence 
 of the pass, and the soldiers who lodge in the fortress have 
 their apartments in the towers. The other, which is smaller, 
 is well built, and inhabited, and here it was that Sultan 
 
 1 It is now a miserable village of one hundred and fifty houses only. 
 
 2 Brother-in-law. 
 
 ' Kizzilbashes, or red-heads. The seven Turkish tribes who bore 
 this name were the " Oostkajalu," " Shamlu," " Nikallu," "Baharlu," 
 " Zulkudder," "Kajar," and " Affshar." 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 153 
 
 Calil, with Calconchatun/ his wife, the sister of Sieche 
 Ismaelj with the rest of his family, lived. In this city all 
 the lords of Diarbech came together by command of Cus- 
 tagialu Mahumutbec, bringing with them all the men they 
 could, to the number, before mentioned, of, ten thousand ; 
 and they kept up fighting night and day, but they gained 
 but little, as the two castles were impregnable, and their 
 horses, lances, arrows, crossbows, and guns availed nothing. 
 Similarly, a mortar of bronze, of four spans, which they 
 brought from Mirdin, where it used always to stand before the 
 door of the fort of that city, was useless. This mortar was 
 cast in that country at the time of Jacob Sultan, and by his 
 orders. And while I was at Asanchif I went several times 
 to see the fighting and the firing of this same mortar ; and 
 Custagialu also had another larger one cast by a young 
 Armenian, who cast it in the Turkish manner — all in one 
 piece. The breech was half the length of the whole piece, 
 and the mortar was five spans in bore at the muzzle. They 
 had only these two pieces to bombard the castles, in which 
 there was no artillery, except three or four muskets of the 
 shape of Azemi,^ with a small barrel, which, with a contriv- 
 ance locked on to the stock about the size of a good arque- 
 buse, carry very far. They also had a certain kind of 
 crossbow, made like bows of horn, but made on purpose 
 stronger than those which are drawn by hand, and have a 
 handle, with a contrivance like ours for bending them, and 
 are without nuts, but instead of them they have a bit of 
 iron. Their bolts are long, about half the length of an 
 arrow, and slender ; they are feathered, and have points 
 like the Tui"kish arrows, and go a great distance. " Of these 
 crossbows there were about twenty in one of these castles ; 
 I think it was in the smaller one. 
 
 In this city there is a hill, on which they have built a 
 rampart of planks and beams, behind which are a number 
 
 • Khatuu " lady" or "princess." ' Irak Ajemi. 
 
154 THE TRAVELS OP A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 of men with slings, who fire into the castle, as also those in 
 the castle do into the town. They have made this rampart 
 on the highest point of the city, and from thence they cast 
 down many stones. The two cannons were directed on the 
 castle to sweep away some outposts^ which did a great deal 
 of harm, and had caused the death of a great many of the 
 citizens. They also made a rampart of a number of great 
 beams, which could be raised and lowered like a drawbridge. 
 This was all completed in one night ; and when they wished 
 to fire one of the cannons they raised and then lowered the 
 door; and many perished on both sides. Since before 
 dawn they began to sound their warlike instruments, con- 
 tinuing till the setting of the sun. For two months while 
 I remained there was continual fighting, so that the unfor- 
 tunate city was half besieged by the number of soldiers and 
 people who came to the fighting, causing great disturbances. 
 All this was tolerated by Custagialu Mahumutbec in order 
 to have money to pay his soldiers 
 
 This city was always considered a separate realm, but 
 subject to the King of Persia. And really the inhabitants 
 appear to me to be very worthy, good people. There are 
 many traders and prettier women than in any other part of 
 Diarbec. Outside the city there are four suburbs^ as I will 
 relate to you. On the east, in the mountain under the 
 castlc; there are a number of grottoes enough to form a 
 city ; below this is another borough with very large houses. 
 On the other side of the river are heights far above the 
 stream full of excavated grottoes^ with rooms, palaces, with 
 many staircases^ (by which they descend to the river to 
 
 • From the courtyard of the old castle at the eastern end of the modern 
 town, a curious covered way, containing a winding stair of two hundred 
 steps, is scooped out of the solid rock, leading down to the river. A 
 little further on are the remains of a similar stair, which, like the former, 
 was evidently used by the townspeople to supply themselves with water 
 from the Tigris. Where the stairs are at all exposed to the attack of an 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 155 
 
 draw water), finer than any of the houses. Near this place 
 is another suburb of houses, with a magnificent bazaar and 
 a chan for the accommodation of merchants. Going to the 
 city from this bazaar, one crosses the river by a magnificent 
 stone bridge,^ which is wonderfully built, and in my opinion 
 has no superior. It has five lofty, wide, solid arches; the 
 one in the middle is built on a firm foundation of stones, 
 two and three paces long and more than one pace broad. 
 This foundation is so large that it is about twenty paces in 
 circumference, made in the form of a column, and sustains 
 the centre arch, being fixed in the middle of the river. The 
 arch is so wide and lofty that a vessel of three hundred tons, 
 with all its sails set, can pass under it ; and, in truth, many 
 a time when T have been standing on it and looking down 
 into the river, the great height has made me shudder. But 
 while I recollect it I will say that I consider three things 
 in Persia great marvels — this bridge of Asanchif, the palace 
 of Assambei Sultan, and the castle of Cimischasac.^ 
 
 Chap. V. — Of the castle of Cafondur; of the town of Bitlis ; of the 
 Kurdish tribes ; and of the Curd, Sarasbec, the lord of that city, 
 who has but little respect for Sciech Ismael. 
 
 As I think I have now said quite enough about this city 
 and its state, it seems to me I ought to continue the journey 
 I have begun. Therefore, at the end of two months I set 
 out towards Bitlis, and at the end of five days' journey ar- 
 rived at a castle called Cafondur,^ inhabited by a Curdish 
 
 enemy from the opposite side, they are pitted with innumerable small 
 holes, probably caused by flights of arrows that had been shot against 
 these exposed parts to prevent any communication with the river. 
 
 1 The foundations are Parthian. The only remaining arch fell in last 
 year— 18G9. 
 
 2 Tchimishgazak. In ruins now. 
 
 3 Now Keffeudo. The ruins are situated in the narrow gorge of the 
 Bitlis valley. 
 
156 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 chief who governs it in the allegiance of the ruler of Bitlis. 
 It is a small castle built on a peaked mountain, the whole 
 country being mountainous and arid, as from Asanchif to 
 Bitlis the whole road is hilly with some narrow and danger- 
 ous passes. 
 
 And, although I had promised to describe my journey 
 straight on, nevertheless, for my own satisfaction, and to 
 please my readers, I will make mention of a city a little out 
 of the road named Sert,^ where nuts and chesnuts grow in 
 large quantities, and also gall for tanning. There are also 
 three fine castles under the kingdom of Asanchif, called 
 Aixu, Sanson," Arcem f this Arcem is governed by a tall 
 Saracen negro, a slave of Sciech Ismael, named Gambarbec, 
 of gigantic height and strength. Sciech Ismael made him 
 a Sultan, and placed him under Custagialu. 
 
 I now recollect that I mentioned before that there were 
 six great cities and five castles in the province of Diarbec ; 
 but I did not name them at the time ; but now I will give 
 the name of each. The cities are Orfa, Caramit, Mirdin, 
 Gizire, Asanchif, and Sert ;* the castles are Jumilen,^ Dedu, 
 Arcem, Aixu, Sanson, all of which have their particular 
 rulers subject to Custagialu Mahumutbec. But to return to 
 the castle of Cafondur^ we have mentioned, near which, in a 
 deep valley, is a stream,^ and a fine large chan built, for 
 
 ' Saert, on the Bohtan Su or Eastern Tigris, also called Asaerd and 
 Mobaelra, has been identified by d'Anville and Kinneir as the ancient 
 Tigranocerta, though j\Ir. Ainsworth more recently has combated that 
 idea, as no ruins are to be seen above ground. Tacitus and Strabo both 
 place Tigranocerta near Nisibin ; but coins of Tigranes are to be found 
 here. 2 Sassone. 
 
 3 Arzen, on the Huzu Arzen, near the village of Giri Hassan, has 
 fallen into ruins, which are still very extensive. Numerous coins have 
 been found here. 
 
 * Orfa, Kara Amid (Diarbekr), Mardin, Jezireh, Hesn Keyf, and Saert. 
 
 » Jemeleyru e Keffendo. 
 
 ' The Bitlis Tchai, rising near the Van Lake, flows into the Bohtan 
 Su or Eastern Tigris. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 157 
 
 the accommodation of people travelling during the deep 
 snow, as it snows in an extraordinary manner in that coun- 
 try. I myself was compelled to remain a month in this chan, 
 not being ablo'to continue my journey to Bitlis, on account 
 of the deep snow which covered all the country. In this 
 place one gets dear bread, victuals, barley, and fodder, from 
 some Curdish peasants, who inhabit certain villages on the 
 mountains.^ This country is perfectly free from robbers, 
 as the whole time I remained in that chan I was molested by 
 no one, although I went about a great deal with the servant 
 of our Carimbassi;- and, although he had some of the goods 
 of this same Carimbassi with other merchandise left at 
 Asanchif, to the value of ten thousand ducats, and I had 
 three thousand ducats in my possession, we never had any 
 hindrance. Setting out at the beginning of the month, I 
 arrived at Bitlis as best I could, and remained there about 
 fifteen days expecting Comminit of Casvem, with whom I 
 had been sent by my employers to Tauris to recover some 
 money. 
 
 This city of Bitlis^ is neither very large nor walled round, 
 but has a fine castle on a hill in its midst, which is large 
 and well built, and, according to their chronicles and tradi- 
 tions, was founded by Alexander the Great; it is surrounded 
 by high walls, with many turrets and lofty towers. This 
 city, together with the castle, is governed by a Curd named 
 Sarasbec, half a rebel against Sultan Sciech Ismael, and 
 who is considered in Persia as the master of this fine for- 
 tress. All the Curds are truer Mahometans than the other 
 inhabitants of Persia, since the Persians have embraced the 
 Sufiavean doctrine, while the Curds would not be converted 
 to it : and, though they wear the red caftans, yet in their 
 hearts they bear a deadly hatred to them. This same city 
 is situated among high mountains in a valley ; so that it is, 
 
 1 Modern travellers give a very different account of this region. 
 * Caravan Bashi. * Bitlis. See Zeno, p. 8. 
 
158 THE TRAVELS OF .A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 as it were^ hidden, and one does not perceive it till one is 
 close upon it. And all that region is a kind of receptacle 
 or reservoir of snow, and so much falls that they are only 
 three or four months of the year without it, and they cannot 
 sow their corn before the 15th or 20th of April, Many 
 merchants leave this city to trade in Aleppo, Tauris, and 
 Bursa, as there is nothing to buy in it, nor any merchan- 
 dise to be retailed, as the inhabitants are all Curds and 
 a vile race. There are also many Armenian Christians : a 
 people far worse than the Mahometans, though not so much 
 so in this place as throughout the rest of Persia, wherever 
 one finds them. A stream' passes through the centre of 
 this city, so that it is well supplied with water. There is 
 also a spring in the castle, which, though it supplies but 
 little water, is sufficient for their wants. In the winter 
 every one collects a quantity of snow, putting it in cisterns, 
 and then makes use of it in summer. This Curd, Sarasbec, 
 who rules this city, has but little respect for Sultan Sciech 
 Ismael, who, while I was at Tauris, I remember, sent seve- 
 ral times to summon him to his court ; but he would never 
 trust himself to go there. On this account, Sciech Ismael 
 sent one of his captains, named Sophi Zimammitbec, with 
 about six thousand horsemen, who, when they arrived at a 
 distance of two days' journey from Bitlis, were overtaken 
 by a courier with orders from the sovereign to the captain 
 to return at once to Tauris. He, turning about with his 
 men, went back to Sciech Ismael, whom he found in great 
 perturbation because the TJsbec, named Casilbas,^ had in- 
 vaded his country, ravaging the territory of Jesel.^ Ismael 
 determining to avenge himself, assembled all his horse and 
 foot soldiers, and marched against this same Casilbas, who 
 was a kinsman of the great Tamberlane, and ruler of Tar- 
 
 1 The Bitlis Tchai. See p. 156. 
 
 2 Sheibani Klian, Yeshilbash. See Zeno, p. 55. 
 » Yezd. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 159 
 
 tary, Curidin/ and the bordei'S^ as far as Sammarcant. 
 What followed, I shall keep for a more convenient place, 
 and narrate the whole of it in detail. I will now return to 
 my first undertaking. 
 
 Chap. VI. — Of a sea or salt lake, and of the castles round it ; of the 
 city of Anninig, situated on an island of this sea, inhabited solely 
 by Armenian Christians ; of the fortresses of Vastan and Van, 
 where the ruler is named Zidibec, a rebel against Sciech Ismael ; 
 Bairdunbec was sent against him, and besieged him three months; 
 when the castle capitulated, Zidibec having escaped by night. 
 
 Then, setting out from Bitlis, on the second day I arrived 
 at Totouan," a small fort on a mountain stretching out into 
 the sea, as you shall hear. In this country there is a sea or 
 lake, the water of which is salt ; but not so much so as the 
 Adriatic sea. It is three hundred miles long, and a hundred 
 and fifty broad in the widest part, and has round it many 
 inlets, with a fertile region full of villages, the greater num- 
 ber of the villagers being Armenians. Eound this sea are 
 seven splendid castles, inhabited by Curds and Armenians, 
 in all of which I have traded ; as on my way to Tauris I 
 went on one side, and came back on the other, as this sea was 
 in the middle of the route. There are four of the castles on 
 the east, namely, Totouan, already mentioned, Vastan, Van,'^ 
 
 ' Sheibani Khan was a descendant of Gengis Khan, and an enemy of 
 the house of Timour. 
 
 2 Tadvan, on the Van Lake. 
 
 * Van, the ancient Artemita, according to Kinneir, is situated two 
 miles from the lake. "It is surrounded with a good wall and deep ditch, 
 and has four gates : one, corresponding with the palace of the governor; 
 another, to the east, called the Gate of Tauris ; the third, to the south, 
 called the Middle Gate ; and the fourth, fronting the lake, known by 
 the appellation of the Gate Sinla. On the north is a castle built on a 
 high and perpendicular hill, which rises abruptly from the plain. This 
 fortress can only be approached by one jiassage, so narrow as to admit 
 only two persons abreast ; it is always supplied with corn and military 
 
IGO THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA, 
 
 and Belgari ;^ on the west are Argis/ Abalgiris_, and Calata.^ 
 This Calata was anciently a large city, as can be seen by the 
 buildings,* but is now reduced to a small fortress. Between 
 Totouau and Vastan is a lofty island in the sea,^ two miles 
 froiil the mainland, all of hard rock, on which is a small city 
 about two miles in circumference, the city being the same 
 size as the island. This city is named Arminig, is very 
 populous, and inhabited only by Armenian Christians, with- 
 out one Mahometan ; it has many churches, all for the ser- 
 vices of Armenian Christians ; of these, that of St. John 
 is the largest, and has a steeple made like a tower, so high 
 that it overlooks the whole city, and among the bells is 
 one so large, that when it is struck, it resounds over all the 
 mainland. Opposite the city or island is a large gulf, with 
 a delightful plain with many villages inhabited by Armenian 
 Christians, with much cultivated land, and beautiful gardens 
 with trees that produce every sort of fruit. This region has 
 a delightful and healthy atmosphere, and all round it are 
 mountains so high, that they appear to touch the sky; and, 
 not only in the circuit of this gulf, but also round the 
 whole sea there are bleak mountains covered with eternal 
 snow. 
 
 stores, and in the centre of the works stands the palace of the Aga of the 
 Janissaries. This city is abundantly supplied with water and provisions; 
 the houses are built of stone and tile ; the streets are spacious and well 
 paved ; and the population is said to amount to fifty thousand souls, 
 two thirds of which number are Turks, and the remainder Kurds and 
 Armenians. The air is jiure, and the environs of the city delightful." 
 
 * Peygri, now Beygir Kellah, hardly on the lake, but a short distance 
 from it, on a small stream falling into the same. 
 
 2 Arjish, Ardh-el Jivaz. 
 
 ' Iklat, a very ancient Armenian town. Subsequently it became the 
 seat of the Eioobites, and then of the Ak-koinloo. 
 
 * Arjish (the ancient Arzes) is a town containing six thousand in- 
 habitants, situated on the north-west side of the lake, three days' journey 
 from Van. 
 
 * Island of Ak-Tamar, the seat of the Catholicos of the Armenians, 
 described by Layard. 
 
THE TRAVELS OP A MERCHANT IM PERSIA. 161 
 
 At two days' journey from this place^ one finds the castle 
 of Vastan/ which was deraoKshed by Sciech Ismael, and 
 only a town with a bazaar remains. It is on a large gulf of 
 this sea^ with numbers of villages^ all inhabited by Curds. 
 There is a greater abundance of provisions here than in any 
 other place, and a good deal of white honey is made here, 
 which from time to time is sent by caravans to Tauris to be 
 sold, together with fine ointment and cheese. 
 
 Proceeding a day's journey further is the fortress of Van, 
 which is built on a mountain or hill of hard rock, from which 
 fresh water springs forth everywhere; it is more than a mile 
 in circumference, but narrow and long, like the rock on 
 which it is built; also on the summit of this rock, in one 
 part which is as steep as a wall, is a fountain the water of 
 which is used by all in the fortress." This citadel is ruled 
 over by a Curdish chief named Zidibec, who is a great lord, 
 and very proud, from having in his possession this fine for- 
 tress with many other castles in these mountains. He had 
 money coined with his own stamp of gold, silver, and 
 copper. Below the castle is a large town, and the greater 
 part of the inhabitants are Armenians, but within the castle 
 they are all Curds. This place is a good mile from the sea, 
 and is well supplied with provisions. This chief has many 
 sons, who govern the castles round ; and, as I have said, he 
 is very arrogant from his power, and is a rebel against Sciech 
 Ismael, who at another time sent one of his captains named 
 Bairambec with ten thousand picked troops against him. 
 While I was in Tauris, I learnt all the events from soldiers who 
 had returned, but in particular from a chief of bombardiers, 
 a good man, and a great friend of mine, named Camusabeo 
 of Trebizond. I heard that when Bairambec arrived beneath 
 
 ' Vastan in ruins to the south of the lake, nearly opposite the island 
 of Aktamar. 
 
