Abulfeda gives exactly the same account of the trade; and so does Herberstein.  Other Oriental writers ascribe the same custom to the Wisu, a people three months’ journey from Bolghar.  These Wisu have been identified by Fraehn with the Wesses, a people spoken of by Russian historians as dwelling on the shores of the Bielo Osero, which Lake indeed is alleged by a Russian author to have been anciently called Wuesu, misunderstood into Weissensee, and thence rendered into Russian Bielo Osero ("White Lake"). (Golden Horde, App. p. 429; Buesching, IV. 359-360; Herberstein in Ram. II. 168 v.; Fraehn, Bolghar, pp. 14, 47; Do., Ibn Fozlan, 205 seqq., 221.) Dumb trade of the same kind is a circumstance related of very many different races and periods, e.g., of a people beyond the Pillars of Hercules by Herodotus, of the Sabaean dealers in frankincense by Theophrastus, of the Seres by Pliny, of the Sasians far south of Ethiopia by Cosmas, of the people of the Clove Islands by Kazwini, of a region beyond Segelmessa by Mas’udi, of a people far beyond Timbuctoo by Cadamosto, the Veddas of Ceylon by Marignolli and more modern writers, of the Poliars of Malabar by various authors, by Paulus Jovius of the Laplanders, etc. etc.

Pliny’s attribution, surely erroneous, of this custom to the Chinese [see supra, H.C.], suggests that there may have been a misunderstanding by which this method of trade was confused with that other curious system of dumb higgling, by the pressure of the knuckles under a shawl, a masonic system in use from Peking to Bombay, and possibly to Constantinople.

The term translated here “Light,” and the “Light Country,” is in the G.T. “a la Carte,” “a la Cartes.”  This puzzled me for a long time, as I see it puzzled Mr. Hugh Murray, Signor Bartoli, and Lazari (who passes it over).  The version of Pipino, “ad Lucis terras finitimas deferunt,” points to the true reading;—­Carte is an error for Clarte.

The reading of this chapter is said to have fired Prince Rupert with the scheme which resulted in the establishment of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

[1] That is, in one passage of Pliny (iv. 12); for in another passage from
    his multifarious note book, where Thule is spoken of, the Arctic day
    and night are much more distinctly characterised (IV. 16).

CHAPTER XXII.

DESCRIPTION OF ROSIA AND ITS PEOPLE.  PROVINCE OF LAC.

Rosia is a very great province, lying towards the north.  The people are Christians, and follow the Greek doctrine.  There are several kings in the country, and they have a language of their own.  They are a people of simple manners, but both men and women very handsome, being all very white and [tall, with long fair hair].  There are many strong defiles and passes in the country; and they pay tribute