The Christians In Those Parts Report, That The Emperor Of
Persia Derives More Tribute From This City Alone Than The King Of France
Receives From The Whole Of His Dominions.
Near this city there is a hill of
salt, from whence every one may take as much as he pleases, without paying
any thing whatever to any person.
Many Christians from all parts of the
world are to be found in this place, over whom the Saracens have the
supreme authority.
From Tauris I travelled to the city called Soldania[4], where the Persian
emperor resides during the summer; but in winter he changes his residence
to another city upon the sea of Baku[5]. Soldania is a large city, but very
cold, from its situation in the mountains, and has considerable trade, and
abundance of good water. From thence I set out with a caravan of merchants,
for the Upper India, and in our way, after many days journey, we came to
Cassan or Casbin[6], the noble and renowned city of the three wise men,
which abounds in bread and wine, and many other good things, but the
Tartars have nearly destroyed it. From this city to Jerusalem, to which the
three wise men we're led by miracle, the distance is fifty days journey.
For the sake of brevity I omit many wonderful things which I saw in this
city. Going from thence, we came to the city of Geste[7], whence the sea of
sand, a most wonderful and dangerous track, is distant only one days
journey.
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