310
Travels in Europe and Asia.
JUNE,
assure him after a long experience, that it appear'ed to me more easy in the practical part than it appears perhaps to others in the speculative. For not to speak of those who have formerly attempted very near the same things with success, as Paul the Venetian, Benedict Goez the Jesuit, and some others who happily arriv'd in China, by a way that was but very little known at that time, and then to come to a display that makes our way moře plain, by that little knowledge we have of the eastern countries, which are the nearest to us, there is no dispute of the easiness to go from France to Bo- kara, or Samarkand; from whence it is apparent by what I have said, that there remains no more then a fourth part of the way to reach Peking.
"The voyage from Marselles to Constantinople is usually made in a month; from Constantinople to Teflis, and by the Black-sea, is but eight or ten days sail at most; from thence to Erzerum is but seven or eight more; from Eszerum to Iriva: the most heavy laden and encumber'd caravans get to their journeys end in twelve or thirteen; from thence to Tauris, the ancient Ecbatana of the Medes, much about the same time. From this city, which is the second of Persia for spaciousness and beauty, and which is the resort and thoroughfair for all nations that traffick almost over all the East, there are two different ways to reach the Yousbecs. The first, which is the shortest, leads to the province of Kilan, so well known to all the world for the beautiful silks which are there wrought; and this journey is perform'd in three weeks; and being arriv'd there, you may embark upon the Caspian sea, the southern part of which is call'd the sea of Kilan; from whence you may in a straight line to Bokara, enter the river Oxus, which washes the wall of it. The second road lies through Ispahan, the capital of all Persia, and which, though it be the longest, is however the most com- modious, and the most advantageous to pass securely to the prince of the Yousbec's court. For in regard to this, it is a usual thing for that same Tartar prince to send ambassadors to Ispahan, and for the king of Persia to send as frequently his envoy to Bokara, to accommodate differences that arise between those two princes, by reason of the vicinity of their territories, 'tis an easy things to step into the trains of those publique ministers, when they return, or are sent to Bokara, which is not above a month and a half's jour- ney from Ispahan.
""
Book third contains an account of several roads into China, by land. The 1st, is that through India and the Mogul's cauntry. The 2d, is that which the merchants of Bokhara take, through Kaboul, Kashmere, Tourfan, Barantola (the residence of the delae- lama). The 3d, is that frequented by Usbecks, and Muscovites, along by the lakes near Irticks and Kama to the city of Sinkame, and thence through the territories of the Kalmucks and Mongols. The 4th, carries you through Tobolsk along the Obi, Szelinga, and thence through Mongolia. The 5th is throngh Siberia, "to the city of Nero-Sinki upon the river Szilkå; after that to Dauri not far from
•