 - There are numerous cuneiform inscriptions on the castle walls, of 
 which it is curious he should make no mention. 
 
162 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 the castle with his army, Zidibec, full of treachery, sent one 
 of his men to Bairambec to ask a safe conduct for him to 
 come and kiss his hand. Having obtained his demand, 
 Zidibec came down from the castle with a few companions 
 all unarmed; and, having- arrived in the presence of Bairam- 
 bec, saluted him in the Persian or Suflfavean manner, saying 
 that he wondered that his Excellency had come to that place 
 with that army, there being no necessity for it, as although 
 in the past he had been disobedient, yet for the future he 
 wished to be a faithful vassal of Sultan Sciech Ismael — in- 
 clining his head to the ground, as he did whenever he named 
 Sciech Ismael, as if out of reverence for that great name, 
 showing much humble respect in his discourse, as it was his 
 duty to do. And at length he warmly entreated Bairam- 
 bec that, when he returned to the noble presence of Sciech 
 Ismael his sovereign, he would deign to defend him, and 
 help him to make his apologies; this the commander 
 Bairambec promised to do. And, besides the promise, he 
 made him a banquet, magnificent enough for any king. 
 After they had dined together in the plain, Zidibec began 
 to make excuses, asking pardon of Bairambec for the ti'ouble 
 and difficulty he had had on his account, coming to that place 
 with so large an army ; and, rising to his feet, said : " My 
 lord, send with me whomsoever you please, and I will sur- 
 render the castle into his hands ; and I beg of you to give me 
 two days' time, that I may make ready to go with you to 
 the presence of Sultan Sciech Ismael." The general con- 
 ceded his request ; and, having called a nobleman named 
 Mansorbec, ordered him to go with Zidibec to the castle, 
 and to take it in charge until orders came from Sciech 
 Ismael, and also promised Zidibec to use his influence with 
 Sciech Ismael, that he might remain master of the castle 
 and of the fine territory. 
 
 Having made this agreement and these conditions, Zidibec 
 took leave, and with him went this same Baron Mansorbec, 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 163 
 
 with perhaps a hundred men, intending to take possession 
 of the castle in the name of Sciech Ismael. When they 
 arrived at the gate, Zidibec entered first, and after him Man- 
 sorbec and his men, when suddenly the gate was shut, and 
 fifteen hundred armed men appeared, who had been stand- 
 ing prepared for this, and cut to pieces Mansorbec with all 
 his men. Zidibec then went- with the same soldiers towards 
 the camp, where, as he had given his word of honour to 
 Bairambec, he found him with all his soldiers without sus- 
 picion, and unarmed. Then he began boldly to fight against 
 the whole army, of which a great number of men were 
 killed, and of his own men about three hundred were killed, 
 and a good many others wounded ; and Bairambec, the 
 general, received three wounds. Zidibec retreated as well 
 as he could into the castle, and, closing the gates, fortified 
 himself in it, considering himself secure against assault. 
 After this success, Bairambec, having two moderate-sized 
 cannons in his camp, began to batter the castle ; but they 
 were able to do no harm, as the walls were too strong and 
 the gunners too little skilled. And after besieging the 
 castle for three months, the artillerymen at last found a 
 place where a fountain sprang forth inside the fortress, 
 whence the besieged got their water. Near this spot they 
 planted the two cannons, and fired so much that the spout 
 by which the water issued broke into several pieces, and the 
 water which used to rise all went downwards. Thus at once 
 the castle was at their mercy ; and Zidibec, now seeing him- 
 self insecure, determined when night came to escape from 
 that place ; so descending from the walls with about fifty of 
 his court, without saying a word to anyone else, he took his 
 treasures, his wife, and two daughters, and, after disguising 
 himself, fied across the mountains to some of his other 
 strongholds. The following morning the tidings were 
 known everywhere that Zidibec had fled ; therefore the 
 people sent at once to Baii-ambec, offering to surrender the 
 
164 THE TRAVELS OP A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 castle if lie would ensure to them their lives and property, 
 Bairambec being wearied by the siege, which had already 
 lasted three months, promised it on his honour, and con- 
 ceded their request. Then they opened the gates to him, 
 and when he had entered they told him of the flight of 
 Zidibec with his court during the night. Let every one 
 judge for himself of the indignation and grief he felt in not 
 getting him into his hands. And, having appointed a 
 governor with sufficient troops to keep the place, he re- 
 turned to Tauris, where Sciech Ismael caused great festivi- 
 ties and games to be held in sign of rejoicing, as they are 
 accustomed to do on receipt of like news. He then left 
 Tauris with many of his lords, and went to Coi,^ where he 
 remained some time, occupying himself with the chase and 
 other amusements. 
 
 Chap. VII. — Of the castle of Elatamedia ; of the city of Merent and 
 of Coi ; of the city of Tauris, where the kings of Persia have their 
 residence ; of the castle, the palaces, fountains, and baths there are 
 in it ; of the wonderful mosque in the midst of the city ; of the 
 quality of the men and women ; and of the customs and trade of 
 this city. 
 
 Now after having abandoned my first proposition in order 
 to give some information about this interesting affair, I must 
 return to the abovementioned castle of Van, from which, 
 after three days' journey distant, one arrives at another 
 castle called Elatamedia, inhabited and ruled over only by 
 Turcomans, a fine race. Proceeding three days from this 
 place, one arrives at Merent,^ which in old times was a large 
 city, as is seen by the ancient buildings; it is situated in a 
 
 1 Khoi. 
 
 * Maraud, a town about halfway between Tabreez and Khoi, seems, 
 by the name, to denote the town mentioned ; but the traveller here ex- 
 pressly states that it is between Van and. Khoi ; so we must look for it 
 somewhere on the blank space of Kiepeit's map to the cast of Lake Van. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 165 
 
 beautiful plain with many streams and gardens, but within 
 there is only a small town and a bazaar. Three days' 
 journey further on, lies a fine large plain, surrounded by 
 high mountains, in the midst of which is a large place named 
 Coi, which in ancient times was a large city, as can be seen 
 by the great space occupied by the ruins. In this place, it 
 was anciently the custom (which is still observed) for the 
 troops to assemble when the King of Persia was about to 
 take the field with his army. This city, a short time ago, 
 was in ruins ; but when Sciech Ismael succeeded to the 
 throne he began to rebuild it, and has now restored the 
 greater part. And, among other things, a large palace has 
 been built, which in the Persian tongue is called Douler 
 Ghana/ signifying "pleasant abode." This palace is all 
 walled round with bricks, and is of great extent, with an Arim'^ 
 all together ; within there are many halls and chambers, and 
 it is built in one vault — that is to say, with one flooring ; 
 and it has a large and magnificent garden. It has two 
 gates, with two fine courts, beautifully decorated, and these 
 entrances are like two cloisters of a convent of friars. Be-- 
 fore the gate which looks west are three round turrets, each 
 of them eight yards in circumference, and about fifteen or 
 sixteen high. These turrets are built of the horns of Nam- 
 phroni stags, and it is considered that there are none like 
 them in the world. The Persians also consider these things 
 very magnificent. Therefore for show they have built these 
 three turrets of the horns of these animals^ as the mountains 
 are rocky and full of game. And Sultan Sciech Ismael 
 boasts that he and his lords have killed all these animals. 
 And truly Sciech Ismael takes the greatest pleasure in the 
 chase ; and to show that he is a skilful hunter he has had 
 these three turrets built, and takes more delight in living in 
 this place than in Tauris, as this country is well adapted for 
 hunting. In this city, they also make much crimson dye^ 
 ' Doulct Klianeh. * Harem. 
 
166 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 by using some red roots, wliich they dig out of the ground 
 with spades and hoes, and then take to Ormus, and they are 
 employed as red dyes in many parts of India. 
 
 One day's journey from this place is a small town named 
 Merent,^ from which a day's journey further is another small 
 place named Sophian/ situated in the plain of Tauris, at the 
 foot of a mountain ; it is a beautiful country, and has many 
 rivulets and gardens. 
 
 From this, one arrives at the great and noble city of 
 Tauris, where was the abode of Darius, King of Persia, who 
 was afterwards defeated and slain by Alexander the Great, 
 and which has always been the seat of the kings of Persia. 
 Here lived Sultan Assambei,^ and, after him, Jacob Sultan, 
 his son. This great city'* is about twenty-four miles in cir- 
 
 ' Marand. See p. 164. 
 
 * Sofian, on the Ak Tchai, a tributary of the Aras, on the direct route 
 to Tabreez. ^ Hassan Beg. 
 
 * Tauris, or Tabreez, as it is now called, is supposed by most to be 
 the ancient Ecbatana. Kinneir says : — • 
 
 "The Persians conceive Zobeida, the celebrated wife of Haroun-ul- 
 Rashid to be its founder ; but, as they are in general very ignorant re- 
 garding the history of their cities, little reliance can be placed on any 
 information obtained from them. That Tauris was a favourite residence 
 of Haroun-ul-Rashid cannot be denied, and, although he might not 
 actually have founded the city, he may yet have improved and embel- 
 lished it to a considerable degree. It was, in the days of Chardin, one 
 of the largest and most populous cities in the East, and contained, 
 according to that traveller, five hundred thousand inhabitants. But no 
 town has experienced to a greater degree the ravages of war. Situated 
 towards the frontiers of contending empires, it has alternately been in 
 the hands of the Turks, Tartars, and Persians, and has been taken and 
 sacked eight different times ; but its ruin has been chiefly owing to the 
 number of earthquakes, which have at different times levelled its proudest 
 edifices with the dust. 
 
 "Tabreez does not now contain more than thirty thousand inhabitants, 
 and is, upon the whole, one of the most wretched cities I have seen in 
 Persia. It is seated in an immense plain at the foot of a mountain, on 
 the banks of a small river, whose waters are consumed in the cultivation 
 of the land. It is surrounded with a decayed wall, and the only decent 
 house in the place is a new barrack, erected by the Prince for the accom- 
 
 -o 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 167 
 
 cumference in my judgment, and is without walls, like 
 Venice. In it there are immense palaces, as memorials of 
 the kings who have ruled over Persia. There are many 
 splendid houses. 
 
 Two streams flow through it; and half a mile outside the 
 city, towards the west, there is a large river of salt water, 
 which is crossed by a stone bridge. In all the neighbour- 
 ing region there are fountains, the water of which is brought 
 by underground aqueducts. The numei'ous palaces of for- 
 mer kings are wonderfully decorated within, and covered 
 with gold on the outside, and of different colours ; and each' 
 palace has its own mosque and bath, which are equally over- 
 laid, and worked with minute and beautiful designs. Every 
 citizen of Tauris has his room all overlaid in the inside, and 
 decorated with ultramarine blue, in various patterns ; many 
 mosques, also, are so worked as to cause admiration in all 
 M'ho behold them ; among these, there is one in the middle 
 of the city so well built that I do not know how I am to 
 describe it ; but at any rate I will attempt to do so in a way. 
 This mosque is called " Imareth alegeaf, and is very large, 
 but has never been covered in in the centre. On the side 
 towards which the Mahometans worship, there is a choir 
 that is a vault of such a size that a good bowshot would not 
 reach the top ; but the place has never been finished, and all 
 round it is vaulted in with fine stones, which are sustained 
 by marble columns, which are so fine and transparent that 
 they resemble fine crystal, and are all equal in height and 
 thickness, the height being about five or six paces. This 
 mosque has three doors, of which two only are used, and are 
 
 modationof his troops. The ruins of the ancient city are very extensive 
 and very mean, being nothing but a confused mass of old mud walls. 
 
 " The observations of tlie gentlemen of the Mission give the latitude 
 of Tabreez in 38 deg. 10 min. N., and 46 deg. 37 min. E." 
 
 The population and trade of Tabreez have greatly increased since 
 Kinneir's time, partly owing to the intercourse with Russia; it has now 
 nearly eighty thousand inhabitants. 
 
168 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 arched ; they are about four paces wide and about twenty 
 high, and have a pillar, made not of marble, but of stone of 
 different colours, while the rest of the vault is all of layei'S 
 of decorated plaster. In each doorway there is a tablet of 
 transparent marble, so clear and fine that one might see 
 one's face in it. And the mosque can be seen from the 
 whole country round about ; and even at the distance of a 
 mile, one can clearly see these tablets, which are three yards 
 each way, the door which opens and shuts being three yards 
 broad and five high, of huge beams cut into planks, covered 
 with large cast bronze plates, smoothed down and gilt. 
 Before the principal door of the mosque is a stream flowing 
 under stone arches. In the midst of the edifice is a large 
 fountain, not springing there naturally, but brought artifici- 
 ally, as the water comes in by one pipe and is emptied by a 
 second, as they please. This fountain is a hundred paces in 
 length and as many in breadth, and is six feet deep in the 
 middle, where is built a beautiful platform or pedestal on 
 six pilasters of the purest marble, all overlaid, and carved 
 inside and out. The building is very ancient, but the plat- 
 form has been recently put up, and there is a bridge leading 
 from the side of the fountain on to the platform. There is 
 a beautiful boat like a bucentaur, which Sultan Sciecli 
 Ismael used often when a boy (as he still does now) to get 
 into, with four or five of his lords, and row about the 
 fountain. 
 
 I will say no more about this, but will go on to mention 
 two enormous elm-trees, beneath each of which more than a 
 hundred and fifty men can stand; and here they preach,^ 
 
 1 The followers of what is called the "Shiah sect", curse the memories 
 of Abu Bekr, Omar, and Othman, whom they look upon as usurpers of 
 Ali's rights; and they despise all the " Soonee", or body of traditions 
 collected during their reigns, which are venerated by all orthodox Maho- 
 metans. They believe that Ali, the beloved son-in-law of ]\Iohammed, 
 is almost equal to the Prophet him.-elf ; and that if Mohammed is the 
 Apostle, Ali and his descendants, the twelve Imaums, were the Vicars 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MIHICHANT IN PERSIA. 169 
 
 declaringf and settinsf fortli the new faith or SufFavean doc- 
 trine. The preachers are two doctors of this sect ; and one 
 of thenij as many people say^ taught Sultan Sciech Ismael, 
 and the other is required to attend with care to preaching 
 and converting people to their sect. 
 
 This city has also a fine castle on the east at the foot of a 
 hill, but which is uninhabited, and has no other rooms in it 
 but a magnificent palace, which is built partly into the hill ; 
 it is most wonderful, as you will learn from what I am about 
 to tell you. This palace . is very lofty, and seems solid half 
 way through. Outside there is a flight of steps eight or ten 
 paces long, and three broad, which mounts to the royal gate 
 of the palace ; the enti'ance is in a very large hall, on one 
 side of which is a solid cube, intended to be a hiding place, 
 sustained by four large columns, five paces and about twice 
 tjie grasp of my arms in girth. The capitals of these 
 columns are wonderfully carved ; the cement is of a certain 
 mixture or stone like fine jasper, as I really believed it to 
 be; but trying it with my knife, I found it was not hard. 
 They were placed here not so much for use as for show, as 
 the cube (dome) is sustained by strong thick walls. Then, 
 further in, there is another long narrow hall, with many little 
 
 of God. These Imaums all suffered martyrdom, except Maliadi, the 
 last, and he is said to have mysteriously disappeared, and is believed to 
 be still alive. The twelve Imaums are — 
 
 1. All, the son-in-law of Mohammed. 
 
 2. Hassan ) , . 
 
 ^ his sons. 
 
 3. Hossem ) 
 
 4. Zein al Abudeen. Put to death by Caliph Walid I. 
 
 5. Mohammed al Badkir. Put to death by Caliph Hashem. 
 
 6. Jaffier al Sadiek. 
 
 7. Moossah Kazim, from whom the Suffavean 
 
 family is descended. 
 
 8. Ali Riza ; buried at Meshed. 
 
 9. Mohammed al Takec. 
 
 10. Ali al Nukec. 
 
 11. Hassan Askeri. 
 
 12. Mohammed al Mahadi. Mysteriously disappeared. 
 
 All put to death, 
 generally by order 
 of the Caliphs. 
 
170 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 chambers like rooms ; and entering fuvtlier, one finds a vast 
 hall with many windows looking on to the city, since the 
 palace is above it, as I have said, standing on a hill over- 
 looking the city and the country round for a long way. All 
 these rooms are beautifully decorated with layers of cement 
 of various colours. All the ceilings of the rooms are deco- 
 rated and coloured with gilding and ultramarine blue. The 
 large hall looking on to the city has many columns round it, 
 which seem to support the roof; still it is kept up by strong 
 ■walls, and they are placed there for the sake of appearance, 
 as they are of the most beautiful marbles, not white, but in 
 colour like silver, so that in each one of them are reflected the 
 city, the hall, all the columns and people there. And at 
 each window of this hall, there are pilasters of fine marble 
 of the same kind and appearance as the columns, which 
 reflect in the same way but in a greater degree, as they are 
 flat, so that one can see not only the city, but also the 
 surrounding country, the mountains and hills more than 
 t^venty miles distant, all the gardens and the great 
 plain. 
 
 This city has, besides, some other great advantages. The 
 principal one is its being situated in a marvellous position 
 at the head of a fine large plain towards the east, in a place 
 like a small inlet at the foot of a high mountain, though 
 this belongs to the chain ten miles fui-ther to the east. On 
 the west there is another, but not very extensive, plain, 
 stretching three miles from the city. 
 
 The air here is so fine and salubrious as to induce people 
 to remain willingly and with great eujoyment ; nor did I 
 ever see anyone in bad health there. They almost all eat 
 mutton there, which has a very delicate taste. The beef 
 there is most vile ; so that but little is eaten by the inhabi- 
 tants. Their bread is of flour as white as milk ; they have 
 little wine, but still there are some red wines, and some 
 wines white in colour, and tasting like malmsey. There 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 171 
 
 are also a good many fisli, which ai'e caught in a lake/ a 
 day's journey distant from the city, which is salt like those 
 of Vastan and Van. The fish have not a natural taste, but 
 have a strange smell and taste of sulphur. To this place 
 there are also brought many sturgeon,^ smaller than those 
 of the Mediterranean, but still excellent. There is delicious 
 caviar also, which, as well as the sturgeon, is brought from 
 the Caspian Sea, nine days' journey distant from this place, 
 from a castle named Maumutaga. There also come from 
 this sea fresh , as large as men, and so good that 
 
 they are better than the flesh of pheasants ; but they only 
 come during the spring, as their season only lasts two 
 months. 
 
