Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. IIII. Of Carchoran, the Originall, proceedings and exploits of the Tartars; of Priest IOHN and his discendants. Customes of the Tartars. Of Bargu, Erginul, Xan∣du the Cans Citie and Palace; of Muske: of strange Sorce∣rers, [ 30] and austere Monkes.

ALl the Prouinces and Cities aforesaid, Sachion, Chemul, Chinchitalas, Succuir, Campion, and Ezina, pertayne to Tanguth. Hauing passed ouer the foresaid Desart, you come vnto the Citie Carchoram, which is in circuit three miles,* 1.1 strongly rampierd with earth, for they want stone. Neere it is a great Castle, and in it the Gouernors faire Palace. This was the first place neere which in old times the Tartars assembled themselues. And now we will declare how they began to raigne. They dwelt in the North parts, to wit, in Cior∣za and Bargu, where are many and great Playnes without Cities and Townes, but goodly Pa∣stures, Riuers and waters. They had not a Prince of their Nation, but payed tribute to a certayne great King, named as I haue heard, in their language Vmcan, which in some mens opinion in our [ 40] tongue signifieth, Presbyter (or Priest) Iohn. To him the Tartars gaue yeerely the tenths of all their beasts. In processe of time, the Tartars so encreased in multitudes, that Vmcan was afraid of them, and thought to disperse them into seuerall parts of the world. And therefore when any rebelled he sent three or foure of an hundred of the Tartars into those parts, so diminishing their power; and the like he did in his other occasions, deputing some of their principals to that pur∣pose. They seeing their ruine intended and loth to be separated one from another, went from the places where they dwelt to the Desart towards the North, where by remotenesse they might be safe, and denyed to Vmcan their wonted Tribute.

It hapned that about An. 1162. the Tartars hauing continued some time in those parts, chose a King among themselues, a wise and valiant man, named Cingis Can. He began to reigne with [ 50] such iustice, that he was beloued and feared of all as a God rather then a Prince, insomuch that his fame brought all the Tartars in all parts to his subiection. And hee seeing himselfe Lord of so valiant men would needs leaue those Desarts, and commanding them to prouide Bowes and o∣ther weapons, began to subdue Cities and Prouinces, in which Conquests hee placed such iust Gouernours, that the people were not offended. The chiefe of them hee carried alongst with him with great prouisions and gifts. Seeing therefore that he was aduanced to so great glorie,* 1.2 and power, he sent Embassadors politikly to Vmcan to intreate, that he would bestow his daughter vpon him to be his wife. Which he taking, in very euill part, answered with indignation, and re∣iecting the Embassadors of Cingis, said, doth my seruant demand my daughter? Get ye out of my sight and tell your Master, if he euer make such demand againe, I will make him die a miserable [ 60] death. But King Cingis, leuying a great Armie, went forth with an hostile minde,* 1.3 and incamped in a certaine great Plaine, named Tanduc, sending vnto the King, and signifying vnto him, that he should defend himselfe. But he, comming with a mightie Armie, descended to the Playnes, and pitched his Tents within ten miles of the Campe of the Tartars. Then Cingis commanded his Astrologers to shew him, what euent and successe the battell should haue. They cutting a Reed

lengthwise in two parts, set the pieces themselues into the ground, and wrote vpon the one, Cingis; and on the other, Vmcan; and said vnto the King: In the meane space, while we reade the Coniurations, it shall come to passe by the Idols power, that these two parts of the Reed shall fight together: And whose part shall ascend vpon the other, that King shall obtayne victo∣rie in the battell. The multitude therefore running together to behold that spectacle, the Astro∣logers beganne to mumble their prayers, and reade their inchantments, when presently the parts of the Reed being moued, fought together, vntill at length the part of Cingis ascended vpon the part of Vmcan.* 1.4 Which being seene, the Tartars assured of the future victorie, were encouraged to the battell, and Vmcan being slayne, the Victorie, and Kingdome, and Vmcans daughter remayned to Cingis. Cingis raigned sixe yeeres a••ter this, in the which hee got many Prouinces: and lastly, when he endeuoured to winne a certaine Castle, called Thaigin, and came [ 10] somewhat neere,* 1.5 being shot in the knee with an Arrow, he died, and was buried in the Moun∣taine Altai.

