both to us and to his own ambassadors, to report this to all the princes of Christendom.  I did not receive these orders with more satisfaction than I had done the former; but I had no means of escape and must necessarily obey.  Wherefore, having taken our leaves, we prepared for our departure, and were unexpectedly commanded to remain till next day.  In the mean time, he conveyed a great part of his infantry during the night to the other side of a mountain.  Next morning early, the Ruiscasson, or conductor of ambassadors, carried us to the top of the hill, as meaning to confer with us on some important subject, and on the appearance of the Persian infantry under march, he pointed them out to us as if he had been surprised at seeing so many additional troops coming to the royal camp.  The better to favour this deception, some of his slaves exclaimed as astonished, that there were a great many soldiers, and that at least 10,000 were coming to reinforce the army.  But we easily saw through the contrivance, and were certain that these pretended new troops were merely the ordinary royal escort, which had only changed their position to impose upon us.  After this little comedy, the Ruiscasson gave us the royal letters for our masters, and we returned to our tents.  From the information of M. Josaphat and others, the military force of this king cannot exceed 20,000 cavalry, some of whom have wooden bucklers about eighteen inches long.  Others have a kind of cuirasses made of very thin plates of steel, which they wear over their ordinary habits.  Their usual arms are bows and arrows, and cimeters, while some have small leathern targets covered with silk, and others carry helmets and cuirasses.  Their horses are beautiful and vigorous, and very numerous.  In regard to the manners of the Persians, and the state of the kingdom, I shall mention what I know of these subjects as occasion may offer during the recital of my travels; but I do not think it proper to weary my readers with any lengthened detail.

SECTION V.

Journey of Contarini from Persia, through Georgia and Mingrelia, to the city Phasis.

Being entirely ready to depart on the 1st of July, we took leave of M. Josaphat Barbaro in his tent, when we mutually shed tears in sincere grief at our separation.  Having recommended myself to the protection of God, I mounted on horseback, and began my journey, accompanied by the patriarch of Antioch, Marcus Ruffus the Muscovite, and the two Persian ambassadors, intending to return by way of Phasis, which is under the dominion of Uzun-Hassan.  To this route we were advised by certain birds of bad augury, who were omens of the terrible dangers we had to encounter in the sequel.  Coming to the villages of the catholic Armenians, formerly mentioned, we were well received by their bishops, and attended the mass regularly during three days that we had to remain here, laying in a stock of provisions