_Of the Realm of Tharse and the Lands and Kingdoms towards the
Septentrional Parts_, _in coming down from the land of Cathay_
THIS land of Cathay is in Asia the deep; and after, on this half, is Asia
the more. The kingdom of Cathay marcheth toward the west unto the
kingdom of Tharse, the which was one of the kings that came to present
our Lord in Bethlehem. And they that be of the lineage of that king are
some Christian. In Tharse they eat no flesh, ne they drink no wine.
And on this half, toward the west, is the kingdom of Turkestan, that
stretcheth him toward the west to the kingdom of Persia, and toward the
septentrional to the kingdom of Khorasan. In the country of Turkestan be
but few good cities; but the best city of that land hight Octorar. There
be great pastures, but few corns; and therefore, for the most part, they
be all herdsmen, and they lie in tents and they drink a manner ale made
of honey.
And after, on this half, is the kingdom of Khorasan, that is a good land
and a plenteous, without wine. And it hath a desert toward the east that
lasteth more than an hundred journeys. And the best city of that country
is clept Khorasan, and of that city beareth the country his name. The
folk of that country be hardy warriors.
And on this half is the kingdom of Comania, whereof the Comanians that
dwelled in Greece sometime were chased out. This is one of the greatest
kingdoms of the world, but it is not all inhabited. For at one of the
parts there is so great cold that no man may dwell there; and in another
part there is so great heat that no man may endure it, and also there be
so many flies, that no man may know on what side he may turn him. In
that country is but little arboury ne trees that bear fruit ne other.
They lie in tents; and they burn the dung of beasts for default of wood.
This kingdom descendeth on this half toward us and toward Prussia and
toward Russia.
And through that country runneth the river of Ethille that is one of the
greatest rivers of the world. And it freezeth so strongly all years that
many times men have fought upon the ice with great hosts, both parties on
foot, and their horses voided for the time, and what on horse and on
foot, more than 200,000 persons on every side.
And between that river and the great sea Ocean, that they clepe the Sea
Maure, lie all these realms. And toward the head, beneath, in that realm
is the Mount Chotaz, that is the highest mount of the world, and it is
between the Sea Maure and the Sea Caspian. There is full strait and
dangerous passage for to go toward Ind. And therefore King Alexander let
make there a strong city, that men clepe Alexandria, for to keep the
country that no man should pass without his leave. And now men clepe
that city, the Gate of Hell.
And the principal city of Comania is clept Sarak, that is one of the
three ways for to go into Ind. But by that way, ne may not pass no great
multitude of people, but if it be in winter. And that passage men clepe
the Derbent. The tother way is for to go from the city of Turkestan by
Persia, and by that way be many journeys by desert. And the third way is
that cometh from Comania and then to go by the Great Sea and by the
kingdom of Abchaz.
And ye shall understand, that all these kingdoms and all these lands
above-said unto Prussia and to Russia be all obeissant to the great Chan
of Cathay, and many other countries that march to other coasts.
Wherefore his power and his lordship is full great and full mighty.