VIII

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

away from the world, left their homeland and went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem; they passed through Tangout, Kaschghar, Thous, and arrived at Maragha Marga. Raban Marcus was then consecrated Metropolitan of China under the name of Mar Jab-alaha, and Raban Sauma was named Visitor General.

Two years having passed, Mar Jab-alaha was elected Patriarch of the Nestorians. He occupied the patriarchal see for 36 years, under the reigns of eight Mongol kings: Abaca, Ahmed, Argoun, Keikhatou, Beidou, Cazan, Oldjaïtou; then he died under the reign of Abou-Saïd Bahadour-Khan, on November 15, 1317 (according to Assemani, November 13).

In 1287, King Argoun and the patriarch sent an embassy to the Pope and to the Christian kings, of which Raban Sauma was the head. This embassy was to negotiate an alliance with the goal of the conquest of the Holy Land. The account of this journey is full of interesting details. Rohrbacher, in his Universal History, vol. 19, p. 122, speaks of Mar Jab-alaha whom he calls the Bishop of the Orient Yaulaham, and of Raban Sauma whom he calls the Bishop Barsaumas!