 There are also the common fruits, as over all the world, 
 few nuts, most delicious olives, and Adam's apples; but no 
 oil, oranges, or lemons. These fruits, which fail in spring- • 
 time, are brought from Chilan,^ a little province on the 
 southern shore of the Caspian Sea, extending twenty-five 
 miles from the sea. This city is also ornamented with 
 numerous gardens, in which there are the common herbs 
 like cabbages, lettuces, greens, and other small vegetables, 
 like those at Venice ; rape and carrots, small radishes, 
 marjoram, parsley, and rosemary. There is also much rice, 
 and great abundance of corn and barley. * 
 
 Besides all this, the city is thickly inhabited by Persians, 
 Turkomans, and gipsies, who are treated as people of the 
 Sufiavean sect, and wear the red caftans like the rest of the 
 people. There are a good number of Armenian Christians ; 
 but beyond Tauris there are no Christians of any kind to be 
 found. There are also Jews, but not permanent inhabitants, 
 as they are all foreigners from Bagadet, Cassan, and Jesede,* 
 and come to Tauris, are SufFavean subjects, and live in 
 
 > The Lake of Urumea, into which the Adschy Tchai, the river close 
 to Tabreez, flows. ^ From the Caspian. 
 
 ' Ghilan. * Bagdad, Kashan, and Yezd. 
 
172 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 alcharan savadi-^ like all foreign merchants. Of the in- 
 habitants you will learn wonderful things. The men are 
 ordinarily taller than in our country, are very bold, robust 
 in appearance, and of high spirit. The women are short in 
 proportion to the men, and as white as snow. Their dress 
 is the same as always has been — the Persian costume — 
 wearing it open at the breast, showing their bosoms and 
 even their bodies, the whiteness of which resembles ivory. 
 All the Persian women, and particularly in Tauris, are 
 wanton, and wear men^s robes, and put them on over their 
 heads, covering them altogether. These are robes of silk, 
 some of crimson cloth, woollen cloth, velvet, and cloth of 
 gold, according to the condition of the wearer. A quantity 
 of velvet and cloth of gold is brought from Bursa and Cafa. 
 In this city there is an order, as throughout the whole of 
 Persia, that a revenue farmer levies all the excise and tolls 
 as taxes and customs. There is also a vile usage, which 
 has always existed, that every merchant who has a shop in 
 the bazaar pays each day either two or six aspri, or even a 
 ducat, according to their business ; likewise, a payment is 
 fixed, for the masters of every art according to their condi- 
 tion. Also the hai'lots, who fi'equent the public places, are 
 bound to pay according to their beauty, as the prettier they 
 are the more they have to pay; and far worse than the 
 others I have mentioned is this cursed, horrible, disgraceful 
 custom, the evil odour of which ascends to heaven ; and 
 from the following instance you may learn their iniquities, 
 as in this city there is a public place and school of Sodomy, 
 where likewise they pay tribute according to their beauty. 
 
 All the money they collect is for the private advantage 
 of the revenue-farmers, and no difference is made between 
 Christians and Mussulmans in going to the prostitutes. 
 Besides these taxes, they have the tariff, of which the Christ- 
 ians pay ten per cent, on every kind of merchandise from 
 
 ' Caravan serai. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. ] 73 
 
 whatever quarter it may come. The Mussulmans only pay 
 five per cent, on everything ; and if they do not sell in 
 Tauris, and the goods are in transit, they do not pay per 
 cent., but weigh the whole quantity and pay a certain pro- 
 portion on it. In a load worth forty or forty-five ducats, or 
 one of fine or heavy goods, the payment is limited. Of 
 everything one buys in this city, what one has to pay is also 
 fixed according to the class of merchandise, and all is col- 
 lected by the revenue-farmer. At the time I was in Tauris, 
 a certain man named Capirali held this office and received 
 an income of sixty thousand ducats from these taxes. There 
 is much traffic in this city, and there are silks of every 
 quality, raw and manufactured. There are rhubarb, musk, 
 ultramarine blue, pearls of Crimes^ of every water, coin of 
 all sorts, lake dye of great beauty, fine indigo, woollen and 
 other cloths from Aleppo, Bursa, and Constantinople, since 
 crimson silks are exported from Tauris to Aleppo and Tur- 
 key, and are paid for in cloth and silver. 
 
 Chap. VIII. — Description of the royal palace built by Assambei outside 
 
 the city of Tauris. 
 
 Having given full enough pai'ticulars of the different 
 matters of this city, I do not think I ought to omit to men- 
 tion a beautiful palace which the great Sultan Assambei had 
 built; and though there are many large and beautiful palaces 
 in the city built by the kings, his predecessors, yet this, 
 without comparison, far excels them all ; so great was the 
 magnificence of Assambei that, up to the present time, he 
 has never had an equal in Persia. The palace is built in the 
 centre of a large and beautiful garden, close to the city, with 
 only a stream dividing them to the north, and in the same 
 circumference a fine mosque is built with a rich and useful 
 hospital attached. The palace in the Persian language is 
 
 ^ Ormuz. 
 
174 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 called Astibisti,^ wliicli^ in our tongue^ signifies '' eiglit 
 parts"j as it has eiglit divisions. It is tliirty paces high, 
 and is about seventy or eighty yards round, divided into 
 eight parts, which are subdivided into four rooms and four 
 anterooms, each room having the anteroom towards the 
 entrance, and the rest of the palace is a fine circular dome. 
 This palace is under one roof, or, as one should say, with 
 one storey, and has only one flight of steps to ascend to the 
 dome, the rooms and anterooms, since the staircase leads to 
 the dome, and from the dome one enters the rooms and ante- 
 rooms. This building, on the ground floor, has four en- 
 trances, with many more apartments, all enamelled and 
 gilt in various ways, and so beautiful that I can hardly 
 find words to express it. This palace, as I have already 
 said, is situated in the centre of the garden, and is built on 
 a terrace, or rather the mastabe has been raised round 
 for appearance, being a yard and a half high and five yards 
 wide, like a piazza. By every door of the palace there is a 
 way paved with marble leading to the mastab^. By the 
 door of the chief palace there is a small flight of steps of the 
 finest marble by which one mounts to the mastabe, which 
 is all made of fine marble, while in the centre of the mastabe 
 there is a channel of a streamlet paved and skilfully worked 
 out in marble. This streamlet is four fingers broad and 
 four deep, and flows all round in the form of a vine or a 
 snake. It rises at one part, flows round, and at the same 
 place again the water is conducted away elsewhere. For 
 three yards above the mastabe is all of fine marble. All 
 below is plastered in different colours, and is conspicuous 
 far off" like a mirror. 
 
 The terrace of the palace has for each angle a gutter or 
 
 spout, which spurts out water, and the spout is immensely 
 
 large, and made in the form of a dragon ; they are of bronze, 
 
 and so large that they would do for a cannon, and so well 
 
 ^ Hesht Bcliesht, eight heavens. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 175 
 
 made as to be taken for live dragons. Within the palace, 
 on the ceiling of the great hallj are represented in gold, 
 silver, and ultramarine blue, all the battles which took place 
 in Persia a long time since ; and some embassies are to be 
 seen which came from the Ottoman to Tauris presenting 
 themselves before Assambei, with their demands and the 
 answer he gave them written in the Persian character. 
 There are also represented, his hunting expeditions, on 
 which he was accompanied by many lords, all on horseback, 
 with dogs and falcons. There are also seen many animals 
 like elephants and rhinoceroses, all signifying adventures 
 which had happened to him. The ceiling of the great hall 
 is all decorated with beautiful gilding and ultramarine. The 
 figures are so well drawn that they appear like real living 
 human beings. 
 
 On the floor of the hall is spread a magnificent carpet, 
 apparently of silk, worked in the Persian manner with beau- 
 tiful patterns, which is round, and of the exact measurement 
 the place requires ; likewise in the other rooms the floor is 
 all covered. This hall has no light except what it gets from 
 the anterooms and chambers. Still there ai'e entrances from 
 the centre hall to the apartments and anterooms where there 
 are many windows all giving light, each anteroom having 
 only one window, but that one as large as the whole side of 
 a room, and beautifully fitted. Thus when these doors are 
 open, the palace, or rather the hall, is so brilliant with these 
 beautiful figures, that it is a wonder to see. This is the 
 palace where Assambei used to give audience. About a 
 bowshot from the palace there is a harem of one storey, so 
 large that a thousand women might conveniently live there 
 in difiFereut rooms. Among the rooms is a large one like 
 a hall, with the walls all adorned with gold and plaster, 
 looking like emerald and many other colours. The ceiling 
 of this harem is ornamented with gold and ultramarine. From 
 this hall there are many chambers on every side, with all the 
 
176 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 doors superbly decorated with gold and blue, and many 
 signs and letters made of mother of pearl, in beautiful 
 patterns ; and through the centre of this hall flows a stream 
 of pure water, a cubit in breadth and as much deep. On 
 one side of this harem is a summer-house four yards square, 
 beautifully decorated with enamel, gold, and ultramarine 
 blue, in patterns really a wonder to see. Here the queen 
 stays with her maidens to do needlework, according to their 
 custom. 
 
 And in truth it would be too long and too tedious for me 
 to recount everything about the palace and the harem, 
 which is in the same garden, and has three entrances, one 
 to the south, another to the north, and the third to the 
 east. That to the south is arched with bricks, but not very 
 large, and leads to the garden, the palace being a bowshot 
 distant; passing through the gate, fifteen paces off on the 
 left is a gallery, a bowshot in length and six paces broad, 
 which from one end to the other has seats of the finest 
 marble, with a kind of railing with a design, as an oimament 
 in relief of plaster, of various colours, quite a wonder to 
 behold from the excellence of the workmanship. The roof 
 is all ornamented with gold and plaster. This gallery is 
 supported from one end to the other by columns of fine 
 marble ; in front of it there is a fountain, as long as the 
 gallery, of fine marble likewise, which is always full of 
 water, and is twenty-five paces broad. In it there are 
 always four or five couple of swans ; round it there are rose 
 trees and jessamines, and a smooth road leading direct to 
 the royal palace. 
 
 On the north side, one must enter a certain place like a 
 cloister, paved with bricks, with seats of marble round it. 
 This place is so large that it will hold three hundred horses, as 
 the lords who came to the court used to dismount here when 
 Assambei was reigning. In this place there is a door enter- 
 ing the garden on the way to the king's palace, which is an 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 177 
 
 arch fifteen yards high and four yards wide, beautifully 
 worked in plaster from top to bottom. The door is made of 
 marble, in one square carved piece about four yards each 
 way; its height about a yard and a half; its breadth about 
 the same. The- rest of the marble is cut into designs, and 
 when it is exposed to the rays of the sun it shines so bril- 
 liantly on both sides, that it appears like crystal, since the 
 marbles found in Persia do not resemble ours, but are much 
 finer; they are not opaque, but are more a species of crystal. 
 Beyond this lordly door there is a fine paved road leading to 
 the royal palace. 
 
 The other door, towards the east, is on an immense maidan 
 or piazza, and leads into the garden. This door has a wall 
 of bricks, in the form of an arch, three yards high and two 
 broad, without any decorations, but simply whitened with 
 plaster, and through it there is a fine large fountain. Over 
 this there is a large edifice with many rooms, and a covered 
 hall looking over the garden. On the side towards the 
 maidan there is an arched gallery, so white as to exceed in 
 whiteness anything I think I have ever seen. Into this 
 building Assambei used to retire with many lords whenever 
 a feast was made on this maidan, and frequently when 
 ambassadors came they used to put them up here, as it was 
 a fine place and had many apartments. This door is further 
 than the others from the royal palace, with a cplendid view 
 of the maidan, on which are the mosque and the hospital I 
 have already mentioned. This mosque was built by Sultan 
 Assambei, is very large, and has within many rooms all 
 decorated with plaster, gold, and blue. 
 
 Also the hospital or moristan, is large, having many 
 buildings, and within it is even more beautifully ornamented 
 than the mosque, having many large wards about ten yards 
 long and four broad, each of these being fitted with a carpet 
 to its measurement. Between the hospital and the mosque 
 there is a wall only, and outside the hospital, from one side to 
 
178 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 the other, is a mastebe one cubit high and two yards broad, 
 and there used to be an iron chain drawn from one side to the 
 other round the border of the mastebe; so that no horse might 
 approach either the mosque, hospital, or mastebe. At the 
 time that Assambei and Jacob Sultan reigned, more than a 
 thousand poor people lived in the hospital, and the chain was 
 kept until the death of Jacob Sultan, and was then taken away 
 by the Turkomans. All these edifices were raised by the 
 great Assambei, who was so excellent and worthy a man 
 that there has never been his equal in Persia, as he con- 
 quered by force of arms many Persian lords who rebelled 
 agfainst him. And in the contest with the Ottoman Sultan 
 he gained glory by defeating and routing his army, though 
 another time he came off worst, as you will learn from what 
 I am now about to relate to you. 
 
 CiiAP. IX. — Caloianni, King of Trebizond, sends an ambassador to 
 Assambei, King of Persia, entreating his assistance against the 
 Ottoman Grand Turk ; the latter promises every aid if he would give 
 him his daughter as his wife ; he gives her on the condition that 
 she may observe the Christian faith, and sends her to Tauris. 
 
 At this time there reigned in Trebizond a Christian king 
 named Caloianni^, who had a daughter named Despinaca- 
 ton,^ who was very beautiful, being considered the most 
 beautiful woman of that time, and throughout Persia was 
 spread the fame of her loveliness and grace. As this king 
 was already much molested and troubled in his peaceful 
 dominions by the Ottoman Grand Turk, and finding himself 
 in a bad way and in danger of losing his kingdom, consider- 
 ing the great power of his enemy, he resolved to send an 
 ambassador to Tauris, where Sultan Assambei^ lived, to ask 
 
 » Calo Johannes. See Zeno, p. 9. * " Queen Despina." 
 
 ' Uzun Hassan, at the time of his marriage with Despina, was not 
 
 King of Persia but only Prince of Diarbekr. Trebizond was taken by 
 
 Mahomet II, Grand Turk, in U61. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 179 
 
 his assistance, knowing liim to be a magnanimous monarch. 
 The ambassador, who was most desirous to obtain the request 
 of his sovereign and to return with full satisfaction, entreated 
 Assambei not to refuse to give aid to his master, showing 
 him many reasons why the destruction of the Christian 
 king would cause harm to his dominions. Assambei being 
 young and unmarried, and already in love with the above- 
 mentioned lady from having heard so much talk of her 
 beauty and talents, replied to the ambassador that if his 
 master would give him his daughter as his wife, he would 
 aid him against the Ottoman not only with his army, but 
 also with his purse, and in person. The ambassador de- 
 parted with this answer, and when he came to his sovereign 
 expressed to him what Assambei demanded. Seeing that 
 he had not sufficient power to resist the enemy who just 
 then was attacking him, he was induced to agree to the re- 
 quest of Assambei, giving him his daughter as his wife, on 
 the condition that she might observe the Christian faith and 
 keep a chaplain to perform the sacred offices as ordered by 
 our true religion. 
 
 Having made this compact Despinacaton arrived in Tauris 
 accompanied by many lords : some sent by Assambei and 
 many others coming from Trebizond. There also came with 
 her many young maidens, daughters of noblemen of high 
 condition, who were always to remain with her. She had 
 also a greatly venerated chaplain, a worthy person, who 
 always celebrated the eucharist according to the Christian 
 custom while she lived with Ussuncassano, which she did a 
 long time, and always in observance of our faith. She had 
 her chapel in a separate place, saying her prayers there 
 whenever it pleased her. This lady had four children : the 
 eldest was Assambei;^ the others were daughters, two of 
 whom are still alive, and Christians. 
 
 ' lie was strangled by his half-brothers after Uzun Hassan's death. 
 
180 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 Chap. X. — The Ottoman makes preparations against Assambei and 
 Caloianni, who send ambassadors to the Venetians, requesting 
 their alliance, and asking for artillery ; in the meantime, the 
 Ottoman sends a Bassa, with his troops, to invade Persia. Assam- 
 bei having marched against him, defeats him in a battle. The 
 Grand Turk, collecting another army, sends against him and defeats 
 him. He then retreats to Tauris. Afterwards, marching against 
 the Soldan who had taken from him the city of Orfa, he defeats 
 him near that place. 
 
 The Ottoman, in the year 1472, having heard fully of the 
 compact and treaty that Assambei had made with the King 
 of Trebizond, and being very angry and indignant with it, 
 determined to prove the power and valour of these two 
 monarchs, and therefore made great levies of men to go 
 against Persia Assambei receiving intelligence of it, not 
 less full of anger and indignation than his enemy, ordered all 
 his lords to assemble their troops with the greatest possible 
 speed, since the King of Trebizond had informed him of the 
 great preparations of the Turk against them both. It seems 
 that Caloianni had relatives at Venice, or else a close fi'iend- 
 ship with some noblemen. Therefoi^e Assambei, in accord- 
 ance with his father-in-law, determined to do his utmost, 
 and therefore sent two ambassadors to Venice, requesting 
 their alliance to be able to subdue their Ottoman foe, giving 
 him the chastisement his audacity deserved. And, as I 
 hear, the ambassadors asked for artillery and gunners, and 
 the Most Illustrious Government, for the defence of the 
 King of Trebizond, gave as much as was demanded by 
 the ambassadors, who were greatly honoured. A ship 
 being equipped with the pieces of artillery on board, the 
 ambassadors embarked to go to Giazza, as was their 
 master's command. While the ambassadors were treating 
 in Venice, Sultan Assainbei assembled his army with great 
 celerity, about thirty thousand fighting men, and marched, 
 full of rage and fury, against the Ottoman foe, who had 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 181 
 
 already sent a large force to ravage the Persian territory in 
 the vicinity of Arsingan. Assaiubei, on arriving in the 
 beautiful plain of Arsingan, remained there some days to 
 refresh his troops, who, having been levied near Tauris, had 
 had a long march. The Ottoman army, from fear of such a 
 force of Persians, retreated towards Tocat ; and Assarabei, 
 having rested his troops, who, in the meantime, had been 
 largely reinforced from Persia, determined to attack the 
 Turks. There being a distance of two days^ journey on a 
 good road between the two armies, he advanced to within a 
 mile of the Turkish camp, and having pitched their tents in 
 the morning Assambei sent notice to the Bassa in command 
 of the Ottoman army that on the following day early he 
 would join battle with them. Matters being in this case, 
 at the hour fixed both armies were set in array, the first, 
 second, and third columns being all in order by the break 
 of day. Sultan Assambei was the first to attack, and the 
 combat lasted till the hour of nine ; at this point, a BassEi, 
 with a large force of Turks, charged fiercely into the melee, 
 and put the Persians to rout. Assambei, perceiving the 
 disaster, and having a reserve of eight thousand picked men 
 at hand to carry succour wherever it was needed, boldly 
 charged the centre of the hostile army, encouraging his 
 own soldiers and carrying death everywhere before him, so 
 that the Turks were signally defeated in that engagement. 
 Assambei having conquered the enemy in this battle, im- 
 mediately occupied in triumph Tocat, Malacia, and Sivas,^ 
 three large cities. The Ottoman was greatly displeased 
 and troubled on hearing the news of the rout and destruc- 
 tion of the greater part of his army, but more especially by 
 that of the loss of the three cities ; but, by collecting troops 
 throughout his dominions, he assembled an immense army 
 and directed it against Assambei, who had established him- 
 self in safety in Malacia. The latter' having also suffered 
 ' Tocat, Malatia, and Sivas. Sue Zeuo. 
 
