Marco Polo's Voyage to Indian Seas: 55: Russia and Nearby.

Russia is a great province towards the North.  Here Christians follow Greek church.  They have languages of their own, and several kings.  They are simple people, handsome, and fair.  The entrances and passes into it are strong; they own some allegiance to the Tartars king of the west, named Toctai.  The country yields few commodities, except the abundance of fur already described, equal to any in the world.
There are silver mines.  There is a province lying between north and northwest and boardering Russia, named Lac inhabited by Christians and Saracens, and subject to a king.
The people carry on merchandise and manufactures and have a vast varitiy of valuable furs. Russia is very extensive as to reach ocean where are isles on which pilgrim falcons and gyrfalcons are found, and carried to various parts of the world. From Russia to Oroech is no great distance but the extreme journey renders the journey very difficult.  The strait of Constantinople and the mouth of the Great Sea; but I am leaving it because many have written on them, and move on to Tartars of the West.


1. Toctai: A Khan of Golden Horde Khanste.  It is also known as Kipchak Khanate.
2.  Lac: Lac countries.  Poland the inhabitants of which own Lech for their progenitor.

End of the Section 

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