Which is much used
for boots and the like by the people of Central Asia. [In Turkish saghri
or saghri is the name both for the buttocks of a horse and the leather
called shagreen prepared with them. (See Devic, Dict. Etym.) - H. C.]
In the commercial lists of our Indian north-west frontier we find as
synonymous Saghri or Kimukht, "Horse or Ass-hide." No doubt this
latter word is a form of Kamu or Camut. It appears (as Keimukht, "a
sort of leather") in a detail of imports to Aden given by Ibn al Wardi,
a geographer of the 13th century.
Instead of Camut, Ramusio has Camoscia, i.e. Chamois, and the same seems
to be in all the editions based on Fra Pipino's version. It may be a
misrendering of camutum or camutium; or is there any real connexion
between the Oriental Kamu Kimukht, and the Italian camoscia? (I. B.
II. 445; Klapr. Mem. vol. III.; Davies's Trade Report, App. p. ccxx.;
Vambery's Travels, 423; Not. et Ext. II. 43.)
Fraehn (writing in 1832) observes that he knew no use of the word
Bolghar, in the sense of Russian leather, older than the 17th century.
But we see that both Marco and Ibn Batuta use it. (F. on the Wolga
Bulghars, pp. 8-9.)
Pauthier in a note (p. 285) gives a list of the garments issued to certain
officials on these ceremonial occasions under the Mongols, and sure enough
this list includes "pairs of boots in red leather." Odoric particularly
mentions the broad golden girdles worn at the Kaan's court.
[La Curne, Dict., has Bulga, leather bag; old Gallic word from which
are derived bouge et bougete, bourse; he adds in a note, "Festus
writes: 'Bulgas galli sacculos scorteos vocant.'" - H. C.]
NOTE 3. - "Then come mummers leading lions, which they cause to salute the
Lord with reverence." (Odoric, p. 143.) A lion sent by Mirza Baisangar,
one of the Princes of Timur's House, accompanied Shah Rukh's embassy as
a present to the Emperor; and like presents were frequently repeated.
(See Amyot, XIV. 37, 38.)
CHAPTER XVII.
HOW THE GREAT KAAN ENJOINETH HIS PEOPLE TO SUPPLY HIM WITH GAME.
The three months of December, January, and February, during which the
Emperor resides at his Capital City, are assigned for hunting and fowling,
to the extent of some 40 days' journey round the city; and it is ordained
that the larger game taken be sent to the Court. To be more particular: of
all the larger beasts of the chase, such as boars, roebucks, bucks, stags,
lions, bears, etc., the greater part of what is taken has to be sent, and
feathered game likewise. The animals are gutted and despatched to the
Court on carts. This is done by all the people within 20 or 30 days'
journey, and the quantity so despatched is immense.