182 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 severe loss in the battle^ sent some of the chiefs back to 
 Persia to levy all the troops they could to reinforce his 
 army. Besides^ he awaited with impatience the cannon and 
 bombardiers sent by our Most Illustrious Government, but 
 neither succour came with the speed the occasion required, 
 while the Turkish forces arrived on the frontiers well pro- 
 vided with artillery. Assambei was disquieted about this ; 
 but being in necessity and in hourly expectation of the 
 Persian reinforcements and the artillery, like a noble 
 monarch he determined to face the enemy with the troops 
 he had with him, about twenty-four or twenty-five thousand 
 in number, while they had thirty-six thousand men. The 
 enemy was stationed on one side of Malacia, while Assambei 
 was on the other, as he had retreated half a day's journey 
 between Malacia and Tocat, a place well suited for the 
 operations of the armies. The Turks following him up, 
 attacked him there with great bravery, each side proving 
 their valour. After a great slaughter on either side Assam- 
 bei was defeated and forced to retreat into his own country 
 of Persia, abandoning the three cities. He arrived at Tauris, 
 where he caused games and rejoicings to be held, not caring 
 much for his reverse, as he had lost none of his dominions. 
 After a certain time war broke out with the Soldan of 
 Cairo, and he marched with a considerable force into the 
 country of Diarbec. The Soldan of Cairo, with the Mame- 
 lukes and a lai-ge army of his subjects, crossed the Eu- 
 phrates and took Orfa, which he pillaged at his leisure, 
 Assambei not having yet come up. Assambei, who was 
 already at Amit,^ mustering his forces to attack the Mame- 
 lukes, hearing of the fall of Orfa," quickly marched to the 
 plain of Orfa, where he attacked the camp of the Mamelukes 
 with such fury, that they were nearly all cut to pieces, the 
 rest being forced to fly with the loss of all their baggage, 
 
 1 Amida Diarbekr. See Zcdo, p. 6. 
 
 2 Orfii (Edcssa). See Zeno, p. 98. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT TN PERSIA. 183 
 
 which afforded great spoil to Assambei and his chiefs. He 
 then advanced to Bir, and took it, together with Besin/ 
 Calat, and Efron, ravaging the whole country about there. 
 After remaining six months at Bir, he returned in great 
 triumph to Persia, holding feasts at Tauris in his palace of 
 Astibisti. 
 
 Chap. XI. — Assambei dying, is succeeded on the throne by his son 
 Jacob, who takes for wife a licentious woman, an adulteress ; she 
 gives him poison, of which he dies as well as herself, and a little 
 son. Whence the great lords of Persia make war among themselves 
 for a long time, to prove who is to succeed to the throne, first one 
 and then another. 
 
 Assambei had four children, one a son, Sultan Jacob, 
 who succeeded his father ; and three daughters, of whom 
 two are still alive at Aleppo. I myself have often conversed 
 with them in Trebizond Greek, which they had learnt from 
 Queen Despinacaton, their mother. Assambei being at 
 Tauris, and having already lived to a great age, died in the 
 year 1478, and, as I mentioned above, was succeeded by 
 his son, who was a great lord, and ruled Persia for some 
 time. He took as wife a high-born lady, daughter of a 
 Persian noble, but a most licentious woman : having fallen in 
 love with a great lord of the court, this wicked woman sought 
 means to kill Jacob Sultan her husband, designing to marry 
 her paramour, and make him king, as, being closely related 
 to Jacob, he would become so by right in default of children. 
 Having arranged matters with him, she prepared an insidious 
 poison for her husband, who having gone into a perfumed 
 bath, as was his custom, with his young son, aged eight or 
 nine years, remained there from the twenty-second hour 
 till sunset. On coming out, he went into the harem, which 
 was close to the bath, where he was met by his wicked wife 
 with a cup and a gold vase containing the poison, which she 
 
 1 Kalat en Ncjiu. 
 
184 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 had got ready while he was in the bath, knowing that it was 
 his custom to have something to drink on coming out of the 
 bath. She caressed him more than usual, to effect her 
 •wicked purpose ; but not having sufficient command over 
 her countenance, bfoame very pale, which excited the sus- 
 picion of Jacob, who had already begun to distrust her from 
 some of her proceedings. He then commanded her to taste 
 it first, which, although she knew it was certain death, she 
 could not escape, and drank some ; she then handed the 
 gold cup to her husband Jacob, who, with his son, drank 
 the rest. The poison was so powerful that by midnight they 
 were all dead. The next morning the news was circulated 
 of the sudden death of Jacob Sultan, his son and wife. The 
 great lords hearing of their king's decease, had quarrels 
 among themselves, so that for five or six years all Persia 
 was in a state of civil war, first one and then another of the 
 nobles becoming sultan. At last, a youth named Alumut,^ 
 aged fourteen years, was raised to the throne, which he held 
 till the succession of Sheikh Ismael Sultan. 
 
 Chap. XII. — Sacaidar, chief of the Suffaveans, engages in battle with 
 the general of the forces of Aliimut, is defeated, taken prisoner, 
 and his head being cut off, is taken to the king at Tauris, who 
 causes it to be thrown to the dogs. 
 
 During the reign of Alumut, in a city four days' east from 
 Tauris, lived a lord about the rank of a count, named 
 Secaidar,~ of a religion or sect named Sophi, reverenced by 
 his co-religionists as a saint, and obeyed as a chief. There 
 are numbers of them in different parts of Persia, as in 
 Katolia and Cai-amania, all of whom bore great respect to 
 this Secaidar, who was a native of this city of Ardouil,^ 
 
 1 A son of Yakoob Sultan ; his brother, Murad Khan, disputed the 
 throne with him, and seized Fars and Babylonia. 
 
 ^ Sheikh Hyder. See Zeno, p. 42. ' Ardebil. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 185 
 
 where he had converted many to the Suffavean doctrine. 
 Indeed, he was like the abbot of a nation of monks ; he had 
 six children, three boys and three girls, by a daughter of 
 Assambei ;^ he also bore an intense hatred to the Christians. 
 He frequently made incursions with his followers into Cir- 
 cassian ravaging the country, and so brought away many 
 slaves and much booty with him on his return, with great 
 rejoicings, to Ardouil. Alumut Sultan having succeeded 
 to the throne, Secaidar, wishing to return to his "wonted 
 expeditions into Circassia against the Christians, assem- 
 bled his troops, and set out towards Sumacchia," which 
 he reached in eight days j from thence he took the road to 
 Derbant,^ where is the pass by which one enters Circassia, 
 and was five days e» route. Sultan Alumut and his lords 
 hearing that Secaidar, with an army of four or five thousand 
 Suffaveans, was marching into Circassia, joined by numbers 
 of volunteers in hopes of plunder, quickly sent messengers 
 to the king of the country, who was himself afraid of the 
 number of troops Secaidar had with him, to tell him to use 
 every means in his power to stop him. Secaidar and his 
 Suffaveans had the previous year, with half the number of 
 men, done great damage near that fortress, and so they 
 feared he might do the same ; therefore they wished to bar 
 his passage, lest he should go on increasing his power, as he 
 did every day on his march into Circassia, by being joined 
 by such multitudes of volunteers for the sake -of booty, by 
 which means he would soon have become a great lord. 
 Secaidar therefore, on his arrival at Dei'bant, found the pass 
 closed by the order of Alumut Sultan. Derbant is a large 
 city, and, according to their chronicles and traditions, was 
 built by Alexander the Great ; it is one mile wide and three 
 in length, having on one side the Caspian Sea, and on the 
 other a high mountain ; no one can pass except through the 
 gates of the city, as on the east is the sea, and on the west 
 ' Martha. '■^ Schamachi. ' Derbcnd. 
 
18G THE TRAVELS OP A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 a mountain, so steep that not even a cat could climb it. 
 Derbantj the name of this city, in Persian signifies "closed 
 gate";^ and any one wishing to go into Circassia, must pass 
 through the city which borders on that country, and the 
 greater part of whose inhabitants speak Circassian, or rather 
 Turkish. Secaidar finding his passage barred as I have 
 said, was very indignant, and began to attack the fortress 
 and pass ; there being few soldiers in the place, and insuf- 
 ficient numbers to resist the SuSaveans, news of their neces- 
 sity was sent in great haste to the king of the country, who 
 reported it to Alumut in Tauris. The latter ordered his 
 lords to levy troops, and when they had assembled about 
 ten thousand men, set out against Secaidar, who was be- 
 sieging the fortress of Derbant, where they arrived in a few 
 days. Secaidar perceiving the troops of Alumut, retired to 
 a hill on one side, where he exhorted his soldiers to fight 
 bravely, saying that he felt confident of victory, and pro- 
 mising them great things. This was in the evening, and 
 every one swore to fight valiantly. The following morning, 
 the SuSaveans were all admirably posted for the battle, while 
 opposite them the general of Alumut had marshalled his 
 troops. Secaidar seeing that an engagement was inevitable, 
 was the first to attack the enemy, his SuSaveans fighting 
 like lions, and cutting to pieces a third of Alumut's troops ; 
 but he was at length defeated, and his men massacred. He 
 himself was taken prisoner ; and his head being cut oS", was 
 presented to Alumut Sultan, who commanded it to be 
 carried on a lance all through Tauris, with martial instru- 
 ments sounding in honour of the victory, and afterwards 
 taken to a maidan, where executions took place, and there 
 thrown to be eaten by dogs. For this reason, the SuSa- 
 veans hate dogs, and kill all they come across. 
 
 ' Demir Kapoo, or " iron gate", it is sometimes called. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 187 
 
 Chap. XIII. — Three sons of Secaidar, hearing of their father's death, 
 escape in diiferent directions; one of them, named Ismael, flies to an 
 island inhabited by Armenian Christians, where he was instructed 
 in the Holy Scriptures by an Armenian priest. Hence he goes to 
 Chilan, and, determining to avenge his father's death, manages to 
 take the castle of iVIaumutaga, which he sacks, and bestows all the 
 booty on his followers. For this reason, many flocked to his ban- 
 ner, being voluntarily converted to S aif aveism. 
 
 Immediately on the news reaching Ardouil, where Se- 
 caidai-^s wife and six children were, the three sons fled, one 
 going to Natolia, another to Aleppo, and the third to an 
 island which, as I have mentioned before, is in the lake of 
 Van or Vastan,^ and contains a town of Armenian Christians. 
 Here this son, named Ismael, who was a noble youth about 
 thirteen or fourteen years old, remained four years in the 
 house of a Papa or priest, who was slightly acquainted with 
 astrology, by which he learnt that Ismael would one day be- 
 come a great lord. For this reason he was particularly 
 kind and attentive to him, also instructed him in our holy 
 faith and in the Scriptures, showing him also the vanity and 
 emptiness of the Mahometan religion. After four years 
 Ismael determined to leave Arminy,^ and went to Chilan,^ 
 where he lived a year with a goldsmith,"* a great friend of his 
 father's, who kept him in secret with great care and respect. 
 During this period the youth frequently wrote secret letters 
 to some of the chief personages in Ardouil, who had been 
 friends of his father's, to arrange matters with them ; in the 
 spring of the year he determined to avenge his father's de- 
 feat, and collected, with the goldsmith, ten or twenty Suf- 
 faveans to make a sudden attack upon the castle of Mau- 
 mutaga, having arranged that two hundred of his friends in 
 Ardouil should come armed to the castle and conceal them- 
 selves near it in a glen filled with canes. Everything being 
 
 1 The island of Ak Tamar, the seat of the Armenian Catholicos. 
 
 2 Arminig. ' Ghilan. * Pyrcall. 
 
188 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 settled, Ismael set out from Chilan with liis troop, and on 
 arriving at Maumutaga^ attacked tlie gate of the castle with 
 great fury, kiUing the guards ; as there were but few de- 
 fenders in the castle they were all cut to pieces with the 
 exception of the women and children. Ismael then mounted 
 a tower, and having signalled to his two hundred allies, who 
 joined him in great haste, together with them sallied out 
 into the town below the castle, killing the inhabitants, and 
 carrying with them great booty back into the castle where 
 they had left the goldsmith and ten companions as a garri- 
 son. This fortress of Maumutaga is very rich, from being a 
 port on the Caspian sea. All the ships coming from Strevi, 
 Sara,^ and Masanderan, loaded with merchandise for Tauris 
 and Sumacchia, disembai'k at this place. Ismael found im- 
 mense treasures in the town, which he divided among his 
 men, keeping nothing for himself; thus the fame went 
 abroad that Ismael, the son of Secaidar, had taken this fine 
 fortress and had bestowed all he found there on his compa- 
 nions. Thus he was joined by numbers, even those who 
 were not Suffaveans flocking to his standard, in hopes of 
 receiving gifts of this nature fi'om the valiant Ismael ; in 
 this way arrived at Maumutaga in the course of a few days 
 more than four thousand SuSaveans. Alumut on hearing 
 this news was much amazed, and wished to send a force 
 against Maumutaga, but was dissuaded as the fortress was 
 considered impregnable against assault, while with the sea 
 open to it it could not be reduced by a regular siege or 
 famine. Alumut then was compelled to send an army to 
 keep Ismael in check, hoping to destroy him by some act 
 of rashness, not knowing what was decreed by fate. 
 
 1 See Zeno, pp. 48, 49. ^ Astrabad, Sari. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 189 
 
 Chap. XIV. — Ismael marches against tlie King Sermangoli, takes and 
 pillages his city of Sumacchia, giving everything to the soldiery ; 
 Alumut being alarmed, assembles his forces ; vi^hereupon, Ismaol 
 having sought and obtained the aid of the Iberians, surprises the 
 camp of Alumut ; the latter flies to Tauris, and thence to Amit ; 
 Ismael, following up his victory, takes Tauris, and, after many 
 other acts of cruelty, causes the head of his own mother to be cut 
 off. 
 
 Israael was reinforced from day to day, making ricli pre- 
 sents to all who joined him ; when he found himself suffi- 
 ciently powerful he resolved to take Sumacchia, and assem- 
 bled his troops for that purpose. Sermangoli on the attack 
 of the Suffaveans abandoned the city and retired to an 
 almost impregnable castle, named Culistan,^ situated on a 
 high mountain and cut out of the solid rock, where he con- 
 sidered himself secure. Ismael soon performed the two 
 days' march from Maumutaga to Sumacchia,^ where he 
 slaughtered many of the wretched inhabitants. This city is 
 large and rich, a port, and the headquarters of a great trade, 
 wherefore Ismael and his army enriched themselves with its 
 spoils. The fame of the victories and generosity of Ismael 
 spread throughout Persia and Natolia, so . that every one 
 became a SuflPavean in hopes of advancement. Alumut be- 
 holding with no slight apprehension the rapid advances of 
 Ismael and the increase of his partizans, hastily summoned 
 his lords and commanded them to levy troops. Ismael also 
 being alarmed on hearing this, sent messengers to Iberia, 
 which is three, or rather four days* journey from Sumacchia. 
 This Iberia is a large province inhabited by Christians, and 
 governed by seven great chiefs, two or three of whom are 
 on the frontiers of Persia or Tauris, and whose names are 
 Alexander Bee, Gorgurambec, and Mirzambec. Ismael 
 sent to them for assistance, promising wealth to all who 
 joined him, and agreeing, in case he took Tauris, to free 
 
 ^ See Zeno, pp. 50, .56. ^ Schamachi. See Zeno, p. 50. 
 
190 THE TRAVELS OF A MEECHANT IX PERSTA. 
 
 them from tlie tribute they paid to the King of Persia. 
 Each of these Christian chiefs sent three thousand horse, 
 being nine thousand in all. These Iberians are famous 
 horsemen, and valiant in war ; on their arrival at Sumacchia, 
 Ismael bestowed rich presents on them, all from the plunder 
 of the town. Alumut Sultan, who was a younger man than 
 Ismael (IsmaeF being nineteen years old, as I have been 
 informed by many people, and Alumut only sixteen), hear- 
 ing of Ismael's proceedings through his spies, set out from 
 Tauris against him, while the latter also advanced with all 
 his troops, fifteen or sixteen thousand in number. The 
 rivals met in this way between Tauris and Sumacchia, near 
 a river, over which there were two stone bridges half a mile 
 apart. Alumut, with an army of thirty thousand men, 
 having arrived first, caused the bridges to be broken so as 
 to obstruct the passage, and then encamped there. On the 
 following day, Ismael arrived on the opposite bank ; but 
 having by good fortune discovered a ford, he crossed with 
 his whole army on the following night, and took the army 
 of Alumut by surprise as they were sleeping in their tents 
 overcome with wine and food, so that they were unable to 
 defend themselves. Then began a great slaughter of these 
 poor wretches, so much so that at the hour of three they 
 were all cut to pieces, except Alumut, who escaped with a 
 few companions to Tauris, where he kept his treasures and 
 his harem, and thence to Amit. Ismael took an immense 
 booty in tents, horses, arms, etc., while all his soldiers 
 enriched themselves with spoil. He remained in that place 
 four days to refresh his troops, who were wearied with the 
 fighting, and then advanced on the city of Tauris, where 
 they met with no resistance, but massacred many of the 
 inhabitants. All the kinsman of Jacob fSultan were put to 
 the edge of the sword, and even pregnant women were 
 slaughtered with their unborn offspring. The tomb of 
 
 ' See Zeno. p. 4G. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 191 
 
 Jacob SultaBj and tliose of many lords who had been pre- 
 sent at the battle of Derbant where Ismael's father was 
 killed, were opened, and their bones burnt. Three hundred 
 public courtezans were then arranged in line, and their 
 bodies divided in two. Then eight hundred avaricious 
 Blasi who had been bi'ought up under Alumut were be- 
 headed. They even slaughtered all the dogs in Tauris, and 
 committed many other atrocities. After this, Ismael sent 
 for his own mother,^ who was in some way related to Jacob 
 Sultan (in what manner I have not been able to discover), 
 and finding that she had married one of the lords who had 
 been present at the battle of Derbant, after reviling her, 
 caused her head to be cut off before him. From the time 
 of Nero to the present, I doubt whether so bloodthirsty a 
 tyrant has ever existed. 
 
