Leaving this province, we proceeded fifteen days journey farther, passing through many cities and villages, the inhabitants of which have the same customs with those of Caindu; and at length we came to a river called Brius, which is the boundary of the province of Caindu.  In this river gold dust is found in great abundance, by washing the sand of the river in vessels, to cleanse the gold from earth and sand.  On the banks of this river, which runs direct to the ocean, cinnamon grows in great plenty.  Having passed the river Brius, we come westwards to the province of Caraian, which contains seven kingdoms, and is under the command of Sentamur, as viceroy for his father the great khan.  This prince is young, rich, wise, and just.  The country produces excellent horses, is well peopled and has a peculiar and very difficult language; the inhabitants are idolaters, who live on their cattle and the produce of the earth.  After proceeding five days journey through this country, we came to the great and famous city of Jaci[2].  In this large city there are many merchants and manufacturers, and many different kinds of people, idolaters, Christians, Nestorians, and Mahometans; but the great majority are idolaters.  It has abundance of corn and rice, but the inhabitants only use bread made from rice, as they esteem it more wholesome; they make a drink also from rice, mixed with several kinds of spices, which is very pleasant.  They use white porcelain instead of money, and certain sea shells for ornaments[3].  Much salt is made in this country from the water of salt wells, from which the viceroy derives great profit.  There is a lake in this country 100 miles in circuit, which has great quantities of fish.  The people of this country eat the raw flesh of beef, mutton, buffalo, and poultry, cut into small pieces and seasoned with excellent spices, but the poorer sort are contented with garlic shred down among their meat.  The men have no objections to permit the intercourse of strangers with their wives, on condition only of being previously asked for their consent.

We departed from Jaci or Lazi, and travelling westwards for ten days journey, we came to a province called Carazan after the name of its chief city, which is governed by a son of the great khan, named Cogatin[4].  The rivers in this province yield large quantities of washed gold, and, likewise in the mountains, solid gold is found in veins; and the people exchange gold against silver, at the rate of one pound of gold for six pounds of silver[5].  The ordinary currency of the country is in porcelain shells brought from India.  In this country there are very large serpents, some of which are ten paces long, and ten spans in thickness, having two little feet before, near the head, with three talons or claws like lions, and very large bright eyes[6].  Their jaws have large sharp teeth, and their mouths are so wide, that they are able to swallow a man; nor is there any man, or living