The first King of the Tartars, was called Cingis; the second, Cyn Can; the third, Bathyn Can; the fourth, Esu Can; the fifth, Mangu Can; the sixth Cublai Can, whose power is greater then all his Predecessors, hauing inherited theirs, and adding by Conquest in manner the rest of the World. For he liued neere sixtie yeeres in his Gouernment. The name Can signifieth Emperor. All the great Cans, and Princes of that bloud of Cingis, are carried to the Mountaine of Altai to be buried, wheresoeuer they die, although one hundred dayes iourney from it. And they which carrie the Corpse to the buriall, kill all those that they meet in the way, saying: goe, and serue [ 20] our Lord the King in another life. They kill also the better Horses. When the bodie of great Cham Mongu, the Predecessor of Cham Cublai, was brought vnto the Mountaine Altai to bee buried, the Souldiers accompanying the funerall, are reported to haue slayne aboue ten thousand men, vpon the foresaid occasion.

* 1.6The Tartarean women are most faithfull to their husbands. Adulterie is a great shame with them: yet it is accounted lawfull, and honest, that euery one may marrie as many wiues as he is able to maintayne, although the first be iudged to be more principall and honorable then the rest. These liue together in the same house without one ill word,* 1.7 in admirable concord, make their merchandises, buy, and sell, and chaffer all things necessarie to their husbands and housholds, the men medling with nothing but their hunting, hawking, and things pertayning to Armes. They [ 30] haue the best Falcons in the World, and so they haue of Dogs. They liue onely of Flesh and Milke, and what they take in hunting. They eat Horses, Camels, Dogs, if fat; and drinke Mares milke, called Chemurs, so vsed, that it is like white z 1.8 Wine. If the father dies, the sonne may haue all his wiues except his owne mother and sisters. So, the brother being dead, it is lawfull for the brother who remayneth aliue, to marrie the widdow of the brother. The husbands receiue no dowrie from the wiues, but they themselues assigne dowry to the wiues, and their mothers. Through the multitude of wiues, the Tartars haue many children. Nor is the multitude of Wiues very burdensome vnto the Tartars, seeing they gaine much through their la∣bours. Besides, they are very carefull for the gouernement of the familie, and preparation of food: and with no lesse care, execute the other duties of the house. But the men apply them∣selues [ 40] wholly to hunting,* 1.9 fowling, and exercise of Armes. The Tartars nourish many herds of Oxen, flocks of Sheepe, and other Beasts, and Cattell, and abide with them in places of Pa∣sture, in the Summer time, in the Mountaines, and colder places, where they finde Pasture and Wood; but in the Winter, they remoue vnto the hotter Countreyes, where they finde Pasture for their Cattell:* 1.10 and goe forth-on two or three moneths together. Their houses are couered with stickes and felts, ordinarily round, which they carrie with them on Carts or Waggons of foure wheeles, whither soeuer they goe. For they can fold and extend them, set them vp, and take them downe: and they turne the doore of them alwaies to the South. They haue also neat Carts of two wheeles (couered with Felt so well that rayne cannot pierce them) drawne by Oxen, and Camels, wherein they carrie their wiues, children, and necessarie houshold-stuffe [ 50] with them, and defend them from the iniurie of foule weather, and rayne.

The Tartars, if they be rich, are clothed with Sables, Ermins, and Cloth of gold, and all their furniture is costly. Their Armes are Bowes, Swords, Polaxes, and some Lances, but they can best vse their Bowes, whereto they are vsed from their childhood. They are hardie, valorous, cruell, will continue two dayes and nights on horse-backe armed; exceeding patient of difficul∣ties, and exceeding obedient to their Lords. Their Cattell also are hardie.

