The most noble and famous trauels of Marcus Paulus, one of the nobilitie of the state of Venice, into the east partes of the world, as Armenia, Persia, Arabia, Tartary, with many other kingdoms and prouinces. No lesse pleasant, than profitable, as appeareth by the table, or contents of this booke. Most necessary for all sortes of persons, and especially tor trauellers. Translated into English — Travels of Marco Polo. English

Author: Polo, Marco, 1254-1323?1579

The most noble and famous trauels of Marcus Paulus, one of the nobilitie of the state of Venice, into the East partes of the world, as Armenia, Persia, Arabia, Tartary, with many other kingdoms and Prouinces.

No lesse pleasant, than profitable, as appeareth by the Table, or Contents of this Booke.

Most necessary for all sortes of Persons, and especially for Trauellers.

Translated into English.

AT LONDON, Printed by Ralph Nevvbery Anno. 1579.

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¶To the right worshipfull M ^r. Edvvard Dyar Esquire, Iohn Frampton wisheth prosperous health and felicitie.

HAVING lying by mee in my chamber (righte Worshipful) a translation of the great voiage & lōg trauels of Paulus Venetus the Venetian, manye Merchauntes, Pilots, and Marriners, and others of dyuers degrees, much bent to Discoueries, resorting to me vpon seuerall occasions, toke so great delight with the reading of my Booke, finding in the same such strange things, & such a world of varietie of matters, that I coulde neuer bee in quiet, for one or for an other, for the committing the same to printe in the Englishe tongue, perswading, that it mighte giue greate lighte to our Seamen, if euer this nation chaunced to find a passage out of the frozen Zone to the South Seas, and otherwise delight many home dwellers, furtherers of trauellers. But finding in my selfe small abilitie for the finishing of it, in suche perfection as the excellencie of the worke, and as this learned time did require, I stayed a long time, in hope some learned man woulde haue translat [...]d the worke, but finding none that would take it in hand, to satisfie so many requests, nowe at last I determined to sette it forth, as I coulde, referring the learned in tongues, delighted in eloquence, to the worke it selfe, written in Latine, Spanish, and Italian, and the reste that haue but the English tong, [Page] that seeke onelye for substaunce of matter to my playne translation, beseeching to take my trauell and good meaning in the beste parte. And bethinking my selfe of some speciall Gentleman, a louer of knowledge, to whome I mighte dedicate the same, I founde no man, that I know in that respecte more worthy of the same, than your worshippe, nor yet any man, to whome so many Schollers, [...] many trauellers, and so manye men of valor, suppressed or hindred with pouertie, or distressed by lacke of friends in Courte, are so muche bounde as to you, and therefore to you I dedicate the same, not bicause you your selfe wāt the knowledge of tongues, for I know you to haue the Latine, the Italian, the French, and the Spanishe: But bycause of youre worthinesse, and for that I haue since my firste acquaintaunce founde my selfe without any greate deserte on my parte, more bound vnto you than to anye man in England, and therefore for your desert & token of a thankefull minde, I dedicate the same to youre worship, moste humbly praying you to take it in good parte, and to bee patrone of the same: and so wishing you continuaunce of vertue, with muche encrease of the same, I take my leaue, wishing you with many for the cōmon wealths sake, place with aucthoritie, where you maye haue daylye exercise of the giftes that the Lorde hathe endowed you withall in plentifull sorte. From my lodging this xxvj. daye of Ianuarie. 1579.

Your vvorships to commaunde, IOHN FRAMPTON.

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¶ Maister Rothorigo to the Reader.
¶ An Introduction into Cosmographie.

BIcause many be desirous of the knowledge of the partes of the worlde, what names they haue, and in what places they be, and that many and sundry times the holy scripture doth make mention, and also it is profitable for suche as doe traffique and trade to haue knowledge, I was moued to giue notice to all suche as are desirous or haue pleasure in reading.

You shall vnderstande, that a man turning his face to the rising of the Sunne, that parte that is before hys eies where the Sunne doth rise, is called Orient or Easte, and his contrarie where the Sunne setteth, is Occident or Weast. The course or waye of the Sunne is called Media die, or South, whiche is on youre righte hande, his contrarie parte that is on the lefte hande is called S [...]ptentrion or North.

Furthermore, you shall vnderstand, that if a manne stande in the Ilande of Cales, and looke towardes the rising of the Sunne, he shall sée thrée principall parts of the worlde▪ diuided by the Sea called Mediterraneum, that cō meth on [...]e of the greate Occean and Weaste Sea, and runneth towardes the Easte, and by two very great and principall riuers, the one comming from the South, called Nilus, and the other from the North, called Taenais.

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Affrica

YOu shall also vnderstande, that from the entring of the straite called Iuberaltare, vppon the right hande to the riuer Nilus bordering vppon Egipt, is called Affrica, th [...] Sea that is towardes vs, is called Libya, that whiche is towardes the South, is called Ethiopia, whiche is the Occean, the Sea towardes the Weaste, is called Atlantica, and is also the greate Occean Sea. It hath these famous Cities and Prouinces. Ouer againste Iuberaltar, and the coaste of Mallaga is Mauritania, whiche we call Barbarie. It is named Barbaria, bycause the people be barbarous, not onely in language, but in manners and customes. Following towards the East is Numidia, Getulia, Tunes, a citie in Affrica, the name so giuen by Asu, to all Syria, and Aegipt. On the South parte be the Ethiopians, whiche hereafter shall be spoken of.

Europa

EVropa is called al y ^e prouinces against Affrica towards the North from the greate Occean Sea, that entreth into the streits to the riuer Tanai, and the greate lake called Meotis, where this riuer entreth into. In this there is comprehēded Portugale, Britania, Spaine, France, Almaine, Italie, Grecia, Polonia, Hungarie, or Panonia, Valachia, Asia the lesser, Phrygia, Turkia, Galatia, Lydia, Pamphilia, Lauria, Lycia, Cilicia, Scythia the lower, Dacia, Gocia and Thrasia.

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Asia

ASia the greater is tha [...] that is beyond Europa and Affrica, that is to say, on the other side o [...] Nilus Southward, and the riuer Tanais Northward, following the way Eastwarde, and is as bigge as Europa and Affrica, and compassed with thrée Seas, Easterly or Orientall, Indico to the Southwarde, Scythia to the Northwarde, hauing prouinces, Soria, Mesopotamia, Parthia, Sarmasia, Asiatica, Arabia, Persia, Armenia, Medea, Hircania, Carmania, the Indias on thys side and beyonde the riuer Ganges.

Also you shall vnderstande, that the greate Sea called the Occean, doth compasse aboute the foresaid thrée principall partes of the worlde, and so doeth compasse all the whole worlde, althoughe there be diuers regions and places whereas they be, hauing diuers names.

Moreouer, you shall vnderstande, that in whatsoeuer parts of the Sea that doe answere to any parts of y ^e foresaid Countries, as there be many Ilands inhabited with diuers people, aswel as the East parts, whereas is Taprobane and Thyle, and others infinite number on theyr sides, aswel as on the other parts before declared, and those that be betwéene them and al others, are to be vnderstanded to pertain to one of these thrée parts of the world beforesaid, to whiche it may be moste properly iudged to be, and lyeth nearest vnto.

Ethiopia

MOreouer, you muste note, that Ethiopia is a common name to manye Prouinces and Countries, inhabited with blacke people called Negros. And to begin with the [Page] moste Weaste partes, the firste is [...], that is to saye, from Cab [...] Verde or the gréene Cape, and following the co [...]st of the Sea, to the mouth or streite of the Redde Sea. Al those prouinces be called Ethiopians, and of these Ethiopians from Ginney vnto Cas [...] Mansa, that is to saye, the Kings pallace, they be of the sect of Mahomet, circumcised the most parte of them. And the chiefest and most principall of these people be the Iolofos and Mandingos, and be moste parte vnder the gouernement of a King called Mandimansa, for Mansa is as muche to saye as Senior or Lord, and Mandy Mandinga, so by this his title he is Lord Mandinga. This King is blacke, and his abiding is in the prouince of Sertano four hundred leagues within the land, in a Citie compassed about with a wall called Iaga, which is riche of golde and siluer, and of all suche merchaundize as is occupied in Adem and in Meca: and from thence forwarde the Ethiopians be Idolators to the cape called Buona Esperanca, and there turneth againe to the sect of Mahomet. Beyonde these prouinces following vp into the land of Sartan [...] bée greate and highe mountaines or hilles, called mountaines of the Moone, the toppes of them be alwayes couered with Snow, & at the foote of thē springeth the riuer Nilus, and this Countrie is called Ethiopia beside Eg [...]pt, and in Arabia it is called Abas, and the inhabitants [...]h [...]ssm [...]s, and be Christians, and doe vse to be marked with an yron in the face: they be not baptized with fire (as some doe saye) but as we are, but they be Heretikes, Iacobites. and Hebeyonites. They do holde on the olde lawe with the newe, and be circumcised, and doe kéepe the Sabaoth daye, and doe eate no Po [...]ke, and some of them doe take manye wiues, and be also baptized, and doe saye, that their King came and descended of King Salomon, and of the Quéene Saba, and this King hathe continuall warres with the Moores.

[Page]There is another Ethiopia called Asiatica interior, which the Arabians call Zenium, and these doe extende from the sayd hilles of the Moone, N [...]lus. and of Nilus, to the borders of Barbarie. And the saying is, that among all Riuers, onelie Nilus entereth into two Seas, that is to saye, one braunche into the East Sea, and another braunche into the West Sea. All these Ethiopians bée Moores, and theyr laboure and occupation, is digging of golde out of the grounde, where they doe fynde great plentie. There is also another Ethiopia called Tragodytica, and thys dothe reache or extende from the foresayde Ethiopia, to the streyte or mouth of the redde Sea, The redde Sea. and these bée somewhat whyter, and the King and people bée Moores, and came out of Arabia foelix, for the Arabians came ouer the streyte of the redde Sea, and gotte that Countrey of the Iacobites by force, and at this daye there is robbing and stealing among them secretely, for the King of the Iacobites is of so greate power, that the Souldan of Babilon doth giue him tribute. Souldan.

Arabia

THat whiche wée doe call Arabia, the Arabians doe call Arab, and is called Gesyrdelaab. That whyche is betwéene the redde Sea, and Sinus Perficus, is called the Iland of Arabia, and thys is called Arabia Foelix, by reason of the Incense that groweth there. Arabia Felix.

There bée other two Arabias besyde thys, the one of them extendyng from the Mount Sinay, to the dead Sea, where the Children of Israell wente fortye yeares, and thys is called Arabia petrea, takyng that name of a Citie that is there. The other dothe extende betwéene Syria and Euphrates towardes the Citie of Lep [...], and thys they doe call Arabia desan, Alepo. [Page] which is as muche to say, as of Siria, and our Latines doe call it Arabia deserta. And wheras the vulgar people, and men for the most part, do thinke that Antilla, or those Ilandes lately found out by commaundemente of the Catholike King Don Fernando, and Lady Isabell Quéene, be in the Indias, they be deceyued therein, to call it by the name of the Indias. And for bycause that in Spaniola, or newe Spayne, they do find gold, some doe not let to say it is Tharsis, and Ophin, and Sethin, from whence in the time of Salomon, Erronious iudgements of the voyages of Salomon. they brought gold to Hierusalem. And thus augmenting erroures vpon erroures, let not to saye, that the Prophetes when they sayde that the name of oure Lorde God should be pronounced to people that haue not hearde of it, and in places and Countreys very farre off, and aparted, which is sayd to be vnderstanded by those that be called Indians, and by these Ilandes, and furthermore doe not let to say to this day, that it is to be vnderstanded by the places mentioned in the holy Scripture, and the Catholike doctors, and that this secret God hath kept hidden all this time, and by finding out these Ilands did reueale it. I séeing how they are deceyued in their vayne inuentions, and greate simplicitie, for zeale and good will of the truth, and to kill this canker, that it créepe no more nor ingender greater erroures, will giue light to this errour, answering to the said muttering talkers, according as to euery of them doth require.

And first you shall vnderstande, that this name India, according to all Cosmographers, as well Christians as Infidels, of old time, and of later yeares, the name dothe come of a Riuer named Hynde, or Hyndo, that going towards the East, is the beginning of the Indias, whiche bée thrée in number, Three Indias, the first is the lower India. that is to say, the first is called the lower or nether India, the seconde is called the middle India, and the third is called the high or vpper India. The first or lower India is renamed Caysar, and these do extend towards [Page] the East, from the Riuer India, vnto a Porte or Hauen on the Sea side, of great traffike and trade, called Cambaya. And the King of this India, and also the most part of the people be Moores, and the rest Idolaters. The second or middle India is surnamed Mynbar, The second or middle India. Lading of Spices. and dothe reache to the borders of Colchico, and this hath very faire Hauens, and Portes of greate traffike, where they doe lade Pepper, Ginger, and other Spices and Drugges. The Portes or Hauens be called Colocud, Coulen, Hely, Faten [...]r, Colnugur, and héere be many Christians Heretikes Nestorians, and many Indians, although towards the North they be Idolaters. The thirde India, whiche is the hygh India, is surnamed Mahabar, and dothe extend vnto Cauch, The third India called the higher India. An Oxe worshipped. whiche is the Riuer Gange. Héere groweth plentye of Sinamon, and Pearle. The King and people of thys Countrey worship the Oxe. Besides these thrée Indias, whiche lye towardes the rising of the Sunne, there can not be found neyther Author nor Man that hathe trauelled the firme land, neyther the Seas adioyning there vnto, that can say, there is anye other Prouince or Ilande named India, sauing that if anye woulde giue to vnderstand, that going towarde the West, he wente towardes the East, and that although he came vnto the terrenall Paradise, and that these Ilands shoulde lye in the greate Weast Occean Seas, it appeareth playnely, for that those that sayle thither, steame their Shippe towards the Occident, and his direct wind whiche he sayleth withall, is out of the Orient or the East. So it appeareth, that they sayle not vnto the India, but that they flye and depart from the India. And thus it appeareth that he would say, that the firste name that euer it hadde, or was sette, naming it Antillya, seeming, that by the corruption of the vulgar, naming it Ante India, as to say against India, euen as Antechrist is contrary or against Christ, or Antenorth againste the North. And thus it appeareth, that it [Page] can not be named India, but to vnderstande it as an antephrase, cleane contrary, as a Negro, or a blacke Moore shoulde be named white Iohn, or a Negresse or blacke woman, to be named a Pearle, or a Margarita, that for finding gold in the Iland named H [...]spaniola, it should haue the name set Tharsia, or Ophin, or Sethin, nor beléeue it standeth in Asia as some woulde saye, although the thyng is so cléere, that it séemeth a mockerie to proue it: but reason dothe leade, that wée shoulde gyue Mylke vnto Children and Infantes. Saincte Austine declareth, that the circumstance of the letter dothe illuminate the sentence. And it appeareth in the thyrde Booke of Kings, in the tenth Chapter, and the second of Paralipomenon, in the ninth Chapter, do saye, that the Seruantes of Salomon, and of Diran, doe fynde they broughte from Ophin and Sethin, and Tharsis, not onely golde, but also Siluer and Timber, called Thina, and Elephantes téeth, and Peacocks, and Apes, and Precious stones, the whyche thyngs in infinite places of the very true Indians, as well in Countreys farre within the lande, as also in Countreys vppon the Sea syde, and also in Ilandes wythout number, that bée in the Oriente or East Seas, shall be founde, as by experience of the Merchantes traffiking into the East, conforming to the holy Scripture, and to all those that doe write, as well Catholikes, as Prophanes, is manyfest. And in the Ilande called Spaniola, there can bée found no suche Timber, nor all the other thyngs before named, sauyng Golde, the whiche as by this worke wyll appeare, is founde in a greate number of places of the Orientall partes. What is hée that in bringing gold from Antilla, will proue it is from Ophin, or Sethin, or Tharsis, from whence it was brought to Salomon. First hée must prooue that it was neuer founde but in one place, and that at thys daye it is not to bée had, but in [Page] the same place only, from whence it was broughte to Salomon, the which is a manifest vntruth or false. And also they that vnderstande that the storie of the holy scripture, and the holy prophets, when they do now name countries from whence those things be brought, and farre Ilandes of Idolatours, wheeeas the name of God was not h [...]ard, did not speak but of Spaniola, and of the other West parts, he must proue there is no other Idolatours in the worlde but those whom he falsely calleth Indians, nor other Ilāds but the Spaniola, and the other West Ilandes, and thys is of a truth, all false, for Grecia is Ilandes, Scicilia, a noble Ilande, and Malta, and Lipari, Yzcla, Serdenya, Corsica, Mallorca, Minorca, Ybisa, Canarias, England, and others infinite in the foure partes of the world, before now hath bin founde Of the whiche in the Orient or east, is Taprobano, which is the most noble Iland in the world, and the Ile which is sayde to be so happie and fortunate, that of neuer trée there falleth a leafe of in the whole yeare, as also by thys Booke of Marcus Paulus is to be séene in the 106. Chapter, of one Ilande that is in the Orientall seas .1500. myles, in the which there is found gold in so great abundaunce, that it is sayde the Kinges Pallace is couered or tyied wyth gold.

