United States or Switzerland ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !


The largest town of Kumania is Sara or Saray, which was large and of great renown, but has been ravaged, and almost entirely destroyed by the Tartars, who took it by storm. It is obvious, that Haitho here describes that part of the empire of the Mongals which was subject to Baatu-khan. The Euxine or Black Sea, he calls the Great Sea.

This was the court of the prince, the son of Baatu-Khan; he had six wives, each of whom possessed a palace of her own, some houses, and a great number of chariots, some of them very large, being drawn by a team of twenty-two oxen harnessed in pairs. Sartach received the envoys of the King of France very graciously, and seeing their poverty, he supplied them with all that they required.

There is another commander under Baatu-khan, called Berta or Berca, who pastures his flocks towards the Iron-gate, or Derbent, through which lies the passage of all the Saracens or Mahometans who come from Persia and Turkey, to pay their gifts and tributes to Baatu, and who make presents to Berta in their way.

This obviously refers to the canal of communication between the sea of Azoph and the Euxine. Called likewise Soldeya, Soldadia and Sogdat, now Sudak. Sartach was the son of Baatu-khan.

His residence lies in the way through which the Russians, Walachians, Bulgarians of the lesser Bulgaria, the Soldaians, or Christians of Casaria, the Kerkis, Alanians, and other Christians have to pass in their way with gifts or tribute to the court of his father Baatu-khan; and by this means Sartach is more connected with the Christians than any of the rest, yet when the Saracens or Mahometans bring their gifts, they are sooner dispatched.

On the death of Zingis-chan, the dukes assembled and elected his son Occoday, Ugadai, or Oktai-khan, emperor in his place; who immediately, in a council of the nobles, divided the army, and sent Bathy, or Baatu-khan, who was next in authority, against the land of Altissodan and the country of the Bissermini , who were Saracens, though they spoke the language of the Comanians.

Alsara is Al-seray, which was built by Baatu-khan, on the Achtuba, a branch of the Volga. Forst. Probably Holagu-khan, to whom all Persia was in subjection, quite to Syria. Forst. Ukakah, Grikhata, Khorkang, or Urghenz on the Gihon. Forst. Bereke-khan. Forst. This probably refers to the Constantinopolitan or Greek emperor; his dominions being called Roum in the east to the present day.