_ 347 _ All these captains have men, and they paid Sheikh Ismael an income of between fifty and sixty thousand cruzados. So, when our people left the Sheikh’s camp for Tabriz, six days journey away, they passed through many towns and villages and a great deal of countryside well stocked with animals, vineyards, vegetable gardens and orchards. Half a league from the city, the Captain came out to receive the Ambassador with a large crowd of people on horseback. On arriving at the city, they were lodged in some houses of the Governor of the Sheikh. These were located in a large apple orchard and were all painted in gold and blue. They were surrounded by receptacles filled with water, and three carved cisterns with their baths, where they were served with an abundant supper by the Captain. Here they spent five days lavishly feted with everything at the Sheikh’s expense. This populous city consists of grand buildings and very rich houses. Many Armenians live there. They celebrate their masses in the following manner. The hosts are of the same form as ours, except that they are not quite so thin. They raise the hosts twice and the chalice once in the same way as we do. When they raise the host they turn towards
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