to sound the trumpet, the man below blows strongly, and the trumpet emits a shrill sound.  In a chamber without the palace, the liquors are stored, and servants who are waiting, pour the liquors each in its proper pipe, at the signal, when they are conveyed by concealed pipes up the body of the tree, and discharged into, their appropriate vessels, whence they are distributed by the under butlers to the visitors.  The tree is all ornamented with silver boughs, and leaves and fruit all of silver.  The palace is like a church, having a middle aisle and two side ones, beyond two rows of pillars, and has three gates to the south, and before the middle gate stands the silver tree.  The khan sits at the north wall, on a high place, that he may be seen of all, and there are two flights of steps ascending to him, by one of which his cup-bearer goes up, and comes down by the other.  The middle space between the throne and the silver tree is left vacant for the cup-bearers and the messengers who bring presents; on the right side of the khan the men sit, and the women on the left.  One woman only sits beside him, but not so high as he.

About Passion Sunday, the khan went before with his small houses only, leaving the great ones behind, and the monk and we followed.  On the journey we had to pass through a hilly country[7] where we encountered high winds, extreme cold, and much snow.  About midnight the khan sent to the monk and us, requesting us to pray to God to mitigate the severity of the weather, as the beasts in his train were in great jeopardy, being mostly with young, and about to bring forth.  Then the monk sent him incense, desiring him to put it on the coals, as an offering to God:  Whether he did this or no, I know not, but the tempest ceased, which had lasted two days.  On Palm Sunday we were near Caracarum, and at dawn of day we blessed the willow boughs, on which, as yet, there were no buds.  About nine o’clock we entered the city of Caracarum, carrying the cross aloft with the banner, and passing through the street of the Saracens, in which the market is held, we proceeded to the church, where the Nestorians met; us in procession.  We found them prepared to celebrate the mass, and they all communicated; but I declined this, having already drank, and the sacrament should always be received lasting.  After mass, being now evening, William Bouchier, the goldsmith, brought us to sup at his lodging.  He had a wife, born in Hungary, of Mahometan parents, who spoke French, and the language of the Comanians.  We found here also one Basilicus, the son of an Englishman, likewise born in Hungary, who was likewise skilled in these languages.  After supper we retired to our cottage, which, with the oratory of the monk, were placed near the Nestorian church; which is of considerable size, and very handsomely built, and all the ceiling is covered with silk, wrought with gold.