See Perez's _Catalogo_,
p. 77.
[55] The native dish of rice.
[56] See Perez's _Catalogo_ for sketches of these friars.
[57] Spanish, _Rutenos_--a now obsolete name for _Ruso_
("Russians"). The term Ruthenians is applied to the people of Little
Russia (also known as Ukrania and Ruthenia), dwelling in the steppes
of Southern Russia, mainly in the valley of the Dnieper River;
they have also extended into Hungary and Galicia. The reference
in the text to "Russians" probably indicates only somewhat vague
or erroneous notions as to the geography and political condition of
Western Asia at that time: for it was not until 1722 that the Russians
advanced beyond the Black Sea into Asia, conquering the province of
Caucasus. Medina's "Diego Rodrigo" apparently means Fray Rodrigo de
San Miguel (_Vol. XXI_, p. 116), who spent some time in Persia and
Chaldea, and converted many "schismatic Christians" there to the Roman
Catholic Church. On his return to Rome, he carried a letter addressed
to the pope, from "the Chaldean Christians of Bassora.
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