 Chap. XV. — Many cities and chiefs give in their submission to Ismael, 
 with the exception of a fortress of Christians, which held out for 
 five years ; but, hearing of the death of Alumut, they surrender. 
 In the villages near this fortress are found books written witli Latin 
 characters, in the Italian tongue. 
 
 At this time many districts, cities, and castles gave in 
 their submission to Ismael. Many nobles also sought his 
 presence, and paid him homage, putting on the red caftan, 
 kissing his hands, and taking oaths of allegiance. There 
 was one exception of the governor of a fortress named 
 Alangiachana/ two days' distant from Tauris. This castle 
 has twelve neighbouring villages inhabited by orthodox 
 Christains, whose patriarch sends two men every year to the 
 Pope with an offering of incense. They perform their 
 worship in Armenian, having lost the use of the Italian 
 
 1 Stepmother, according to others. 
 
 2 Perhaps Alanja, near Maragha, on a small stream falling into Lake 
 Urumia ; but Zeno says it was to the north of Tauris. 
 
192 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 language. In these villages there are many manuscripts and 
 books in Italian; while I was in Tauris two were brought to 
 me^ one relating to astronomy and the other to the rules of 
 grammar. They also produce a great quantity of rich 
 crimson dye. As I have mentioned, this was one of the 
 last castles belonging to the Christians, who have for some 
 time forgotten their original language, the Italian. This 
 governor, after Ismael had taken Tauris, still held out for 
 four or five years, being a devoted adherent of Alumut 
 Sultan, while Assambei Sultan and Jacob Sultan had also 
 deposited immense treasures in the fortress for security. 
 The news of Alumut^s death at length reaching him, he no 
 longer wished to hold out, and surrendered the castle and 
 treasures to Ismael. Ismael having obtained the regal 
 power was nominated Sultan by the whole nation, who ad- 
 mired his wonderful victories ; and he reigned, honoured, 
 loved, and respected by all.^ 
 
 Chap. XVI. — Miiratcan, the son of Jacob Sultan, marches against 
 Ismael to fight for the throne ; but, his army being defeated and 
 cut to pieces, he flies to Bagadet. 
 
 While Ismael Sultan was in Tauris, Muratcan" Sultan of 
 Bagadet, with an army of 30,000 men, moved against him to 
 seize the throne which was his by right. Ismael upon 
 hearingthis wasmoved with great indignation,andassembling 
 his vassals and troops issued from Tauris to a wide plain, 
 where he heard that Muratcan was hastily advancing, 
 thinking to obtain great booty. This Muratcan was the son 
 of Jacob Sultan. Then Ismael exhorted all his vassals and 
 soldiers to bear themselves manfully, and also desired the 
 Iberian Chieftains to encourage their men to deeds like those 
 
 ' This is rather a contrast to his previous assertion, that he was one 
 of the most bloodthirsty tyrants tliat ever existed. See p. 191. 
 2 Murad Khan, brother of Aluumt. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 193 
 
 when they routed the army of Alumud ; everyone promised 
 this and waited with great impatience for the contest. 
 Muratcan having advanced with his army to a spot not far 
 distant from the camp of Ismaelj in the plain of Tauris, 
 halted on the banks of a rivulet to refresh his men ; Ismael 
 marched to the other bank, and took up his station there. 
 In this position both armies challenged each other to the 
 fight and reviled each other. At noon, Muratcan exhorted 
 his followers to fight bravely against their SufFavean foes 
 (Ismael doing the same on the other side), and then divided 
 his army into three columns. Ismael Sultan, seeing the 
 proceedings of the enemy, made two divisions of his army, 
 one of Iberians 9,000 strong and the other of Sulfaveans, 
 separated from each other, and appointed captains as 
 customary in battle, and the whole of the day and the 
 following night both armies remained under arms. On the 
 appearance of dawn they began to sound the numerous 
 instruments the Persians use in battle, exhorting each other 
 to fight valiantly. When day was fully broke, Muratcan 
 was the first to throw himself with 10,000 men upon the 
 Suffavean host, causing great slaughter, but in less than an 
 hour all his soldiers were cut to pieces, so that he was forced 
 to bring up his other two columns together into the contest, 
 Ismael being compelled to do the same. Such a slaughter 
 took place and more blood was shed than ever happened in 
 one battle in Persia since the days of Darius,^ the battle 
 lasting from morning till noon, ending with the total rout of 
 Muratcan, who fled with a few adherents to Babylon or rather 
 Bagadet to his utter disgrace. On the opposite hand Ismael 
 returned with great reputation, having made an immense 
 booty of tents, pavilions, and horses, with but slight loss on 
 his side ; so he entered Tauris with a grand triumph, and 
 spent some time in the great palace of Astibisti in sports 
 
 ' This by no means equals the slaughter caused by Timour at 
 Ispahan. 
 
194 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 and rejoicings. But the Babylonians^ with the exception of 
 50 or 70 who .fled with Muratcan^ were cut to pieces, about 
 30,000 in number, and mountains of their bones were piled 
 up on the site of the battle. At this time Ismael was only 
 nineteen, so that in this one year, the year 1499, all these 
 exploits and actions took place. -"^ And during my stay in 
 Tauris, men were continually flocking to his standard, from 
 all parts of'the country, but especially from Natolia, Turkey, 
 and Caramania, Ismael presenting gifts to them all according 
 to their rank and condition. 
 
 Chap. XYII. — Sultan Calil, Lord of Asanchif, and Ustagialu Mau- 
 mutbec, a chieftain of Natolia, give in their submission to Ismael, 
 •who gives to each of them one of his three sisters in marriage. 
 Later on Ustagialu makes war on Sultan Calil, in accordance with 
 the commands of Ismael, who, with an immense army, marched in 
 person against Aliduli, ravaging his country and killing some of 
 his sons, with an immense number of his people. 
 
 The province of Diarbec had always been subject to 
 Persia, and therefore. Sultan Sciech Ismael having gained 
 the throne wished to bring the whole country under his 
 sway. Thus Sultan Calil,- the lord of Asanchif,^ came in 
 person to Ismael, put on the red caftan, and promised to be 
 an obedient vassal, for which Ismael made him munificent 
 presents, confirmed him in his realm, and gave him one of 
 his sisters in marriage, so that he returned "with great 
 rejoicings to Asanchif. Another Natolian chieftain, named 
 Ustagialu Maumutbec, who had come to the aid of Ismael 
 with seven brothers, all valiant men, was granted for his 
 services the fine province of Diarbec with the exception of 
 Asanchif. Then Ustagialu made a conquest of this province, 
 
 1 See Zeno, pp. 53, 54. 
 
 * Sultan Khalil, the Eiobbite. 
 
 • Hesn Keyf. See p. 108. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 195 
 
 excepting the cities of Amit and Asancliif ; and because 
 Sultan Calil (as was said) Lad transgressed the orders of 
 Ismaelj the latter resolved that the whole province should 
 be under the orders of Ustagialu, and sent commands to 
 Calil to surrender the city and fortresses to Ustagialu. In 
 like manner he ordered the latter to take possession of the 
 city notwithstanding his relationship to Calil ; for on setting 
 out to conquer the province he had been given the second 
 sister of Ismael as his wife, so that these two Chieftains 
 were connected. But Sultan Calil was a Curd, and this 
 people, though subject to the Suffaveans, are ill-disposed 
 towards them, so Calil refused to give up anything to 
 Ustagialu. Ustagialu then being moved with indignation, 
 marched against him with 10,000 horsemen and waged 
 continual war against him until the year 1510, which was 
 that of my arrival from Azemia,^ without being able to subdue 
 him. The Alidulians were in the habit of making frequent 
 incursions into this province of Diarbec and laying waste 
 the country round Orfa, Somilon,^ and Dedu. Orfa is a 
 large city, the other two are fortresses ; they also had in 
 their possession a city named Cartibert,^ governed by a son 
 of Aliduli,'* which Ustagialu had never been able to take. This 
 city with its independent castle was in the realm of Persia, 
 but the Alidulians had seized it during the reign of Sultan 
 Jacob, and during the government of Ustagialu caused 
 great damage throughout the country. On this account 
 Ismael determined to march in person to destroy the 
 Alidulians, and having recruited his army advanced to 
 Arsingan, a fortress on the confines of Trebizond, Natolia, 
 and Persia. Here he collected an immense force and took 
 the place, which was held by one of the sons of the Grand 
 Turk who had subdued Trebizond at the time of Sultan 
 Jacob's death ; and rested forty days in the place, where he 
 
 1 Ajem. ^ Jemeleyn. ' Kharput. 
 
 * Alla-ed Douleh, named Becarbec. 
 
196 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA, 
 
 assembled a force of 60,000 fighting men, more than were 
 suflBcient to subdue the Alidulians, but because he distrusted 
 the Ottoman and the Soldan of Cairo, between the borders 
 of whose respective dominions the country of Aliduli was 
 situated. During IsmaePs stay in Arsingan he sent two 
 ambassadors,^ one named Cuhbec to the Ottoman in Natoha, 
 and the other named Zachariabec to the Soldan of Caii"0, 
 swearing solemn oaths to these monarchs, that he intended 
 no harm to their dominions, but was only marching against 
 his enemy Aliduli. After a halt of forty days, Ismael set out 
 from Arsingan against the enemy, with his 60,000 men. It 
 is only a four days' march from Arsingan to the country of 
 Aliduli : but Ismael took another route, passing by the 
 Turkish city of Cesaria- in order to obtain supplies which he 
 intended to pay for honestly. On his arrival, he caused 
 proclamation to be made that everyone who brought pro- 
 visions for sale should be liberally paid, and forbade his 
 men under pain of death to take even as much as a handful 
 of straw without paying for it, as it was a friendly city; 
 haying remained there four days, Ismael continued his march 
 to the beautiful district of Bastan, where there is a fine 
 river and numerous villages, just one day's journey from 
 Aliduli's capital, a city named Marras.^ Ismael having first 
 ravaged Basten,* moved upon Marras, from whence Aliduli 
 had fled with numerous followers to the high mountain 
 named Caradag,^ to which there was access by only one 
 narrow pass. Ismael devastated the country, killing num- 
 bers of people, among them some of the sons of Aliduli 
 who from time to time used to descend from the mountain 
 to fall upon the Suffaveans, but were easily cut to pieces by 
 them, as their descent was betrayed by the numerous scouts 
 
 1 See Angiolello, p. 108. 
 
 2 Kaisaiieli. 
 
 3 Marash. See Zeno, p. 54. 
 
 ■• El Bostan or Albistan. See Zeno, p. 54. 
 ' Kara Dagh, Black Mountaiu. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 197 
 
 kept by Ismael, and also by some secret Suffaveans among 
 the Alidulians themselves. It was the 29th July, 1507, 
 when Ismael entered the country of Aliduli, where he 
 remained till the middle of November, when he was 
 forced to leave from want of provisions in the country, 
 and from the snow and cold which prevented a winter 
 campaign. 
 
 Chap. XVIII. — Amirbec makes a prisoner of Sultan Alumut, who had 
 admitted him with his soldiers into Amit, and leads him in chains 
 before Ismael, who cuts off his head Avith his own hands. He 
 then takes the city of Cartibirt, with the son of Aliduh, whom he 
 puts to death ; after the winter he returns to Tauris. 
 
 Diu'ing my stay in Malacia,^ a city belonging to the Soldau 
 of Cairo, on my return journey from Cimiscasac^ and 
 Arsingan to Aleppo, I met Amirbec the governor of Mosul- 
 miniato, a great adherent of Ismael's, who wore two gold 
 chains, covered with rubies and diamonds, round his neck, 
 to which was attached the seal of Ismael, a mark of his 
 greatest confidence. When the latter required to seal any- 
 thing it was Amirbec's duty to do so with his own hands. 
 To do a favour to Sultan Ismael, he had put a number of 
 lords to death, and while I was in Malacia, I found that he 
 had captured, in the following manner, the young Sultan 
 Alumut, who had been defeated by Sciech Ismael ; he set 
 out from Mosul with 400^ men to Amit where Sultan Alumut 
 lived, pretending to be coming to his aid as he was doubtful 
 about IsmaeFs return, wherefore Alumut received him 
 courteously as usual, for Amirbec had been one of his chiefs. 
 Thus confiding in him, and having allowed him to enter the 
 city with his 400 men, Amirbec suddenly placed his hand on 
 the shoulder of the unfortunate young man, saying — You are 
 the prisoner of Ismael Sultan. Leaving a governor in the city, 
 
 1 Malatia. ^ Tchimish Gazak. 
 
 3 Nrxt page says 4UU0. 
 
198 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 he put him in chains and took him with him to meet Ismael 
 at Malacia (where I then was), being the nearest place on 
 the road to the country of Aliduli where Ismael was engaged 
 in war. He remained there a day and a half with the 4,000 
 SufFaveans he had with him. and I myself saw the young 
 Alumut bound in chains in a tent. Amirbec leaving took 
 him as a grateful gift to Ismael, who had him brought into his 
 presence and cut off his head with his own hands ; he then 
 hurried back to his own country for fear of the snow, passing 
 through Malacia, where he only rested one day to supply his 
 troops with provisions ; he then crossed the Euphrates, which 
 is only ten miles distant from Malacia, and encamped before 
 Cartibert ; which was governed by a son of Aliduli named 
 Becarbec, and well furnished with troops and provisions ; 
 but all was of no avail, as Ismael took the place, cut off the 
 young man's head with his own hands and then proceeded 
 in great haste on. his way to Tauris. On the six days' march 
 to that city, the snow and cold caused great loss in men, 
 horses, and camels, and they had to abandon part of the 
 booty they had made in the country of Aliduli. But never- 
 theless Ismael rode on to a beautiful palace he had built at 
 Coi, where he remained until the Naurus,~ that is the new 
 year, when he determined to march against Muratcan Sultan 
 of Bao-adet. Returnino" to Tauris he found that his two 
 brothers whom he had left in charge of the city had not 
 thoroughly observed his commands, so he was very nearly 
 putting them to death ; but in accordance with the entreaties 
 of many of his lords the young men escaped, but were 
 banished to their native province of Ardouil which they 
 were not allowed to leave, being granted a train of only 200 
 horsemen each. 
 
 ' Kliarput. 
 
 * Nevruz, Xew Year's day, at the vernal equinox. 
 
THE TRAVELS OP A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 199 
 
 Chap. XIX. — Ismael sets out with his army against Muratcan, many 
 of whose lords and soldiers desert to Ismael ; Muratcan, offering to 
 become his vasaal, sends an ambassador to him, whom Ismael 
 causes to be cut to pieces with all his train ; Muratcan then flies, 
 and finding shelter nowhere, goes to Aliduli, who gives him one of 
 his daughters in marriage. 
 
 At the new year Ismael collected thirty or forty thousand 
 fighting men, with whom he set out on his march to his city 
 of Casan ;"■ remaining there a few days he proceeded to 
 Spaing a large and populous city belonging to Moratcan, 
 who foreseeing: the storm had on his side assembled an 
 army-of 30,000 fighting men. He came to Siras/ a larger 
 and more beautiful city than Cairo in Egypt, so that both 
 were prepared, Moratcan in Siras and Ismael in Spain. 
 Ismael had a large army all of Suffaveans and brave men ; 
 on the contrary, Moratcan's army came to the field compul- 
 sorily and with reluctance; hearing of Ismael's force they knew 
 it would be impossible to resist him in the fight, as with a 
 fewer number of men he had routed and cut to pieces the 
 host of Muratcan 30,000 strong in the plains of Tauris, 
 in the former battle. On this account, many of the chiefs 
 and soldiers doubtful as to the issue fled to Ismael's camp. 
 Moratcan perceiving the desertion sent two ambassadors 
 with a train of five hundred to Ismael, followed by spies to 
 learn the result of the embassy, which was to declare himself 
 Ismael's vassal and that he was willing to pay him tribute. 
 Ismael caused the ambassadors and their suite to be cut in 
 pieces, saying " if Moratcan were willing to become my 
 subject, he would have come in person and not have sent an 
 embassy." The spies seeing the result, reported the news 
 at once to Moratcan, who took to flight with all his belong- 
 ings, as the rumour had spread throughout his camp, many 
 
 ' Kashan. 
 
 2 Ispahan, which rose to its greatest prosperity under Shah Abbas. 
 
 ' Shiraz. 
 
200 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 of his chiefs donning the red caftan. Moratcan fearing to 
 be made captive in the same manner as Alumutj chose a 
 guard, three thousand in number, of the adherents he 
 thought most faithful, and with them he fled towards Aleppo 
 from the fury of Ismael, who hearing of his flight dispatched 
 six thousand SufFaveans in pursuit. After crossing a river 
 by a stone bridge he caused it to be broken down, so on the 
 speedy arrival of the SuSaveans on the opposite bank all 
 further action was useless ; Moratcan pursuing his route 
 came to a castle, governed by one of his slaves, who seeing 
 his master in flight, or having some understanding with 
 Ismael, refused to admit him, for which, enraged by the loss 
 of his treasure in the castle, Moratcan caused the inhabi- 
 tants of a small town beneath the castle to be slaughtered. 
 Advancing towards Aleppo, in a few days he arrived within 
 thirty miles of the city, and waited till he sent to Cairbec, 
 the governor,^ to ask for a safe conduct, which was 
 courteously granted, and a grand reception accorded him. 
 He further sent some of his lords to Cairo to demand a safe 
 conduct from the Soldan, who for some reason or other would 
 not grant it, but sent information as to where he would find 
 Aliduli. On joining the latter, he was heartily welcomed, 
 Aliduli condoling with him for his losses from the Suffaveans, 
 and Moratcan doing likewise on his side. Aliduli also, 
 notwithstanding his condition, gave him one of his daughters 
 in marriage. 
 
