'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎195] (216/448)

Tocharijlan. Maurenahar.
is towards the Spring ) is vended in many part of India. Of Eergm I have elfewhere
fpoken.
Tochariflan takes Name from Tochara, (Seres atq'f Tochares gentts pfope Indiam-, IT
mentions:) the originary Seat it is of the Tore j the pofterity of Togarmah Sonof Gomr:
a People confined or fhut up by Alexander, and not adventuring into the World till rou
ted by Heraclius in his long and fierce War with Cozjrhoe the Ferfmn. And about two
hundred Years after, rufhing through the CajpUn Streight fome Hoords feated them-
felves in that part of Armenia which was fince called Turcoman'-, where they ferved Ma
homet Sultan of Perjia againft his enemy the Chalyph of Bagdat: and being abufed by Ma
homet under Tangrolipix their Captainmade themlelves mafters of Per pay as in a more
proper place I have fpoken. Howbeit, as obfeure as they were, fome glimpfeof them
it may feem appeared to Rahhi Ben-Jonas) for that in his Itinerary he oft mentions the
name Tore ; and amongft other things obferves, That the captived Jews tranfported by
Salmanaffar aflbciated themfelves with the Tores of JSfiJha^hor (Nijibi in Ptolomy) or ra-
ther Ntfa-pore, i.e. Noa c wit as ; by Haython the Georgian and Vlubeghius the BaBrian
alfo frequently commemorated: But until the Year 1200 the Name was not heard of in
Europe j and the foundation of that vaft Empire was not laid until the Year 1300. fuch
time as Ottoman Chief of the Oguzian Family by Conqueft of Pont us and Bithynia (now call'd
Bur/la from Prufathe Ottomans Seat before the Conqueft of Confiantinofle) and other parts
of Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. , left fo great an Army to Orchan his Son as gave him the firft delightfull
profped into Europe: fince which under three other Princes and eleven Emperours ( a
Title aifumed by Mahomet the Second in the Year 1450. upon his fubduing Conftantinople
and Trepizond) within the fpace of three hundred Years they have enlarged their Do
minions over much- in Africk^, more of Europe, and molt of A/ia • thereby reducing
many late flourifliing^ingdoms and States under the worft of tyranny •, prophefied of
(as fome imagine) by Jeremy in the 6.Chap. 22 verf. and accomplifhing that prophecy of
Eukiel Chap. 36. verC-39. under the name of Gog and Magog, to which the 20 Chapter
of the Apocalypfe has reference as fome imagine. Many conliderable Towns were there
but of belt note are T/*^, which is under 38 degrees, and the more famous by being
the birth-place of Na^arradyn that great Mathematician Tranflator and Commentator
upon Buclide, whofe Works were lately printed at Rome in Arabiekj Sarchas^Gelackjind
others, terminated by Nycaphtac, which fprings out of the Sariphxan Hill, that is part
of Imaus. There is a part of this Countrey fome call Maurenahar: which hath to the
South the River Jehun (called alfo Gihon and Gychon i. e. Magnus Fluvius, and by the like-
nefs of the ^atfie fome fuppofe it may be Goz.an',) to the South-eaft Gauiehen a large
but defolate Countrey now albeit otherwife when Eufebius lib. 6, Evang.prapar. repor
ted that it was fo well governed as murder, adultery and theft was punilhed there, and
unchafte Women difcountenanced; yea albeit environed with Gentiles, they dif-allowed
Idol-worihip : which difcrimination from the reft was either from the light they re
ceived by the exiled Jews, or elfe by the preaching of the Apoftles St. Thomas and St.
Andrew, whofe labours were fuccefsful and manifefted through the greateft part of Tar-
tary and the Indies. More North and North-eaft the Scythians beyond Imaus inhabite v
by fomefaid to be under the great Champs Dominions: hut Chams or Kawns rather, there
are many. Of old it was called Regio Serica, by realbn of the abundance of Silk and the
excellent Manufacture in Tapiftry and Carpetting there found, which fpread their fame
into the moft remote parts of the llniverfe. This Silk and delicate Wool gave Sydo*
nius Apollinaris occafion for that Monoftick, AJJyrius gemmas, Ser seller a, &c. and to Ter-
tidlian of Sera nerent, Bahylonii intexeirint, and Tzetza of Seres texuras pulcherrimas
Una operiantur, &c. The true pofition of which is not rightly underftood at this day,
though moft take it for Cathay part of Sagathai, which alfo is derived from the Saca and
what of old was Scytho-Saca, by which Name the Per fans underftand all Scythians. A Name
neverthelefs mentioned by Strabo,whofe Oriental limit is the Ocean. And notwithftanding
Geographers have filled their Maps and Globes with the names of Tenduc, Tangutt, Tam~
fur, Cando, Camul and other hob-gobling words, obtruded upon the World by thofe
three errant Monks Haython, Marc Paul the Vmetian, and Vertoman who fearing no
imputations make ftrange difcoveries as well as defcriptions of places *, and inter alia of
Cambalu the Cham's Metropolis watered by Polyfanga which alfo waters Quimay in China
as molt credit No Armenian nor Jew (who are doubtlefs the greateft Travellers in the
World, as Merchants) was ever there, or knows fuch a City that ever yet I met with. I
well know that Cambalu is taken notice of by Abulfoeda who gives it 35 degrees North
latitude, whifli Ihould be 5 3 the figures being inverted j whereas others place it in 60.
and Pantogia the Jefuit in 40 degr. withal fuppofing 'tis the fame others call Paquin in
Cc 2 China,