* 1.11The Law and Faith of the Tartars is this. They say, that there is a great God, high and hea∣uenly, of whom with daily incense they desire good vnderstanding and health. They haue ano∣ther, which they call Natigay, which is like an Image couered with Felt, or some other thing, which euery one hath in his house. To this God they make a wife and children, placing the [ 60] wiues Image at the left hand, and the representations of children before his face. This they call, The God of earthly things, which keepeth their Children, and their Beasts, and Corne: and giue it great reuerence. Before they eat themselues, they anoint the mouthes of the Ima∣ges with the fat of the sodden Flesh, and they cast the broth out of doores, in honour of other

Spirits, saying, that their God with his familie haue had their part; and after they eate and drinke at pleasure.

If the sonne of any Tartar die, who hath not yet beene married, and also the daughter of an∣other die vnmarried, the parents of both the deceased parties meet together,* 1.12 and make a mar∣riage betweene the dead: and making a draughter in writing, of that contract, they paint men and women for seruants, Horses and other creatures, with clothes of all sorts and moneyes, in [ 10] paper, and burne them together with the writing of contract; by the fumes whereof, they say that all these things are carried to their children in another world, where they are married, and the fathers and mothers thinke they are ioyned together through such a bond of affinitie, as if those marriages had beene celebrated, while the married couple yet liued.

When the Tartars goe to warre, their Prince conducteth about one hundred thousand Horse,* 1.13 appointing Heads ouer tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, by which orderly subordina∣tion, commands are easily effected. Euery hundred is called a Tuc; ten, a Toman. When they set forth they send out men euery way, as Scouts that no Enemie may assault them vnprouided. Of Horse and Mares, there are for euery man about eighteene. They carrie also their like Felt houses, vnder the which they shelter themselues in the time of rayn••. When there falls out [ 20] some important employment, they will ride ten dayes together without victuals boyled, and liue of the bloud of their Horses, cutting a veyne and sucking it. They haue Milke dryed like Paste, which they make, boyling the Milke, and taking the Creame which swims on the top, put it in another vessell, and thereof make B••tter: After, they set the Milke in the Sunne, and drie it; and when they goe in the Armie, carrie ten pounds thereof, and euery morning take halfe a pound, and put it into a little Flaske or Bottle of Leather, with as much water as he plea∣seth: which while he rides, beats together: and this is his dinner. When they encounter with their Enemies, they ride here and there shooting, and sometimes make shew of flight, shooting as they flee, and finding the Enemies broken, redintegrate their forces, and pursue the victorie: hauing their Horses at command, with a signe to turne any way. But now the Tartars are mixed [ 30] in diuers parts, and so are their fashions.

They punish malefacters after this manner. If any steale a thing of small value,* 1.14 and hath not deserued to be depriued of life, he is seauen times beaten with a Cudgell, or seauenteene, or sea∣uen and twenty, or thirty seauen, or forty and seauen, giuing the strokes according to the mea∣sure and qualitie of the offence, and that vnto an hundred; some doe often times dye, through these strokes. But if any haue stollen an Horse, or another thing, for the which hee deserueth to dye, he is cut asunder with a Sword in the middle: but if hee will redeeme his life, he shall re∣store the theft nine fold. Such as haue Horses, Oxen or Camels, brand them with their markes, and send them to the pastures without a keeper.

Leauing the Citie of Carachoran, and the Mountaine Altai, you come vnto the champaine [ 40] Countrey of Bargu, which extendeth it selfe Northwards about sixtie dayes iourney in length.* 1.15 The Inhabitants of those places are Mecriti, and they are subiect to great Chan, vsing the man∣ners of the Tartars. They are wilde men,* 1.16 and eate the flesh of Beasts which they take by hun∣ting, especially of Stagges, whereof they haue great plentie, and they make them so tame,* 1.17 that they may ride them. They want Corne and Wine. In the Summer they exercise great hun∣ting and taking of wilde Beasts and Fowle, with the flesh whereof they may liue in the winter: For in Winter, as well fowle as other liuing creatures flie from thence, by reason of the excee∣ding and vntolerable cold of that Countrey. After the end of fortie dayes iourney, you come vnto the Ocean, neere which is a Mountaine where Astori, and strange Falcons breed, which are carryed thence vnto the Court of great Chan.