 Chap. XX. — Ismael takes Bagadet and then returns to Spani to oppose 
 the Tartars ; after one year he re-enters Tauris, where great re- 
 joicings were held with archery sports for fifteen days. A descrip- 
 tion of his qualities is given. 
 
 Ismael having seen the total destruction of his enemy 
 proceeded to Siras and then to Bagadet, making great 
 
 1 Caierbec, notorious for his treachery against Khafoor el Ghouri, 
 the Soldan of Egypt, in his war with Selim I. See Angiolello, p. 122. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 201 
 
 slaughter among the wretched inhabitants. About this time 
 the great Tartar lesilbas^ had invaded Persia with a vast 
 army, had over-run Corasan/ and taken the city of Eri/ a 
 populous and commercial place, also Stravi/ Amixandaran/ 
 and Sari, towns on the shores of the Caspian towards the 
 East, and bordering on the new conquests of Ismael, who 
 being alarmed at the news returned with his army to Spaan. 
 The Tartar endeavouring to outwit Ismael, asked leave to 
 pass through his territories on his way to Mecca, as he pre- 
 tended he wished to make a pilgrimage to his prophet 
 Mahomet, but Ismael perceiving the snare not only refused a 
 passage, but sent insulting messages in reply and remained 
 one year in Spaan to meet the Tartars. The great Tamer- 
 lane once took this very country with the whole of Persia 
 and Soria, and there still remain memorials of him in 
 Soria. At the end of a year Ismael returned to Tauris, 
 where on his arrival great rejoicings took place ; I happened 
 to be there myself, having gone to recover debts from the 
 traitor Chamainit of Casvene. For a fortnight Ismael 
 continued to join in archery every day with his lords in a 
 maidan, in the midst of which was a pole, on which was 
 placed a golden apple (twenty apples, ten of gold and ten 
 of silver, being provided for the days' sport), at which, they 
 shot from their bows while running, and whoever hit it took 
 it for his own. Every time one was hit they rested for a 
 time, drinking delicate wines and eating sweetmeats; during 
 the sports two beautiful youths stood beside the monarch, one 
 holding a gold vase, and the other two plates of sweetmeats; 
 the lords having their wine and sweetmeats separately. When 
 
 * Sheibani Khan. See Zeno, p. 56. * Khorassan. 
 ' Herat. See Zeno, p. 56. 
 
 * Astrabad, a city of about fifty thousand inhabitants, is situated near 
 the mouth of the river Ester, on a bay of the Caspian. It is the capital 
 of a small province of the same name often included in Maganderan ; it 
 is also a treasure city of the reigning family, being the centre of their 
 hereditary possessions. 
 
 * Probably one of the ports of Mazanderan ; perhaps Balfrush. Zeno. 
 
202 THE TRAVELS OP A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 Ismael rests, the youths approach with the wine and sweet- 
 meats ; he does so sometimes, even when no apple has been 
 hit. He always has a guard of a thousand soldiers to attend 
 him at these sports ; besides there is a crowd of about thirty 
 thousand people, composed of citizens and soldiers, round 
 the maidan. At the entrance of the garden nearest the 
 palace there is a large saloon, where a supper is prepared 
 for the lords who have joined in the sports, while Ismael 
 retires to his repast in the palace Astibisti, Then all the 
 lords sing in pi-aise of their master Ismael, extolling his 
 graciousness towards them. At present he is about thirty- 
 one, very handsome, of a magnanimous countenance, and 
 about middle height ; he is fair, stout, and with broad 
 shoulders, his beard is shaved and he only wears a moustache, 
 not appe«iring to be a very hairy man. He is as amiable as 
 a girl, left-handed by nature, is as lively as a fawn, and 
 stronger than any of his lords. In the archery trials at the 
 apple, he is so expert, that of every ten knocked down he 
 hits six ; during the sports, music is played and dancing 
 girls perform after their manner, singing the praises of 
 Ismael ; after a stay of a fortnight at Tauris he went with 
 his army to Ooi where he abode for two months. 
 
 Chap. XXI. — Sermangoli breaks the treaty with Ismael, sets out to 
 ravage the country a second time, sending two captains on this 
 expedition, while he himself, leaving Canar, marches towards the 
 Caspian, taking many places, and among them the great and 
 famous fortress of Derbaut. 
 
 During his stay at Coi, Sermangoli the king of Servan,^ 
 a tributary of Ismael's, broke the treaty between them. Then 
 Ismael, filled with anger, assembled his troops and marched 
 against the country for the second time, having on the former 
 occasion taken the country from this Sermangoli who was 
 
 ' Shirvan. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 203 
 
 the ruler^ but having restored it to him on his promising to be 
 a faithful subject ; for his deceit he now set out to take it 
 away from him. He first marched to Carabacdac,^ a district 
 more than a thousand miles in extent, in which is a large 
 fortress named Canar, subject to which are many villages 
 famous for the culture of silk, which from this place is 
 named Canarese ; here he remained some days as it was a 
 fertile district. Here he appointed two captains^ one 
 named Lambec, and the other Bairambec the conqueror of 
 Van, as I have before related, and a brother-in-law of Ismael's 
 as he had married one of the latter's three sisters, Custa- 
 gialutbec another, and Sultan Calil of Asanchif the third. 
 These two captains being appointed, they were despatched 
 against Sumacchia, which town they found quite deserted 
 on their arrival, as the inhabitants had fled to a large and 
 impregnable fortress named Culustan, situated on the sum- 
 mit of a mountain. It was held by a brave officer, devoted 
 adherent of the king of Servau, who had given orders to 
 him on the approach of Ismael to retire to it from the city, 
 which is only half a mile distant. Lembec and Bairambec 
 seeing that every one had retired to the castle, sat down with 
 ten thousand men to besiege it, but could make no impression 
 upon it as it was inaccessible on every side, and they had 
 no artillery or engines. While they were engaged in the 
 siege, Ismael left Canar and came to Maumutaga, which was 
 immediately surrendered to him as the inhabitants had on a 
 previous occasion experienced his cruelty ; all the wealth 
 found in the place was given to the soldiers. He further 
 set out on his march along the shore of the Caspian, to 
 subdue the other fortresses of the province of Servan, which 
 extends from Maumutaga to Derbant, a seven days^ journey. 
 There are three large cities and three fortresses along this 
 shore : the first is Sumacchia, which is a day's journey from 
 the sea, but the others, Maumutaga and Derbant, are close to 
 ' Kara Bagh Dagh, or Mountain of Kara Bagh. 
 
204 THE TRAVELS OP A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 it. The first castle he came to was called Baccara/ which 
 was immediately given up to him ; a day's journey further 
 was a fine castle named Sirec on the summit of a mountain, 
 which detained him three days while treating for terms, 
 which Ismael granted, reinstating the former governor, but 
 sending sixty Sufiaveans to hold it, who by their arrogant 
 conduct towards the inhabitants were all massacred by the 
 latter, who then fled to the mountains by night, from fear 
 of Ismael, who finding no one on whom to wreak his ven- 
 geance, caused the place to be demolished. Advancing a little 
 further they came to a castle and a large unwalled town 
 named Sabran, which was deserted, as the king of the 
 country caused it to be wasted that Ismael might not procure 
 supplies ; however, fresh provisions reached the latter every 
 day from Carabacdac. After four days' march, Ismael 
 arrived at Derbant" where he found the inhabitants fled, 
 either to the mountains or to Circassia, while only the 
 citadel held out, which was very strong as I have already 
 described, and defended on every side by men with lances 
 and banners. This castle has only two gates, well built with 
 stone and mortar. Ismael, who had arrived in about fifteen 
 or twenty days, remained eleven days with his whole army 
 forty thousand strong before the castle ; they made two 
 mines, neither of which succeeded. At last they made a 
 large mine under a tower, digging out all the foundations, 
 and supporting it with beams of wood ; then filling the 
 hollow with dry wood they set fire to it hoping that when 
 the beams were burnt the tower would fall. The dry wood 
 soon burnt and flames soon poured out of the hollow, but 
 had little eS'ect as they were choked in the cavern. But 
 the governor fearing greater damage and the loss of the 
 place, sent a messenger at midnight to Ismael, ofl"ering to 
 yield the castle if lives and property were spared. Ismael 
 
 ' Baku, after which the Caspian is sometimes named. 
 - Derbend. See Zeno. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 205 
 
 having seen the ill success of the fire gave the promise 
 as required to the messenger^ and on the following morning 
 the gates were opened and the castle surrendered. They 
 found in it great quantities of arms, stores, and provisions, 
 which were brought before Ismael, who remained eight or 
 nine days to refresh his troops, during which stay many 
 chiefs gave in their submission, and put on the red 
 caftan. 
 
 Chap. XXII. — Ismael returns to Tauris ; great sports and feasts are 
 prepared for his arrival ; of the affection his soldiers bear him, and 
 how he is adored almost as a God ; of their clothes and armour ; of 
 the disgraceful act committed by him, and how he sets out for the 
 second time with his army against the Tartar. 
 
 During these latter events I was at Tauris, endeavouring 
 to hasten the recovery of my debts, for which I had to sum- 
 mon Camaidit of Casvene, but could not get satisfaction 
 from him, as he had gained the favour of a friend of his, an 
 usher of the court. I was then advised to have recourse to 
 Ismael, so having drawn up a memorial I set off on horse- 
 back to find him, which I did in the midst of his army 
 beneath the ruined citadel of Zirec. Finding some lords 
 whom I had known in Tauris, I acquainted them with my 
 wants, asking them to procure me an audience of Ismael, 
 but they advised me to wait till he had subdued Derbant, 
 when in his joy for his victory he would be inclined to 
 grant anything I might ask, which counsel I took and 
 remained the whole time in the camp. When the fortress 
 was taken and the conquest completed, I sought out those 
 lords, and giving them the memorial with the papers proving 
 the debt, the matter was shown to Ismael, who despatched 
 me immediately to Tauris with orders to all the ofiicers 
 that right should be done me. The decree was written in 
 Ismael's name in large letters, and sealed with his seal with 
 a sign resembling a Z, by the hands of Mirbec, the ruler of 
 
206 THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 
 
 Mosul, who wears tlie seal of Ismael on a cliain round his 
 neck ; it is made out of a diamond set in a beautifully worked 
 ring of gold ; it is about half the size of a nut, and is en- 
 graved in minute letters with the name of Ismael surrounding 
 the twelve sacraments of their sect.^ On my arrival in 
 Tauris I found I could do nothing as my adversary had fled, 
 so I determined to proceed to Aleppo, but before I left, 
 Ismael returned with his army, for whose coming there were 
 great preparations made, and all the shops decorated for 
 the festival and triumphs. He came every day to the 
 maidan to divert himself with archery with his lords who 
 received many gifts from him. And there was dancing, 
 music and songs in honour of the great Sultan Ismael when 
 he was present in the maidan. This Sophy is loved and 
 reverenced by his people as a god, and especially by his 
 soldiers, many of whom enter into battle without armour, 
 expecting their master Ismael to watch over them in the 
 fight. There are also others to go into battle without 
 armour, being willing to die for their monarch, rushing on 
 with naked breasts, crying " Schiac, Schiac.^^ The name 
 of God is forgotten throughout Persia and only that of 
 Ismael remembered ; if any one fall when riding or dis- 
 mounted he appeals to no other god but Schiac, using the 
 name in two ways ; first as god Schiac ; secondly as 
 prophet ; as the Mussulmans say " Laylla, laylla Mahamet 
 resuralla," the Persians say " Laylla yllala Ismael velli- 
 alla;^ besides this, everyone, and particularly his soldiers, 
 consider him immortal, but I have heard that Ismael is 
 not pleased with being called a god or a prophet. They are 
 accustomed to wear a red caftan and above that a high 
 conical turban made with a dozen folds, representing the 
 twelve sacraments of their sect, or the tw^elve descendants 
 of Ali; besides this, they neither shave either their beard or 
 
 1 Probably the names of the twelve Imaums. 
 « La Illaha ilia Allah. Ismael Welj^ Allah. 
 
THE TRAVELS OF A MERCHANT IN PERSIA. 207 
 
 ■whiskers. Their dress has never changed ; their armour is 
 of beautifully Avorked and carved steel cuirasses, besides 
 coats of mailj helmets like those of the Mamelukes ; their 
 harness is very strong, bound with cotton ; sometimes it is 
 of the fine steel of Siras, and sometimes of copper, but not 
 like ours, but all in pieces like that of Soria : they have 
 other helmets or headpieces of heavy mail. Everyone rides, 
 and so there are no foot soldiers ; they use lances, swords, 
 and slings, besides bows with many shafts. 
 
 On his second arrival in Tauris, Ismael committed a most 
 disgraceful act, as he caused twelve of the most beautiful 
 youths in the town to be taken to his palace of Astibisti for 
 him to work his wicked will upon them, and gave them 
 away one by one to his lords for the same purpose ; a short 
 time previously he had caused ten children of respectable 
 men to be seized in like manner. When he returned from 
 Sumacchia three Georgian ambassadors arrived and were 
 well received, and a damsel given them as a present. While 
 engaged in these rejoicings, news came that the Usbecs, 
 that is the subjects of the Tartar, had over-run the country 
 of Gesti,^ whereupon he had to decide to march against him 
 at once, so he took the field and mustered his troops, 
 ordering all his lords to assemble their retainers which they 
 had to maintain during the campaign. In this way forces 
 came together from all sides in numbers sufficient to meet 
 eJeselbas,^ a great many being necessary as the Tartar was 
 a mighty monarch. I left Tauris on the 1st of May, ]520,^ 
 during the levying of this army, taking the route to Aleppo, 
 and in spite of some dangerous fellow travellers, and by the 
 favour of God arrived at Albir*^ on the 2nd July, 1520.^ 
 
 ^ Yezd. 2 Sheibani Khan. 
 
 3 The battle of Merv took place in 1514. ■• Bir or Birajik. 
 
 » He does not mention the Turkish invasion of Persia, under Selim I, 
 in 1514, which must have come under his notice, if, as he says, he re- 
 mained in Tauris till 1520. 
 
i 
 
NARRATIVE 
 
 MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO D'ALESSANDEI, 
 
 Ambassador to the King of Persia for the Most Illustrious 
 Republic of Venice. 
 
VINCENTIO D'ALESSANDEL 
 
 I HAVE now undertaken to give an account to your most Introduc- 
 Illustrious Government of the regions and kingdoms which 
 are in Persia, of the produce, of the character of the people, 
 of the person of the king, and the qualities of his mind, 
 the government of the Court, the manner and custom of 
 determining the affairs of State, of things of importance in 
 the administration of justice, of the revenue and expendi- 
 ture, of the number and quality of the Sultans, who are 
 nothing but commanders of the soldiery, and in fine of all 
 that may appear to me worthy of your greatness. 
 
 This king, named Tamas,^ is of the house of Scili, a family 
 illustrious from an antiquity of 980 years, coming in a direct 
 line from Ali,^ who was the son-in-law of Mahomet their 
 Prophet. He was the son of Ismail the First, the father of 
 whom was named Serdiadar,^ a man of great goodness and 
 learning, and considered by his people a saint, saying that 
 it had been predicted a thousand years before, that his son 
 should yet be king. Thus, Ismail, after having promised 
 the kingdom to the son of the daughter of the King XJssun- 
 cassano, with no fear of God seized it for himself, causing Ismail, 
 the head of the aforesaid son to be cut ofiF. In this way, Persia, by 
 although much harassed by the Ottoman Emperors, fortune byeaking 
 
 was favourable to him, as he was the first who began to seizes the 
 
 f. kingdom, 
 reduce the greatness of that power, and to recover some of 
 
 the principal fortresses from Sultan Selim, who was the 
 ' Tamasp. ^ See Zcno, p. 4.S. ' Sheikh Hyder. 
 
212 NARRATIVE OF THE 
 
 father of Sultan Suliman. This prince took possession of 
 Coninut^ a populous city of the greatest importance, a centre 
 of manufactures, in a most beautiful situation, which being 
 strong by nature, is now made almost impregnable by the 
 industry of the Ottomans, governed by a Pasha of high 
 rank. Dependent on this place are plains and fortresses 
 which are all called Dirabech" by this same Ismail. Is- 
 mail had three other sons besides the present king, who 
 was the eldest, — Elias Mirisce,^ Saine Mirisce, and Baiaram 
 Mirisce. Elias was a man of great valour and daring, who 
 during a peace with the king, Barcam, King of Sirvan,* 
 took both his city and country, which is very large and of 
 great importance on the shores of the Caspian Sea.^ All 
 
 1 Kara Amid Diarbekr. See Zeno, p. 6. * Diarbekr. 
 
 ^ Mirza "prince". * Shirvan. 
 
 ' In 1549, Knolles says: — "Solyman had now almost three yeares 
 taken his rest, when it fortuned that Ercaces Imirza, King of Sirvan, 
 moved with the often injuries of Tamas, his brother, the great Persian 
 king, fled to Solyman at Constantinople, to crave aid of him against 
 his brother. Solyman, glad of such an occasion to worke upon, enter- 
 tained him with all courtesie, and promised to take upon him his quar- 
 rell and to protect him against his unnaturall brother ; and when he 
 had made all things readie for so great an expedition, passed over into 
 Asia ; and after long and painfull travell entered at last with a puissant 
 armie into Armenia, and there, in the borders of the Persian kiugdome, 
 first besieged the citie of Van, which, after ten dales' siege, was yeelded 
 unto him upon condition that the Persian souldiors there in garrison 
 might, with life and libertie, depart with their amies as souldiors; which 
 was at the first by Solyman granted, and so the citie surrendered. From 
 thence, Solyman sent his chiefe commanders, with a great part of his 
 armie, to burne and spoile the enemie's countrey, which they for a time 
 cheerfully performed, and running farre into the countrey strive, as it 
 were, among themselves who should doe most harme ; where Imirza, 
 among the rest, for whose sake Solyman had undertaken this warre, was 
 as forward as the best to wast and spoile his brother's kingdome, sparing 
 nothing that came to hand. The best and richest things he got he pre- 
 sented to Solyman, to draw him on still in that warre. But that served 
 not his turne to recover againe his kingdome of Sirvan ; for Tamas, 
 without shewing any power to withstand the Turks, had, after his wonted 
 manner, caused his people to withdraw themselves far into the mountain- 
 
MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO D'aLESSANDRI. 213 
 
 this territory came into tlie hands of his brother, who failed 
 to show his gratitude towards him for the acquisition of so 
 vast a region, and so was the cause of his becoming 
 his enemy, and joining the Ottomans. He excited Sultan 
 Suliman to march with a great army against his brother, 
 taking in his country the town of Yam, then the prin- 
 cipal fortress of Persia, six days distant from Tauris. For 
 this reason the king caused him to be killed, as he had 
 already done to Saine Mirisce, his second brother, fearing 
 lest he also should rise against him, and as their father 
 had already died a natural death, there only remained one 
 brother, who had a principality in India. 
 
