[1] Shankars, Shonkers, or Shongars, are birds of prey, famous among the
    Tartars, and may probably have been the most esteemed species of
    falcon, and which are said to have been white.—­Astl.

[2] These silver balishes seem to have come in place of the paper money
    of the emperors of the race of Zingis, formerly mentioned; but its
    value is nowhere described.—­E.

[3] This surely must be an error for under garments—­E.

[4] In Forsters account of these travels, the blank in the text is filled
    up with Dzjau, or Tzjau; which he supposes to have been tea, and that
    the numbers refer to certain Chinese weights or packages of that
    commodity.  Forster adds, that small pieces of tin were given to the
    ambassadors, to some twenty-four, and to others as far as seventy
    pieces; and he says that Witsen left many of the articles enumerated
    in the original untranslated, as not understanding the terms.—­Forst.

[5] This is the famous Timur-Beg, or Tamerlane the Great.—­Astl.

[6] In the abstract of these travels, as given by Forster, this fire is
    said to have been caused by lightning.—­E.

[7] It is to be remarked, that the author of these travels was a Mahometan. 
    The circumstances of the idol temple, says the editor of Astleys
    Collection, seems malicious; as, in his opinion, there are no images
    in the imperial temples of Pe-king.  I suspect the editor is mistaken;
    for however strongly the philosophical sect of Confucius may be
    convinced of the absurdity of idolatry, the religion of Fo is as
    grossly idolatrous as any on the face of the earth; and it is to be
    noticed, that the dynasty then reigning in China was native.—­E.

[8] The emperor died in the same year; but after the departure of the
    ambassadors.—­Astl.

[9] No such name can be found among the cities of Pe-che-li or Shan-si
    —­Astl.

    In the abstract given by Forster, this place is called Sekan or
    Segaan; named in the maps Sigan-fou, or more properly Si-Ngan-Fou.—­E.

[10] Or Kan-chew, in the province of Shen-si; otherwise called Kam-tsiu, or
    Kan-tcheou, on the river Etchine.—­Forst.

[11] This name is probably erroneously substituted for Sou-chew; as that is
    the regular station for retracing their former journey, which the text
    distinctly indicates to have been the case hitherto.—­E.

[12] This month began on Thursday the twenty-fifth December, 1421.—­Astl.

    According to Forster, they recommenced their journey in the month of
    January, 1421.—­E.

[13] Probably taking their route by the lake of Lop, to the south of Little
    Bucharia.—­Astl.

[14] Called likewise Koton, Khateen, and Hotam, in Little Bucharia, or
    Eastern Turkistan.—­E.