that thou art provided with every necessary." The third speaker said the same to me.
While these various intercommunications were made we all kept our heads uncovered, after which the foremost spokesman again addressed us, saying, "Our great master (repeating the title) has ordered me to inquire of thee. Count Leonhard, whether thou hast been well on thy journey." He then put the same question to me. We replied to these questions agreeably with the etiquette customary amongst them: "God give health to the grand-prince, by the mercy of God and the favour of the grand-duke we have been well on our journey." The same person again spoke as follows: "The grand-duke, etc. (repeating the title at length), has sent thee, Leonhard, an ambling nag with a saddle, together with another horse from his own stable." He then made a similar address to me. On our expressing our thanks for these presents, they held out their hands to us, and inquired of each of our party in turn whether we had been well on our journey.
At length they said that it was fitting that we should do their master the honour to mount the horses which he had presented to us, which we accordingly did; and having sent on our people crossed the river Mosque, and followed in the rear. On the bank of that river there is a monastery, whence we journeyed across a plain, and were conducted into the city through crowds of people, who assembled around us from all quarters; and in this fashion we reached our hotels, which were situated at the further side of the city. The houses were empty, both of inmates and furniture; but each of the caterers signified to his respective ambassador that he, as well as those ambassadors who had travelled with us from Smolensko, had orders from their sovereign to provide us with every necessary. They also appointed us a scribe, stating that it would be his duty to bring its daily food and other necessaries, and concluded by begging us, if