 And the king, wishing to marry him to one of his daugh- 
 ters, sent to summon him, but the people would never consent* 
 to let him go to Gasmen, fearing lest he should do him some 
 harm. The sons of this king are eleven, born from different 
 wives, eleven say sons and three daughters ; the eldest, 
 
 ous countrey, leaving nothing behind them in that wast countrey to re- 
 lieve them but bare ground ; so that the farther the Turks went the 
 more they wanted, without hoj^e of better successe than such as they 
 had before to their losse made proofe of, in their former expeditions into 
 that great kingdome. The conceit whereof so much pierced not the 
 common souldiors only, but even the captaines themselves : that to make 
 an end of that long and unprofitable warre, taken in hand for another 
 man's good, they consulted among themselves either to kill Imirza, or 
 else to disgrace him with Solyman ; which they so cunningly wrought : 
 some suggesting false suspitions of his treacherous dealing in the pro- 
 ceeding of that warre; and others, with like craft, under cover of friend- 
 ship, giving him warning in secret of the danger he was in : the one fill- 
 ing Solyman's head with distrust, and the other, Imirza's with fear. 
 Briefly, to shut the matter up in their owne tearmes, they 'persuaded the 
 hnre to file and the hounds to follow. Imirza, doubting some sudden 
 mischiefe, fled for succour to an old acquaintance of his, one of the 
 princes of Chaldea, who most treacherously sent him in bonds to Tamas, 
 his brother, his most cruell enemie, who, glad to have the author of all 
 his troubles with the Turks delivered into his hands, cast him in prison, 
 and that Solyman nor any other should in his behalf e further prosecute 
 the warre, or by his means hope f or' victorie, caused hira to be in prison 
 murthered. In this expedition against the Persian king Solyman was 
 
214 NARRATIVE OF THE 
 
 named Cababinde^ Mirisce, aged forty-three years, is a man 
 of a quiet disposition, and does not trouble himself about the 
 affairs of this world, contenting himself with a small domain 
 given him by his father in the region of Carasam, called 
 Cheri. This Cababinde has three sons, the eldest of whom"'^ 
 is fifteen years of age, of noble aspect and lofty spirit, and 
 is tenderly loved by the king for his virtues, and also be- 
 cause none of his other sons have children. 
 
 Ismail, the second son, is forty-one years of age, of robust 
 frame and daring spirit, of great courage, and loving war ; 
 he has proved his valour on many occasions against the 
 Ottomans, and particularly against the Bassa of Esrom,^ as, 
 with a small force of cavalry, he broke the army of the 
 Bassa, which was very numerous ; and if the latter had not 
 quickly retreated, would have made himself master of the 
 city. On this account, Maesum Bech, the chief vizier of the 
 king, perceived that this young man had ambitious views, 
 and that he had assembled an army without leave from his 
 father, and entered the country of the Ottomans in a time of 
 peace ; considering this a want of obedience, he showed the 
 king some letters sent to the Sultans throughout the pro- 
 vinces, inciting them to rise for a war against the Ottomans. 
 In this way he persuaded the king to place him in a fortress, 
 with a guard of Sultans and many soldiers. It is now more 
 than seventeen years ago since he was thrown into prison, and 
 this very year they have taken away the guard, but not set 
 him at liberty. The king, wishing to gratify him, has sent 
 him many beautiful women to be companions to him, but he 
 
 occupied a yeare and nine months : all which time the Turks endured 
 great troubles and were oftentimes hardly distressed by the Persians ; 
 untill, at last, Solyman himselfe, wearie of that tedious warre, wherein 
 he had got neither honour nor profit, thought it best to make an end ; 
 and thereupon returned againe to Constantinople in the yeare 1549." 
 
 ' Mahomet Khodabundah Mirza, Prince Mahomet, the slave of God. 
 
 * Afterwards Shah Abbas, the Great. 
 
 ' The Pasha of Erzeroum. 
 
MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO D'aLESSANDRI. 215 
 
 never will have any intercourse with them,^ saying that he 
 will support with patience his imprisonment by his father, 
 but that it would be too heav}" a burden for him to see his 
 children prisoners too ; and that slaves are not worthy of 
 ladies. 
 
 And this same Ismail is particularly beloved by his father, 
 but his fear of him is great, seeing- how ardently ho is de- 
 sired as ruler by all the people ; and the Sultans are espe- 
 cially afraid of him from his too proud disposition ; so that 
 if he ever comes to succeed to the thi-one he may have to 
 replace a great number of the chiefs of the soldiery, and to 
 oppose all his brothers, who have taken possession of many 
 portions of the kingdom. 
 
 Sultan Gaidar Mirisce,^ the third son and Lieutenant of 
 his father, is eighteen years old, of small stature, most 
 fascinating and handsome in appearance, and excelling in 
 oratory, elegance and horsemanship, and most beloved by 
 his father j he is very fond of hearing people discourse about 
 war, although he does not show himself much fitted for that 
 exercise, from his too delicate and almost feminine nature ; 
 he is of good intellect, for his age is grave enough, and 
 shows that he understands the affairs of government, and 
 knows how the other monarchs of the world rule. 
 
 Sultans Mustaflfa, Umircan, and Ennit Mirisce, are all 
 three between fourteen and fifteen years old, and show great 
 talent ; the others also, between eight and eleven years, are 
 at Carassam for instruction, except a young one of five 
 years, who is with his father, as at that age he is very 
 cheerful and pleasing. The daughters are all married to 
 relations, to whom great possessions are given with them 
 as dowries. The king is in the sixty-fourth year of his 
 age, and the fifty-first of his reign, is of middling stature, 
 well formed in person and features, although dark, of thick 
 
 ' AVhen he came to the throne he gave way altogether to debauchery. 
 2 llyder Mirza. 
 
of the 
 niinisLers. 
 
 216 NARRATIVE OF THE 
 
 lips, and a grisly beard ; lie is more of a melancholy dis- 
 position than anything else, which is known by many signs, 
 but principally by his not having come out of his palace for 
 the space of eleven years, nor having gone once to the chase 
 nor any other kind of amusement, to the great dissatisfac- 
 tion of his people, who according to the customs of that 
 country, not seeing their king, can only with the greatest 
 difficulty make their petitions, and cannot have a voice in 
 the decisions of justice ; so that day and night they cry 
 aloud before the palace for justice, sometimes a thousand, 
 more or less. And the king, hearing the voices, usually 
 orders them to be sent away, saying that there are judges 
 Negli- deputed in the country, with whom rests the administration 
 the king, of justice, not taking into consideration that these things 
 'J'.vranny are against the tyrannical Judges and Sultans, who usually 
 wait in the street to assassinate the people, seen by me as well 
 as by many other people. I have been told as a fact, that in 
 the book of lawsuits there are written more than ten thou- 
 sand persons who have been killed during the last eight 
 years. This evil comes principally from the Cuzzi,^ who, 
 as they do not receive pay, are forced to take bribes, and do 
 so the more, as they see that in the matter of law affairs 
 the king- takes no thouofht or care. Hence it arises that 
 throughout the kingdom the roads are unsafe, and in the 
 houses themselves one runs great dangers, and the Judges 
 nearly all allow themselves to be corrupted by money. 
 
 In truth, one may say that this king never had any in- 
 clination for war, although he talks a great deal as if he 
 did, being a man of very little courage. And if, indeed, in 
 any case he has shown himself with an army in the field, he did 
 not do so from freewill, but of necessity ; never having dared 
 to show his face to the enemy, so that, to his infinite dis- 
 grace, he has lost in his reign the important city of Babi- 
 lonia, near the river Euphrates, which belonged to a lord 
 
 ^ Judges. 
 
MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO d'ALESSANDRI. 217 
 
 Scliaraf becli/ ruler of some people who are called Chinedi/ 
 who as he was not afforded assistance against the Turks, 
 was chased away by them. Besides, near this is a place called 
 Bichillas,^ a pass of great importance, and the key to the 
 following cities and regions, namely, Chilach, Ergis, Vastan, 
 Adalgeras, Berghieri, Cassan, and Van,* a city and fortress 
 of much importance, and a great extent of country belong- 
 ing to the above-mentioned places, which would be enough 
 for a great Principality, all of which were lost. But what 
 above all is his greatest enjoyment, are women and money, 
 and these women have acquired such an influence over his 
 mind, that he remains a long time with them deliberating 
 and consulting about affairs of state ; and although this 
 king is miserly by nature, with them one may say that he is a 
 spendthrift, giving them money, jewels, and things in great 
 quantities. The women at times have permission from the 
 king to come out of the palace ; those, indeed, who have 
 children, under the pretext of seeing them when they are 
 ill. And I saw the mother of the Sultan Mustaffa Mirisce, 
 who was slightly indisposed, come out with her face covered 
 with a black veil, riding like a man, accompanied by four 
 slaves and six men on foot. 
 
 This king uses many contrivances for promoting his plea- 
 sures, and for this keeps people on purpose ; and those who 
 do most for it are greatly rewarded. He also gives women 
 slaves to the Sultans, that they may not be an expense to 
 him, and when he orders them to be brought to him, they 
 are ornamented with jewels and rich garments. Although, 
 in the things mentioned, the great avarice of the king is 
 plainly to be seen, I shall go on to give to your Excellencies 
 
 1 Sherf Beg. 
 
 2 Khunneydec Kurds in the Bohtan mountains, near Mosul, tribes- 
 men of Sherf Beg. 3 Bitlis. 
 
 •* Ikhlat, Arjeesh, Van, Ardel, Jiraz, Pergri, all on the Van Lake. 
 Ikhlat was the summer seat of the Akkoniloos, and its burial ground is 
 full of the tombs of their chiefs. 
 
218 NARRATIVE OF THE 
 
 some particulars which will make it more evident. This 
 king sent to the East for Boscasinian cloth, and to Carassam 
 for close velvets and other silken fabrics, and to Aleppo for 
 woollen cloths, and from these stuffs he had clothes given 
 as payment to the soldiers, at ten times their value. He 
 will accept any sort of present, however small, nor does he 
 always make one in return. As another instance, a soldier, 
 in time of war, captured the son of a certain Orbech, one of 
 the king^s greatest enemies, who has great power on the 
 frontiers of Cinasari, and to whom the king is forced to 
 give every year four hundred talleri, which in our coinage 
 make eight thousand scudi, that he may not molest the 
 caravans coming from India. Another soldier offered to 
 give this soldier, for his prisoner, a village and a thousand 
 scudi, but he would not give him up, and presented him 
 instead to the king, hoping to obtain a greater reward ; the 
 king, however, only gave him a horse in exchange for a 
 prisoner of such imjDortance. He shows the greatest liber- 
 ality in making provisions for people, by appointing them 
 to places which are never paid, except by force of great 
 obligations and presents. He gives up, as a favour, many 
 kinds of tribute, and taxes, but for the most it is not so in 
 reality, since after two or three years, he generally requires 
 all the arrears at once, as he did at the time when I was at 
 his Court, in the territory of Zutta, inhabited by Armenians, 
 who were all exempted from tribute. He suddenly re- 
 quired all the arrears, which caused the ruin of these poor 
 Christians. Sending the majordomo of Sultan Caiadar 
 Mirisce,^ lieutenant of the king, to collect these moneys, he 
 required twenty-five loads of cloths and shawls in addition. 
 Great ^s he is accustomed to change his garments fifty times a 
 avarice of ^^y -wliich are afterwards distributed to the people at ten 
 
 the King •' ' r r 
 
 of Persia, times their value. And no one dares to show reluctance 
 
 ' Hyrler Mirza. 
 
MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO d'aLESSANDRI. 219 
 
 in taking these clothes^ but rather to be grateful to be 
 
 allowed to have them. 
 
 This king sells jewels and makes other bargains, buying 
 
 and selling with the cunning of a small merchant. It is 
 
 true that six years ago he did a magnanimous act, having 
 
 taken away all the tolls in his kingdom, which were greater Very 
 
 heavy 
 than any others in the world, since he takes a seventh part tolls in 
 
 of the merchandise, besides what is taken by the officials. '^^^^^• 
 It has, however, been said, that he had a dream in which 
 the Angels took him by the throat, and asked him whether 
 it was becoming to a king, surnamed the Just, and descended 
 from the house of Ali, to get such immense profits by the 
 ruin of so many poor people ; and then ordered him to free 
 the people from them. The king on waking, and full of 
 fear, commanded that in all parts of his empire the tolls 
 should be taken oflP. By this deed it is evident that he re- 
 pented ; as in the time past, in order to accumulate money, 
 he did thousands and thousands of actions unworthy not only 
 of a king but of a man, which J will not particularize for 
 fear of wearying you with their length ; but will go on to 
 speak of his court, which is divided into two departments, 
 one the service of the king, and the other the council of 
 state. The king's service is divided into three classes ; 
 first, the women, daughters of Sultans, bought by the king. Service of 
 or received as presents into his harem, which is thus called 
 from them, the Seraglio, as the abode of the women. They Seraglio, 
 are all Georgian and Circassian slaves, and he is attended 
 by them when he sleeps in the palace. When he sleeps 
 out, he is attended by slaves in the lower duties, as in 
 dressing and undressing ; these are of the number of forty 
 or fifty, and keep in order the tents and the larder. 
 
 The third class of people who attend him are the noble 
 sons of Sultans, who do not sleep in the royal palace, but 
 come morning and evening from their houses to their at- 
 tendance, and generally are about one hundred in number. 
 
220 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE 
 
 Pay of the 
 attend- 
 ants. 
 
 Loans. 
 
 Rewards 
 of the 
 nobles. 
 
 Order of 
 the Coun- 
 cil. 
 
 The king is served by them in turn, by handing water to 
 him, by presenting to him his robes, and by following him 
 when he walks in the gardens. Pay is given by the 
 king to the servants who attend him, from fifteen years of 
 age to twenty-five and even thirty, as long as they have no 
 beard. In this manner, in proportion to their service, he 
 lends some twenty, some twenty-five, and some fifty thou- 
 sand scudi, at twenty per cent., to some for ten, and others 
 for twenty years, receiving for himself the interest from 
 year to year. They then lend it on good security, at sixty 
 and eighty per cent, to nobles of the Court who are in ex- 
 pectation of receiving rank and appointments from the sove- 
 reign, and if it happens that those who have borrowed 
 the money do not compound for the capital with him who 
 has advanced the money, they sell their houses and pos- 
 sessions, nor is any compensation to be had afterwards. 
 
 The rewards of service of the nobles are the appoint- 
 ments of the Court as centurions and captains of the king's 
 guard, also Sultanates, which mean governorships of the 
 provinces ; these all belong to the service of the person of 
 the king. 
 
 The Council is really' one body, in which the king is the 
 sole President, with the intervention of twelve Sultans, 
 men of long experience inafiairs of State. It is remarkably 
 well attended by those Sultans who from time to time come 
 to the Court, and who all enter the Council, which is held 
 every day except when the king goes to the bath, or has 
 his nails cut ; the time of this council in summer as well as 
 winter is from the twenty-second hour of the day, and ac- 
 cording to the matters in hand, continues till the third, 
 fourth, and sixth hour of the night. The king sits upon a 
 Masthean, not very high from the ground, and behind his 
 shoulders his sons sit when they are at Court, especially 
 Sultan Caidar Mirise,^ who, as Lieutenant of his father, 
 
 1 Hyder Mirza. 
 
MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO d'aLESSANDRI. 221 
 
 does not leave the king's sight. The Sultan Councillors^ 
 who are four in number^ named viceroys, sit in front. The 
 king introduces the subjects, and discourses about them, 
 asking their opinions from the Sultans, and each one as he Council, 
 states his opinion, rises, and comes near the king, speaking 
 aloud, that he may be heard by his colleagues. If, in the 
 course of argument, the king hears anything which strikes 
 him, he has it noted by the grand Councillors, and very 
 often takes a note of it with his own hand ; and thus in 
 their order in which the king inquires of them, the Sultans 
 give their opinions. When the king has no doubt about 
 the matter in question, it is settled at the first Council ; and 
 if he has doubts, he hears the arguments of the full Council, 
 and then settles it after private consideration. In the 
 number of the consulting Sultans is included the Curzibassa, 
 chief of the king's guard, although he may not be a Sultan. 
 The grand Councillors have no vote, and can say nothing 
 unless they are called upon by the king ; they, although of 
 great dignity, cannot rise to the rank of Sultan, nor to any 
 other appointments belonging to the military service, even 
 if they are nobly born. 
 
 Knighthood is really more for deserving than for noble Kniglit- 
 persons. While the Council is sitting every night, there is 
 also a guard of three hundred armed Curzi, who, when the 
 Council is up, do not leave, but remain to guard the king. 
 
 As it seems to me that I have at last discoursed enough 
 about the king's court, I will go on to speak of the guard 
 of the state, of the government and capitals of the provinces 
 and the pursuits of the people. 
 