And furthermore, it is sayd, that the fame is, that in those seas be seauen thousand four hundred fortie eight Ilandes, in the whiche there is not founde one trée, but that is swéete, pleasaunt, and fruiteful, and of great profit, wherby we may wel conclud, that in many other Ilands, there is gold to be found: therfore it is not necessarie, that the holye Scriptures shoulde be so vnderstanded by Antilla, when it is sayde, they went for gold to Tharsis, & Ophyn, and Sechyn, yea and although they wyll not beléeue the [...] ther truthes, they can not denye the saying of the holye Scripture in the Seconde Chapter of Genesis, where [Page] it is sayde that the first riuer that goeth out of Paradise is [...]hyson, which doth compasse the whole countrey of Eiulath, where golde doth growe, and that the golde of that countrey is very good and pure, nor it was not néedefull to haue thrée yeres from Ierusalem to Antilla, as it is for the Ilands of the Indians, whiche is more further off, by a great deale, and with much more difficultnesse to prouyde the precious stones, and all other things they brought frō thence, and also the wayes be more difficulte and strange, by reason of contrarye windes, and manye other incumbraunces. And that this was not vnderstanded that the people a farre of are these Ilandes now founde, it appeareth by Saint Paule in the fiftéenth Chapter to the Romaynes, where is expounded the saying of Esay in the 52. Chapter, wher it is sayde, That those to whom it was not pronounced vnto, shoulde sée, and those that did not heare of him, should vnderstande. And this, as a lyttle aboue is sayde, is vnderstanded, that from Ierusalem to the Iles of Grecia, to the sea Illyrico which is the end of Grecia, and the beginning of Italy, by Slauonia, or Dalmatia, and Venice, where before they had not hearde the name of Christ declared. And bycause the holye ghost hath interpreted thys sentence by Saint Paul, applying that prophecie with other like of his workes, there remayneth no licence for other to apply it to Antilla.

But now let vs come to the summe of this reckning, and say, that if for the golde that is founde in Antilla, wée should beléeue that it is Tharsis, and Ophyn, and Sethyn, by y ^e other things that be founde in Ophyn, &c, and not in Antilla, we must beléeue that it is not those, nor those it. And moreouer, it appeareth that Asia and Tharsis, Ophyn, and Sethyn, be in the East, and Antilla the Spanyola in the west, in place and condition much different.

FINIS.

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¶ Here foloweth a Table of the Chapters conteyned in this Booke.

THe Prologue of the Authour, vpon this present Booke.
How Miser Marcus Paulus vsed himselfe in the Court of the great Cane. Cap. 1.
Of the meanes that the two brethren and M. Paulus found to returne to Venice. Cap. 2.
How they sayled to Iaua. Cap. 3.
How the saide N [...]cholas and Mapheo and Marcus Paulus returned to Venice, after that they had seen many things. Cap. 4.
Of Armenia the lesser, and many things that be ther made. Cap. 5.
Of the Turchomanos in Armenia the lesse. Cap. 6.
Of Armenia the greater, and of the Arcke of Noe. Cap. 7.
Of Georgiania. Cap. 8.
Of the parties of Armenia which lye towardes the South, and of the kingdome Mosul. Cap. 9.
Of Baldach, and of many things that be there. Cap. 10.
Of the Citie Totis. Cap. 11.
Of a great miracle which happened in Mosul. Cap. 12.
Of Persia and of the countries of the Magos, and of other good things. Cap. 13.
Of eight kingdomes of Persia, and of things that be founde there. Cap. 14.
Of the Citie Iasor. Cap. 15.
Of the Citie of Cormoe. Cap. 16.
Of the Citie of Crerina, and of the death of the olde man of the Mountaine. Cap. 17.
Of that which is founde in the same countrey. Cap. 18.
Of the Citie of Baldach, and of many other things. Cap. 19.
Of the manner of the same countrey. Cap. 20.
Of the Citie of Hechasem. Cap. 21.
[...]f the manners of the same land. Cap. 22.
[Page]Of the prouince of B [...]llasia, and of their things. Cap. 23.
Of the prouince Abassia, whereof the people be blacke. Cap. 24.
Of the prouince Chassimuru, and of many things. Cap. 25.
Of the saide prouince. Cap. 26.
Of the prouince named Vochanu. Cap. 27.
Of the nouelties of this countrey. Cap. 28.
Of the desert Bosor, and of many nouelties. Cap. 29.
Of the prouince Caschar. Cap. 30.
Of Sumartha and of a miracle. Cap. 31.
Of the prouince Cartham. Cap. 32.
Of the prouince Chota, and of their customes. Cap. 33.
Of the prouince Poyn. Cap. 34.
Of the prouince Ci [...]rtham being in the great Turkey. Ca. 35.
Of a great desert, and of the Citie named Iob. Cap. 36.
Of the prouince named Tanguith, and of the Citie Sanguethia. Cap. 37.
Of the prouince named Chamul, and of their noughtie customes. Cap. 38.
Of the prouince Hinguitalas, and of the Salamandra that is found there. Cap. 39.
Of the citie which is called Campion and of manye beastlye customes that they vse. Cap. 40.
Of the citie called E [...]cin [...], and of many noble things of Tartaria. Cap. 41.
Of the beginning of the seigniorie of the Tartarians, and of many things. Cap. 42.
Of the customes, ordinances, & honouring of the gret Cane, and how he goeth vnto the warre. Cap. 43
Of the playne of Berga, and of the customes of the people there. Cap. 44.
Of the great Sea which is called Occean. Cap. 45.
Of the kingdome Erguil, and of many other kingdomes, & of the muske which is there found, and many nouelties. Ca. 46
Of the citie Callacia, and of many things that be made there Cap. 47▪
Of the prouince called Ta [...]guith, which is subiect to Prester [Page] Iohn, and of the stone Lagulus, whiche is founde there, and of Go [...]h and Magot. cap. 48.
Of the Citie Sindatoy in Cataya, where there is founde siluer. Cap. 49▪
Of the Citie Gianorum. cap. 50.
Of the Citie Liander. cap. 51.
Of the sacrifice and other manners of the liuing of the greate Cane. cap. 52.
Of a victorie that the great Cane gote. cap. 53.
Of the great things belonging to the great Cane. cap. 54.
Of the great citie named Cambalu, and of all the faire and maruellous things that bee in the seigniorie of the greate Cane. cap. 55.
Of the manner that the great Cane vseth in hunting. cap. 56.
Of the manner of their hauking. cap. 57.
Of the manner that the greate Cane vseth in riding through his countries, and being in the fielde in pauillions. cap. 58.
Of the money that is vsed in that land. cap. 59.
Of the order and gouernement which the greate Cane vseth in his dominions. cap. 60.
Of the same order. cap. 61.
Of the sayde Citie Cambalu. cap. 62.
Of many maruellous things which are found in that countrey. cap. 63.
Of the Citie G [...]igu, and of many maruellous things. cap. 64.
Of the way leading to the prouince of the Magos. cap. 65.
Of the Citie of Tarasu. cap. 66.
Of the Citie named Paymphu: cap. 67.
Of a king named Bor. cap. 68.
Of the Citie called Caciomphur. cap. 69.
Of the Citie Gengomphu. cap. 70.
Of the prouince of Chinchy. cap. 71.
Of the prouince and Citie call [...]d Cinilith Mangi, and of manye other things that be there founde. cap. 72.
Of the prouince and Citie called Sindariffa. cap. 73.
Of the prouince Chelethi. cap. 74.
[Page]Of the prouince Thebeth. cap. 75.
Of the prouince Mangi. cap. 76.
Of the prouince Chandu. cap. 77.
Of another prouince. cap. 78.
Of the prouince Caraya. cap. 79.
Of the prouince Ioci, and of their beastly customes. cap. 80.
Of the prouince Cheria [...], and of many Serpentes that be there. cap. 81.
Of the prouince Cingui, & of the Citie called Canchasu. ca. 82
Of the prouince Machay, where there be found Vnicornes & Elephants, and many other nouelties. cap. 83.
Of the prouince called Cingui, and of the Citie named Canchasu. cap. 84.
Of the Citie named Cianglu. cap. 85.
Of the Citie Candrafra, and of the Citie Singuimat. cap. 86.
Of the riuer Coromoran, and of the Citie Coygangui, and of another Citie called Cayni. cap. 87.
Of the noble prouince of Mangi. cap. 88.
Of the Citie Coygangui. cap. 89.
Of the Citie Pangay, of another which is called Cayni. ca. 90.
Of the Citie called Thingui. cap. 91.
Of the Citie Nangni, which hath seauen and twentie Cities vnder it, and of an oth [...]r named Saymphu, which hath vnder it twelue Cities. cap. 92.
How this prouince was made subiect to the great Cane. cap. 93.
Of the Citie called Cingus, and of many other things. cap. 94.
Of the Citie called Ciangui. cap. 95.
Of the Citie Pingranphu, and of other things which be in that countrey. cap. 96.
Of the Citie Singui, and of a bridge of Marble stone, vnder the whiche Citie be eighteene great Cities, and of Rubarbe, and other spices that grow there. cap. 97.
Of the Citie Gynusay which in compasse 100. myles. cap. 98.
Of the Citie Gansu. cap. 99.
Of the diuision which the great Cane made of the prouince of Mangi. cap. 100.
[Page]Of the rents which the great Cane hath of the prouince of Gyn [...]say. cap. 101.
Of the Ci [...]ie Thampinguy. cap. 102.
Of the Citie Cinanguari, and of the crueltie of the men that dwel there, and of other things. cap. 103.
Of the Citie Frigui and of many other things. cap. 104.
Of the Citie which they call Iaython and of many other things. cap. 105.
Of the Isle which they cal Ciampagu, and the maruellous things which be founde there, and how the great Cane would haue conquered it. cap. 106.
Of the prouince called Ciabam, and of the Lord that hath 325. sonnes and daughters, and there bee manye Elephants, and much spice. cap. 107.
Of the Ile called Iaua, & of many spices that grow there. ca. 108.
Of the Iland Iocath and of the other two Ilands, and of their cō ditions. cap. 109.
Of the kingdome Malenir, and of the Iland Pencera, and of Iaua the lesse. cap. 110.
Of the kingdome of Baxina, and of the Vnicornes, and other beasts. cap. 111.
Of the kingdome Samara. cap. 112.
Of the kingdome Lambri, and of the kingdome [...]amphur, and of things found there. cap. 113.
Of two Ilands, and of their sluttish and beastly liuing. cap. 114.
Of the Ile Saylan. cap. 115.
Of the prouince Moahar, in the which there be fiue kingdomes. cap. 116.
Of the kingdom [...] Masuli, where Adamants, and many serpents be found. cap. 117.
Of the prouince Labe. cap. 118.
Of the kingdome Orbay. cap. 119.
Of the prouince Ch [...]man, and of the people, and verye straung [...] beastes. cap. 120.
Of the kingdome of Hely, and of the straunge beastes, whyche are there found. cap. 121.
[Page]Of the kingdome Malibar, & of the things that be found there. cap. 122.
Of the kingdome Giesurath, and of their euill customs. cap. 123.
Of the kingdome Thoma, and of the kingdom Semebelech, which is in India the greater. cap. 124
A rehearsal of the things alreadie spoken of. cap. 125.
Of two Ilands one of men, and the other women, Christians, and how there is much Amber. cap. 126.
Of the Iland called Escorsia, which are Christians, and of things that be found there. cap. 127.
Of the Iland Maydegastar, where Elephants, and other great nouelties are founde, and a birde called Nichia, which hath the quilles of his wings of twelue paces in length. cap. 128.
Of the Iland Tanguibar, where there be men like Giants. ca. 129
An Epiloge. cap. 130.
Of Abaxia. cap. 131.
Of the prouince, Aden. cap. 132.
Of a very mighty king in the North part. cap. 133.
How the Armynes and other beastes are bought. cap. 134.
Of the prouince of Russia, and of the things that be founde there. cap. 135.

FINIS TABVLAE.

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The Prologue.

TO all Princes, Lordes, Knightes, and all other persons that this my Booke shall sée, heare, or reade, health, prosperitie, and pleasure. In thys Booke I do mind to giue knowledge of strange and maruellous things of the world, and specially of the partes of Armenia, Persia, India, Tartaria, and of many other prouinces and Countreys, whiche shall be declared in this worke, as they were séene by me Marcus Paulus, of the noble Citie of Venice: and that which I saw not, I declare by report of those that were wise, discrete, and of good credite, but that which I saw, I declare as I saw it, and that which I knew by others, I declare as I heard it. And for that this whole worke shall be faithfull and true, my intente is not to write any thing, but that which is very certaine. I do giue you all to vnderstande, that sithence the birth of our Sauioure and Lorde Iesus Christ, there hathe bin no man, Christian, nor Heathen, that hathe come to the knowledge and sight of so manye diuers, maruellous, and strange things, as I haue séene and hearde, whiche I will take in hande the laboure to write, as I did sée and heare it. For me thinke I shoulde do a great iniurie to the world, in not manifesting or declaring the truth. And for better information to them that shall reade or heare this worke, I do giue you to vnderstand, that I trauelled in the foresayd Prouinces and Countreys, and did sée those things that I will declare, y ^e space of sixe and twentie yeares, & caused thē to be written to Mayster Vstacheo of Pisa, the yeare of our Lorde God .1298. He and I then being prisoners in Ianua, 1298 raigning in Constantinople the Emperoure Baldouino, and in his time in the yeare of oure Lord .1250. 1250 Nicholas my father, and Mapheo my vncle his brother, Citizens of Venice, [Page] went to Constantinople with their Merchandises. And béeyng there a certayne tyme, wyth councell of theyr friendes, passed wyth such wares and iewels as they had boughte in the Countrey of the Souldan, where they were a long time, determining to goe forwarde, and trauelling a long iourney, came to a Citie of the Lorde of the Tartarians, which is called Barcacan, who was Lord of a greate parte of Tartaria, [...]urgaria, and Asia. And this Lord Barcacan, tooke greate pleasure to sée my father Nicholas and my Vncle Mapheo, and shewed them greate friendship, and they presented to hym such iewels as they broughte with them from C [...]nstantinople, who receyued them thankefully, and gaue them giftes double the valew, whiche they sent into dyuers partes to sell, and they remayned in his Courte the space of one yeare, in which tyme warres beganne betwéene the sayde Barcacan and Alan, Lord of the Tartares of the East, and there was betwéene them many great battayles, and muche shedding of bloud, but in the end, the victorie fell to Alan. And bycause of these warres, my father and vncle coulde not returne the way they went, but determined to go forwarde to the Eastward, and so to haue returned to Constantinople, and following their way, came to a Citie in the East partes, called Buccata, whiche is within the precinct of the East Kingdome. And departing from this Citie, passed the Riuer which is called Tygris, whiche is one of the foure that commeth out of Paradise terrenall, and goyng seauentéene dayes iourneys through a Deserte, not finding any [...] Citie or Towne, yet méeting with manye companyes of Tartares, that went in the fields with their Cattel: béeing past thys Desert, they came to a great & noble Citie called Bocora, and the same name hadde that Prouince, which the Kyng of that Countrey had, and the Citie was called Barache, and this is the greatest Citie in Persia. In thys Countrey, were these two bréethren [Page] thr [...]e yeares. And in this time came an Embassadoure from Hamil Lorde of the Easte, whiche wente to the greate Alan Lorde of the Tartares, that before was spoken of. This Alan is otherwise called the greate Cane. Thys Embassadoure maruelled muche to sée these two Bréethren béeyng Christians, and tooke greate pleasure at them, bycause they hadde neuer before that tyme séene any Christians, and sayde to them, Friends, if you wyll followe or take my councell, I will shewe you wayes or meanes whereby you shall gette greate riches and renowme. Oure Lorde the King of the T [...]rtares, didde neuer sée anye Christians, and hathe great desire to sée of them, if you will goe with me, I will bring you to his presence, where you shall [...]aue greate profite and friendshippe of hym.

