Tartars learned letters, and idols, from the Uighurs
Editorial contextHayton says that before their expansion the Tartars had no letters at all, which is why he cannot give dates for their early history. When their armies reached the kingdom of 'Tarse' (the Uighurs), they learned writing there, and because the people were idolaters they also began to worship idols, while always confessing one immortal God above the others.
In those parts the Tartars learned letters, for before they had no letters at all. And because the inhabitants of those lands were all idolaters, the Tartars began to worship idols; but they always confessed the immortal God, greater than the others.
Working translation
Original wording
En celes [parties] les Tartars apristrent letres, car avant ne avoient letres nules. E por ce que les habiteors de celes contrées estoient touz ydolatres, les Tartars comencierent aorer les ydoles; mès tout adès confessoient le Deu inmortel, plus grant que les autres.
Hayton of Corycus, La Flor des estoires de la terre d'Orient (French text, 1307), ed. Ch. Kohler (1906)
Editorial contextIn his own route list, Ibn Khurradadhbih says the Toghuzghuz khan's capital lay three months' march beyond Upper Nushajan, through pasture land with large villages. The king lived in a great city with twelve iron gates and had a golden tent on top of his palace, visible five parasangs away, while the Kimek king camped among pastures in tents. Steppe Turks here have both cities and tents.
From Upper Nushajan to the capital of the khaqan of the Toghuzghuz is three months' march, through pasture country covered with large villages … Their king lives in a great city closed by twelve iron gates … The king of the Toghuzghuz owns a golden tent set on the top of his palace; it can shelter a hundred people
Working translation
Original wording
De Nouschadjan la supérieure à la capitale du khakân des Toghozghor, il y a trois mois de marche, à travers un pays de pâturage couvert de vastes bourgades … Leur roi réside dans une grande ville fermée par douze portes de fer … Le roi des Toghozghor possède une tente d'or placée au faîte de son palais; elle peut abriter cent personnes
Ibn Khurradadhbih (French translation by M. J. de Goeje, 1889)
From route reports, not a visit. The capital is usually identified with the Uyghur city Ordu-Baliq (Karabalgasun) in the Orkhon valley, near later Karakorum.
Editorial contextKlaproth translates the Ming dynasty's geography on the land of Bishbalik, north of the Tian Shan. It says the people had no houses, lived in felt tents, kept cattle, sheep, camels and horses, farmed little, lived on meat and milk, and spoke a Turkic dialect called Uighur. The same book notes that under the Mongols there had been a town of Bishbalik with a viceroy and military farming colonies.
The inhabitants are nomads, have no houses, and live under felt tents. They occupy themselves almost entirely with keeping oxen, sheep, camels and horses. They have little agriculture and live on the meat and milk of their herds, which also supply the clothing they need. Their language is a dialect of Turkish
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Original wording
Les habitans sont nomades, n'ont pas de maisons, et vivent sous des tentes de feutre. Ils s'occupent presqu'exclusivement de l'entretien des bœufs, des moutons, des chameaux et des chevaux. Ils n'ont que peu d'agriculture, et se nourrissent de la chair et du laitage de leurs troupeaux, qui leur fournissent l'habillement nécessaire. Leur langue est un dialecte du turc
Ming dynasty imperial geography, translated by Julius Klaproth