 The country possessed by the King of Persia is bordered 
 on the east by the Indies, which are between the rivers 
 Ganges and Ondo (Indus) ; on the west by the river Tigris, Boimdav- 
 which divides Persia from Mesopotamia, now called Diar- gj^ 
 bech, and running towards the frontiers of Babilonia enters 
 
222 NARRATIVE OF THE 
 
 the Euphrates/ then flowing together in one bed through 
 Bolsora,^ into the Persian Gulf, towards the south ; on 
 the north by the Caspian Sea, called also the sea of Baccu,' 
 and by Tartary of the great Cattai. In this country there 
 King- are the following regions possessed by this king, namely, 
 sessed by Sunan,* the ancient kingdom of the Medes, Aras, near 
 *f P °° Greater Armenia, Carassan, Chiessen,^ Cheri,^ Diai-gomet, 
 and Gilari,*" which is now in a disturbed state, owing to an 
 insurrection of the people. There are fifty-two cities in this 
 Metropo- realm : the chief are Tauris, metropolis of the whole king- 
 cities. dom, Carbin, Curassam, Naesimen,^ Samachi,^ and others I 
 will not name, but must mention that there is not one in 
 the whole kingdom which is walled, but all are open ; the 
 buildings are wretched, and the houses all of mud and cut 
 straw, mixed together ; neither are there mosques nor any- 
 thing else to adorn these cities, although their sites are 
 generally beautiful. The roads are disagreeable, from the 
 great quantity of dust and mud by turns, rendering them 
 difficult for travelling. 
 Abund- There is a very great abundance of corn, and generally 
 
 corn. the plains are beautiful ; in the country they are accustomed 
 Agricul- to conduct the water to irrigate the fields, one week in one 
 
 ture or ir- . n i i • re • 
 
 rigation place, and the other m another, and thus they give suthcient 
 fields^in water to the grain and vines. In spite of the scarcity of 
 Persia. rain, in the ascents and other places, where water can- 
 not be brought, they grow grass. There is also a great 
 quantity of live stock, and particularly of sheep, of such a 
 size, that I had seen some in Tauris, whose tails weighed 
 ten bisti, or rather ten battuarii, which in our weights 
 make nine pounds. "With all this the supply has to be im- 
 mense, as no people in the world eat more than the Persians, 
 
 1 Called then the Shat-ul-Arab. 
 
 3 Basrat or Bassora, 
 
 3 Baku. 
 
 * Shirvan. 
 
 » Yczd. 
 
 « Herat. 
 
 ' Ghilan. * Nakshivan. 
 
 ^ Schamachi. 
 
MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO d'aLESSANDRI. 223 
 
 it being the custom for both old and young to eat four times 
 
 a day, the excellence of the water helping the digestion. 
 
 In the cities and towns they do not use many ornaments; 
 
 everyone sleeps on the ground, and those who are of some 
 
 position use a mattress on the carpet, others a simple mat. 
 
 The women are mostly ugly, though of fine features and 
 
 noble dispositions, their customs not being so refined as Women 
 
 1 /> Ml -1 ^^^ their 
 
 those of the Turkish ladies. They wear robes of silk, veils habits. 
 
 on their heads, and show their faces openly. They have 
 
 pearls and other jewels on their heads, and on this account 
 
 pearls are in great demand in these regions, as it is not very 
 
 long since they came into use. 
 
 The reverence and love of the people for the king, not- Love and 
 
 withstanding the things mentioned above, which make one ofthepeo- 
 
 think he ought to be hated, are incredible, as they worship P- 2 .1^"' 
 
 him not as a king, but as a god, on account of his descent king. 
 
 from the line of Ali, the great object of their veneration. 
 
 Those who are in sickness or hardships do not call to aid 
 
 the name of God so much as that of the king, making vows 
 
 to present him with some gift, and some go to kiss the 
 
 doors of the palace, that house being considered fortunate 
 
 which is able to get some cloth or shawl from the king, or 
 
 else some water in which he has washed his hands, which 
 
 they consider a preventive of fever. To pass over many other 
 
 things I might say about this matter, I will only mention 
 
 that not only the people, but his own sons and the sultans 
 
 speak to him as if they could not find epithets worthy of 
 
 such greatness, saying, " Thou art the living faith, and in 
 
 thee we believe." And not only in the neighbouring cities 
 
 can one observe these signs of reverence, but also in the 
 
 distant towns and places many hold that besides having the 
 
 prophetic spirit, he has the power of raising the dead and Sui:)orsti- 
 
 • 1 • ATI- tionofthe 
 
 01 working other like miracles, saying that, as Ah, their Persian 
 
 chief saint, had eleven male children, this king has received ^^^^^ ^' 
 
 from the Majesty of God the same favour as Ali. It is true 
 
224 NARRATIVE OF THE 
 
 that in the city of Tauris he is not held in such veneration 
 as in the other places, for which reason it is said that he 
 has left it and gone to stay at Casing seeing that he was 
 not esteemed there as he wished. The city is divided into 
 
 ~/r*;,^°°f„ two factions, one called Nausitai, and the other Himicai- 
 vartu, which comprehend the nine municipal districts, five 
 in one and four in the other, and all the citizens, about 
 twelve thousand in number. These factions had always 
 been at enmity, and slaughtered each other every day, nor 
 could the king or any others put a stop to it, as the hatred 
 between them had lasted more than thirty 3"ears. 
 
 Certainly, one may say that the chiefs of districts are 
 more masters of the city than the king, since the origin of 
 their discord was that the price of meat having risen a little 
 hig'her than usual, the chiefs of the districts went to the 
 
 A curious palace of the sultans and killed all the servants, and the 
 
 markable sultan himself, if there was anything against him; then they 
 case. 
 
 went to the houses of those servants who were not present, 
 
 broke in. the doors, killed them, and carried their heads to 
 the palace. Nor did they do these things secretly, so that 
 from that time no attempt has been made against their free- 
 dom ; so much so, that in past times they have slain sul- 
 tans only to preserve some one of their privileges. 
 
 And since this city is the metropolis of the whole empire, 
 it seems to me that I ought to say something about it.'-^ 
 This city, therefore, is situated in a large plain not far from 
 some hills, and in the neighbourhood of a height where used 
 to be an ancient castle, as may be seen from the ruins ; its 
 Situation circumference, although it has no walls, is fifteen miles and 
 of Tauris. more in a long shape. From a place called Nassa, as far 
 as the gate of the city, towards Casbin, is almost a short 
 day^s journey in distance, with, however, numberless gar- 
 dens and open places. The streets are forty-five in number, 
 and in each there is a grove of trees, so that one m;iy say 
 ' Kasween. ' See Anftiolollo. 
 
MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO D'aLESSANDRI. 225 
 
 that there is a garden for every street. The air is most 
 salubrious in winter as well as summer. The fruits surpass 
 those of every other country in goodness and quality. 
 This city is commercial, as in it the goods and caravans of 
 all parts of the kingdom come together, but its business 
 has suffered much from war, Asj for instance, in the past, 
 two (loads) of silk, with which the country abounds, were 
 worth more than four hundred sequins, and are now worth 
 only two hundred. The merchandize which comes via 
 Ormus, is taken care of by no one, as the route used to be 
 through Aleppo, where there is now no traffic. They are 
 still brought to Constantinople by land, and thence taken to 
 Bogdania,^ being dispersed through Poland, Denmark, Swe- 
 den, and other places, but the expenses are so great, that 
 the profits are very small, in spite of the risk, as told me by 
 some Armenians whom I met in Tauris, and afterwards in 
 Tripoli, Commerce was still on the downhill road, until an 
 English gentleman,^ named Mr, Thomas, of London, arrived 
 in this city with a great quantity of cloth through Muscovy, 
 with the title of ambassador from the queen. Having died, 
 the ruler of Siruan^ took away all his things, so that his com- 
 panions had to spend a great deal of money to get them 
 back; so that, on this account, one cannot hope to negotiate 
 or continue traffic with these countries. 
 
 In the kingdom of Carassam* they worked cloths of silk Silken 
 and especially velvets, which are equal in excellence to the 
 Genoese ; in other parts they work on smooth stuffs and 
 damask, but not with the finish they have in Italy. In this 
 country of Persia there are no mines of gold and silver or Mines, 
 of copper, but only of iron ; so that those who introduce 
 silver from Turkey gain twenty per cent., gold fourteen and 
 
 ' Moldavia. 
 
 " Alcocke, or Anthony Jenkinson, who came with a letter from Queen 
 Elizabeth to Shah Tamasp in 1561, 
 
 ^ Sliirvan. Khorassan, 
 
226 NARRATIVE OF THE 
 
 fifteen per cont.j and copper sometimes eighteen and some- 
 times twenty per cent. ; it is true that there are great ex- 
 penses, as the exportation of metals is foi'bidden. 
 
 No duties This king, unlike other states, g;ets none of his revenues 
 in Persia. t . ... 
 
 from duties, as they do not exist in this kingdom, but has a 
 
 sixth part of ^the produce of the land, of corn and other 
 plants ; on vines and grass land, for one thousand archi of 
 ground an annual payment of sixty-six pieces of gold, which 
 is rather more than four sequins of gold. Archi are a mea- 
 sure, of which ten go to an ordinary field ; so that one pays 
 less tlian half a ducat for a field, and houses pay five per 
 cent, on their rent. Christians in some regions pay five, in 
 Taxes on others seven and eight ducats, per house, according to the 
 goodness and wealth of the country they inhabit. And on 
 animals, for every herd of forty sheep he receives a tribute 
 of fifteen bisti a year, which make three ducats of our 
 Male ani- money, but which male animals do not pay ; for every cow 
 not pay they paid tbe sum of two ducats a-year of our money, and 
 Persia. SO on ; these make up the income of the king, which is said 
 
 Income to amount to three millions of gold. The expenditure, which 
 and ex- n i • n i • t 
 
 penditure really comes from the treasury, is very small, as he is under 
 
 Kinff^of obligation to pay only five thousand soldiers, called Curzi, 
 
 Persia. ^fho act as his body-guard, and are selected from the best 
 
 and finest men in the realm ; nor these even does he pay in 
 
 money, but gives them uniforms and horses, putting on 
 
 them whatever value he thinks fit in advance for their 
 
 salaries. 
 
 He has eleven sons, and each of them has a sumptuous 
 
 and separate court, but no one knows what he gives them. 
 
 There are fifty sultans, by whom all the soldiery of the 
 
 kingdom is made up, as it is divided into fifty parts, except 
 
 that which he and his sons keep, which is not subject to 
 
 governors. These same commanders have the charge of 
 
 from five hundred to three thousand horsemen each, and 
 
 from the regions assigned to them get as large an income 
 
MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO D'aLESSANDRI. 227 
 
 as will support their retainers and cavalry, and enable them 
 
 to muster them frequently ; so that the king, in case of Soldiery 
 
 of the 
 war, has nothing else to do but to send messengers to the King of 
 
 sultans a month or two before, who, as they are always pre- easUy^ 
 pared, come without difficulty to the rendezvous. In all, brought 
 they may amount to sixty thousand cavalry, notwithstanding 
 that on paper the muster is much higher. They are generally 
 men of fine aspect, robust, well-made, of great courage, and 
 very warlike. They use for arms swords, lances, arque- Persian 
 buses, which all the soldiers can use ; their arms also are 
 superior and better tempered than those of any other nation. 
 The barrels of the arquebuses are generally six spans long, 
 and carry a ball a little less than three ounces in weight. 
 They use them with such facility, that it does not hinder 
 them drawing their bows nor handling their swords, keep- 
 ing the latter hung at their saddle-bows till occasion re- 
 quires them. The arquebus then is put away behind the 
 back, so that one weapon does not impede the use of 
 another. 
 
 The horses are so well trained and are so good and hand- Persian 
 
 liorsGS 
 some that there is now no need to have them brought from and how 
 
 other countries ; this has happened since the arrival of . ^^ ^®^® 
 Sultan Bayazeth,^ who fled into Persia with some magnifi- duced. 
 cent Caramanian and Arab horses, which were given away 
 throughout the country, and afterwards when he was exe- 
 cuted by order of the king, there were a thousand horses 
 and mares in existence. On this account there has never 
 
 ' Bayezid, the son of Suleyman, after his rebellion in 1556, fled for 
 safety to the Court of Tahmas, who received him with favour at first ; 
 but, his mind becoming embittered against him, caused his followers to 
 be dispersed and slain, and Bayezid himself to be cast into prison. Suley- 
 man used all the means in his power to have Bayezid delivered into his 
 hands, but Tamas would not consent ; but afterwards, in consideration 
 of a large sum of money, agreed to allow him to be made away with. 
 Bayezid, accordingly, was strangled, with his four sons. (From Auge- 
 riua Busbequius Legationis Turcicse, epist. 4.) 
 
228 KARRATIVE OF THE 
 
 been so fine a breed, and the Ottomans even have not got 
 one like it. This Bayazeth also brought thirty pieces of 
 artillery, which were taken to San Marco, towards the Cas- 
 pian Sea j but not so the money and other spoils. 
 
 The strength of the king lies in his having caused them 
 to lay waste the country on the frontiers of the Turk on 
 ^f^ftf^**^ every side for six days' journey in distance, and to pull 
 King of down every castle in the district, in order to strengthen 
 himself by the Turks having no inclination to seize and hold 
 it. I shall now speak of the relations and understandings 
 between him and the neighbouring princes. 
 
 Claims of This kinof has pretensions and claims to the countries 
 
 the King . 
 
 of Persia taken from him by the Ottoman emperors, on one side from 
 
 tj.jgg ' the river Euphrates to Babilonia, on the west to the coun- 
 
 taken tries of Benbech^ and Lesser Armenia, in which are com- 
 
 irom him 
 
 by the prised XJrfa,^ Merdin,'^ Bira,* Adiliofus Bitis," Van, Vastan, 
 
 Cassan,^ Calasci, Haligan, Baiiburdt,'' and other places. 
 
 Allegi- This king has the allegiance and dependence of a Christian 
 
 depend- named LentuF Deghi, Prince of the Georgians, who is his 
 
 ence, tributary, and pays every year twenty thousand ducats ; he 
 
 has his state near the Caspian Sea. This prince, in case of 
 
 war with the Ottomans, could assist with ten thousand 
 
 Georgian horse, all robust and valiant men. 
 
 Chindi, There are also some Turkish chiefs named Chindi in- 
 
 inhabit- , , . . . . . ^ 
 
 ants of habitmg certain mountams m Lesser Armenia, towards the 
 ^.^jjjg ^^IJ''^' Mediterranean ;^ and these Chindi, when all united, may 
 Armenia, amount to seven or eight thousand cavalry, of great excel- 
 
 B/IlCl til Gil' 
 
 forces. lence, and always eager to fight against the Turk. 
 
 Conclu- This is all, most Serene Prince and most Illustrious 
 
 sion. 
 
 " Diarbekr. 2 Orfa. ^ Mardin. ■" Bir. 
 
 » Aradh el Jivaz and Bitlis. " Kashan. ' Baiboort. 
 
 ^ Lentul Ogli, or Levent Ogli. 
 
 ' These I suppose to be the Kizzilbashes of the Deyrsun and Kara 
 Dagh, near Marash. They are still inveterate enemies of the Turks, 
 though inhabiting their territory. Their religious tenets assimilate more 
 with the Persians. 
 
MOST NOBLE VINCENTIO d'aLESSANDRI, 229 
 
 Noblemen, that in the space of one and twenty months 
 passed since the day I left the feet of your Highnesses to 
 go to Persia, till my return, I have diligently observed of 
 the affairs of that realm. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
ERRATA AND NOTES. 
 
 Page 5, Note, for " taneel", read " tawil", long. Uzun means long 
 in Turkisli, and Zeno is right in giving it the secondary sense of great j 
 the Turks claim Artaxerxes Longimanus to have been of Turkish race, 
 because with them long arms are esteemed a sign of power and great- 
 ness. 
 
 Page 8, /or "Tkindjis", read " Akinjys". 
 
 Page 24, " ne dentider", probably " neh deria-dir", what a sea it is, 
 Turkish, not Persian. 
 
 Page 70, " Occota Can", probably " Oktai Khan". 
 
 Page 79, Note, for " Quzbvassi", read " Kas-ovahsy". 
 
 Page 81, " Arphaemiler", Arpa-eminy, master of the barley. 
 
 Page 136, " bosdocan", buzdugan, a mace, a word nearly obsolete in 
 Constantinople ; it is preserved in Wallachia. 
 
 Page 143. These columns are still standing, and have some inscrip- 
 tions, apparently Phoenician, upon them. 
 
 Page 207. Sheibani Khan ; for an account of his life and death, see 
 M. Vambery's History of Bokhara. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Amasia, 37 
 Amida (Diarbekir), 6 
 Ardebil, 42 
 Astrabad, 113 
 Astrakhan, 114 
 
 Barbaro, 15, 21, 33, 93 
 Bitlis, 8, 157 
 
 Calo Johannes, 9, 178 
 Casimir, King of Poland, 33 
 Chalderan, battle of, 59-61, 120 
 Contarini Ambrosio, 33 
 
 Derbend, 44, 113, 185, 186 
 Despina, wife of Uzun Hassan, 9, 
 13, 14, 18, 41, 42, 71, 1 16, 178, 179 
 
 Erzingan, 7 
 
 Gaza, battle of, 128-130 
 Genealogy of Kara Yusuf, 1 
 
 Sbah Ismail, 5 
 
 Shah Abbas, 48 
 
 Hassan Beg or Uzun Hassan, 1, 73, 
 
 183 
 Hyder Sheikh, 42, 43, 73, 100, 101, 
 
 184 
 
 Ismail, Shah, 46, 48, 103, 122, 137, 
 152, 187, 190, 191, 211 
 
 Jezirah, 150 
 
 Kafur el Ghouri, 126 
 Kharput, 148 
 Khoi, 165 
 Kurds, 157 
 
 Malatia, battle of, 25-29, 86-88, 181, 
 
 182 
 Mamelukes, 129, 133 
 Mardin, 148 
 Matthias Corvinus, 34 
 Mazenderan, 49 
 Morenigo, Pietro, 21 
 Miu-ad Khan, 53, 55, 105, 192 
 
 Orfa, 98, 143, 144 
 
 Pancratio, 97 
 
 Persian army, 16, 17, 65 
 
 games, 111 
 
 Selim Sultan, 58 
 
 Sert, 156 
 
 Shebban Kara Hissar, 23 
 
 Sheibani Khan, 55, 110, 115, 117, 
 
 158, 207 
 Sinan Pasha, 128, 132 
 Suleyman Sultan, 213 
 
 Tabriz, 166 178-224 
 Tahmasp Shah, 211 
 Tiflis, 97 
 
 Tomant Bey, 127, 131 
 Turkish army, 22, 62, 79, 83 
 
 Van, 159, 187 
 
 Vastan, 161 
 
 Violante, wife of C. Zeno, 9 
 
 Yakub, son of Hassan Beg, his 
 death, 99, 183 
 
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