National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

Before we leave the influence of Sanson d'Abbeville over Central Asia, and
pass on to an entirely new type, and before we have to consider the further ad-
ventures of Koko-nor, a lake which was rediscovered, though not visited by Martini,
we have to go back upon two questions not dealt with hitherto. The one is Bene-
dict Goës, the other the first appearance of Koko-nor.

Benedict Goës travelled 1603—1607. His narrative was published in 1616 by
Father Trigault. On Sanson d'Abbeville's map of 1654 some names appear which
can hardly be taken from any other informant than Goës. Such names are Ciarcur
(Goës: Caracar), Tanghetar (Goës: Tengitar), Egriar (Goës: Egriar), Horma (Goës:
Horma), Sark (Goës: Sarc), and Cuche, or Cuchia (Goës: Cucia).¹ Several other
names mentioned by Goës and entered on Sanson's map, were known before, as
Attock, Iarchan, Cascar, Aczu, Chialis, Turfan, Camul, Cotam, and others.

Benedict Goës is therefore a new element added to Central Asiatic cartography,
though, of course, he has not made it easier for draughtsmen to understand the relative
situation of mountains, rivers and cities. Martini's map of the Hwangho had a very
great influence which stretched far towards the interior of the continent. And on
Kircher's map of 1667 (Pl. XI) we clearly find an attempt to bring Goës' route into
harmony with the cartographical image then existing of Central Asia.² He has even
entered the route of the Jesuit, though he places it between the Montes Tebetici or
Himalaya, and Caucasus mons, which, if the map only approached correctness, should
be the Tian-shan. This is one proof that Goës does not assist the cartographers.
Another we shall find in Cantelli's map of 1683.

As regards Koko-nor, we found on the map of 1584 (Pl. XXIV), ²auctore Ludo-
uico Georgio², an oblong lake, at least three times as large as the Chiamay Lacus, and
simply called Lacus, from which the southern branch of the Hwangho took its rise. The
same lake reappeared on Hondius' World Map of 1611 (Pl. XXV), and is still name-
less, unless Cirhcuai la stands for Cirhcuai lacus. On Hoeius' Map of the World (Pl.
XXVI), which dates from about 1600, but was republished about 1640, with later dis-
coveries, the lake is called Lacus Cuicui Hay, which has some faint resemblance with
Hondius' Cirhcuai. On the maps of China and Tartaria in Iansson's Newer Atlas 1641,³
the mysterious lake is called Lacus Cincui Hay, which approaches the correct spelling
much nearer than Cuicui Hay and Cirhcuai; that all these versions have their deriva-