They hearing thys, determined to goe with hym, and trauelling the space of one yeare towardes the East Southeast, and after turning to the lefte hande towards the Northeast, and after towardes the North, in fine, they came to the Citie of the great Cane, in the whyche trauell they sawe manye straunge and [...]aruellous things, whyche shall be declared in thys B [...]ke. And these two bréethren, béeyng presented to the great Cane, were receyued by him very fauourably, shewing to them greate friendshippe, demaundyng of them of the Emperoure of the Christians, of hys state, and howe hée ruled and gouerned hys Countreys, and kepte them in peace and iustice. And when hée made anye warres, howe and after what manner hée brough [...]e hys people into the fielde, andeh demaunded of them the state and order of other Kyngdomes and Dukedomes in Chrystendome, or theyr conditions, and afterwarde wyth greate diligence, hée en [...]uyred of them of the Pope and the Cardinalles, and of theyr fayth, [Page] and of the Catholike Church, and of all other conditions of the Christians, to the which demaundes the two bréethren aunswered in order very discretely and wisely, who hadde vnderstanding, and could speake the Tartarie language. The great Cane vnderstandyng theyr answeres, had grat pleasure therein, and speaking to his Lords, saying, that hée woulde sende an Embassadour to the Pope, the head Bishop of the Christians, and requested the said two bréethren, that it woulde please them to be his Embassadors to the Pope, with one of his Lordes: they aunswered, they were readie to doe all that he woulde commaund them. Streight way the great Cane caused to bée written Letters of beliefe in the Tartarian tong to the Pope, and also commaunded by worde of mouth to hys sayd Embassadors, that they shoulde saye, and desire hys holynesse, that it would please him to send him a hundred men, discrete, wise, and learned Christians in the Catholike faith, to instruct him and his Subiects, whereas then they did all worship Idols, and would gladly receyue the true faith. And also, the great Cane requested them to bring him some of the Oyle that did burne before the Sepulchre of Iesus Christe in Ierusalem. This done, the great Cane commaunded to be broughte to him a Table of gold, and wrote in it, commaunding expresly to all hys subiects that shoulde sée that his Table, that they shoulde receyue those Embassadors with all frendshippe, and to shew them honour and obedience, and to do al things that shoulde be necessarie, and to deliuer them money, and to prouide them what they woulde demaunde, as well for shipping, as also Horses, or any other thing, in as ample maner, as if it were for his owne person. When the sayd Nicholas and Mapheo, and Cocoball, Embassador to the great Cane, were at a poynt to depart, taking their leaue of y ^e great Cane, they rode with their cōpany thirtie days iourney, and at the ende of them, the saide Cocoball fell [Page] sicke and dyed, and the two bréethren followed on theyr iourney, and in euery Towne where they came shewing the foresayd Table of gold, where very honourably receyued and enterteyned, as the person of the King. And continuing their iourney, they came to a towne called Giaza, and from thence departed, and came to Acre in the moneth of Aprill, 1272. in the yeare of our Lord God .1272. whereas they vnderstoode that the Pope Clement was dead, and finding there a Legate of the Popes, which was called Miser Thebaldo, that was there for the defence of the holy Church, at the vttermost partes of the Seas, to him they did theyr Embassage of the greate Cane, and when Miser Thebaldo vnderstoode their Embassage, he prayed them to tarrie the creation of a newe Pope, and hearing this aunswere, the two bréethren departed incontinente, and went to Nigro Ponte, and from thence to Venice, to sée their houses, and founde the wife of Nicholas dead, and had left behinde hir a sonne, whose name was Marcus, of the age of fiftéene yeares, which neuer saw his father before, for he left hir with child of him at his departing, and this is the same Marcus that made thys Booke, as héereafter followeth. These two bréethren remayned in Venice the space of two yeares, tarying the creation of a newe Pope, and séeyng howe long they had taryed, departed from Venice to Ierusalem, for to gette some of the Oyle that burned in the Lampe before the holy Sepul [...]hre of oure Lorde God, for to carrie with them to the greate Cane, according as he commaunded, and caryed with them Marcus, sonne to the saide Nicholas, and after they had taken of the sayd oyle, returned to Acre, whereas the Popes Legate Theobaldo was, and taking leaue or licence of him to returne to the great Cane, for whome the sayde Legate gaue them Letters, séeing they woulde not tarrie to do their Embassage to the Pope, and sayde, as soone as there was a new Pope created, he would doe [Page] their Embassage to the Pope, and that he should prouide that which should be conuenient, and so departed the two bréethren, and Marcus, and trauelled till they came to a Towne called Giaza. And in this time the Legate receyued Letters from Rome, that there was a new Pope created, called Gregorie of Placentia. The sayd Legate incontinent sent his messenger after these two bréethren, that they should returne to Acre, certifying thē, y ^t there was a new Pope created: and they vnderstanding this, requested the King of Armenia to commaunde to arme forthe a Galley, wherein they sayled incontinente to the Pope, of whome they were well receyued, who hauyng hearde their Embassage, streighte way gaue them two Friers, of the order of Sainct Dominike, being greate Clearkes, to go with them to the greate Cane, the one of them was called Frier Nicholas of Venice, and the other Frier William of Tripolle, the whiche were well séene and exercised in disputations in the defense of the holy Catholike faith. And these two religious men with Nicholas and Mapheo, and Marcus, trauelled, till they came to a Towne called Giaza. And in this time the Souldan of Babylon came into Armenia, and did there greate hurte, and for that cause, fearing to passe anye further, the two Friers taryed there, and wrote to the greate Cane, that they were come thyther, and the cause wherefore, they wente not forwarde. The sayd Nicholas and Maph [...], and Marcus hys sonne wente on theyr iourney, and came to a Citie called Bemoniphe, where the great Cane was, but in the way they passed in greate daunger of their bodyes, and saw many things, as shall héereafter be declared, and taryed in going betwéene Giaza and Bomeniphe. [...] yeare and a halfe, by reason of great Riuers, rayne, and cold in those countryes: and when the greate Cane hadde knowledge that Nicholas and Mapheo were returned, he sent to receyue them, more than fortie dayes iourney, and [Page] at their comming receyued them with gret pleasure, anthey knéelyng down, making great reuerence, he commaūdded them to arise vp, demaūding of them how they spedde in their voyage, and what they had done with the Pope, and after they had made their answeare to al things, deliuered to him the Friers letters that remayned in Giaza, and the oyle they had taken out of the Lampe that burned before the holy Sepulchre of Iesus Christe, whiche he receyued with great pleasure, and put it vp, and kept it in a secrete place, with also the letters, and demaunding of them, who Marcus was, they aunswered, he was Nicholas sonne, of the which the great Cane was glad, and toke him into his seruice, and gaue order to place him in his Court among his Lordes and Gentlemen.

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Here foloweth the discourse of many notable and strange things, that the noble and vvorthy Marcus Paulus of the Citie of Venice did see in the East partes of the world.

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¶ Howe Miser Marco Polo vsed himselfe in the Court of the Great Cane. CHAP. 1.

MArco Polo learned well not onely the vsed language and conditions of those people, but also other thrée languages, and coulde write and reade them, and by that meanes came in great fauour with the great Cane, whose pleasure was to proue what he could do, to be sent Embassage, Marco Polo was sent as Embassador from the great Cane. and made hym [...]is Embassadour in one of his Countreys, sixe Monethes [...]ourney. And he perceyuing the great Cane had greate plea [...]ure to heare newes, and oftentimes would find fault with his Embassadoures and messengers, when they coulde not make [...]iscourse, and tell him newes of the Countreys and places [...]hey trauelled into, he determined with himselfe to note and [...]nderstand in that iourney all that could be spoken, as well of [...]he Townes, Cities, and places, as also the conditions and [...]ualities of the people, noting it in writing, to be the more [...]eadie to make his aunswere, if any thing should be demaun [...]ed of him: and at his returne declared to the great Cane the [...]unswere of the people of that Countrey to his Embassage: [...]nd withall declared vnto hym the nature of Countreys, [...]nd the conditions of the people where he had bin, and also [...]hat he had heard of other Countreys, which pleased well the [...]reat Cane, and was in great fauoure with him, and set great [...]ore by him, for which cause, all the noble men of his Courte [...]ad him in great estimation, calling him Senior or Lorde. He [...]as in the greate Canes Court .xvij. yeares, Ma [...]co Polo was in the great Canes Court seauē teene yeares. and when anye [...]reate Embassage or businesse shoulde be done in any of hys Countreys or Prouinces, he was alwayes sente, wherefore, [...]iuers great men of the Court did enuie him, but he alwayes [Page 2] kepte thys order, that whatsoeuer he sawe or heard, were [...] good or euill, hée alwayes wrote it, and had it in minde to declare to the great Cane in order.

The manner and vvayes that the tvvo breethren, and Marcus Paulus had for their returne to Venice. CHAP. 2.

THe sayd Nicholas and Mapheo, and Marcus Paulus, hauyng bin in y ^e greate Canes Court of a long time, demaunded licence for to returne to Venice, but he louing and fauouring them so well, would not giue them leaue. And it fortuned in that time, that a Quéene in India dyed, whose name was Balgonia, and hyr Husbande wa [...] called Kyng Argon. This Quéene ordeyned in hir Testamente, that hyr Husbande shoulde not marrie, but with one of hyr bloud and kynred, and for that cause the sayde Kyng Argon sente hys Embassadors with great honor and companye to the Greate Cane, desiring hym to sende hym for to bée hys Wife, a Mayde of the lignage of Balgonia his firste Wi [...]. The names of these Embassadors were called Onlora, Apusca, and Edilla. When these Embassadors arriued at th [...] Courte, they were very well receyued by the Great Ca [...] ▪ And after they hadde done theyr message, the Greate Ca [...] caused to bée called before him a Mayden, whiche was called Cozotine, of the kindred of Balgonia, the whyche was very [...] fayre, and of the age of seauentéene yeares. And as she was come before the Great Cane, and the Embassadors, the great Cane sayde to the Embassadors, thys is the Mayden that you demaunde, take hyr, and carrie hir in a good houre: an [...] wyth thys the Embassadors were very ioyfull and merrie. And these Embassadors vnderstandyng of Nicholas and Mapheo, and Marcus Paulus, Italians, which before that tyme ha [...] [Page 3] [...]one for Embassadors vnto the Indians, and were desirous to [...]epart from the greate Cane, desired hym to gyue them li [...]ence to goe, and accompanye that Lady: and the Greate [...]ane, although not wyth good will, but for manners sake, and [...]lso for honour of the Ladye, and for hyr more safegarde, in [...]assing the Seas, bycause they were wise and skilfull menne, [...]as content they should goe.

Hovv they sayled to Iaua. CHAP. 3.

HAuing licence of the Great Cane, the sayde Nicholas & Mapheo, Marco Polo and his Father & Vncle had leaue to depart, and went without Embassadors and Marcus Paulus, as aforesayde, as his custome was, gaue them two Tables of golde, by the whiche he did signifie that they should passe fréelie through all his prouinces and dominions, and that theyr charges should be borne, and to be ho [...]ourably accompanyed. And besides this, the great Cane sent [...]iuers Embassadors to the Pope, and to the Frenche King, [...]nd to the King of Spayne; and to many other Prouinces in Christendome, and caused to be armed and sette forth foure [...]éene great Shippes, that euery one of them had four Mastes. Foureteene great Ships with foure Mastes in a Shippe, and sixe hundred men in eue [...]y Shippe, and vittayled for two yeares. Within three Monethes sayling, they arriued at Iaua. To declare the reason wherefore he did this, it were too long, [...]herefore I let it passe. In euery Shippe he put sixe hundreth men, and prouision for two yeares. In these Shippes wente [...]he sayd Embassadors, with the Lady and Nicholas, and Ma [...]heo bréethrē, and Marcus Paulus aforesayd, and sayled thrée Monethes continually, and then arriued at an Ilande called [...]aua, being in the South partes, in the which they found mar [...]ellous and strange things, as héereafter shall be declared. And departing from this Iland, sayling on the Indian Seas [...]viij. Moneths before they came to the place they would come to, founde (by the w [...]y) many maruellous and strange things, [...]s héereafter shall be declared.

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Hovv Nicholas and Mapheo, and Marco Polo returned to Venice, after they had seene and heard many maruellous thinges. CHAP. 4.

AFter their arriuall with this foresayde Lady to the Kingdome they went vnto, they found that the King Argon was dead, and for that cause, married that mayde to his sonne: and there did gouerne in the roome of the Kyng, a Lorde, whose name was Archator, for bycause the King was very yong. And to this Gouernoure or Viceroy, was the Embassage declared, and of him the two Bréethren and Marco Polo demaunded licence to goe into their Countrey, whiche he graunted, and withall gaue them foure Tables of gold, two of them were to haue Ierfawcons, and other Hawkes with them. The thirde was, to haue Lyons. And the fourth was, that they shoulde goe frée, withoute paying any charges, and to be accompanyed and enterteyned as to the Kings owne person. And by this commaundement, they had company and gard of two hundreth Knightes from Towne to Towne, for feare of manye Théeues vppon the wayes: and so much they traueiled, that they came to Trapesonsia, and from thence to Constantinople, and so to Nigro Ponte, and [...]al [...]ie, to Venice, in the yeare of oure Lord God .1295.

The returne of the two breethrē and Marco Polo to Venice in Anno. 1295.This we doe declare, for that all men shall knowe, that Nicholas and Mapheo bréethren, and Marco Polo, haue seene, hearde, and did knowe the maruellous things written in this Booke, the which declaring in the name of the Father, and the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, shall be declared as héereafter followeth.

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Of Armenia he lesser, and of many things that there is made. CHAP. 5.

FIrst and formost, I will beginne to declare of the Prouince of Armenia, noting suche commodities as there is. You shall vnderstand, there be two Armenias, the greater, and the lesser. In the lesser, there is a King subiect to the Tartar, and he dothe maynteyne the Countrey in peace and iustice. In this Countrey be many Cities and Townes, and greate abundance of all things. In thys Countrey they take great pleasure and pastime in Hawking and Hunting, as well of wilde beastes, They take great plesure in Hawking and hunting. as of Fowles of all sortes. In that Countrey be many infirmities, by reason the ayre is yll there, and for that cause, the men of that Countrey, that were wonte to be valiant and strong in armes, bée turned nowe to be vile, and giuen to ydlenesse and drunckennesse. In this Prouince vpon the Sea side, there is a Citie called Gloza, wherevnto is greate trade of Merchandise, and all Merchantes that doe traffique thither, a Citie vpon the Sea side, called Gloza. haue their Cellers and Warehouses in that Citie, as well Venetians, and Ianoueys, and all other that do occupye into Leuant.

Of the Torchomanos in Armenia the lesser. CHAP. 6.

I Haue declared vnto you of Armenia the lesser, and now I will shewe you of Torchomania, whiche is a part of Armenia, in the which ther be thrée maner of people, the one called Torchomanos, and those bée Mahomets, and speake the Persian language, and they liue in the Mountaynes and fieldes, whereas they may [Page 6] find pasture for their Cattell, for those people liue by y ^e gaines of their Cattell. Good Horses [...]alled accor [...]ing to the Countrey Torch [...]manos and good Moyles. Goodly rich and faire carpets made heere. Cloth of silke of Crimson, and other couloures made heere. Heere was Brio [...] Blase martyred. There be very good Horses called Torchomani, and good Mayles of great value. The other, or second maner of people be Armenians and Greekes, and those dwell and liue togither, and liue by occupations and trade of Merchandises. There they doe make very goodly and rich Carpettes, large and fayre, as you shall finde in any place. Also, they worke there, cloth of Crymson Silke, and other goodly couloures. The chiefest Cities in that Countrey be Chemo, Isiree, and Sebasto, whereas Saint Blase was martired. There be also many Townes, of which I make no mention, and they bée subiecte to the Tartar of the East, and he setteth gouernoures there.

Of Armenia the greater, and of the Arke of Noe. CHAP. 7.

ARmenia the greater is a greate Prouince or Countrey. In the beginning thereof is a greate Citie called Armenia, where they doe make excellente Bochachims or Buckrams. In this Citie be very good Bathes naturallye. And this Countrey is subiect to the Tartar, & there is in it many Cities & Townes, and the most noble Citie is called Archinia, which hath ioyning to it two prouinces, the one called Archeten, the other Arzire. In this Citie is a Bishop. The people of this Countrey in y ^e sommer time bée in the pastures & meddowes, but in y ^e winter they can not, by reason of y ^e great cold, snow, & waters, for then it is so colde, y ^e scant the cattell and beastes can liue there, Heere on a high Mounta [...]ne rested the Arke of Noe after the [...]ound. and for this cause they do driue their cattel into warmer places, wher they haue grasse plēty. In this gret Armenia is y ^e Arke of Noe on a high Mountain towards y ^e South, which doth ioyne to a Prouince towardes the East called Mausill. And in that Prouince diuell [Page 7] Christians, which be called Iacobites, and Nestorians Heretikes, of the which hereafter shall be spoken. Heere be Chris [...]ians of the sect of the Nestorians and Iacobites. Here is a wel that the water is like to Oyle, and is occupyed for diuers purposes. This Countrey towards the North doth ioyne vpon the Georgians, of the whych shall be spoken in the next Chapter. In this part towards the Georgians there is a well, the water wherof is like oyle, and is of great abundance & quantitie, that sometimes they lade .100. Ships with it. And this oyle is not good to eate, but for Lamps and Candles, and to annoint Camels, Horses, and other beastes that be galled, scabbie, and haue other infirmities, and for this cause it is fetched into diuers places.

Of the Georgians, and of the Tovver and gate of yron. CHAP. 8.

IN Georgiania is a king called Nand Maliche, which is as much to say as Dawnid, and is subiect to the Tartar. The saying is that in the olde time, the Kings of that Prouince were borne with a token or signe vnder their right shoulder. In this Countrey y ^e men be faire of body, venterous & valiant in armes, and good archers, and are Christians & Gréekes mingled togither, & they go all with their heare like Priestes. This is the Prouince y ^t King Alexander could not passe, Heere was King Alexander put backe and could not be suffered to passe. whē he woulde haue come towards the West parts, bycause y ^t wayes were dangerous & narrow, & compassed on y ^e one side with y ^t Sea, & on the other side with high Mountaines, that no Horse can passe, or go for y ^e space of four leagues, for y ^e way is so narrow & strōg, y ^t a few mē be able to kéepe it against al the hostes of y ^e world. And K. Alexander perceiuing y ^t by no meanes he coulde passe, In this countrey be many fayre Cities and Townes wher is made great plenty of cloth of gold, and of silke. would likewise make prouision, that the people of that Countrey might not passe to him. And made there a greate & strong Tower, which is called the Tower and gate of yron. In this Prouince of the Georgians be many Cities and townes, & there they do make great plēty of cloth of gold, & of silke in great abundance, for they haue greate plentie of silke. And there doe [Page 8] bréede the goodlyest and best Hawkes in the world. Excellente good hawkes Great trade of Merchandise. And the Countrey is plentifull of all things néedefull. They liue there by the trade of Merchandise, and by labour of the Countrey. Through all this Countrey is greate Mountaynes, and the way narrow and strong, and many welles, and for this cause the Tartars can neuer haue the vpper hand of them. There is a Monast [...]rie of Monckes of the order of Saint Bernarde, A Monastery of Monckes of the order of S. Bernard. A water or lake of syxe hundred miles compasse, wherein is no fish, but only in the Lent. Euphrates. and hard by the Monasterie there is a water that descendeth from the Mountayne, in the which they find no fishe, but in Lent, and then they do take it in greate plentie from the firste day of Lent, till Easter euen. The place is called Geluchelan, and hath sixe hundred Miles compasse, and it is from the Sea twelue dayes iourney, and this water entreth into Euphrates, whyche is one of the foure principall Riuers whiche come from Paradice terrenall, and commeth out of India, and is deuided into many branches, and doth compasse those hilles. From thence they bring a silke called Gella. Now I haue declared vnto you the partes of Armenia which be towards the North, and now I wil declare vnto you of others their neyboures which be towards the South and West.

Of the parties of Armenia tovvards the South, and of the Kingdome of Mosull. CHAP. 9.

MOsull is a great Kingdome, in the which dwell many generations of people called Arabies, and all be of the secte of Mahomet, although there be some Christians, called Iacobites, and Nestorians, and these haue by themselues a Patriarke, called Iacobia, and he dothe institute Bishops, Archbishops, Abbots, Priestes, and other Religious men. Here is made cloth of golde and silke, called Mosulinus There is made cloth of gold, and of silke, which be called by the name of the Kingdome Mosulinus, and there is greate plentie and abundance of it, and also greate plentie of [Page 9] spices and good cheape, and of other Merchandise. In the Mountaynes of this prouince dwell people cal [...]ed Cordos, and others called Iacobinos. The rest be Moores of the sect of Mahomet, and be good men of warre, and be all rouers and robbers of Merchants.

