We Had Generally To Break The Ice To
Procure Water For Our Horses; We Lighted Fires To Warm Ourselves; And Our
Sledges Served Us Instead Of Beds, As Without Them We Must Have Slept On
The Ground.
We went with such expedition, over the frozen snow, that we
were assured we had travelled 300 miles in three days and two nights.
Casimir king of Poland, who then resided at _Troki_, immediately on
learning my arrival, sent two of his gentlemen to compliment me in his
name, and to congratulate me on my safe return. They likewise invited me
to dine with his majesty on the following day, which was the 15th of
February, and presented me on the part of the king with a robe of purple
damask, lined with Scythian furs, in which I dressed myself to go to
court. On this occasion, I went in a coach and six, accompanied by four
noblemen and several other persons. The king himself did me the honour to
receive me, and conducted me into a magnificent apartment, where he
introduced me to two of his sons in presence of many nobles, knights, and
gentlemen of the court. A chair was placed for me in the middle of the
room; and when I offered to kneel on one knee while addressing the king,
his majesty had the goodness to insist that I should sit down in his
presence, which I did after some hesitation. I then gave a recital of all
that had occurred in my travels, with some account of the dominions of
Uzun-Hassan, and of the number of his forces, and of the empire and
manners of the Tartars.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 257 of 812
Words from 70115 to 70394
of 224388
