THIS land of Cathay is in Asia the deep; and after, on this half,
is Asia the more. The kingdom of Cathay marcheth toward the west
unto the kingdom of Tharse, the which was one of the kings that
came to present our Lord in Bethlehem. And they that be of the
lineage of that king are some Christian. In Tharse they eat no
flesh, ne they drink no wine.
And on this half, toward the west, is the kingdom of Turkestan,
that stretcheth him toward the west to the kingdom of Persia, and
toward the septentrional to the kingdom of Khorasan. In the
country of Turkestan be but few good cities; but the best city of
that land hight Octorar. There be great pastures, but few corns;
and therefore, for the most part, they be all herdsmen, and they
lie in tents and they drink a manner ale made of honey.
And after, on this half, is the kingdom of Khorasan, that is a good
land and a plenteous, without wine. And it hath a desert toward
the east that lasteth more than an hundred journeys. And the best
city of that country is clept Khorasan, and of that city beareth
the country his name. The folk of that country be hardy warriors.
And on this half is the kingdom of Comania, whereof the Comanians
that dwelled in Greece sometime were chased out. This is one of
the greatest kingdoms of the world, but it is not all inhabited.
For at one of the parts there is so great cold that no man may
dwell there; and in another part there is so great heat that no man
may endure it, and also there be so many flies, that no man may
know on what side he may turn him. In that country is but little
arboury ne trees that bear fruit ne other. They lie in tents; and
they burn the dung of beasts for default of wood. This kingdom
descendeth on this half toward us and toward Prussia and toward
Russia.
And through that country runneth the river of Ethille that is one
of the greatest rivers of the world. And it freezeth so strongly
all years that many times men have fought upon the ice with great
hosts, both parties on foot, and their horses voided for the time,
and what on horse and on foot, more than 200,000 persons on every
side.
And between that river and the great sea Ocean, that they clepe the
Sea Maure, lie all these realms. And toward the head, beneath, in
that realm is the Mount Chotaz, that is the highest mount of the
world, and it is between the Sea Maure and the Sea Caspian. There
is full strait and dangerous passage for to go toward Ind. And
therefore King Alexander let make there a strong city, that men
clepe Alexandria, for to keep the country that no man should pass
without his leave.
