FOOTNOTES
[1] Kum tepeh, or sand mound.
[2] See Haxthausen, vol. ii, cap. xxi, for descriptions of these Tumuli.
[3] Ordu, camp.
[4] Treene or Treen, i.e., wooden.
[5] Baron Haxthausen mentions a somewhat similar custom as still existing among the Russian peasants.
[6] Tulubagator is Tulu Bahadur; Bahadury means swaggering or boasting. The Russian word Bogatir is supposed to be derived from Bahadur.
[7] From the text it seems this should be translated: “whilst we cried to him, you will never return, you will never return.”
[8] This perhaps is one of the earliest occasions of gipsies being mentioned.
[9] The text is: uccellano a camelioni che da noi non s’usano.
[10] There are many of these crutches to be seen in the bazars and houses at Constantinople, but the use and object of them is forgotten. They are still used in Persia.
[11] Tessels, or tassels, for tiercels, a term for a hawk; the text is: & viddi appresso di lui, quattro ouer cinque di quell’ herbe, che noi chiamiamo garzi: sopra lequali eran’ alcuni cardellini.
[12] Nowe; i.e., enough.
[13] In Wallachia the villagers go in their carts to a distance from their village and from any water, and plough and sow the ground, and return again in the same way to gather in the harvest.
[14] Zattera is Italian for a platform, raft, or framework for sailors to stand on in harbour to work at the ship’s sides.
[15] Hassan Bey Ak-Koyunlu.
[16] Kabarda.
[17] Mingrelia.
[18] Hajy Terkhan or Astrakhan.
[19] Murteza Khan.
[20] Furlane; i.e., of Forli.
[21] Buzah, Turkish and Persian, a kind of beer; here it means Kwass.
[22] Dunny; i.e., stupid.
[23] Ramusio has the preceding clause here—“It may be twenty-five years ago.”
[24] Kazan is Turkish for a cauldron.
[25] Ermines.
[26] Skins of grey squirrels.
[27] Nove castelli; i.e., new castles.
[28] Troki, near Wilna.
[29] Whereas, used here, and at [page 38], for wherein.
[30] Ramusio prints Varsonich.
[31] Or: a quarter of an ell below their chins.
[32] Giubbe; i.e., jubbeh.
[33] Endure, abide.
[34] The text of Ramusio has—E andava intorno alla polita.
[35] Ramusio has—Tiflis.
[36] Schioppetti.
[37] Polvere da trarli.
[38] Ramusio has—The Pope.
[39] Ibid. has—named Cassambeg.
[40] Ibid.—named Pirameto.
[41] Ibid.—which, according to the ancients, was Corycus.
[42] Ramusio has—56.
[43] Ibid. has—of the Supreme Pontiff.
[44] στρατιωται.
[45] Ramusio has—which was formerly called Seleucia; now Selefkeh.
[46] Il Re Zacho.
[47] Ramusio has here—with a natural son of the said King Ferdinand.
[48] Ibid.—Cerines.
[49] Ramusio has—which, according to the ancients, was Eleusia.
[50] This inscription is given in Beaufort’s Karamania, p. 220.
[51] Ramusio has—that is to say, Seleutia.
[52] Ibid. has—according to the ancients, called Calycadnus.
[53] Gryse, a step.
[54] Ramusio has—quindici, 15.
[55] Erto; i.e., steep.
[56] Ramusio has—“but formerly it was in Cilicia, and it was taken by the Turks, when they occupied the rest of Asia Minor, from whom it was taken by Rubino and Leone, brothers of Armenia, about 1230, and they brought it back to the kingdom, which they call Armenia; and this Armenia stretches to the mountain Taurus,” etc., etc.
[57] Ibid. has—named by the ancients Cydnus.
[58] Scarpello; i.e., chisel.
[59] Ramusio has—1000.
[60] Ramusio has—named by the ancients Pyramus.
[61] Slowly and softly.
[62] Orfa.
[63] Birajik, on the left bank of the Euphrates.