[ 50] Heere we must returne vnto the Citie Campion.* 1.18 If therefore you proceed further fiue dayes iourney from the Citie Campion towards the East, (in the places lying in the middle, horrible voyces of Deuils are heard in the night time) you come to the Kingdome Erginul, in the Pro∣uince of Tangut, subiect to the great Cham. In this Kingdome are many other Kingdomes which are Idolators. There are some Nestorian Christians, and Turkes. There are many Cities and Ca∣stles, of which Erginul is chiefe. From hence, if you proceed further to the Southeast, you may goe to the parts of Cathai, going Southeast towards Cathai,* 1.19 there is a certaine famous Citie na∣med Cinguy, (the name also of the Prouince) tributarie vnto great Chan: contained in Tangut: the people are some Christians, some Mahumetans, others Idolators. Their are also found wilde Oxen, neere as great as Elephants, very faire, hauing white and blacke hayre, short in [ 60] other parts, and on the shoulders three palmes long, fine and white beyond silke: of which Marco brought some to Venice as a rare thing. Many also of these Oxen are tamed,* 1.20 and made to engender with tame Kine, and the breed of them are fitter for businesse then any other creatures, beare great burthens are yoaked to the plow, and doe twise as much as others. The best Muske in the world is found in this Prouince, and is of a goodly beast of the bignesse of a Goat,* 1.21 hauing grosse hayre like a Stagge, feet and tayle like a Gazella but without hornes; it hath foure teeth, two aboue, and two beneath, of the length of three fingers, subtle, and white as Iuorie, and is a faire beast to see to, when the Moone is at full, neare the nauill vnder the belly there growes

to this beast an impostume or bladder full of blood, and at the full then they goe to hunt the said beasts and take away that swelling, which is dryed in the Sunne, and is the best Muske: the flesh also is good to eate. Master Marco brought to Venice the head and feet of this beast dryed. The men ••••ue of Merchandise and Arts, and haue aboundance of Corne: they are Idolaters, of a fat body and a little Nose, blacke hayred, hauing no beard but foure hayres on their chin. The women are faire and white. And when the men desire to marry wiues, they rather seeke the beautifull,* 1.22 then the noble or rich. Whereby it commeth often to passe, that a great and No∣ble man marryeth a poore wife, but beautifull, assigning dowrie to her mother there. This Pro∣uince extendeth it selfe fiue and twentie dayes iourney in length, and is very fertile. In it are exceeding great Feasants, hauing traynes eight or ten handfuls long. Many other kindes of Birds are also found there, which haue very goodly feathers, distinguished with diuers and ex∣cellent [ 10] colours.

Proceeding further towards the East, after eight dayes iourney, you meet with the Prouince Egrigaia,* 1.23 in the which are many Cities and Castles, all still in Tanguth. The principall Citie is called Calacia. The Inhabitants thereof are Idolaters, there are three Churches of Nestorian Christians, and are subiect to the great Chan. In the Citie Calacia, Chamlets are made, wouen of white wooll and the hayre of Camels, then the which, there are scarce any fairer found in the world.