Of Baldach, and of many goodly things that be there. CHAP. 10.

BAldache is a very great Citie, Thorough this Citie B [...]l [...]ch goeth a Riuer, and entreth into Sinos P [...]r [...]icus. Great trade vp and down this Riuer, to and from the Indians. Here is made cloth of golde and of silke, called cloth of Nafi [...]h. C [...]l [...]pho is among the Moo [...]es, as the Pop [...] is in Christ [...]dome. T [...]is Citie was wonne in Anno. 1230. by Al [...]n King of the Ta [...]tars, and he put the Calipho into a Tower among his treasure, and so was famished. in the whych is resident one that is called Calipho, whiche is among y ^t Moores, as it were chiefe gouernour & head. Through the middest of the Citie runneth a great Riuer, and goeth into the Indian Sea. And there is from this Citie to the place where it entreth into the Sea. xviij. dayes iourney. From this Citie to the Sea, and from the Sea to this Citie, there dothe passe dayly by this Riuer, in many and diuers vessels, diuers kinds of Merchandise, and they haue to their neyboure the India. And in this Countrey is a Citie called Chisi. By thi [...] [...]iuer they goe to the Indian Sea. Betwéene Baldach and Chisi vppon the Riuer is a Citie called Barsera, compassed with greate Mountaynes of Palmes and Date trées perfect good. In Baldach they doe make cloth of golde of diuers sortes, and cloth of silke, called cloth of Nasich, of Chrimson, and of diu [...]rs other coloures and fashions. There is great plentie of foure footed Beastes, and of Fowles. This Citie is one of the best and the noblest in the worlde. There was in this Citie a Calipho of the Moores, wonderfull and maruellous rich of gold and pretious stones. And in the yeare of our Lorde God .1230. the King of the Tartars called Alan, ioyned a greate company, and went and sette vpon this Citie, and toke it by force, being in the C [...]tie one hundred thousande Horsemen, besides infinite number of footemen. And there he founde a great Tower full [Page 10] of golde, siluer, and pretious stones. And King Alan séeing this great treasure, maruelled much, and sent for the Calipho, and sayd vnto him: I do much maruell of thy auarice, that hauing so great treasure, didst not giue parte of it to mainteyne valiant men, that might defend me from thée, knowing that I was thy mortall enimie. And perceyuing the Calipho knewe not how to make him an answere, said vnto him, bycause thou louest this treasure so well, I will thou shalte haue thy fill of it, and caused him to be shut fast in the same Tower, where he liued foure dayes, and died miserably for hunger, and from that time forwards the Moores woulde haue no more Caliphos in that Citie.

Of a Citie called Totis, and of other notable things. CHAP. 11.

TOtis is a greate Citie of the Prouince or Countrey of Baldach, This Citie Totis is a noble Citie, and of great trade of merchandise. There is made cloth of gold and of silke very rich. To this City there comme [...]h Merchants from diuers countreys. in the whiche Prouince there be manye Cities and Townes, but the most noblest is Totis. The people of thys Citie bée Merchantes, and h [...]ndycraftes men. There they do make cloth of golde, and of silke, very riche, and of greate value. And this Citie is sette in so good a place, that they doe bryng thyther all Merchandises of India, and of Baldach, and of Osmaseilli, and of Cremes, and of many other Cities and Countreys, and also of the Latines. There is greate plenty of pretious stones, and for that cause the Merchants gette muche. Thyther trade the Armenians, Iacobite [...], Nestorians, Persians, and these in a manner bée all Mahomets. Rounde aboute this Citie be many fayre Gardens full of singular good frutes, although the Moores that there doe dwell be very ill people, robbers and killers.

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Of a great miracle that hapned in Mosull. CHAP. 12.

IN Mosull, a Citie in the Prouince of Baldach was a Calipho, a great enimie of the Christians, whose studie daye and night was how he might destroy them, and to make them forsake their faith in Iesus Christ, and vpon this, ioyned in councell diuers times with hys wise men, and in the ende one of them said, I will tell you a way how you shal haue good cause to kill, or force them to renounce their Faith. Iesus Christ sayth in hys Gospell, If you haue so much Faith as the grayne of Mustard seede, and saye to thys Mountayne passe from this place to another place, it woulde do, therefore cause to be called togither all the Christians, and commaund them by their beléefe, that such a hill doe passe from that place to suche a place: truly it is not possible for them to doe it, and not doing it, you may iustly saye to them, that eyther theyr Gospell dothe not saye truth, and by that meanes they follow lyes, or else they haue not so much Fayth as a grayne of Mustarde séede. And thus as well for the one, as for the other, you maye iustly putte them to death, or else force them to forsake theyr Fayth they holde. This councell pleased well the Calipho, and those of hys sect, beléeuing, that nowe they hadde good occasion to performe their euill purpose, and incontinent he commaunded all the Chrystians that were in hys Countrey, to come togither, whiche was a great number, and they being come before hym, he cause thē to reade those Scriptures of Iesus Christ. And after that euery one of them had hearde it, he asked them if they beléeued that these sayings were true, and they answered yea. Incōtinent said the Calipho to them, I wil giue you fiftéene days respite, to make either yōder hil to passe to such a place, or else to [Page 12] renounce youre fayth in Iesus Christe as false, and to turne Moores, and if you will not doe this, you shall all die. And the Christians hearing this cruell sentence, were sore troubled, yet on the other part they comforted themselues, with hope in the faith they had in the truth they beléeued. And incontinent the Bishops, and Prelates, and Ministers that were among the Christians, commaunded all the Christians, men, women, and children, to fall to continuall Prayer to oure Lorde Iesus Christ, that he would helpe and councell them howe to rule and gouerne themselues in that greate trouble and néede.

And after eyght dayes were past, appeared an Angell to a holy Bishop, and commaunded him that he should say vnto a Shomaker that was a Christian, that had but one onely eye, that he should make Prayers to God, the which for his fayth and Prayers, shoulde make that hill remoue from his place, into the place the Calipho had appoynted. And incontinente the Bishop sente for that Shomaker, and with great desire prayed him to make Prayers to oure Lord God, that for hys m [...]rcie and pitie he woulde remoue that hill as the Calipho and M [...]ores had appoynted. The poore Shom [...]ker excused himselfe, saying, he was a greate Sinner, and vnworthy to demaund that grace of God: and this excuse he made with great humilitie, like a iust and chast man, full of vertue and holynesse, and a kéeper of Gods commaundements, deuoute, and a great almes man, according to his abilitie.

You sh [...]ll vnderstande, that thys Shomaker dyd pull out his eye by this meanes: He hadde hearde manye tim [...]s this saying in the Gospell, If thy eye offende thee pull it out, and cast it from thee. He being a simple man, thought, that so corporally and m [...]terially the Scriptures shoulde be vn [...]erstanded. For it chanced on a time, there came a M [...]yde into his Shoppe to bespeake a payre of Shoes, and to take the measure of his foote, put off hir hose, and he withall was tempted to lye with hir, remembring himselfe, and [Page 13] [...]hinking vpon his sinne and yll intent, sent hir away, without discouering any thing of his yll thoughte and intente, and remembring the saying of the holy Gospell, being ouercome with zeale, and yet not hauing the true knowledge, plucked out his eye. And so this Shomaker being so desired by the Bishop, and other Christians, did graunt, and promised to praye vnto our Lord God for the sayd cause. And the time of the .xv. dayes being come, that the Calipho had appoynted, he caused to come togither all the Christians, whiche came in Procession with their Crosse, into a faire playne, hard by the hill and Mountayne. And to that place came the Calipho, with muche people armed, with intention, that streight way, if the Mountayne did not remoue, to kill them all. Incontinente the Shomaker knéeled downe vppon the earth vpon his bare knées, and very deuoutely prayed to oure Lorde, lifting vp his hearte and handes to Heauen, praying to Iesus Christe to succour and helpe them his Christians, that they shoulde not perishe: and for that his faith was cléere, makyng an end of his Prayer, the power of the Almightie God Iesus did cause the Mountayne to remoue and goe from the place it stoode, A great miracle. A Mountain remoued frō one place to another. The Calipho became christned, and a great nūber of his Moores into the place the Calipho and his Councell hadde commaunded.

And the Moores séeyng thys greate and manyfest miracle, stoode wonderfully amazed, saying, Great is the God of the Christians, and the Calipho, with a great number of the same Moores became Christned. And after this Calipho dyed, the Moores that were not Christned, would not consente that this Calipho should be buried, wheras the other Caliphoes were buried, for bycause that after that myracle, he lyued and dyed like a true and faythfull Christian.

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Of Persia, and of the Countreys of the Magos, and of other good things that be in them. CHAP. 13.

PErsia is a noble Prouince or Countrey, although it was much more in the old time, than it is at this present, for it was destroyed by the Tartars. In Persia is a Citie called Sabba, from the which the saying is, the thrée Kings departed, In this Citie Sabba the three Kings met that wēt to worship Christ, and heere they were buried. that went to Iesus Christ, that was newly borne in Bethleem. In this citie there are Sepulchres, very faire and beautifull, and I Marcus Paulus was in that Citie, and asked of the people of that Countrey what they could say or knewe of the thrée Kings, to the which they could say nothing, but that they were buried in those thrée Sepulchres. But y ^e other people out of the Citie thrée dayes iourney, talked of this matter in thys maner following, for the which you shal vnderstād, that thrée days iourney frō the Citie Sabba is a Towne, which is called Calassa Tapeziston, which in our language is as much as to say the Towne of them that worship the fire for their God. And these people say, that whē the thrée Kings departed frō y ^e prouince, for to go to the land of the Iewes, which was Bethleem, to worship the great Prophet there newly borne, they carried with thē Golde, The three Kings offered Gold, Incense, and Myrre. Incense, and Myrre, and when they came to Bethleem in Iudea, found a child lately borne, and did worshippe him for God, and presented to him the foresaide thrée things: and that the said child did giue thē a little Boxe, closed, or shut fast, commanding thē they should not open it. But they, after they had trauelled a long iourney, it came in their mindes to sée what they carried in the said Boxe, and opened it, and foūd nothing in it but only a stone: and they taking it in ill parte, that they sawe nothing else, did cast it into a well, and by and by descended fire from Heauen, and burnt all the Well wyth the stone. A miracle if it be true. And the Kings séeing this, each of them toke of the [Page 15] same fire, and carried it into their Countreys: and for thys cause they do worship the fire as God. And when it chanceth in any place in that Countrey that they lacke fire, they goe to séeke it in another place where they cā get of it, and so do light their Lampes. And sometimes they goe and séeke it eyght or tenne dayes iourney, and not finding of it, they goe ofttymes to the Well aforesayd, to haue of the same fire. Of all this before written, you shall take y ^t which doth agrée with the holy Gospell, in saying the thrée Kings went to worship our Lord Iesu, and did offer those giftes aforesaide. All that is declared besides that, be erroures, and reacheth not to the truth, but augmēted with lyes vpon lyes, as the vulgar people without knowledge are accustomed to do.

Of eyght Kingdomes in Persia, and the commodities of them. CHAP. 14.

IN the Prouince of Persia be eyght Kingdomes, the first is called Casun, the second which is towardes the South is Curdistan, the third Lore, the fourth Ciestan, the fifth Iustanth, the sixth Iciagi, the seauenth Corchara, the eyght Tunchay. All these Kingdomes be in Persia, in the partes towards the South, sauing Tunchay. In these Kingdomes be very faire Horses and Moyles, & coursers of great value, and Asses the greatest in the worlde, Heere is great plenty of fayre Horses, Moyles, and Asses. & of great price, that wil go and runne very swiftely, and these the Merchants of India do commonly buy in the Cities of Atris [...], & of Arcones, which do ioyne by Sea vpon the India, and do sel thē as Merchandise. In this Kingdome Tunchay be very cruell mē, y ^t wil kill one another. If it were not for feare of y ^e Tartar of the East, which is their Lord and King, neyther Merchant nor other could passe, but should be eyther robbed or taken prisoner. They be strong people, and be of the sect of Mahomet. There they do worke, and make greate plentie of cloth of gold [Page 16] and silke in great abundance and rich. In that Countrey gr [...] weth greate plentie of Cotten wooll. Heere is made great plentie of rich cloth of gold & silke. Also, there is gr [...]ate abundance of Wheate, Barly, Dates, and [...]ther grayne, and Wine, and Oyles, and frutes.

Of Iasoy, and of many maruellous things there. CHAP. 15.

IAsoy is a goodly Citie and bigge, full of Merchants. Heere they do make gret plentie of cloth of golde and silke. There they do make great abundance of cloth of gold, and silke. They be called accordyng to the Citie Iasoy. The people of this Countrey be of the sect of Martin Pinol, that is, Mahomet, and do speake another language than the Persians. And going forward eyght dayes iourney from this Citie, through a playne Countrey, but not peopled, or anye Towne, sauing Mountaynes, where is great plentie of Partriches, and wild Asses, at the ende of this, is the Kingdome of the Crerina, that is, a Kingdome of the Persians, of a great and long inheritance.

In this Countrey they doe finde greate plentie of pretious stones, Pretious stones, as Turkises and others. and of Turkies great store in the Mountaynes, in the whiche Mountaynes, is greate plentie of Vayne, or Ore of Stéele, and of Calamita. In this Citie, they do make greate plentie of costly saddles, bridles, and harnesses for Horses, and for noble men Swords, Sadles and bridles, and other costly furniture for Horses. Cloth of gold and silke. Excellent good hawkes. bowes, and other riche furniture for Horse and Man. The Women of this Countrey doe nothing, but commaunde their Seruauntes. They make also there very riche cloth of gold and silke. And in those Mountaynes be excéeding good Hawkes, valiaunte, and swifte of wings, that no fewle can scape them. And departing from Crerina, you shall goe eyght dayes iourney in playne way, full of Cities and Townes, very faire, and there is pleasaunte Hawking by the way, & great plentie of Partriches. And being past the sayd eyght dayes iourney, there is a going downe [Page 25] the hil of two dayes iourney, whereas there is great plenty of frutes. In the olde time there was manye Townes and houses, and now there be none but heardmen, that kéepe the Cattell in the field. From the Citie of Crerina, so this going down, al the winter is so great cold, that although they go very wel clothed, they haue ynough to do to liue. And being past this going downe two dayes iourney forwarde, you shall come into a faire playne way, the beginning whereof is a great faire Citie, called Camath, the whiche was in the old time noble and greate, and nowe is not so, for that the Tartars haue destroyed it. That playne is very hote, and that Prouince is called Reobarle. There be apples of Paradise, and Festucas, and Medlars, and diuers other goodly frutes in great abundance. There be Oxen maruellous great, the heare short and soft, and the hornes short, bigge, and sharp, and haue a greate rounde bunche betwéene the shoulders, of two spannes long. And when they will lade these Oxen, they do knéele downe on theyr knées like Camels, and being ladē, do rise, and they carrie great weight. There the Shéepe be as greate as Asses, hauing a greate tayle, and thicke, that will weigh .32. pound, Sheepe as great as asses. and be maruellous good to eate. In that playne be many Cities & townes with walles, and Towers of a great heigth for the defence of the enimies, called Caraones, which be certaine Villages. The people of that Countrey their Mothers be Indians, and their fathers Tartars. When that people will go a robbing, they worke by enchantment by the Deuill, Enchantmēt. to darken the aire, as it were midnight, bycause they woulde not bée séene a farre off, and this darkenesse endureth seauen dayes. And the Théeues that know well all the wayes, goe togither, withoute making anye noyse, and as many as they can take, they robbe. The olde men they kill, and the yong men they sell for slaues. Their King is called Hegodar, and of a truth I Marcus Paulus do tell you, that I escaped very hardly from taking of these [...], and that I was [Page 26] not slaine in that darkenesse, but it pleased God, I escaped to a towne called Ganassalim, yet of my companie they tok [...] and slewe many. This playne is towardes the South, and is of seauen dayes iourney, and at the end of them is a moū tayne, called Detustlyno, that is eightéene miles long & more, and is also very daungerous with théeues, that do rob Merchauntes and all trauellers. At the ende of this mountaine is a faire playne, called the goodly playne, which is seauen dayes iourney, in the which there be many wels, and date trées, very good, and this playne bordereth vpon the Ocean Sea, and on the riuer of the sea, is a Citie called Carmoe.

Of the Citie Carmoe, and of many maruellous and straunge things that be there. CHAP. 16.

Carmoe is a greate Citie, and is a good porte of the Ocean sea, Thither do occupie Merchāts of the Indeas with spices, cloth of gold & silke, and with precious stones, and Elephantes téeth, Great trade of Merchāts and is a Citie of great trade, with merchaundize, and is heade of that kingdome, and the king is called M [...]nedanocomoyth. It is very hote there, and y ^e ayre infectious. When there doth dye any Merchaunt, they doe make hauocke of all his goods. In this Citie they do drinke wine made of Dates, putting good spices to it, yet at the beginning of dinner it is daungerous, for those that be not vsed to it, for it will make them very soluble, streight waye, but it is good to purge the body. The people of that Countrey do not vse of our victuals, for when they eate bread of wheate and fleshe, by and by they fall sicke. Their victuals is Dates & salte, Tonny, Garlike & Onyons. The peopl [...] of that Countrey be blacke, and be of the sect of Mahomet. And for the great heate in the Sommer, they dwell not in the town, but in the [...] and in gardens, and Orchyards. [Page 27] There be many riuers and Wels, that euery one hath faire water for his garden: and there be manye that dwell in a desart, wheras is al sande, that ioyneth to that playne. And those people assoone as they féele the great heate, they goe into the waters, and there tarrie till the beate of the daye be past. In that countrey, they do sowe their wheate and corne in Nouember, and gather it in Marche. And in thys time the fruites be greater than in any place. And after March is passe, the grasse, hearbes, When the husband dyeth the wife & the friends do [...]eep once a day for the space of four yeares. and leaues of trées doe drie, sauing of Date trées, which continue till Maye. And in that countrey they haue this custome, [...]hat when the husband doth dye, the wife and hir friendes doe wéepe once a day, for the space of foure yeares.

