They Are Even Bigamists, For Their Priests, When Their Wives Die,
Marry Again.
They are all Simonists, as they give no holy thing without
pay.
They are careful of their wives and children, applying themselves to
gain, and not to propagating the faith. Hence, though some of them are
employed to educate the children of the Mongal nobility, and even teach
them the articles of the Christian faith, yet by their evil lives they
drive them from Christianity, as the moral conduct of the Mongals and
Tuinians[5], who are downright idolaters, is far more upright than theirs.
[1] Forster conjectures that the original words of Rubruquis are here
corrupted, and that this passage ought to have been "beyond Tangut,"
instead of beyond Tebet or Thibet; in which case, the countries of
Langa and Solanga, may refer to that of the Lamuts and Solonians, the
ancestors of the Mantschus or Mundschurians. - Voy. and Disc. 108.
[2] In this supposition Rubruquis was certainly mistaken, as the Seres of
the ancients appear to have lived in Turkestan, Gete, and Uigur, and
to have then ruled over a great track of eastern central Asia, and may
have extended their commerce to northern China. Hence the original
name of silk was certainly either adopted from or applied to the
intermediate nation, through whom that precious commodity was
transmitted to the western nations. - Forst.
[3] A jascot is described as a piece of silver weighing ten marks, so that
the tribute is 15,000 marks daily, or about 5 1/2 millions of marks
yearly, and is equal in weight of silver, to L. 8,650,000 Sterling;
perhaps equal, in real efficacious value, to ten times that sum, and
probably superior to the yearly revenue of all the sovereigns then in
Europe. - E
[4] Singan, or Singan-fu in the province of Shensee. In the year 1625, a
stone was found here, inscribed with Chinese characters and a Syrian
inscription round the borders, implying, that in the year 636, the
Nestorians had sent Olopuen into China to propagate the gospel; and
that the emperor Tai-sum-ven had approved this step, and allowed the
Christian religion to be propagated through all China, with many other
particulars relative to the history of Christianity in China. This
stone bore to have been erected in 782 by Mar Isdabuzzid, priest, and
Chorepiscopus of Cumdan, the royal city of the east, now Nankin. See a
dissertation on this monument, following Renaudet's translation of the
two Mahometan travellers, London, 1788, p. 76. - E.
[5] Mani or Manes is named Thenaoui by the oriental Christians, and the
sect of Manicheans they call Al-Thenaouib, or those who hold the
doctrines of the two principles. These Tuinians, therefore, of
Rubruquis, are probably the Manicheans. - Forst.
SECTION XXIX.
Of Cailac, and the Country of the Naymans.
We departed from the city of Cailac on St Andrew's day, 30th of November,
and in three leagues we found a village of Nestorians, where we went into
their church, and sang salve regina, and other hymns, with great joy. In
three days after we came to the entrance of that province, not far from the
before mentioned sea, which seemed as tempestuous as the ocean, and in
which we saw a large island. The water was slightly salt, yet might be
drank. Opposite to it was a valley with another salt sea, from which a
river ran into this one. There was so strong a wind that the passage was
dangerous, as we much feared to be blown into the lake; wherefore we went
north into the hilly country, covered with deep snow, and on St Nicholas
day, 6th December, we hastened our journey, as we found no inhabitants
except the Jani, or men appointed to conduct the messengers from one
day's journey to another. On the 7th of December we passed between two
terrible rocks, when the guide sent entreating me to pray to God: we sang
accordingly with a loud voice, the credo and other hymns, and by the
grace of God we got through in safety.
After this the Tartars entreated me to write papers for them; but I offered
to teach them words to carry in their hearts, whereby their souls should be
saved. Yet wanting an interpreter for this, I wrote them the creed and the
Lord's prayer, desiring them to believe what was written in the one, and
that the other contained a prayer to God for all that is necessary to man,
and that though they could not understand these, I hoped God would save
them.
SECTION XXX.
Description of the Country of the Naymans, with an Account of the Death of
Ken-khan and of his Wife and Eldest Son.
After this we entered into the country where the court of Ken-khan used to
be held, which was formerly called the country of the Naymans, who were the
peculiar subjects of Prester John. Though I did not see that court till my
return, I shall briefly mention what befel his son and wives. Ken-khan
being dead, Baatu desired that Mangu should be khan, but I could not learn
exactly the manner of Ken-khan's death. Friar Andrew says he died of the
effects of a medicine, which Baatu was suspected of having procured to be
given him. I heard, on the other hand, that he summoned Baatu to do him
homage, who accordingly began his journey with much external pomp, but with
great inward apprehensions, sending forward his brother Stichin; who, when
he came to Keu-khan, and ought to have presented him with the cup, high
words arose between them, and they slew one another. The widow of Stichin
kept us a whole day at her house, that we might pray for her and bless her.
When Ken was dead, and Mangu chosen emperor by the consent of Baatu, which
was when friar Andrew was there, Siremon, the brother of Ken, at the
instigation of the wife and peculiar vassals of Ken, went with a great
train, as if to do homage to Mangu, but with the intention of putting him
and all his court to death.
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