The Illustrious Ambassador leaves Tauris, and, after being
attacked several times while travelling through Georgiana and
Mengrelia, at last arrives at Fasso.
On the 28th, I dined with Messer Josafà Barbaro in his tent, and we both
felt the hardship of separation, and a hardship it certainly was. We
embraced each other, and parted with many tears. I mounted my horse in
company with the Patriarch, the Turkish ambassadors, and Marco Rosso,
and we started, as I think, in an evil hour, considering the misfortunes
and great perils which I underwent. Travelling through the country
of Ussuncassan, on our way to Fasso, we arrived at the nine Catholic
Armenian villages, of which we have already spoken, where we lodged in
the house of the Bishop, who received us kindly, and where we heard
a Catholic Mass. We remained there three days to furnish ourselves
with provisions, after which we started, and travelled over plains and
an occasional mountain, until we entered the country of the King of
Giorgiania.
On the 12th of July, 1475, having passed a river named Tigris, we arrived
at a city belonging to this king called Tiphis, situated on a little hill
with its castle, which is very strong, on the hill higher up. This city
has the reputation of having been very large, but much of it has been
destroyed. What little remains contains a numerous population, among
which are many Catholics. Here, also, we met with an Armenian Catholic,
with whom we lodged.
On the 15th, while riding through Georgiania, for the most part over
mountains, we passed a few villages and occasionally saw a castle on the
summit of a mountain.
On the 18th, when near the confines of Mengrelia, we met King Pangrati in
the midst of a wood surrounded by mountains, and we all went to pay him a
visit. He wished us to eat with him, and we sat down on the ground with
skins for a table-cloth, according to their fashion. Our repast consisted
of roast meat with a little poultry, badly cooked, and a few other
things; but there was wine in abundance, as they consider that to treat
their guests with wine is the greatest honour they can show them. When
the eating was over, they began the debauch with certain goblets half a
braccio long, and those who drank most were the most esteemed. As the
Turks do not drink wine, we rose from the contest and finally took our
leave, for which reason we were looked upon with much contempt. The king
was tall, and about forty years of age; he had a brown complexion, and a
Tartar expression of countenance, but was nevertheless a handsome man.
On the morning of the 20th we left here, and, travelling through
Georgiania almost continually over a mountainous country, came to the
confines of Mengrelia, where, on the 22nd, we met the captain of certain
men, on foot and on horseback, belonging to the king, who, on account
of some troubles which there were in Mengrelia, occasioned by the death
of King Bendian, compelled us, with many menaces, to stop. They then
took from us two quivers with the bows and arrows, and we gave them some
money. Being then allowed to go, we left the road as fast as we could,
and entered a wood, where we remained that night in great fear of being
attacked.
On the morning of the 23rd, while going through a narrow pass on our way
to Cotatis, we were attacked by some people of a village who stopped us,
threatening to take our lives. After a great deal of parleying they took
three horses belonging to the Turkish ambassadors, the bearers of the
present, and it was only with much trouble and by paying about twenty
ducats of their money, and giving up some horses and bows, that we were
allowed to pass on. We then proceeded to Cotatis, a castle belonging to
the king.
On the morning of the 24th, being obliged to cross a river by a bridge,
we were attacked and compelled to pay a grosso for each horse, which
certainly caused us much vexation. After leaving here we entered
Mingrelia, sleeping continually in the forests.
On the 25th, we crossed a river by means of boats, and entered a village
belonging to a woman named Moresca, the sister of Bendian, who pretended
to give us a good reception, and presented us with bread and wine, and
placed us in one of her closed meadows.
On the morning of the 26th, we determined to make her a present to the
value of about twenty ducats. She thanked us, and would not accept it,
but began to complain, saying that she wanted two ducats for each horse;
and, although we pleaded our poverty as an excuse, it was, as in former
cases, of no avail, and we were obliged to give her the two ducats per
horse; after which, she not only wanted the present we had offered
her, but gratuities besides, and it was not without difficulty that we
succeeded in leaving. Certainly, from the way she went on, I thought we
should have been mulcted of everything.
On the 27th, some of us in boats and some on horseback, arrived at Fasso
much fatigued. We lodged at the house of the before-mentioned Marta, and,
as a consolation for the hardships we had endured, we heard that Capha,
through which we had intended to pass, had been taken by the Turks. What
disappointment this news afforded us may be imagined. We knew not what
course to adopt, and felt as lost. Ludovico da Bologna, the Patriarch of
Antioch above-mentioned, however, decided upon going by way of Circassia
and Tartary to Russia, as he appeared to have some knowledge of the way.
He himself had several times proposed that we should not abandon each
other, and of this I reminded him, and begged that we might perform the
journey in company. He replied, however, that it was time for everyone to
take care of his own safety. This appeared to me a strange and iniquitous
reply, and I again begged him not to be so cruel, but it was of no avail.
He insisted on going with his company and attendants and the ambassador
given to him by Ussuncassan. When I saw this I tried to come to an
arrangement with Marco Rosso and the Turkish ambassador who was with him,
and take measures to return. They seemed to agree to this, and, as a
sign of good faith, we kissed each other’s lips, and I counted on their
promise. Having consulted together, however, they resolved to go through
the territories of Gorgora, Lord of Calcican, and the lands of Vati
which border on places belonging to the Ottoman, and pay him tribute.
When I heard this, rather than take the same direction, I considered it
preferable to remain at Fasso at the mercy of God.
On the 6th of August, 1475, the Patriarch mounted his horse, and, after
making me some excuse, started with his people. The next day Marco Rosso,
the Turk, and some Russians, who were with them, departed: some in one
of the boats of the country, and some on horseback, for Vati, with the
intention of going by way of Samachi, and then passing through Tartary.
I thus remained alone with my attendants—five of us in all—utterly
abandoned, without money, without hope of safety, neither knowing which
way to go nor what course to adopt. What our feelings were I leave any
reasonable person to consider. I was attacked on this day of trouble with
a severe and terrible fever, to cure which I could get nothing but water
from the river and gruel and, occasionally, a little chicken. It was a
severe illness, accompanied by delirium, as, from what I was afterwards
told, I said many strange things. A few days afterwards three of my
people fell sick, and Priest Stephano alone remained to attend to us all.
My bed consisted of a miserable counterpane, lent to me by a certain
Zuan di Valcan, a Genoese, residing at that place, and served both for
bed and bedding. The attendants had to put up with what few clothes
they had. My illness lasted till the 10th of September, and brought me
to such extremity that my attendants made sure that I should die. But
my good fortune would have it, that Donna Marta applied to a little bag
containing oil and certain herbs; after which, I got better. I really
attribute my recovery, however, to the mercy of our Lord God, who did not
wish me to die in those countries, and to Him be all gratitude. Having,
then, remained united, we took counsel together as to what course we
should adopt, and it was resolved, in deference to my opinion, to turn
back to Samachi in order to pass through Tartary. Some wished me to go by
way of Soria; but this I would not do on any account, and I remained a
short time at Fasso to restore my health.
On the 10th of September, 1475, we mounted our horses, and, after going
about two of our miles, I could not ride any farther, on account of
extreme weakness. I was, therefore, lifted from my horse and placed on
the ground, and when I had taken a little rest we returned to Donna
Marta, with whom we remained till the 17th. When our strength was to
a certain degree restored, we mounted again, and, in the name of our
Lord God, proceeded on the voyage we had resolved upon. At Fasso there
happened to be a Greek acquainted with the language of Mengrelia, whom I
took as a guide, and who committed a thousand rascally tricks, which it
would excite pity to relate.