Of the Citie of Crerima, and the death of the Olde man of the Mountaine. C [...]AP. 17.

LEauing hers this Citie, and not declaring any more, of the Indians, I retourne to the Northwar [...], declaring of those prouinc [...]s [...] [...]nother way, to the Citie Crerima, aforesayde, for bycause that way, that I would tell of, could not be trauelled to Crerima for the crueltie of the king of that c [...]untrie, wh [...]e is called Ren [...] ela vacomare, from whome fewe coulde scape, bu [...] eyther were robbed or slayne. And for this cause manye kings did paye him tribute, and hys name is as muche to saye, as the olde man of the mountayne. But I wyll nowe [Page 28] declare vnto you howe this cruell King was taken prisoner in the yeare of our Lord .1272. Alan King of the Tartars of the East, hearing of the greate crueltie of this olde m [...]n of the Mountayne, that he did sent a great host of men, and besette his Castell rounde about, and thus continued three yeares, and coulde neuer take it, till that victuals did sayle them: for it was very strong, and vnpossible to be gotten. At the length Alan toke the Caste [...], and the old man of the Mountayne: and of al his Souldioures and men be caused the heads to be stricken off, and from that time forwarde that way was very good for [...]ll trauellers.

What is found in that Countrey. CHAP. 18.

DEparting from the foresayd Castell, you shall come into [...] very faire playne, full of gr [...]sse, with all things in it fitte for mans sustenance. And this playne dothe last [...]ixe dayes iourney, in the whiche there is man [...] fayre Cities and Townes. The [...]ple of that Countrey [...]peake the Persian language, and haue greate lacke of water, and sometimes they shall fortune to go .40. miles, and not finde water. Therfore it shall be needefull for those that do trauell that way, to carrie w [...]ter with them from plac [...] [...]o place. And being past these sixe dayes iourn [...]y, there is a Citie called Sempergayme, faire and pleasaunte, with abundance of victuals. There be excellen [...]e good Mellones, and the best Hunters for wilde beastes, and t [...]king of wilde Fowle, that be in the world.

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Of the Citie of Baldach, and of many other things. CHAP. 19.

TRauelling forward in this Countrey, you shall come to a Citie called Baldach, in the whiche King Alexander married with the daughter of Darius king of y ^e Persians. This Citie is of the Kingdome of Persia, & they do t [...]re speake the Persian tong, and be all of the sect of Mahomet. And this Countrey dothe ioyne with the Tartar of the East, betwéene the Northeast, and the East. And departing from this Citie towardes the Countreys of the said Tartar, you shall goe two dayes iourney, withoute finding any Towne, bycause the people of that Countrey do couet to the strong Mountaynes, bycause of the ill people that be there. In that Countrey be many waters, by reason whereof is greate plenty of wild Fowle, and of wylde Beasts, and there be man [...] Lions. It is néedefull for the trauellers that way, to carrie prouision with them that shall be néedefull for themselues, and for their Horses those two dayes iourney. And being past that, you shall come to a Towne called Thaychan, a pleasaunt place, and well prouided of all vittayles néedefull, and the hilles be tow [...]rdes the South faire and large. That prouince is .xxx. dayes iourney. And there is great plētie of salt, that all the Cities and Townes thereaboutes haue their salt from thence. Great plenty of salte.

Of that Countrey. CHA [...] ▪ 20.

DEparting from that towne, and trauelling Northeast, and to the East for the space of thrée dayes iourney, you shall come to faire Cities and Townes well prouided and victuals and frutes in great abundance, and these [Page 30] people do speake the Persian language, and be Mahomets. There be singular good wines, Good wines and great drinkers. and great drinkers, and yll people. They go bareheaded, hauing a Towell knit about [...] their browes. They weare nothing but skinnes that they do dresse.

Of the Citie Echasen. CHAP. 12.

AFter that you haue trauelled forwarde foure dayes iourney, you shall come to a Citie called Echasen, on a playne and there is not farre from it manie Cities and townes, and great plentie of woods about it. There goeth through the middest of this Citie a gret riuer. There is in that countrie, many wilde beastes, and when they be disposed to take anye of them, they will cast dartes, and shoot [...] them into the flancks and into the sides. The people of that countrey doe speake the Persian tong, and the husbandmen, with their cattayle do liue in the fieldes and in the woods.

Of the manner of the Countrie. CHAP. 22.

DEparting from this Citie, you shall trauayle thrée dayes iourney, without comming to any towne, or finding any victuals eyther to eate or drinke, and for thys cause the trauellers do prouide themselues for y ^e time, & at the end of these thrée days iourney, you shal come to a prouince called Ballasia.

[...]

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Of the prouince called Ballasia, and of the commodities there. CHAP. 23.

BAllasia is a great prouince, & they do speake the Persian tong, & be Mahomets, and it is a great kingdome, and auncient. There did raygne the successours of king Alexander, and of Darius king of Persia. And their king is called Culturi, which is as much to say, as Alexander, and is for remembraunce of the great king Alexāder. In this countrey grow the precious stones, called Ballasses of greate value. And these stones you can not carrie out of the countrey without speciall licence of the king, on pain of léesing life and goods. And those that he doth let passe be, eyther he doth forgiue tribute of some king, or else that he doth sell: and if they were not so straightlye kept, they would be little worth, there is such great plentie of them. This countrie is very colde, and there is found greate plenty of siluer: there be very good coursers, or horses, that be neuer shod, bycause they bréede in the mountaines and woods. There is great plentie of wilde foule, and greate plentie of corne, and Myl [...], and Loli [...]. For lacke of cloth the people weare skinnes of such beastes a [...] they kil. In this kingdome be great woods & narrow ways, strong men, and good Archers, and for this cause they feare no bodie. There is no cloth, they apparell themselues with skinnes of beastes that they kil. The women do weare wrapped aboute their b [...]dies lik [...] y ^e neather part of garments, some an hundreth fathom, & some fourescore, of linnen very fine and thinne, m [...]de of flaxe and Cotton wool, for to séeme great and fayre, and they doe weare bréeches very fine of silke, with Muske put in them.

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Of the Prouince of Abassia vvhere the people be blacke. CHAP. 24.

AFter you be departed f [...]ō Ballasia eyght dayes iourney towards the South, you haue a prouince cal [...]ed Abassia, whose people be blacke, and do speake the Persian tong, and doe worship Idolles. There they do vse Negromancie. The men do weare at their heares iewels of golde, siluer, and pretious stones. They be malicious people, and leacherous, by reason of the great heate of that Countrey, and they eate nothing but flesh and Rice.

Of the Prouince called Thassimur, and of many things there. CHAP. 25.

WIthin the iurisdiction of this Countrey, betwéene the East and the South, there is a Prouince called Thassymur, and the people do speake the Persian tong. They be Idolaters, and great Negromancers, and do call to the Spirits, N [...]gromancers. and make them to speake in the Idols, and do make their Temples séeme to moue. They doe trouble the ayre, and doe many other diuelish things. From hence they may go to the Indian Sea. The people of that Countrey be blacke and leane, and do eate nothing but flesh and Rice. The Countrey is temperate. In this Countrey be many Cities and Townes, and rounde about many hilles and strong wayes to passe. And for this cause they feare no body, and their King dothe mainteyne them in peace and iustice. There be also Hermit [...]s, that do kéepe great abstinence in eating & drinking. And there be Monasteries, and many Abbeys, with Monkes, very deuout in their Idolatrie and naughtinesse.

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Of the saide prouince of Thassymur. CHAP. 26.

I Minde not now to passe further in this prouince, for in passing of it I sh [...]uld enter into the Indeas, wherof for this time I wil not declare any thing, but at the returne, I wil declare of it largely, as wel of the commodities there, as also of their manner, and vsages.

Of a prouince called Vochaym. CHAP. 27.

DEparting from Balassia, you shall goe thrée dayes iourney betwéene the Northeast, and by a riuer that is neare to Balassia. In thys prouince be many Cities and townes. The men of this prouince be valiaunt in armes, and speake the Persian language, and be Mahomets. At the ende of this thrée dayes iourney is a Citie called Vochayn very long, of thrée dayes iourney on eyther side. A Citie of 3. days iourney long. The people of this prouince, be subiecte to the king of Balassia, and there be greate hunters of wilde beastes, and taking of wilde foules in great number.

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Of the nouelties of this Countrey. CHAP. 28.

THrée dayes iourney going forewarde, you shall goe vp an hill, vpon the whiche is a riuer, and goodly fruitefull pastures, that if you put in your cattell there, very leane, within tenne dayes they wil be fat. There be greate plentie of wylde beastes, and among them wilde shéepe, that some of them haue their hornes of foure and some of seuen, Sheep that haue hornes of foure or fiue and ten spans long. and some of tenne spannes long. And of these hornes th [...] heardemen there doe make dishes, and spones. In the valey of this mountaine called Plauor, you shall trauell tenne dayes iourney, without comming to anye towne, or anye grasse, therefore it shall be néedefull, for the traueylours that waye, to carrie prouision with them, as wel for themselues, as for their horses. There is greate colde in that Countrey, that the fire hath not the strength to séethe th [...]ir victuals, as in other Countries.

Of the Desert Bosor, and of manye maruellous things there. CHAP. 39.

AFter that you be departed from thence, within thré [...] daies iourney you shal be faine to trauell fortie dayes iourney continually vpon Mountaines, Heathes, and Valleys, betwéene the Northeast and East, and passing ouer diuers riuers and deserts. And in [Page 37] all this waye, you shall come to no towne nor habitation, nor grasse, Fortie daye [...] iourney and haue no habitation. and therefore it is néedefull for those that do trauell that waye, to carrie with them prouision and victuals for themselues and their horses. And this Countrey is called Bosor. The people there liue on the high hils, & be called people of the Mountaines. They be Idolaters, and liue by their cattel, and be cruell people.

Of the prouince Caschar and of other Nouelties. CHAP. 40.

LEaue this prouince, and let vs goe to another called Caschar, that in olde time was a kingdome, although nowe it be subiect to the greate Cane. In this prouince are manye faire Cities and townes, the best is Caschar: they be all Mahometes. This prouince is betwéene the Northeast & the East. In it be many great Merchants, faire possessions and Vines, they haue much Cottenwooll there, and very good. The Merchaunts of that countrey bée neare, and couetous, In this prouince which endureth fiue dayes iourney, be Christians called Nestorians, and haue Churches, and speake the Persian tong.

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Of Sumarthan, and of a miracle. CHAP. 31.

SVmarthan is a Citie great and faire, in the which dwell Christians, and Moores, that be subiect to y ^e great Cane: but this king beareth th [...]m no good will. In this Citie chaunced a maruellous thing. A brother of the greate Cane, that was Lorde of that Countrey, became a Christian, by meanes whereof, the Christians there, receyued great comfort, and buylded them a Churche, in the name of Saint Iohn Baptist. And it was builded in such sorte, that one Piller of Marble standing in the middest, did beare vp all the roufe of the Church, and the Christians did put vnder the sayde piller a goodly Marble stone, whiche was the Moores, and for bycause the king was a Christian, they durst say nothing of it. This king died, and one of his sons succéeded him in the kingdome, which was no Christian, and on a time the Moores demaunded their stone of y ^e Christians, thinking that in taking away that stone, the whole roufe of the Church would fal downe: and the Christians did offer to pay the Moores for the stone, what they woulde demaunde: but they woulde not by anye meanes, but haue their stone, and in the ende, the new king commaunded the Christians to restore the stone to the Moores, and the time appointed being come, that the Moores would haue it, the sayde Piller lifted it selfe vp, thrée spannes aboue the stone, and so hāged in the ayre, that the Moores might take away their stone, and yet the Church fell not, and so doth th [...] Piller remayne til this day.

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Of the prouince of Carcham. CHAP. 32.

GOing forwards, you shall come to a prouince called Carcham, whiche is fiue dayes iourney long, and is subiect to the greate Cane, and be Mahomets, but there is among them Christians Nestorians. There is in this prouince aboundaunce of all things.

Of the prouince Chota and of their manners. CHAP. 33.

CHota is a prouince betwéene the Northeast, and the East, and is of fiue dayes iourney, subiect to the gret Cane, and be Mahomets. In this prouince there be diuerse cities and towns, but the chiefest is Chota. In this prouince be goodly possessions, and faire Gardens and Vines, plentie of Wine and fruites, and Oyles, Wheate, Barley and all other victuals, great plentie of Cotton-w [...]oll. In this Countrey be rich Merchaunts, good and valiaunt men of armes.

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Of the prouince of Poym and of their vsages. CHAP. 34.

POym is a small prouince of fiue dayes iourney, it is betwéene the Northeaste and the East, and be subiect to the great Cane, and be Mahomets, and the principall Citie is called Poym. Iaspes and Calcedonies. In this prouince there is a riuer, in the whiche there is founde precious stones, called Iaspes and Calcedonies, there is great plentie of all kinde of victuals, and great trade of Merchandizes. In this prouince there is this custome, that when the husband departeth from his house for fiftéene or thirtie dayes, or more or lesse, if the wife can get another husbande for the time, she taketh him, and the husbande taketh another wife til he returne home to his house.

Of the prouince of Ciarchan being in great Turkie. CHAP. 35.

AL the prouinces beforesayde, from Caschar, to this, be subiectes to the greate Cane, and were of greate Turkie, in y ^e which there is a great Citie called Ciarchan in a prouince also called Ciarcham, set betwéene the Northeast & the East, and the people of that Countrey speake the Persian tong, and be Mahomets. In this prouince be many Cities, townes, and riuers, wherein be found many pretious stones, called Calcedonies, whiche Merchauntes carry [Page 31] all the worlde ouer to sell, and get muche money by them. In this Countrey is aboundaunce of all things néedefull: And this prouince for the most part is sandie, and the waters there, for the most part, pleasaunt and swéete, yet in some places brackish. And the people of that Countrey, fering the ill people, do flie with their householde stuffe, and cattell, two or thrée dayes iourney, till they maye come to some good place, whereas is water and grasse for their cattel, and by reason the way is sandie, their tracte is soone filled, by reason whereof, the théeues knowe not howe to follow in that Countrey.

Of a great deserte, and of the Citie called Iob. CHAP. 36.

DEparting from Ciarchan, you shal trauayle fiue dayes iourney in sande, and in the waye, fresh and swéete waters, and some saltish. Being paste these fiue dayes iorney, you shal finde a great desert, and at the beginning of it a gret Citie called Iob, The Citie Iob. betwéene the Northeast and the Easte. They be vnder the obedience of the great Cane, & be Mahomets. And they that wil passe this desert, had néede to be in thys Citie a wéeke, for to prouide them victuals and other necessaries for them and theyr horses for a moneth, for in thys desert, you shall finde nothing to eate or drinke: and there be many sandie hils, and greate. After you be entred into it one dayes iourney, you shall finde good water, but [Page 32] after that neyther good nor badde, nor beastes, nor foules, nor any thing to eate: and trauelling that waye by nighte, you shall heare in the ayre, the sound of Tabers and other instruments, to putte the trauellers in feare, and to make them lose their way, and to depart from their company, and loose themselues: and by that meanes many do [...] die, being deceiued so, by euill spirites, that make these soundes, and also do call diuerse of the trauellers by their names, and make them to leaue their companye, so that you shall passe this desert with great daunger.

Of the prouince of Tanguith, and of the Citie Sangechian, and of many straunge things there. CHAP. 37.

AFter you be passe the sayde thirtie dayes iourney by the deserte, you shall come to a Citie called Sangechian, subiect to the greate Cane. And this prouince is called Tanguith, in the whiche al be Idolaters, sauing some be Christians, Nestorians, and some Mahomets. The Idolaters speake the Persian tong, and doe liue by the fruites of that Countrey. There be among them manye Monasteries of the Idolaters, wher with great deuotion they bring their children, and with euerie of them a shéepe, and do present to their Idols: and euerie yeare they come with theyr children and make great reuerence to their Idols, & bryng with them their shéepe, and kill them, and séeth them, and present them there, before their Idols, saying to them, they must eate their meate, the which they can not doe, for they haue neyther mouth nor sense, and séeing their Idols do [...] not eate it, they carrie it home to their houses with greate reuerence, and call theyr kyndered togyther, and do eate [Page 33] of it, as meate sacrificed to their Gods, and put the bones in a basket. When anye man or woman dieth, they burne the body: and this they accustome to doe with al the Idolators. And in the way that the deade bodies shall passe to be burnte, A rich mouening & good cheare. stande all their friendes and kinsfolkes to accompany the body to the sepulchre, all clothed in cloth of golde and silke: and after the burnte bodye is put into the grounde, they cause to be brought thither meate & drinke, and there they do eate and drinke with greate myrth, saying: These bodies shall be receiued in the other worlde with like honour. When they burne the bodies, they do also burne with them diuers papers paynted, of men, women, and beastes, say [...]ng, that as many pictures of men, women, and beastes, as they do burne with them, so many seruaunts they shall haue in the other world to doe them seruice: and when they cary them to bury, there goeth before them diuers kinds of instruments playing. And whē one of these Idolators dieth, his friendes incontinentlye declare to the Astrologers, the day and the houre hée was borne in, and wil not bury him before the day & houre the Astrologers doe commaunde: by that meanes some they bury straightways, and somtimes, they tarry ten, twenty, and thirtie dayes, and sometime sixe moneths, according as the Astrologers doe commaunde: and in the meane time, they do sire the body with spices, and put it in a coffin, and nayle it faste, and lay a cloth ouer it, and euerye day they set their table ouer the Coffin, and there do eate and drinke, and pray the dead body to eate with them. And when the day appointed is come for to bury him, the Astrologers do say, that if he hath layne there one month, it is not good to take him oute of that place, by the iudgement of the Constellations, and for that cause muste first remoue him to some other side of the house, & from thence carry him to bury.

