the books and vestments, because his lord was desirous to examine these things more carefully.  Suspecting the evil that might arise from this man’s covetousness, I immediately said that we would not only leave these carts, but the other two also under his custody.  You shall not, said he, leave these two carts behind, but as for the other two, we will satisfy your desire.  But I insisted upon leaving them all.  He then desired to know whether we intended to remain in the country?  To which I answered, that if he had thoroughly understood the letters of my lord and master, he would have seen that we were so inclined.  And he then exhorted us to demean ourselves with patience, and humility; after which we parted for that evening.

Next day Coiat sent a Nestorian priest for the carts, to whom we caused all the four to be delivered.  After whom the brother of Coiat came to our lodging, and took possession of all the books and vestments which we had shewn the day before at the court; although we remonstrated against this procedure, saying that Coiat had ordered us to carry those things along with us, that we might appear in them before Baatu; but he took them from us by violence, saying, “you brought all these things to Sartach, and would you carry them to Baatu?” And when I would have reasoned with him against this conduct, he desired me not to be too talkative, but to go my way.  There was no remedy but patience, as we could not have access to Sartach, and we could not expect to procure justice from any other person.  I was even afraid to employ our interpreter on this occasion, lest he might have represented matters in a quite different sense from what I should direct, as he seemed much inclined for us to give away all we had.  My only comfort was, that I had secretly removed the bible and some other books, on which I set a great store, when I first discovered their covetous intentions; but I did not venture to abstract the psalter, because it was so particularly distinguished by its beautifully gilded illuminations.  When the person came who was appointed to be our guide to the court of Baatu, I represented to him the necessity of leaving our other carts behind, as we were to travel post; and on this being reported to Coiat, he consented to take charge of these, and of our servant.  Before leaving the residence of Sartach, Coiat and other scribes desired that we should by no means represent their lord to Baatu as a Christian, but as a Moal:  for though they believe some things concerning Christ, they are very unwilling to be called Christians, which they consider as a national appellation; and they look upon their own name of Moal as worthy to be exalted above all others.  Neither do they allow themselves to be called Tartars:  as that is the name of another nation, according to the information I received at this place.  Leaving the station of Sartach, we travelled directly eastwards for three days, on the last of which we came to the Etilia or Volga, and I wondered much from what regions of the north such mighty streams should descend.