Preface, p. iv. The MS. of Jordanus is stated by a reviewer in the Spectator to be now in the British Museum.
Page vii. Bishop of Semiscat. Prof. Kunstmann takes this place for Meshid, but we are both wrong. M. Coquebert-Montbret, the French editor, was right in identifying it with Samarkand, though the identification did not seem probable in absence of reasons alleged. But it is clear, from reading the records in reference to this appointment in Wadding or Mosheim, that Samarkand is meant. The bishop in question, Thomas of Mancasola, is commended by the Pope to Elchigaday, Emperor of Turquestan, in whose territories he had been previously labouring, and was now promoted to a bishopric in civitate Semiscantensi, as it is written in one place, no doubt, correctly. For we learn from Clavijo that Samarkand was also called Cimesquinte. It is called Siemiselcan also in old Chinese annals, which is, perhaps, an indication of the same form (Deguignes, iv, 49).
Page ix. Chronicle in the Vatican. The doubts as to this chronicle being written by our Jordanus are confirmed by a reference to Muratori (Antiq. Ital. Medii Mvi, vol. iv, p. 949 et seq.), who gives a number of extracts, and states the author's apparent interests to be Venetian and Franciscan.
Page xiv. Note referring to Conti. Being compelled to finish this preface in great haste, I made a mistake here, for which apology is due to Mr. Major. In the travels, as published in bis India in the Fifteenth Century, the first name is Peudefitania, which Mr. Major explains as " Durmapatnam, near Tellicherry"; the second is Bufetania, which he explains as "Burdwan" ; I believe, however, that the two names represent the same place, and I do not admit that either could mean Burdwan.
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