Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/227

215 rubruk's account of the tartars. 215 barbarous nations, it seemed to me that we had come into another world. The first time we met them, after having kept us waiting a long time, while they were sitting in the shade of their black waggons, they sud- denly surrounded us on their horses. " The first thing they asked us was, whether we had ever been among them before, and on our answering no, they impudently demanded our victuals. AYe gave them some of the biscuit and wine that we had brought, but when they had emptied one bottle, they asked for another, and said, laughing, that ' a man could not get into a house with one foot.' When they inquired whence we came, and where we were going to, I replied, that having heard say that Prince Sartak was a Chris- tian, I intended to seek him. Thereupon they asked whether I came of my own accord, or whether I was sent by another. I replied, that no one had obliged me to come, and that I should never have come if I had not desired it ; so that, I might say, it was of my own accord, though with the knowledge and permission of my superior ; for I took good care not to say I was sent by your Majesty. After that, they inquired what we carried in our carts, whether it was gold or silver, or rich garments for Sartak. " I replied that Sartak would see that himself when we got to him, and that it was not their business to know. They kept us waiting a long time before they would take us to their chief, asking us perpetually for presents ; for biscuits for their little children, for knives, gloves, buckles, tags, indeed for every thing we had. They admired all, and wanted all. I excused myself from giving, on the ground that, having a very long journey to go, we could not deprive ourselves of necessary p 4