On The
Day Following, Having Passed Those Alps Which Descend From The High
Mountains Towards The South, We Entered A Most Beautiful Plain, Having High
Mountains Upon Our Right Hand, And A Sea Or Lake On Our Left, Which Is
Fifteen Days Journey In Circumference[4].
This plain is watered or
irrigated at will, by means of streams descending from these mountains, all
of which fall into the before mentioned lake.
In the subsequent summer we
returned by the north side of this lake, where likewise there are great
mountains[5]. In this plain there used to be many towns; but most of these
have been destroyed by the Tartars, that the excellent lands around them
might be converted into pastures for their cattle. We still found one large
town named Cailac, in which was a market frequented by many merchants; and
we remained fifteen days at this place, waiting for one of Baatu's scribes,
who was to assist our guide in the management of certain affairs at the
court of Mangu. This country used to be called Organum[6], and the people
Organa, as I was told, because the people were excellent performers on the
organ[7] or lute; and they had a distinct language and peculiar manner of
writing. It was now entirely inhabited by the Contomanni, whose language
and writing are used by the Nestorians of these parts. I here first saw
idolaters, of whom there are many sects in the east.
[1] The person here alluded to was a monk named Andrew Luciumel, who had
been sent ambassador, by the pope, to the emperor of the Mongals, in
1247 or 1248, with the same views as in the missions of Carpini and
Asceline at the same period; but of his journey we have no account
remaining.
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