Going to the East from the Prouince Egrigaia, the way leadeth vnto the Prouince Tenduch, in the which are many Cities and Castles: where also Presbyter Iohannes vseth to abide, who [ 20] now payeth tribute to great Chan. This King of that progenie of Priest Iohn is named George, and is a Priest and a Christian, and most of the people are Christians. All the Great Chans, after his death who was slaine in battell by Cingis, gaue their Daughters to those Kings to wife. This King George holds not all that Priest Iohn before held, and is the fourth of that progenie. There is a Nation there called Argon, more goodly men and fitter for Merchandise then the rest, descended of Idolaters and Mahumetans. There are also two Regions where they raigne, which in those parts are called Og and Magog,* 1.24 but they which dwell there call them Vng and Mongul: in Vng are Gog, and in Mongul the Tartars. Riding East seauen dayes towards Catay, are many Cities peopled with Idolaters, Mahumetans, and Nestorians. There is one Citie cal∣led Sindicin,* 1.25 where very faire and excellent Armes are made of diuers sorts, fit for Armies. In the [ 30] mountaines of this Prouince are great Mines of siluer, and manifold game of wilde beasts, and the Countrey of the mountaines is called Idifa. Three dayes iourney distant from the foresaid Citie, standeth another Citie Iangamur,* 1.26 that is White Lake, wherein is a Palace, in which the great Chan most willingly remaineth, because there are many Lakes and riuers, many Swannes, and in the plaines,* 1.27 Cranes, Feasants, and Partridges, and store of other fowle. There are fiue sorts of Cranes there: some haue blacke wings like Crowes, others are white and bright, hauing their feathers full of eyes like Peacocks, but of a golden colour, the necke blacke and white very beautifull; a third sort of bignesse not vnlike ours; a fourth, little and very faire, intermingled with red and blew colours; the fifth, of a grizell or gray colour, hauing red and blacke heads, and these are very great. And neere vnto this Citie lyeth a certaine valley where many Cottages are, in the which [ 40] an exceeding number of Partridges is maintained, which are kept for the King, comming to lodge there for a time.

* 1.28This Citie is three dayes iourney Northeastward to the Citie Xandu, which the great Chan Cublay now raigning, built; erecting thereing a maruellous and artificiall Palace of Marble and o∣ther stones, which abutteth on the wall on one side, and the midst of the Citie on the other. He included sixteene miles within the circuit of the wall on that side where the Palace abutteth on the Citie wall, into which none can enter but by the Palace. In this inclosure or Parke are goodly meadowes, springs, riuers, red and fallow Deere, Fawnes carryed thither for the Hawkes, (of which are there mewed aboue two hundred Gerfalcons which he goeth once a weeke to see) and he often vseth one Leopard or more,* 1.29 sitting on Horses, which hee setteth vpon the Stagges [ 50] and Deere, & hauing taken the beast, giueth it to the Gerfalcons, and in beholding this spectacle he taketh wonderfull delight. In the middest in a faire Wood hee hath built a royall House on pillars gilded and vernished,* 1.30 on euery of which is a Dragon all gilt, which windeth his tayle a∣bout the pillar, with his head bearing vp the loft, as also with his wings displayed on both sides: the couer also is of Reeds gilt and varnished, so that the rayne can doe it no iniurie, the reeds be∣ing three handfuls thicke and ten yards long, split from knot to knot. The house it selfe also may be sundred, and taken downe like a Tent and erected againe. For it is sustained, when it is set vp, with two hundred silken cords. Great Chan vseth to dwell there three moneths in the yeare,* 1.31 to wit, in Iune, Iuly, and August. On the eight and twentieth day of August, he departeth to make a solemne sacrifice. He hath an herd of white Horses, and white Mares, about ten thou∣sand [ 60] of the milke whereof none may drinke except hee be of the progenie of Cingis Can, except one family,* 1.32 called Boriat, priuiledged hereto by Cingis for their valour. And these beasts as they goe vp and downe feeding are much reuerenced, nor dare any goe before them or hinder their way. The Astrologers or Sorcerers tell Chan that on the twentie eight of the Moone of August,

he should disperse that milke heere and there, for the honour of all spirits and his Idols, that they might be carefull preseruers of all those things which he possesseth.

