295-296) as the
principal product of the entire province. - H. C]
The dimensions assigned to the Caspian in the text would be very correct
if length were meant, but the Geog. Text with the same figure specifies
circuit (zire). Ramusio again has "a circuit of 2800 miles." Possibly
the original reading was 2700; but this would be in excess.
NOTE 8. - The Caspian is termed by Vincent of Beauvais Mare Seruanicum,
the Sea of Shirwan, another of its numerous Oriental names, rendered by
Marino Sanuto as Mare Salvanicum. (III. xi. ch. ix.) But it was
generally known to the Franks in the Middle Ages as the SEA OF BACU. Thus
Berni: -
"Fuor del deserto la diritta strada
Lungo il Mar di Bacu miglior pareva."
(Orl. Innam. xvii. 60.)
And in the Sfera of Lionardo Dati (circa 1390): -
"Da Tramontana di quest' Asia Grande
Tartari son sotto la fredda Zona,
Gente bestial di bestie e vivande,
Fin dove l'Onda di Baccu risuona," etc. (p. 10.)
This name is introduced in Ramusio, but probably by interpolation, as well
as the correction of the statement regarding Euphrates, which is perhaps a
branch of the notion alluded to in Prologue, ch. ii. note 5. In a later
chapter Marco calls it the Sea of Sarai, a title also given in the Carta
Catalana. [Odorico calls it Sea of Bacuc (Cathay) and Sea of Bascon
(Cordier). The latter name is a corruption of Abeskun, a small town and
island in the S.E. corner of the Caspian Sea, not far from Ashurada.
