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.  When within a few days journey of the court of Mangu, one of his waggons broke down, and a servant of Mangu happened to assist the waggoner in repairing it.  This man was very inquisitive into the objects of the journey, and the waggoner revealed the whole plot to him.  Pretending to make very light of the matter, he went privately and took a good horse from the herd, and