[110] Ramusio has here—“While I was still in that country there came an Armenian to procure some of the water, who had been sent by the King of Cyprus long before I began my journey to those parts, and returning while I was in the country with some of the water in a tin flask, came to Tauris two months after I had arrived there. He staid with me two days, and then started on his way to Cyprus, where, on my return, I saw the same flask of water hanging up on a pole placed outside a kind of tower, and was told by the people of the place that, by virtue of that water, they had not been troubled with grasshoppers. I also saw there certain black and red birds, called birds of Mahomet, which fly in flocks like starlings; and, from what I heard, destroy all the grasshoppers they meet with. It is asserted by the country people that, wherever these birds know there is water of that particular kind, they fly towards it.” [111] Or Kinara. [112] Chehl minar. [113] Robust. [114] Or Vargan. [115] Or Deister. [116] Afshar. [117] Ramusio has, from Choi to Rhei, three journeys from Rhei to Sarri. [118] Or Sindan. [119] Astrabad. [120] Are not much valued. [121] Kharput. [122] For an account of this lady, see Travels of Caterino Zeno. [123] Ramusio has—and Caloieri, or Monks. [124] Apulia. [125] Akhlat. [126] Arjish. [127] Tamerlan. [128] Tessuj. [129] Shebister. [130] Shamakhy. [131] Shirvan Shah. [132] Since. [133] Ramusio has—Elochzi. [134] As far as. [135] Koutais. [136] Ramusio has—called Fasso, formerly Phasis. [137] Arsengan or Erzingan. [138] Kumis. [139] Arabghir. [140] Kudus. [141] Sakis. [142] Press or crowd. [143] Mukary, a muleteer. [144] Beyrout. [145] According to. [146] Crowds, clumps. [147] Masterly operation. [148] Kady Leshker, judge of the troops. [149] Khoja. [150] Hajy. [151] Ramusio has here—I finished the writing on the 21st December, 1487. THE TRAVELS OF THE MAGNIFICENT M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI, AMBASSADOR OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS SIGNORY OF VENICE TO THE GREAT LORD USSUNCASSAN, KING OF PERSIA, IN THE YEAR 1473. THE TRAVELS OF THE MAGNIFICENT M. AMBROSIO CONTARINI.