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.
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