SECTION XV.

Of the Election of the Emperor Occoday, and of the Expedition of Duke Bathy.

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[1], who were Saracens, though they spoke the language of the Comanians.  Bathy defeated these people in battle; but the city of Barchin, which was surrounded with strong walls, resisted for a long while, until the Tartars filled up the ditches and won the place, which they destroyed.  Sargat surrendered without resistance, for which the city was not destroyed, but many of the citizens were slain and made captives, and much spoil was taken, and the city was filled with new inhabitants.  The Tartars marched next against the rich and populous city of Orna, in which were many Christian Gassarians, Russians, and Alanians, and many Saracens, the lord of the city being of that nation.  This town stands on a large river, and is a kind of port, exercising great trade.  Being unable to reduce this place by force, the Tartars dammed up the river, and drowned the whole city, with the inhabitants and their goods.  Hence they invaded Russia, and besieged Kiow a long while, which they at length took, and massacred the inhabitants.  This was a large and populous city, but is now reduced to nothing, and scarcely has two hundred houses:  and when we passed through Russia, we found immense numbers of human skulls and bones scattered about.  From Russia and Comania they proceeded against the Hungarians and Polonians, where many of them were slain:  and had the Hungarians withstood them manfully, the Tartars had been utterly defeated.  In their return from thence, they invaded and defeated the pagan Morduans:  whence they marched against the Byleri of greater Bulgaria, which they almost entirely destroyed.  Thence they proceeded to the north against the Bastarci of greater Hungary, whom they conquered; and going farther north, they came to the Parossitae, and thence to the Samogetae, reaching even to the ocean; and from thence returned into Comania.

[1] The Busurmen, Musurmen, or Mahometan inhabitants of Turkestan.—­E.

SECTION XVI.

Of the Expedition of Duke Cyrpodan.

At the same time Occoday-khan sent duke Cyrpodan with an army to the south, against the pagan Kergis, who have no beards, whom he subdued.  After which he marched against the Armenians, whom he conquered, and likewise subdued a part of Georgia.  The other part of that country is likewise under subjection, and pays an yearly tribute of 20,000 yperperas.  He thence marched into the dominions of the great and powerful soldan of the Deuri, whom he defeated; and proceeded to the country of the soldan of Aleppo, which he subdued; and afterwards reduced the caliph of Baldach or Bagdat to subjection, who is forced to pay a daily tribute of 400 byzants, besides baldekins[1] and other gifts.  Every year the Tartar emperor sends messengers to require the presence of the caliph; who sends back great gifts besides the regular tribute, to prevail on the emperor to excuse his absence.