[64] Grises; i.e., steps.
[65] To continue in this manner.
[66] A great part.
[67] Ramusio has—named Set, formerly named Tigris.
[68] Sert, thirty leagues east of Diarbekir.
[69] Kurds.
[70] Vastan, six leagues south of Van.
[71] Khoy.
[72] Ramusio has—Tanfaruzo, corruption of tafarraj, rejoicing.
[73] An ounce.
[74] Turban.
[75] A pole on which to carry a cowl or vessel between two persons.
[76] Ramusio has—which had died on their passage.
[77] Cameo.
[78] Jasper.
[79] Kubbeh, dome.
[80] Cassock.
[81] Yezd.
[82] Cameo.
[83] But-perest.
[84] Set or mounted.
[85] Pitched.
[86] Broussa.
[87] Marquetterie work.
[88] Zubiaur, a district in the Basque country, where there are caps with large tassels.
[89] Ramusio has—as much to prevent their being seen, as, etc.
[90] Probably Besh-keuy, five villages.
[91] Ramusio has—in the cradles.
[92] A set of horse-shoes.
[93] In a herd.
[94] Lattice.
[95] Sultaniah and its great mosque are now in ruins.
[96] Ramusio has—which he refused to show to the king.
[97] So that his life might be spared.
[98] These pits are for removing the earth to make the conduit, or kanad.
[99] Ispahan.
[100] Rooms.
[101] Kashan.
[102] Yezd.
[103] Astrabad.
[104] Tchin and Matchin, China.
[105] Samarcand and the parts beyond.
[106] Probably Ré, a town formerly existing near Tehran.
[107] Or Giansa.
[108] Cambalu.
[109] The Maidan, or open space.
[110] Ramusio has here—“While I was still in that country there came an Armenian to procure some of the water, who had been sent by the King of Cyprus long before I began my journey to those parts, and returning while I was in the country with some of the water in a tin flask, came to Tauris two months after I had arrived there. He staid with me two days, and then started on his way to Cyprus, where, on my return, I saw the same flask of water hanging up on a pole placed outside a kind of tower, and was told by the people of the place that, by virtue of that water, they had not been troubled with grasshoppers. I also saw there certain black and red birds, called birds of Mahomet, which fly in flocks like starlings; and, from what I heard, destroy all the grasshoppers they meet with. It is asserted by the country people that, wherever these birds know there is water of that particular kind, they fly towards it.”
[111] Or Kinara.
[112] Chehl minar.
[113] Robust.
[114] Or Vargan.
[115] Or Deister.
[116] Afshar.
[117] Ramusio has, from Choi to Rhei, three journeys from Rhei to Sarri.
[118] Or Sindan.
[119] Astrabad.
[120] Are not much valued.
[121] Kharput.
[122] For an account of this lady, see [Travels of Caterino Zeno].
[123] Ramusio has—and Caloieri, or Monks.
[124] Apulia.
[125] Akhlat.
[126] Arjish.
[127] Tamerlan.
[128] Tessuj.
[129] Shebister.
[130] Shamakhy.
[131] Shirvan Shah.
[132] Since.
[133] Ramusio has—Elochzi.
[134] As far as.
[135] Koutais.
[136] Ramusio has—called Fasso, formerly Phasis.
[137] Arsengan or Erzingan.
[138] Kumis.
[139] Arabghir.
[140] Kudus.
[141] Sakis.
[142] Press or crowd.
[143] Mukary, a muleteer.
[144] Beyrout.
[145] According to.
[146] Crowds, clumps.
[147] Masterly operation.
[148] Kady Leshker, judge of the troops.
[149] Khoja.
[150] Hajy.
[151] Ramusio has here—I finished the writing on the 21st December, 1487.
THE TRAVELS
OF THE
MAGNIFICENT M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI,
AMBASSADOR OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS SIGNORY OF VENICE TO THE GREAT LORD USSUNCASSAN, KING OF PERSIA, IN THE YEAR 1473.