At Their Meals, They Have The Following Custom,
Which I Saw In The House Of One Of Their Great Men.
They use a quadrangular
table, about half an ell across, having a projecting rim, on the middle of
which they heap up a quantity of boiled millet, which is without salt or
fat, or any other seasoning, and this they eat to their meat by way of
bread.
On another similar table, but having live coals underneath, there
was some wild boars flesh, but so little roasted that the blood ran out
when it was cut, and of this they are very fond. For my part, I thought it
quite disgusting, and was forced to content myself with a little millet, as
we had no other provisions. There was wine, however, in abundance, which
was handed round the company with great hospitality.
In this country there are a great number of woods and mountains. One of its
districts is named Tiflis, in which is a town of the same name, situate on
the Kur or Kyrus, which runs into the Caspian. Gori is likewise a fortified
place in the same country, and lies nearer to the Black Sea.
Going from Tanna or Asof, by the river Don, and along the sea of Tabache or
Asof, quite to Kaffa, and keeping that sea close on the left hand, we come
to an isthmus or narrow neck of land, which connects the peninsula of the
Crimea; with the mainland, and which is named Zuchala[8]. This is similar
to that called Essimilia, formerly the Isthmus of Corinth, which connects
the Morea or Peloponnesus with the continent of Greece. Near this isthmus
of Zuchala, there are large salt water lakes, from which the salt
crystallizes in summer, and is taken out in large quantities for the supply
of the surrounding nations.
Within the peninsula, and on the sea of Tabache or Asof, the first province
we come to is Kumania, deriving its name from the people called
Kumanians. The chief province is called Gazzaria or Chazaria, in which
Caffa is situate; and the measure of length used by merchants in all these
countries is called the Gazzarian ell, which is even used at Tanna[9].
The low country of the island of Kaffa[10] is occupied by the Tartars, who
are governed by a prince named Ulubi[11], the son of Azicharei. They
are able, in case of need, to bring 3000 or 4000 horse into the field.
These people possess two walled towns, which are by no means strong. One of
these, Sorgathi[12], is by them likewise called Incremia or Chirmia,
which signifies a fortification. The other is Cherchiarde or
Kerkiarde[13], which signifies forty places in their language[14]. On the
island, which the Italians call the Cimmerian Bosphorus, close to the mouth
of the sea of Asof, is Cherz, Kersch, or Kars[15]. Then come Kaffa[16],
Saldaia[17], Grassui[18], Cymbalo[19], Sarsona or Cherson[20], and
Kalamita[21]. Farther on from Kaffa lies Gothia, and still farther
Alania, which is without the island towards Moncastro[22].
The Goths of these places speak a dialect of the German language, as I
learned from a German servant who accompanied me on my travels; for he
conversed with them, and they understood each other tolerably well, just as
a native of Friuli in the Popes dominions might understand a
Florentine[23]. From the vicinity, or intermixture of the Goths and
Alanians, originates the denomination of Gotitalani. The Alanians were
the first inhabitants of this county: The Goths came at an after period and
made a conquest of part of the country inhabited by the Alanians; and, as
the two nations mingled together, this mixed name became likewise into use.
All these people profess the Greek religion, which is likewise followed by
the Tscherkassians, or Circassians.
Having already made mention of Tumen and Githerean, I shall now relate some
remarkable particulars concerning them. Going from Tumen eastwards, or
rather to the north-east, in seven days journey we arrive at the river
Ledil[24], on the banks of which stands Githercan[25], a small
insignificant town, laid waste, and in ruins. It was formerly a very
considerable and celebrated place; as before the devastation of it by
Tamerlane, the spices and silks which go to Syria[26] were carried by
Githercan, and thence to Tanna, from whence they were brought, by six or
seven large gallies to Venice; for at that time no other nation besides
Venice traded to Syria. The Ledil or Wolga is a large and very broad river,
which discharges itself into the Sea of Baku, or the Caspian, twenty-five
Italian miles below Astracan; and both this river and the Caspian, which is
tolerably salt, contain innumerable quantities of fish called tunnies and
sturgeons. One may sail up this river to within three days journey of
Moscow in Russia; and the inhabitants of that place go every year with
their vessels to Astracan, to procure salt. The passage downwards is easy,
as the river Mosco runs into the Oka, and that again into the Wolga. In
this river there are many islands, and many forests along its banks. Some
of these islands are thirty miles in circumference; and in the forests
there are trees of such vast size, that one of them may be hollowed into a
boat, that will require eight or ten horses, and twice as many men, to draw
it against the stream. Crossing the river Wolga, and going fifteen days
journey to the north-west, along the river, we meet with innumerable hordes
of Tartars. But in travelling northwards, towards Russia, we come to a
small town called Risan[27], which belongs to a relation of the grand duke
of Russia. The inhabitants of this place are all Christians, and follow the
usages of the Greek church. This country abounds in corn, cattle, honey,
and other good things; and they import a species of beer called
Bossa[28]; and the country abounds in woods and villages without number.
Somewhat farther, and about half way between Riazan and Moscow, is a town
called Colonna.
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