Embassy to Tamerlane, 1403-1406 / translated from the Spanish by Guy Le Strange with an introduction.
- Ruy González de Clavijo
- Date:
- [1928]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Embassy to Tamerlane, 1403-1406 / translated from the Spanish by Guy Le Strange with an introduction. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![tent were two bedsteads set according to their customary make. Then we were taken into another tent along¬ side the laáf, and this one was of the kind that has no cords [but has poles in the canvas to ¿fay it]. The wall outside was made of a red ¿fuff with insets of cloth of other different colours; while inside the walls were lined below with skins of ermine, which is the mo¿f precious fur in the whole world and it is that of the great marten. These ermine skins are so prized that if it be of the fir¿f quality a single skin here in Tartary, will fetch from fourteen to fifteen gold ducats, while in the Wed with us the price may be much more. The lining in this tent above the ermine was of gray squirrel skin. Outside the entrance to this tent was set an awning, so that the sun might not shine into it; and this awning also was lined inside with gray squirrel. By Timur’s orders these tents had been made and lined after this fashion in order to keep out the sun’s heat in summer and in winter to keep the heat in. We now came from this firáf Enclosure and were taken to a second, which ¿food alongside, but conneófed with the fir¿f by a gangway, and the walls here were a white [Chinese] Zaytuni silk. Here again we were shown many magnificent tents and awnings of diverse kinds made of silk cloths, for throughout the Horde there were all these Enclosures and tents that we have described which more especially belonged to Timur, while besides those that were for his Highness’s own use there were also many others which belonged to the lords of the court and the officers in attendance on his Highness. These were all of different make and a wonder to behold, for on every side where one might look the great Enclosures, which as said above they call by the name of Sarápardeh, meet the eye, each with many beautiful tents within their circuit. Thus in this Horde where his Highness was now present there might be reckoned to be from forty](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b31354932_0305.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
