It has abundance of excellent water, which seems to
originate from the great river Euphrates[2], which
is only at the distance of a days journey. Azaron
stands in the direct road between Trebizond and Tauris.
In journeying farther on, I came to a mountain named
Sobissacalo; and we passed by the very mountain of
Ararat, on which the ark of Noah is said to have rested.
I was very desirous to have gone to the top of that
mountain, but the company with which I travelled would
not wait for me; and the people of the country allege
that no one was ever able to ascend to its top, because,
say they, it is contrary to the will of God.
Continuing our journey, we came to Tauris[3], a great
and royal city anciently called Susa, which is reckoned
the chief city in the world for trade and merchandize;
for every article whatever, both of merchandize and
provision, is to be had there, in the greatest abundance,
Tauris is most conveniently situated, and to it may
all the nations of the earth, almost, resort for trade.
The Christians in those parts report, that the emperor
of Persia derives more tribute from this city alone
than the king of France receives from the whole of
his dominions. Near this city there is a hill
of salt, from whence every one may take as much as
he pleases, without paying any thing whatever to any
person. Many Christians from all parts of the
world are to be found in this place, over whom the
Saracens have the supreme authority.
From Tauris I travelled to the city called Soldania[4],
where the Persian emperor resides during the summer;
but in winter he changes his residence to another
city upon the sea of Baku[5]. Soldania is a large
city, but very cold, from its situation in the mountains,
and has considerable trade, and abundance of good
water. From thence I set out with a caravan of
merchants, for the Upper India, and in our way, after
many days journey, we came to Cassan or Casbin[6],
the noble and renowned city of the three wise men,
which abounds in bread and wine, and many other good
things, but the Tartars have nearly destroyed it.
From this city to Jerusalem, to which the three wise
men we’re led by miracle, the distance is fifty
days journey. For the sake of brevity I omit
many wonderful things which I saw in this city.
Going from thence, we came to the city of Geste[7],
whence the sea of sand, a most wonderful and dangerous
track, is distant only one days journey. In the
city of Yezd there is abundance of all kinds of victuals,
especially of figs, grapes, and raisins, which are
there more plentiful, in my opinion, than in any other
part of the world. It is one of the principal
cities in all Persia, and its Saracen inhabitants allege
that no Christian can live there above a year.
Continuing our journey forwards for many days, I came
to a city named Comum[8], which was a great city in
old times, near fifty miles in circumference, and
often did much damage to the Romans. In this
place there are stately palaces, now destitute of inhabitants,
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