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Of the prouince Chamul, and of the euill customes there. CHAP. 38.

CHamul is a prouince in the whiche be manye Citties and Townes, whereof the chiefest is called Chamul, and this prouince is towards the winde called Maistral, which is Northeast, and hath two Deserts: on the one side, the Deserte is of thrée dayes iorney, and on the other side as muche. The people of this Countrey worship Idols, and doe speake the Persian tongue. They liue by their labor in the Countrey, and haue plentie of al things néedefull. They be people giuen much to their owne pleasure, as playing on instrumentes, dauncing, and singing. And if any straunger doe goe to sée their pastime, they receiue him, and make very much of him, with feasting and cheare, and the goodman commaundeth his wife to make hym the beste cheare she can, and to obey him in al things he will commaunde or desire, and so the goodman goeth to his laboure into the fieldes, and leaueth the straunger with hys wife, willing hir to obey hym as to his owne person: and this custome the menne and the women vse there, & be not ashamed therof. The women be very faire there. In the time of the greate Cane that is passe, for the greate dishonestie hée heard of the people of that countrie, and the greate hurte they susteined in their houses, commaunded them that they shoulde receiue no straungers into their houses, wherewithall the people were [Page 35] sore offended, and thinking themselues not well vsed, sent Embassadors to the greate Cane, requesting him, that he woulde not restraine them from their auntient liberties and customes, that their anticessors hadde euer vsed, and they for their partes woulde continue the same, otherwise they shoulde be vnthankefull to their Idolls. After the greate Cane hadde hearde their Embassage, aunswered them, séeyng they had pleasure in suche shamefull vsages, and woulde not leaue it, he also was contented with it.

Of the prouince Hingnitala, and of the Salamandra that is founde there. CHAP. 39.

HIngnitala is a prouince set betwéen the North and the Easte, and is a long prouince of sixetéene dayes iourney, and is subiect to the great Cane, and there is manye Cities and Townes. There is also in that prouince, thrée linages of people, to saye, Idolators that be Christians, Nestorians and Iacobites, and the other Mahomets. At the ende of this prouince towardes the North is a greate hill, on the whiche there is neither beastes nor Serpent, and from thence they doe gather that whiche is called Salamandra, which is a thréede they doe make cloth of. They gather it after this manner, they digge a certaine vayne that they doe there finde, and afterwardes they beate it in a [Page 36] morter of a lofer, and afterwarde washe it, and there remaineth small fine théedes faire and cleane, and after they haue caste out that which they doe washe it withall, they spinne it, and weaue it, and make table clothes and napkins of it, then they caste them into the fire for a certaine time, whereas it waxeth as white as snowe: and the great Cane once in thrée yeres doth send for some of them that be made of Salamandra. And they wer wont for to sēd of these napkins, for to hang before the vernacle of oure Lorde Iesus Christ, whome the people of Leuant do take for a great prophet. Departing from this prouince, and going betwéen the Northeast and East, you shal trauaile tenne dayes iourney and come to little habitation, and at the end of the tenne dayes iourny, you shall find a prouince called Sanchur, in it be Christians and Idolators, subiects to the great Cane. The two prouinces beforesaide, to say, Chamul, and Hingnitala be called Tanguth, with the prouince of Sachar. In all the hilles of this prouince is found greate plentie of Rewbarbe, and there the Merchauntes do buy it, and carry it to all places to sel. There they doe not vse any occupation, but the moste parte doe liue by the laboure of the Countrey.

Of the Citie called Campion, and of many euill vsages there. CHAP. 44.

CAmpion is a greate Citie and fayre, & is the heade of the prouince of Tanguth. In this Citie be thrée sortes of people, that is to say, Christians, Idolators, and Mahomets. The Christiās haue thrée great Churches and faire, and the Idolators haue also Monasteries [Page 37] Abbeys, and religious houses, more chaste and comly than the other, and they do kil no beast nor fowle there till the fifth day of the Moone, and in those fiue days they liue more honest, deuout, and chast, than in any other time of the yeare. These Idolators may haue thirtie wiues apéece, or more, if they be able to maintaine them, but the firste wife is chiefe, and if anye of them doe not contente him, he may put hir away. They do mary in kinreds, and liue like beastes. In this Citie was Mapheo Nicholas and Marcus Paulus seauen yeres, vsing the trade of merchaundize.

Of a Citie called Eusina, and of many notable things in Tartaria. CHAP. xlj.

DEparting from the foresayde Cittie Campion, and trauailing twelue dayes iorney, you shall come to a Citie called Eusina, the whyche is in a fielde of the Desert called Sabon, toward the North, and is of the prouince Targuth. In this Citie they bée al Idolators, and haue great abundaunce of Camels and other cattell withall: they gette their liuing by labouring the ground. In this Citie those that do trauaile, do prouide them of victualles, and other necessaries, for fortie dayes iourney, whyche they must passe through a great. Desert, wheras be no towns nor houses, nor grasse, but in the mountaines about dwel people, and also in the valleys beneath the Desert. There be many Asses and other wild beasts of the mountaines, and greate Pine apple trées. At the ende of this Deserte [Page 38] there is a Citie called Catlogoria, whiche is towarde the North, and of this Citie was the first Prince or Lorde among the Tartars, and his name was Catlogoria. The Tartars dwel towards the North, wheras is but few cities & Townes, but true it is, there be fayre playnes, pastures, riuers, and very good waters. There dwell Tartars that haue no King nor Lorde, they doe gouerne themselues in common, and do pay tribute to Prester Iohn. It formned, that these Tartars multiplyed to so greate a number, that Prester Iohn did feare, that they woulde rise against him, therefore he determined with himselfe to sende certaine Lordes of his that shoulde be among them to kéepe them asunder, and also to kéepe the countrey in good order, and to banishe or diminishe parte of them, bycause they should not be of so greate a power. And the Tartars perceyuyng thys, ioyned themselues togither, and tooke councell, determined to leaue that countrey, and to goe and dwell vpon the mountaines and in the deserts, by meanes whereof from that time forwarde they stoode in no feare of Prester Iohn, nor woulde pay him tribute. And at the end of certaine yeares, that they were not vnder the obedience of Prester Iohn, they did elect and choose among themselues a King whiche they called Chenchis, a valiaunt and wise man: and this was in the yeare of oure Lorde God .1187. and crowned him for King of the Tartars aforesaide. And all the Tartars that were in Persia, and other Countreys there [...]boutes, came to him, and put themselues vnder his gouernement, and obeyed him as their King, and he receiued them very friendly, gouerning them iustely and discréetely. And after that Chenchis was confirmed, and had the whole gouernment, within a short time he made war, and in shorte time conquered righte Kingdomes or Prouinces, and when he hadde gotten anye Prouince or Citie, he did iniurie to no man, but lette them remaine wyth [Page 39] their goods, sauing to those that were able and fitte menne for him, they he tooke with him into the warres, and by this meanes he was welbeloued, and all men were content to goe with him.

Of the beginning of the raigne of the Tartars, and of many maruellous and straunge thinges. CHAP. 42.

CHenchis perceyuyng himselfe to be of suche power, minding to ioyne himselfe in kindred or stocke with Prester Iohn, sente to him his Embassadoures, requiring his daughter in marriage: and this was in the yeare of oure Lord God .1190. Prester Iohn disdained that Embassage and aunswered, that he maruailed muche that Chenchis being his Subiecte shoulde presume to demaunde his Lordes daughter to be his wife, saying he woulde rather kil hir: so the matter remayned thus. Chenchis hearing this aunswere of Prester Iohn, was sore troubled and vexed in minde againste hym, and incontinent sent him defiaunce, saying, he woulde warre vppon him, and of this Prester Iohn made small reckning saying, that the Tartars were but slaues, and not menne of warre, notwithstanding he made himselfe in a readinesse, and came vpon Chenchis, who had also made himselfe in a readinesse, and came oute againste him and encountred togither in a great plaine called Tanguth, where it was appointed the battaile shoulde be of both parties, & thus ioyned togither in a fierce & lōg battel, for both parts [Page 40] was strong, but in the end, Prester Iohn being slaine, and many of both parts, Prester Iohn slaine in batte [...] by Chenchis King of the Ta [...]tars. the field remayned to Chenchis, who conquered all the prouince, Cities, and townes of Prester Iohn, and raigned after his death sixe yeares, and at the end of sixe yeares, laying siege to a Castell, was hurte in the knée with an arrowe, and of that wounde dyed. After the death of this Chenchis, was made Lord of the Tartars one called Cane, and this was the firste that was called Emperoure and Greate Cane. The first Emperour of the Tartars called Great Cane. And after hym raigned Bathe Cane, and the fourth was called Chenchis Cane, & the fifth was Cublay Cane, which raigneth nowe. This Cublay Cane is the greatest and of most power of anye of al his predessors, for among the Christians and Heathen, there is not a greater Prince than he is, nor of so great a power, and that shall you cléerely perceyue hereafter, by that which followeth. All the Canes, successors of the first Chenchis, where bu [...]yed in a mountaine called Alchay, and there dwelled the greate Cane. In this moū taine Alchay, be al the gret Canes buryed. And when the greate Cane dyeth, they cary hym to be buryed there. Those that do cary him, or go with him, kill as manye as they méete withall in the waye or stréete, and when they kill them, they saye: Go, and serue our Lorde in the other worlde, & they beléeue certainely, that they go, and doe him seruice. And likewise by this reason, when the greate Cane dieth, they kill all his Camels, Horses, and Moyles, beléeuing that they sēd them to serue their Lord in the other worlde. When Monguy Cane Lorde of the Tartars dyed, there was slaine .300000. men that they encountred in the way, by those that wente wyth hym to hys buriall to the saide mountaine.

The habitation of the Tartars in the Winter, is in the plaine fieldes, where it is warme, and good grasse and pasture for their Cattell, and in the Sommer in the mountaines and wooddes, where it is freshe and pleasaunt aire: and they make rounde houses of tymber, and couer them [Page 41] with feltes, and these houses they carry with them at all times when they do remoue: and alwayes they sette their doore in the Sommer time towards the South, and in the Winter towardes the North. These Tartars haue theyr cartes of Wagons couered with blacke feltes, that neuer any water can passe through, and in these Cartes or Wagons go their wiues, children, and family, and their Cammels do drawe these Wagons. The Tartars wiues doe buy and sell al manner of things belonging to householde, or any thing néedefull: their husbands take no care for it, but onely in hawking, hunting, and going on warrefare. They do eate all manner of fleshe, and drinke milke of all kinde of beastes and mares. The Tartars maye take as manye wiues as they will, and maye marry with anye of their kinred, excepting no degrée: but their firste wife is the chiefest, and is moste made of: the women doe gyue their dowries to their husbandes. There is none of them will haue conuersation with an other mannes wife. And when the father dyeth, his eldest sonne doeth marry wyth his mother in lawe, and when the sonne dyeth, his brother marryeth with hys sister in lawe, and for the time do kéep great solemnitie and feastes at the wedding.

Of the custome, orders, faith and honoring the great Cane, and howe he goeth to the warres. CHAP. 43.

THe Greate Cane Emperour of the Tartars, doth worshippe for his God, and Idoll called Nochygay, and they saye and beléeue, that he is the eternall God, that taketh care to preserue hym, hys wiues, children, familie, cattell, and corne, and [Page 42] hathe him in great reuerence, and euery one hath the figure of that Idoll in his house. And this Idoll is made of feltes, or of other cloth, and of the same felte or cloth they doe make wiues and children for their Idols, and the women be sette on the lefte side of the Idols, The Tartares doe make them Idols of feltes, and other baggage. and the children before them. When they thinke it dinner tyme, then they doe annoynte the mouthes and lippes of theyr Idols, and wiues and children, with the fatte of the sodden flesh, and do poure out the broath vpon the floore, saying, that theyr Idols, their wiues, and children doe fill themselues with it, and they do eate the sodden flesh, and their drinke is the milke of Mares trimmed with spices, that it is like white wine, and it is very good, and is called with them Cheminis. The Lordes and men of power and riches, goe apparelled in cloth of golde, and cloth of silke, The Nobilitie & Gentlemen go in cloth of gold and silke, furred with rich furres. furred with riche furres. Their harnesse is the Hydes of Buffe, or other thicke and strong Skynnes. The Tartares be valiant men of armes, and strong to abyde any trauell or laboure, and can well suffer hunger and thirst, for in the warres they be many times one moneth, and eate nothing, but of wylde beastes they doe kill in the field, and drinke Mares Milke. When they be in the field day and night they be on Horsebacke, and the bridle in their hands they giue the Horses meate. When their King setteth forward with his host, before and on euery side of him they do set foure battels of the best and most valiant men, for bycause their King shoulde not bée put in feare. And when he goeth a warrefare a farre off, he caryeth nothing with hym but hys armoure, and a thing to couer him when it doth rayne, and two flaggons with Milke for to drinke, and a Potte to séeth his meate in when néede is. In a tyme of néede hée will ride tenne days iourney, without eating any sodden meate. For his drinke, they will carrie Milke made like dry paste, and when hée is disposed to drinke, he will take a little of that [Page 43] paste, and dissolue it in fayre water, and so drinke it: The Tarta [...]es going a warfare, carrie with them a thing made in paste of Mares milke and other compounds, and do serue for his drinke. and when thys shall fayle hym, and that he can gette no other drinke, hée letteth hys Horse bloud, and drinketh of it. When the Tartares wyll skyrmishe wyth theyr en [...]mies, they hyde their Sallets secretely, and as they doe beginne to skyrmishe, streightway they shewe as though they woulde runne away, and that they were ouercome of theyr enimies, and thus fléeing, putte on theyr Sallets, and streyght way they returne valiantly vpon their enimies, and by this meanes commonly they doe breake the a ray of theyr enimies. The Tartares haue thys custome, When any of the Tartares sonnes dye, and also a daughter of another, then they do marrie these two togither, saying, they shall be so in the other worlde. that if one of theyr sonnes dye being yong, and also of another man his daughter, after they be dead, they marrie them, saying, they shall be maried in the other worlde. And of thys Matrimonie they doe make a publike writing, and this writing they burne, saying to the dead, that as the smoke thereof ascendeth on high, so doe they sende them that writing, declaring theyr mariage. And at suche mariages they make great feasting and solemnitie, and do séeth muche victuals, and poure out the broath vppon the floore, saying, that those which be dead in this world, and maried in the other, do eate of the victuals prepared for the wedding. And besides all this, they cause to be painted the figure of the sonne and daughter, vppon the backside of the foresayde writing, and withall the pictures of manye Camels, and other diuers beasts, and apparell and money, and many other things, saying, that as that writing dothe burne, all those things therein goe straight way to their chyldren, after the smoke as aforesayde, and the fathers and mothers of these children that dyed, doe take hands togither, and be alwayes after friendes, and Grandfathers and Grandmothers, and Cousens, euen as though they had bin maried aliue.

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Of a plaine called Barga, and of the customs of the people of that Countrey. CHAP. 44.

DEparting from the Citie called Cuthogora, aforesade, and the mountaine called Acay, where they bury theyr Kings of the Tartars, whiche is the greate Cane, you shall trauell through a great plaine called the plaine of Barga, fortie dayes iorney towards the North. The people of that country be called Mecrith. They be sauage people, and doe lyue the moste parte by killyng of redde Deare called Stagges, and other wilde beastes, and doe ride and trauaile vppon harts or stagges, as they doe in other places vppon horses. They haue neyther breade nor wine, and be subiectes to the greate Cane.

Of the greate Sea called the Occean. CHAP. 45.

AFter you haue trauailed fortie daies iorney, you shal come to a greate Sea called the Occean Sea, and also greate mountaynes, in the which you shal haue goodly Hawkes greate plentie, and speciall good, called Peregrinos. And in the Ilandes of the Sea bréedeth great plentie of Gerfalcons. In this Sea be two great Ilandes, whiche shall be spokē of hereafter, and lye towardes the North, and haue the Sea out of the South.

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Of the Kingdome Erguyl, and of many other Kingdomes, and of Muske, and other sweete and pleasaunte thinges that be there founde, and many other things. CHAP. 46.

I Haue declared vnto you of the prouinces of the North, till you come to the mountaines, and the Occean Sea: and now I will compte to you of the other prouinces belonging to y ^e great Cane, til you come to his country, returning to the country called Campion, where you shal passe .5. days iorny in length, in the which many times you shal hear the voices of euil spirits. At y ^e end of these fiue days iorny towards y ^e East, The voice of euil spirites heard. there is a kingdom called Erguil, of y ^e prouince of Tanguth, subiect to the greate Cane, and in this prouince there liue thrée sorts of people, that is to say, Christians that be Nestorians, and Idolators and Mahomets: and there be many Cities and Townes, but the principall Citie is called Erguyl. From this Citie trauelling East Southeast, you shall come to a Countrie whiche is a greate prouince, in the whiche there is a great Citie called Syrygay, that hath neare vnto it many Cities and Townes, all subiect to the greate Cane, and there be in it Christians, Idolators, and Mahomets. There be wild Oxen as bigge as Elephants, very faire beasts to sée, white and blacke, Mons [...]rous greate O [...]en a [...] bi [...]ge as El [...]p [...]ants. al couered with haire, sauing a spanne long vpon the necke, whyche is called Del Espinazo, whiche is bare, and hath no haire, and many of these Oxen they do make tame, and doe laboure and till the grounde with them. They will carrye greate waighte, by reason they be so great bodyed. There is the [Page 46] best Muske in the worlde. The Beast that [...]hey haue it off, Heere is the best Muske in the world. is bodyed like a Catte, with foure téeth, two aboue, and two beneath, of thrée fingers long, they be slender of body, an haue heare like a redde Déere, and féete lyke a Catte, and they haue a thing like a poshe, or bagge of bloud, gathered togither néere to their nauell, betwéene the skinne and the fleshe, whiche they cutte and take away, and that is the Muske: and there be many of those Beastes there. The people of that Countrey do liue by their occupations and trade of Merchandise, and haue good plenty of corne. This Countrey is long, of .25. days iourney. I think these be Peacocks There be plenty of Feysants, and very greate, for one of them is as bigge as two of oures, with tayles of eyght, nine, and tenne spannes long. The people of that Countrey be fatte, and of lowe browes, and blacke heared, and haue no beardes, but a fewe heares about the mouth. The women be faire and white, and well bodyed. The p [...]ople fot that Countrey bée gyuen muche to the pleasure of the body, for a riche man to obteyne the fauoure of a woman, wyll giue hir a ioynter. They bée all Idolaters▪

Of the Citie called Calacia, and of many things they do make there. CHAP. 47.