There are two sorts of Idolaters, Sorcerers called Thebeth and Chesmir,* 1.33 which in the midst of stormes ascend the Palace and suffer no rayne to fall thereon; which they make the people be∣leeue comes to passe by their sanctitie: and therefore they goe slouenly and regardlesse of their persons, neuer washing nor combing themselues. They also haue a horrible custome to dresse and eate such as are comdemned to death, but not those which dye naturally. They are called also Bachsi, which is the name of their Order, as Friers Predicants or Minors with vs. They seeme by Magicke to doe what they list, when the great Can in his Hall sits at his Table, which is [ 10] eight yards high: and in the midst of the hall a good distance from the table is a great Cupboard of plate furnished: They cause that the peeces full of Wine or Milke or other viands of them∣selues, fill the goblets without any hand touching them, and goe ten paces in the ayre into the great Cans hand; and when he hath drunke, returne to their place. This they doe in the pre∣sence of any man, when their Lord commands. These Bachsi also when they will make feasts to their Idols, goe to the Can and say; Sir, know that if our Idols be not honoured with Sacrifices, they will bring plagues to Corne and Beasts. And therefore wee pray you to giue the flesh of so many Sheepe with blacke heads, and so many pounds of Incense and Lignum aloes, that we may make them due sacrifice and honour. This they spake not to him themselues, but by certaine Lords deputed to that Office, who speake to the Can and obtaine it. On the feast day they [ 20] sacrifice the said beasts, and sprinkle the broath before the Idols.

They haue great Monasteries some of the bignesse of a Citie, in some of which are about two thousand Monkes which serue Idols, sequestred from the Laitie in their shauing and garments. For they shaue their heads and beards, and were a religious garment.* 1.34 These in the solemnities of their Idols sing with solemne songs and lights, some of them may marry. There are some of great abstinence called Sensim, leading an austere life, for they eate nothing but Meale mingled with water till all the Flower be gone, and eate the branne without any sauour. These worship the Fire; and the men of other rules say that these which are so austere, are Heretikes against their Law, because they worship not Idols as they doe;* 1.35 and there are great differences betwixt them: and these marry not in any case. They shaue their Head and Beard: they weare blacke hempen garments, and bright yellow. They sleepe in thicke Mats, and liue the seuerest life [ 30] in the world.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Carchoran, vid. Rubr. of Cara∣carum.

  The originall of the Domi∣nion of the Tartars.
• * 1.2

  The fruit of a wilde gouern∣ment.
• * 1.3

  Cingis goeth forrh against Vmcan. Tanduc.

  He consulteth with the Ma∣gicians.
• * 1.4

  Hee vanqui∣sheth the Ene∣mie by warre.
• * 1.5

  He dieth with the shot of an Arrow.

  Cingis. an. C••n Ca••. Bat••••n Can. E••u Can. Mon•••• Can. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Can. Al••••i the Se∣pulcher of the Kings of the Tartars.

  Their cruell custome of funerals.
• * 1.6

  The marria∣ges of the Tartars.
• * 1.7

  Womens con∣cord and indu∣strie.
• z 1.8

  Cosmos.
• * 1.9

  Their sub∣stance of Cat∣tell.
• * 1.10

  Cottages.
• * 1.11

  The Tartars religion.
• * 1.12

  Painted Mar∣riages.
• * 1.13

  Their war-fare
• * 1.14

  The mulct or penaltie of nine fold. The ma••kes of the heards of Cattell.
• * 1.15

  Bargu.
• * 1.16

  Meditae
• * 1.17

  Strange Fal∣cons.

  This is either a coniecture or by relation hardly credi∣ble.
• * 1.18

  Night walking Spirits. Ergmul.
• * 1.19

  Cathai.
• * 1.20

  Wilde Oxen of the bignesse of Elephants.
• * 1.21

  Muske.
• * 1.22

  Beautie prefer∣red before No∣bilitie and ri∣ches.

  Feasants.
• * 1.23

  Egregaia.
• * 1.24

  Gog and Magog
• * 1.25

  The Citie Sin∣dicin.
• * 1.26

  Idifa. Cianganor.
• * 1.27

  Fiue sorts of Cranes.
• * 1.28

  Xandu.
• * 1.29

  Hunting with Leopards.
• * 1.30

  A goodly house of plea∣sure.
• * 1.31

  A solemne Sa∣crifice.
• * 1.32

  Mares milke.
• * 1.33

  The Kings Magicians.
• * 1.34

  Shauings.
• * 1.35

  Austeritie.