the books and vestments, because his lord was desirous
to examine these things more carefully. Suspecting
the evil that might arise from this man’s covetousness,
I immediately said that we would not only leave these
carts, but the other two also under his custody.
You shall not, said he, leave these two carts behind,
but as for the other two, we will satisfy your desire.
But I insisted upon leaving them all. He then
desired to know whether we intended to remain in the
country? To which I answered, that if he had
thoroughly understood the letters of my lord and master,
he would have seen that we were so inclined. And
he then exhorted us to demean ourselves with patience,
and humility; after which we parted for that evening.
Next day Coiat sent a Nestorian priest for the carts,
to whom we caused all the four to be delivered.
After whom the brother of Coiat came to our lodging,
and took possession of all the books and vestments
which we had shewn the day before at the court; although
we remonstrated against this procedure, saying that
Coiat had ordered us to carry those things along with
us, that we might appear in them before Baatu; but
he took them from us by violence, saying, “you
brought all these things to Sartach, and would you
carry them to Baatu?” And when I would have reasoned
with him against this conduct, he desired me not to
be too talkative, but to go my way. There was
no remedy but patience, as we could not have access
to Sartach, and we could not expect to procure justice
from any other person. I was even afraid to employ
our interpreter on this occasion, lest he might have
represented matters in a quite different sense from
what I should direct, as he seemed much inclined for
us to give away all we had. My only comfort was,
that I had secretly removed the bible and some other
books, on which I set a great store, when I first
discovered their covetous intentions; but I did not
venture to abstract the psalter, because it was so
particularly distinguished by its beautifully gilded
illuminations. When the person came who was appointed
to be our guide to the court of Baatu, I represented
to him the necessity of leaving our other carts behind,
as we were to travel post; and on this being reported
to Coiat, he consented to take charge of these, and
of our servant. Before leaving the residence of
Sartach, Coiat and other scribes desired that we should
by no means represent their lord to Baatu as a Christian,
but as a Moal: for though they believe some things
concerning Christ, they are very unwilling to be called
Christians, which they consider as a national appellation;
and they look upon their own name of Moal as worthy
to be exalted above all others. Neither do they
allow themselves to be called Tartars: as that
is the name of another nation, according to the information
I received at this place. Leaving the station
of Sartach, we travelled directly eastwards for three
days, on the last of which we came to the Etilia or
Volga, and I wondered much from what regions of the
north such mighty streams should descend.
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