DEparting from Erguill, and trauelling towardes the East eyght dayes iourney, you shall come to a Prouince called Egregia, that hathe vnder it many Cities, and is of the Prouince of Tanguthe, and the principall Citie of it is called Chalacia, and is subiecte to [Page 47] the greate Cane, in the which be thrée Churches of Christians Nestorians, and all the rest be Idolaters. Heere be Chamlets made. There they make excellent good Chamlets of Camels heare of white wooll, and from thence Merchantes carrie them to sell into other Countreys.

Of the Prouince called Tanguthe which is subiect to Prester Iohn, and of a stone called Lapis laguli, that is there found, and of Gog and Magog. CHAP. 48.

DEparting from Arguill, and entring into the Kingdomes of Prester Iohn, you shall come to a Prouince called Tanguthe, which is vnder a King of the lignage of Prester Iohn, whiche is called George by his proper name, and he holdeth that Countrey of the great Cane, especially those that were taken of Prester Iohn. And the greate Cane dothe alwayes take the chiefest daughters of this Kyng commonly, since that Chenchis the first King of the Tartares slewe Prester Iohn in battell, as before is declared. In this Countrey is found Lapis laguli, whiche is a stone, Heere is founde the stone called Lap [...]s [...]gu [...]i, wherewith th [...]y do make a syne bl [...]we. that maketh a fine blew. The most part of this prouince be Christians, and they be gouernoures, and chiefe of the Countrey. There be also Mahomets, whiche doe liue by Cattell, and labouring of y ^e ground. In this Prouince be another kind of people called Argarones, or Galmulos, this they do say, for bicause they do descēd of two seueral nations, y ^t is to say, of y ^e christiās of Tāguthe, & the Mahomets. Heere was the imperiall seate of P [...]ester Iohn. They be faire mē, wise and discret more than the others of y ^t countrey. In this prouince was y ^e imperiall chayre or [Page 48] seate of Prester Iohn, when he raygned ouer the Tartars: and yet there doe raygne in that prouince, of the stocke of Prester Iohn, of whome came this George King of thys prouince. Here is that place that the holye Scripture speaketh of, called Gog and Magog.

Of the Citie Sindathoy in Cataya, where siluer is founde. CHAP. 49.

HAuing passed seauen dayes iorney in thys prouince towards the East, you shal come to Cataya, a broade Countrey, in the which there be many Christians, and many Idolators, and many of the sect of Mahomet, and they be al handi-crafts men and Merchauntes. There they make great plentie of cloth of gold, and also of cloth of silke verye fine. In this prouince is a Citie of the greate Canes called Sindathoy, where they doe worke and make all manner and kinde of armour for the wars, and in the mountaines of this prouince be vaines of fine siluer, and plentie, called there Idica.

Of a Citie called Giannorum, and of many nouelties. CHAP. 50.

PArting from this Citie, and trauelling .iij dayes iorny, you shall come to a Citie called Gianorum, in the which there is a meruellous goodly Pallace of the great Canes to lodge him and his Court when he commeth to that Citie, and in this Citie he is [Page 49] desirous to be with good will, for bycause that neare vnto it is a good countrey, Here be Cranes of fiue sorts or colours. in the which be great plentie of wyld Géese, and Duckes, and of Cranes, of fiue sortes or manners: the first be great and all blacke like Crowes: the second all whyte, sauing the heades that be all red: the thirde al black, sauing the heade is white and shyning: y ^e fourth gréene, with blacke heads: they be farre bigger than ours: the fifth be little with all their feathers redde. Neare vnto this Citie is a great valley, where the great Cane hath many wilde beastes, great and smal, and among thē great plentie of Partridges, to serue for his prouision, when hée goeth into that Countrey.

Of a maruellous Citie called Liander, and of many maruellous and farre things they haue there. CHAP. 51.

DEparting thrée dayes iourney from this Citie, betwéen the Northeast and y ^e North you shall come to a Citie called Liander, which Cublay Cane buylded. In this Citie is a maruellous goodlye Pallace made of M [...]rble and flint stones, called pedras viuas, The wall of this house is gilded. al gilded wyth gold, and neare to this Pallace, is a wall which is in compasse fiftéene miles, and within this wall be faire riuers, Wels, and gréene Meadowes, where the great Cane hath plentie of all kinde of wilde foule and beastes, Her [...] y ^• Emperor hath great store of Haukes of all sortes. for to finde his Hawkes, called Faulcons, and Gerfaulcons, that bée there in mew, which he at sometimes more than 40000. y ^t which many times he goeth thyther to sée. Whē he doth ride in these Meadowes, he carrieth behinde him on the buttockes of his horse, a russet or graye Lyon tame, and [Page 50] setteth him to the stagges, or redde Déere, and to other wylde beastes, and vppon these beastes do the Gerfaulcons and Faulcons season. In the middest of these Meddowes is a great house, where the great Cane doth resort to dinner, and to banquet, and to take his reste and pleasure in, when he goeth that waye. And this house is compassed about with greate Canes, that be gilded and couered with Canes that be varnished, and closed all in one, in such sort, that no water can passe throughteuerye Cane is at the least thrée spannes compasse, and from tenne to fiftéen paces long. And this house is so made, that at al times they maye take it downe and set it vp againe, vpon a sodayne. Here y ^• Cane doth make sacrifice with milke ro his Idols. It is tyed with aboue 200. cordes of silke, after the manner of tentes, or pauilions. And the greate Cane repayreth thither for his pleasure, in Iune, Iuly, and August, and there by commaundement of his Prophets, Idolaters maketh sacrifice with milke to his Idols, for to preserue and kéepe his wiues, and sonnes, and daughters, and his subi [...]ctes, and seruauntes, and cattell, and foules, corne, vines, fruite, and all other things in his countries. All the Mares that the great Cane rideth on, be as white as milke. Among the which, he hath alwayes ten Mares that no body doth drinke of their milke, Al y ^• Mares the great Cane do ride on, be white. but onlye he and some greate men of his Courte, and some others that hée called honourable and noble, bycause of a victorie had against the [...]nemies of Chenchis the first king of the Tartars.

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Of the sacrifice and other maners, of the life of the greate Cane. CHAP. 52.

WHen the great Cane will make sacrifice, he poureth out the Mares milke vpon the ground, A superstitious beliefe y ^• great Cane hath. and in the ayre, and the Prophets of his gods say, that milke poured out, is the holye Ghoste, of the which all the Idols be ful, and do beléeue, that this sacrifice is the cause of his confirmation, and of his subiects, & of al his other things. And this sacrifice he doth euery yere y ^e 29. day of August. And to those white horses and Mares wheresoeuer they do go, they do great reuerence. This greate Cane hath in his Court certaine Negromanciers, whiche by arte of the Diuel, when it is foule & troubleseme weather, it shal be fayre and cleare weather in his Pallace. And do gyue to vnderstande to the people, that the clearnesse is ouer the Pallace where the great Cane is, only for his deserts and holy life, and by vertue of his Idols. When anye one is iudged to dye, as soone as he is deade they séeth him, and eate him, but those that dye by natural death, be meat for their Idols.

And besides thys, when the great Cane is at hys table, these inchaunters doe worke by arte of the Diuel, that Cuppes doe rise from the table tenne Cubits into the ayre, and do set themselues down again, Here his enchaunters do worke by the Diuel. and whē they wyll doe this, they demaunde of the greate Cane a blacke shéepe, and the wood of Alloe and Incense, & other swéete spyces, wherof there is great plenty, bicause their sacrifice [Page 52] séeme the more swéeter, and he commaundeth to be deliuered to them, what they will haue, for bycause they beléeue that their Idols doe preserue and kéepe him and all his companie. These Prophets and Priestes, do cause the flesh to be sodden with spices in presence of their Idols, & do put incense therin, and poure the broth into the ayre, & they say the Idol taketh of it what pleaseth him: and thys they do with gret singing. Euery Idol hath his name, and to euery one they do this worship on their dayes, as we do on our saints dayes. They haue many Monasteries deputed to the names of their Idols. There is in that countrey one Monasterie as big as a good Citie, A great Monas [...]erie of Monkes. in the which there be 400. Monkes that goe honestly apparelled, and their beardes and heads shauen. Vpon their feaste dayes they kepe great solemnity, with singing, and praysing, and lights, and some of these religious men haue many wiues, and some of them liue chaste: the chast do eate the branne and the meale kneaded togither, with a little hote water, and do fast oftentimes in reuerence of their Idols, and do weare garments made of Canuas died blacke or blewe, & some white, and do lye in Almadraques, sharpe and harde beds, and the other religious that be maried, they go well apparelled, and do eate and drinke wel, and doe saye that those which liue the streight life be Heretickes and fooles, bycause they do punish their bodies, by meanes whereof they can not honor their Idols as they ought to do, and as reason is. All the Idols of these married religious men, they do name by the name of women, bycause they be such leacherous people.

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Of a victorie the great Cane had. CHAP. 53.

HEre, for your better information, I wyll declare vnto you of a victory the gret Cane had, wherby you shal the better vnderstand and know of his strength and power. It was he that now raigneth, which was called Cublay Cane, whiche is as muche to saye, as Lorde of Lordes. You shall vnderstande that this Cublay Cane descended lineally of the imperiall stocke, from Chenchis Cane, from whence he must descende, that shall be Lorde of the Tartares: and this Cublay Cane, beganne his raigne in the yere of our Lord God .1256. And as Chenchis Cane by his prouidence and wisedome, made himselfe the firste Lord of the Tartares, as is before declared, so likewise this for his wisdome and prouidence, contrarie to the good will of his kinred, that would haue put him out of it, did so cō serue and gouerne his Dominions and Countries, til the yeare of our Lord God .1298. so that he raigned two and fortie yeares, and was fiue and forty yeares old when he was made Emperor, and euerye yeare hadde warres, for he was valiant and expert in the warres, but he himselfe after he was made Emperour, neuer went to the warres but one time, but alwayes sent his sonnes, or some noble men, whom he thought best. And the cause wherefore hée went at that time in person, was this. In the yeare of our Lord God .1286. a nephew of his, of the age of thirtie yeares Lord of many prouinces, Cities, and townes, perceyuing himselfe to be subiecte to the greate Cane, as his predecessors had ben, determined in himself not to be subiect to anye, and concorded with another kinseman of the [Page 54] great Canes, whyche was called Cardin, whyche mighte well make .100000. Horsemen, and was mortall enimie to the greate Cane hys vncle, and did moue warre both of them with theyr hostes agaynste the great Cane, and hée hauyng knowledge thereof, dyd not feare, for hée was a Prince of maruellous greate power: but incontinent he called hys people togither for to go against hys enimies, and toke an oth, that the crowne shoulde neuer come on his head, till that he had cruelly reuenged hymselfe on them as Traytors and Rebels, so that within two and twenty days, he had ioyned particularly a great host of thrée hundred thousand fighting men, Three hundred thousand fighting men. of horsemen and footemen, and woulde ioyne no greater an host, nor haue it published abrode, that his enimies shoulde haue knowledge of it, and also for that he had many of his men of warre abroade in other places on warfare, and coulde not bring them togither in so short a time. But you shall vnderstande that when the greate Cane will make his power, and take time to doe it, he may ioyne so greate a number, that it were a greate trouble to number them. These thrée hundred thousande of fighting men, be not all menne of experience, for there were aboue foure thousande Falconers, and Seruants, and Courtiers that attended vppon the Kings person, and serued in his Courts. But thus hauing his hosts ioyned, he commanded to be called before him his Astrologers, and would know of them in what sort and time he shoulde set forward on this enterprise, and they answered him that the time was good, and that he shoulde haue victorie ouer his enimies, and so incontinent set forwarde on his way with his people, and came to a playne, where as was Nauia with .200000. men tarrying there the comming of Caydu with another hundred thousand of horsemen, for to set on the Countreys of the great Cane. The Lordes of [Page 55] the great Cane had beset all the wayes, and taken all the streytes, that neither succoure shoulde come, nor his enimies flée, bycause he would take them all prisoners. Nauia knowing nothing of this, or that the great Cane had prepared himselfe for any warre, The pollicie of the great Cane. for the greate Cane had before beset all the wayes and passages, that no mā could passe to carrie any newes to Nauia, and by this meanes, not thinking nor stāding in any doubt, thought he might well take his rest that nighte, and all his people: but the [...] Cane was stirring in the morning betimes with all his ho [...]res, and did sette his Campe hard by the place where as Nauia had his, and founde them all vna [...]med, and vnprouided, not thinking any thing of it, and perceyuing it, he was in greate feare. And the great Cane had made a great frame vpon an Elephant, wherin his standerdes were caried, and before and behinde, and by the sides went his battels of Horsemen and footemen, that is to say .25000. in a battell. And with these battels be sette all the host of Nauia round, and when Nauia sawe thys, he lept on horsebacke, and caused his trumpets to blowe, and set his armie in as good order as he could, and so ioyned battell, whereas was a great and strong fighte, and continued from morning till nighte, and greate number slayne on both parties, but at the end Nauia and his company were not able any longer to withstande the furie of the greate Canes armed men, and beganne to flée, in such sort, that Nauia was taken prisoner, and his people not being able to doe anye good, submitted themselues to the great Cane: and Nauia being presented aliue to the great Cane, he caused him to be bounde vp in a Carpet, and so long hée vsed him to bée caried, that hée dyed, A strange kind of death to his cousin. and thys deathe hée gaue hym, for that hée woulde not haue the bloud of Nauia béeing of his kindred, fall to the grounde, nor that the ayre shoulde sée hym dye an euill deathe. [Page 56] After that Nauia was deade, all his Lordes and other prisoners became sworne to the great Cane, to be obediēt to him. These foure prouinces were vnder the obedience of Nauia, that is to say, Furciorcia, Guli, Baston, Scincinguy.

Now that I haue shewed you of the great Cane, howe he paste with Nauia, I will also declare vnto you, of hys manner, condition, and person, and of his wiues and children, and of other things.

Of the personage of the great Cane, and of his wiues and children. CHAP. 54.

THe great Cane that was called Cubla Cane, was a manne of a [...]iddle stature, well fleshte, and of good complexion, and wel proportioned in al his mēbers, well coloured of face, his eyes black, his nose well made: he hath four that be his Legitimate wiues, and his eldest sonne, that he hath by his first wife, doth kepe Court by himselfe, and euerye one of these foure Quéenes, haue in their Courtes 300. wayting women, The great Cane ha [...]h foure wiues and they kepe great Courts and many maydens, with also many mē and women, that do seruice in the Courtes: for euery one of these foure Quéenes haue in their Courtes more than 4000. persons, of men, women, maydens, and seruaunts. Also the greate Cane hath many Concubines of Tartars, which be called Origiathe and be of a good and honest behauiour, The great Cane hath many Concubines. and of these the greate Cane hath a hundreth maydens chosen out for himselfe, which be in a pallace by thē selues, and haue auntient women to kéepe them. And of [Page 57] these hundreth, euery thrée dayes sixe of them doe serue and attend vpon the great Cane in his Chamber, and the thrée dayes being past, they doe returne to their Pallace agayne, and other sixe come for to kéepe the great Canes Chamber. The greate Cane had by his foure wiues two and twenty sonnes, after his eldest son dyed, who should haue bin King. His sonne was heyre, and kept a great Cou [...]t. And thus they do remoue from thrée dayes to thrée dayes. The sayd great Cane had by his sayd wiues two and twentie Sonnes, the eldest of them is called Chinchis, in remembrance of the first King of Tartares, and also to renue that name, this firste sonne is called Chinchis Cane, and shoulde haue succéeded his father in the Kingdome, but bycause he dyed before his father, his eldest sonne called Themur Cane, and this his sonnes sonne, bycause he should raigne after him, kepte a greate Court by himselfe.

Of a greate Citie called Cambalu, and of all the goodly and maruellous things that be done there. CHAP. 55.

