VOYAGE OF

1558

Something noted about the rivers Oxus and Ardok.

One should note that the river Oxus formerly discharged into this gulf, but that it now does not come this far, and that it falls into another river called Ardok, which has its course to the North. It hides itself under the earth for a distance of more than 500 miles and, emerging again, discharges into the lake of Kitay. We departed from this gulf on the 4th of the same month

Arrival at Sellizure, what welcome the writer received there.

and came on the 7th to a castle called Sellizure. A Prince called Azuncan resided there with 3 of his brothers. I had orders to go and visit him, and I showed him the letters from the Emperor or Tsar of Muscovy, along with a gift of 9 items. He received me well and let me eat in his presence. I was entertained with wild horse meat and mare's milk. He summoned me again and asked me various questions regarding the state of the Muscovites, and subsequently gave me a letter of safe-conduct.

Sellizure and its region and fertility noted.

This castle of Sellizure, the residence of the Khan, is situated on a high mountain. The house of the Prince is built of earth; the people are poor and provided with no wares. To the South of this castle is a low land, yet very fertile, where many good fruits grow, and among others one called dynie melon, very large and full of juice. The people eat it at the end of their meal, and it serves them as drink. They have another called carbuse watermelon, the size of a large cucumber; it is yellow and sugary. Besides this, there is a kind of grain that they call jegur, whose stalk resembles sugar cane, for it also grows as high, and the grain Based on this description, it may be maize or millet.

What the writer says here regarding the Ardok and Oxus is very obscure.