NOw I will declare vnto you of the worthy and noble Citie called Cambalu, Cambalu. This is a goodly Citie, and well ordered. the whiche is in the prouince of Cathaya. This Citie is foure and twenty myles compasse, and is fouresquare, that is, to euery quarter sixe miles compasse. The wall is very strong, of twenty paces high, and battlements of thrée paces high. The wall is fiue paces thicke, This Citie hathe twelue gates, and at euery gate is a very faire pallace. And vpon the toppe of euery corner of the said wal is also a faire pallace, and in all these pallaces ioyning to the wall be many people appoynted for to watch and kéepe the Citie. And in those pallaces be all maner of armour and weapons for the defence and strength of the Citie. The stréetes of this Citie be so faire and streight, that you may sée a Candle or fire [Page 58] from the one ende to the other. In this Citie be manye fayre Pallaces and houses. And in the middest of it is a notable greate and faire Pallace, in the whiche there is a great Toure, wherein there is a greate Bell, and after that Bell is tolled thrée times, no body may goe abroade in the Citie, but the watchmen that be appoynted for to kéepe the Citie, and the nurses that doe kéepe children newly borne, and Phisitions that goe to visit the sicke, and these may not go without light. At euery gate nightlye there is a thousand men to watch, not for feare of any enimies, At euery gate is a thousand m [...]n that do watch. but to auoyde théeues and robbers in the Citie, which many times do chance in the Citie. And this great watche the greate Cane doth cause, to conserue and kéepe h [...]s people and subiects, that no man should do them hurt, Without this Citie be twelue suburbes very greate, and euery one of thē answereth to his gate of y ^e Citie. And in these be many Merchantes and men of occupations: and thyther do resort all people that come out of the Countreys, No common woman may dwell within the Citie. Aboue a thousande Cartes with silke goeth euery daye out of this Line. The greate Cane is garded nightly, with twentie thousande Horsemen. The manner of the greate Cane at hys [...]inner with his wiues and children. and such Lordes as haue to do with the King or his Courtes. And in these suburbes be moe than twentye thousande single or common women, and neuer a one of them maye dwell within the Citie on payne of burning. Out of this Citie goeth euery daye aboue a thousande Cartes with silke. The great Cane is garded euery night with twentie thousande Gentlemen on Horsebacke, not for any feare, but for dignitie. They be called Chisitanos, which is as much to say, as Knightes for the body, or trustie Knights. The manner of the great Cane for his dinner, is this: They make ready all the Tables rounde about the Hall, and in the middest of the Hall, is made ready the Table for the greate Cane, setting his backe towardes the North, and his face towardes the South. His firste wife sitteth next vnto him on hys lefte hande, and his other wiues following orderly. On his other side do sitte his sonnes, and his sonnes children, one after another, [Page 59] according to his age. Those that be of the imperiall lignage, do sitte downe afterward at another table more lower. And the other Lords and their wiues do sitte at other Tables more lower, according to their degrées, dignities, offices, estates, and age. At the saide Tabl [...]s commonly do sitte foure thousand persons, or very néere, Commonly foure thousand persons do sitte in that Hall at a dinner. A vessell of fine gold tha [...] will holde tenne Hogsheads of Wine, and four of siluer bigger than that. and euery one may sée the great Cane as he sitteth at his dinner. In the middest of the Hall is a very greate vessell or cesterne of fine gold, that will holde tenne Hoggesheads, which is alwayes kept full of perfect good drinke. And néere vnto that vessell be other foure vessels of siluer bigger than that, full of good wine, with many other vessels and pottes by them, of gold, and of siluer, which may be of pottels a péece, or as muche as will serue foure men for a dinner. At dinner, out of the vessell of golde, wyth pottes of golde, they drawe wine for to serue the greate Cane his Table, for him, his wiues, children, and kindred: and out of the vesselles of siluer, Euery one that sitteth at the tables, hath a cuppe of gold before him. Euery one that bringeth meate or drinke to the Table, hath a towell of golde and silke before his mouth. with Iars and Pottes of siluer, they drawe wine to serue the Lordes and the Ladies, and all others sitting at the Tables, as well wemen as men. And euery one that sitteth at the tables hathe a cuppe of golde before hym to drinke in. And euery one that bringeth anye seruice to the greate Canes Table, hathe a towell of golde and silke before his mouth, bycause his breath shall not come vppon the meate and drinke they bring. When the great Cane will drinke, all the Musitians that bée in the Hall doe play, and euery one that serueth, knéeleth downe tyll hée haue drunke. In the Hall be alwayes Iesters, Iuglers, and fooles, attending vpon the Tables, to make pastime all dynner tyme, and after Dinner is done, and the Tables taken vppe, Great feast is made euerie yeare, the day when the great Cane was borne. euerie man goeth aboute his businesse. All the Tartares kéepe greate feasting and chéere euery yeare on the daye that Cublay Cane was borne, which was on the eight and twentith day of September, [Page 60] and that is the greatest feast they make in all the yeare saue one, that héereafter shall be spoken of. The greate Cane doth apparell himselfe that day he was borne on in cloth of golde maruellous rich, and .12000. Barōs be apparelled with him after the same sorte touching the cloth of gold, He giueth a rich Liuerie. but not so rich and preciouse, and euery one of thē hath a great girdle of gold, and that apparell and girdles the great Cane giueth them. Euery Liuerie is worth a thousande Markes. And there is neuer a one of those garments with the girdle, but it is worth .10000. Bisancios of golde, whiche may be a thousand Markes. By this you may perceyue, that he is of great power and riches. And on the sayde day, all the Tartares, and Merchantes, and subiects, and those that dwell in his Countreys, be bounde to presente vnto hym euery one somethyng, according to his degrée and abilitie, in knowledging him to be their Lorde. And whatsoeuer he be that doth begge any office or gift of him, must giue him a present, according to the gift he doth aske. And all his Subiects and Merchantes, and trauellers, or anye other that be founde in his Countreys or Prouinces, be vsually bounde to pray for the greate Cane to hys Idols, to preserue hym and hys Countreys, whether they be Tartares or Christiane, The Tartares begin their yeare the first day of February. or Iewes, or Moores. The Tartares begin their yeare the firste day of February, and do kéepe a great feast that day. And the greate Cane and hys Barons, with all the rest of the Citie, doe apparell themselues in white that daye, making greate pastymes, saying, the greate Cane is bl [...]ssed and fortunate, and so doe desire a ioyfull yeare. And on that daye there is present [...]d to the great Cane more than .10000. Horses and Mares al white, Tenne thousand white Horses and Mares presented to the great Cane. and more than fiue thousand Elephāts, with two greate baskettes vpon them full of prouision necessarie for hys Courtes. And besides thys, there is presented to hym a great number of Camels, couered all with white cloth of silke, for seruice of their K. And when [Page 61] they giue these presents, they doe all passe by, where the great Cane doeth stande and sée them. On the same daye that this feast is, in the morning b [...]times, before the Tables be couered, all the kings, Dukes, Marquesses, Lords, Captaynes, Gouernours, and Ius [...]ices of his countryes, & other officers, come into the Hal before y ^• presence of the great Cane, and those that can not come in, be in another place, where as the great Cane may sée them all: and thus being altogither as though they woulde make some request, there goeth one vppe vpon a buylding or scaffolde that is made for the same purpose, Al his nobilitie do [...]ncle and worshi [...] the Cane as if he were an Idol. in the middest of the hall, & with a loude or high voyce, biddeth them al knéele downe vpon their knées, and giue landes and thankes to their Lord, and streight wayes euery one doth honor him as if he were an Idoll: and this they doe foure times, and thys being done, euery one goeth and sitteth downe in his place, and afterwardes do rise one after an other, and goe to an aulter, whiche is set in the middest of the hall, and vpon it is a table set, written on with letters of gold, and garnished with pretious stones of greate value, and the writing is the proper name of the greate Cane, and wyth Sensors of fine golde full of incense and fire, they incense that table in honour of the great Cane. And after that, euery one in presence of the great Cane, A great and rich offering. doth offer great and precious giftes according to his state, condition, and abilitie, and this being done, they go all and sitte downe at the tables to dinner. And the great Cane thirtéene times in the yeare doeth giue apparell to his Barrons, The great Cane doth giue liueri [...]s 13. times in a yeare, and euery time he changes his colours. in thirtéen great feastes he doeth make, and at euery time he doeth chaunge this apparel, and this apparel that he doth giue, is of greater and lesser value, according to the degrée of him that he giueth it vnto. And to euerye one he giueth a girdle, or a payre of hosen, or a hatte, garnished wyth golde, and set with pearles and pretious stones, according to the degrée of the parties: and of this apparell is euerye [Page 62] yeare .1 [...]6000. and this he doth for to honour and magnifie his feastes. And at euery such feast the gret Cane hath lying at his féete a tame Lyon, vpon a rich Carpet. And the great Cane is resident, during the sayde thrée moneths, in Camballo, Four months he doth continue in Camballo. that is to say, December, Ianuarie, and Februarie And during the sayd three months, the whole country thereabout, to say thirtie dayes iourney, is kept for hawking, hunting, and fouling, only for to serue the Courtes, and what they do take and kil, is presented and broughte to the greate Canes Courte, No man may hunt no haul [...] nor foule within thirtie days iourney of his Citie and such as dwell further of in other prouinces that kill wilde beastes, not able to bée brought to the Court, they do trimme and dresse the skins thereof, and bring them to the Courte for to dresse, make, and trimme armour and munitions, for the wars, which he hath infinite number.

Of the manner the great Cane doth vse in his hunting. CHAP. 56.

THis Cublay Cane, or great Cane, hath wyth him two noble men, that be his brethren, the one called Baian, and the other Mytigan, and they be called Cinicil, Two noble men be maisters of his dogs, and they haue ten thousand mē apeece. whych is as muche to say, as maisters or gouernours of the dogs or Masties of theyr Lordes, eyther of these two noble menne, hath tenne thousande menne all apparelled in one liuerye of whyte and redde, and euerye one of these twentie thousande menne hath charge and gouernemente of two Mastyes, or at the le [...]st one, and when the great Cane wyll go on hunting, these two noble men go wyth him with theyr twentye thousande men, or with the moste parte of them, and [Page 63] so beginne their hunting with those men and dogges, who be well vsed to it, and the great Cane goeth into the middest of the fields, hauing his two Lordes with their men and dogges on eche side of him, and diuideth them into companies, in such sorte, that there shal no game rise, that shall scape them, what kynde of beaste so euer it bée.

Of the manner of his hauking for wildefoule. CHAP. 57.

THe first day of March, the great Cane departeth from Cambalu and goeth with his Court and Barons, The grea [...] Cane hath with him ten thousand Faulcons & fiue thousand Gerfaulcons. towards the South seas, named the Occean, that lyeth two dayes iourney from Cambalu, and he carrieth with him ten thousande Faulcons, fiue thousand Gerfaulcons, and other kinde of Haukes a great number, which are very singular and good, aboue all other, and are bred in his Seniories, and al those that they take in his countries are presented to the great Cane, for his own vse, Court, and Barrons, that alwayes kepe his companie, which are neuer lesse than 15000. and they bée called T [...]stores, which is as much to say, as the Lords gard, & all these do practise hauking, and euery one of them doth carry his reclayme or lewer, and haukes hood, that when he hath néede he may take vp his Hauke. They do neuer leese Faulcon nor Gerfaulcon. They doe neuer léese one of these Faulcons, for euery one of them hath fastned vnto hys Belles a Scutchion of gold, wherin is written the name of hys Mayster, and when soeuer one of thē is loste, he that findeth him streyghte wayes doeth [Page 64] present him vnto the great Cane, or to one of those barrōs his brethren, and he causeth hym to be deliuered agayne, to him that before had charge of him, for he is knowen by the Scutchion that the Hauke hath vpon his belles.

Of the manner that the great Cane hath in trauelling in his countrey, and how he abydeth in the fields in his tents and pauilions. CHAP. 58.

WHen the greate Cane maketh any iourney in his countrey, he goeth in a fayre lodge or edification, hauing a verye faire chamber made vpon foure Elephants, which is couered with the skinnes of Lions, and in this chamber he hath twelue Gerfaulcons, A straunge going a hauking. and certain of the Barrons in his company to giue him pleasure and pastime: and round about these Elephants there be on horsebacke very many barrons, and as soone as they sée anye foule, or Crane fly, they declare it vnto their Lord, and he immediately, letteth these Gerfaulcons flye: [...]nd after this sort he goeth through his countrey: and when the greate Cane commeth to any broade and faire fields, which they do call Caziam [...]n, which he doth finde ready set with tents and pauilions for him and his wiues, and for his children and barrons, and these tentes and pauilions, are at the least .10000. and the tentes of the great Cane are so large, There be at the least ten thousand tēts and pauilions set vp in the fielde. that when they are set vp, there may be vnder and walke at theyr ease .2000. knights, and the entring into them openeth towardes the South, and one of the tentes is for the Barrons and Knightes that are of the Lordes garde, and in a smaller tente that standeth by it, opening towardes the Septentrion, edified wyth faire chambers, [Page 65] wrought all with golde, ordayned for y ^e great Cane where he kéepeth Courtes, and audience to all them that come: and in this tent there be two chambers with faire Halles, and the feelings is susteined vppon thrée pillers of a maruellous worke, and are couered with Lions skinnes, and of other beasts, wroughte and painted of diuers coloures, so that neyther wind nor raine can enter or passe through, for they are made onely for that purpose: and these chambers and halles, are furred with Ermines and Iebelines or Sables, whiche Sabels is so pretious, that one furre for a Knighte are or is worth .2000. Bysancios of gold. These two tents bee of a good valure. All the cordes of these tents are of silke, and these twoo tentes are of suche value, that a meane King thoughe he do sell all his lande, is not able to buy them▪ And rounde aboute these two tentes stande manye other tentes being verye faire, for the Barons, and for the other people, so wel set and ordayned, that it séemeth to be a greate Citie: & from euery place there commeth people to sée the mightinesse & pleasure of the greate Cane. There goeth with the greate Cane all his Courte that he kéepeth in Cambalu, and in the place he remayneth hunting and hawking vntil al the moneth of Aprill, for there they finde greate plentie of wildefoule, for that there be great lakes and riuers. When the greate Cane goeth on hawking for wilde foule, there may no man hawk néere him, not within twentie dayes iorny, vppon a great penaltie. And from the beginning of March vntill October, there is no Baron nor subiecte vnto the great Cane, that dare take any wild beast or foule▪ though there be very greate plentie in that countrie, vppon great penaltie, and when the time of his hawking is ended, hée returneth vnto the Citie of Cambal [...], hawking by the way, and néere vnto the Citie he doth kéepe solemne cheare .iij. dayes. Within the saide Citie they lodge no straungers, Three dayes he doth make great cheare after his hunting is ended nor bury any dead corps. There commeth vnto this Citie merchandize from all parts of the world, cloth of gold [Page 66] and of silke, pretious stones and pearles, and great plentie of other notable thinges to maintaine the magnificence of the greate Canes Courte that he hathe, and for the greate resorte of people that come thither: and this Citie is scituated in the middest of his prouinces and countries.

Of the money that is vsed in all that countrey. CHAP. 59.

THe greate Cane causeth his money to be made in this manner, causing the rine of a Mulberry trée to be cut very thinne, whiche is between the vtter rine and the trée, and of this he maketh mony both small and great, whiche some of them is worth halfe an ounce, some an ounce, The money t [...]at is vsed in those countries. some ten groats, some twentie, some thirtie, and same worth a Bisanco of golde, and some of twoo Bisancoes, and so they rise vntil tenne Bisancios of gold. This money is stāped with the signe of the Lord, & it is currant in al his Country, and in al the prouinces which are subiect vnto him, & no man may refuse this mony, for if he do he must léese his head, He [...]hat doth counter [...]a [...]e hys co [...]ne s [...]ll [...]e destroyed to the t [...]r [...]e gener [...]tion. & he that doth counterfet hys coine shall be destroyed vnto the third generation There commeth sometimes vnto the Courte of Cambalu, Merchants that bring golde and pretious stones for to buy the cloth of golde and silke, and other Merchaundizes in quantitie of thrée thousand Bisancios of golde, and many times the greate Cane commaundeth, that all the golde, siluer, and pretious stones, that may be founde in the Merchauntes handes, and subiectes of his dominions, shoulde be deliuered to his treasurers, and so they doe, and they be paid for it in this saide money, which is made of the rine of a Mulbery [Page 67] trée, that they may sée how al the gold, siluer, pearle & pretious stones is closed vp in his treasury being boughte for this vile money of no value, so that little golde, si [...]uer, pearles and pretious stones commeth out of his country: and after this sorte he maketh himselfe the richest Prince of the worlde.

Of the order and rules that he hath in his dominions. CHAP. 60.

THe great Cane hathe sette tenne Barons or noble men of greate estimation to gouerne .64. prouinces and countries subiects vnto him, The noble men that doe set order for all the greate Canes affaires and they euer remaine in hys Citie imperial of Cambalu, and these tenne Barons doe appoynt Iudges, and Notaries ouer the Countries that are vnder their guiding, of the which euery one of them doth exercise his office in the country that he hath charge of, and these Iudges remaine also in the Citie of Cambalu, vnder the obedience of those Barons. These tenne Barons do constitute gouernours and officers throughe all the Countries, and doe chaunge them when they liste, and when they haue putte them in the roome, they doe present them before the greate Cane, and hée doeth accepte them, and giueth them Tables of Golde, and by writing the order howe to vse themselues: and these gouernoures and officers doe gyue them knowledge by letters and messengers vnto the Iudges which are deputies ouer them, and those Iudges doe notifie all things vnto those ten Barons, and they [Page 68] do make declaration of it vnto the great Cane, so that after this manner, he knoweth what is done in hys Countries, and prouideth for all things necessarie.

Of the saide order. CHAP. 61.

THese ten Barons are called Senich, which is to say, the principalles of the Court: and these doe prouide for the preseruation of the great Canes estate, and they do ordain his warres and hostes, and Knightes, and they doe treate and make peace betwéene the Lordes, and they doe make prouision in euery manner of thing that toucheth their Lordes estate, and to all his dominions, but they lette nothing passe, vntill suche time as their Lorde do vnderstande it.

Of the Citie Cambalu. CHAP. 62.

THe Citie of Cambalu hathe manye outlettes and gates, that thoroughe them they maye goe vnto diuers prouinces and countries, & when they goe from thence, for to goe vnto Cataya, they finde a great mountaine, where there is blacke stones, & they burne like wood, when they be well kindled they will kéep a fire from one day to an other, which I suppose be of the nature of oure Sea-coles, and they do burne of them in that Country, thoughe the haue woodde, but the woodde is more dearer than are the stones or seacoales.

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Of the meruailous things that be founde in that countrey. CHAP. 63.

THe great Cane sent me Marcus Paulus as his Embassador towards the Occident or Westwarde, Marcus Paulus was made the Emperoures Embassador. in the which message I was fourtéene moneths, from the time that I went from Cambalu. And héere I will declare to you of the meruailous things that I saw with mine own eies, aswel at my going outwards, as at my commyng homewardes, as that at my going frō Cambalu, and taking my iourney towards the Occident or Westwarde. And after that I had gone tenne dayes iorney, The riuer Poluisanguis. I founde a very great riuer which is called Poluisanguis, and runneth his course into the Occean sea. Vppon this riuer there is a bridge, the fayrest in the worlde, it hath thrée hundred paces of length, A goodly Bridge and long. and eighte paces of breadth, so that there may goe tenne menne in a rancke on horsebacke. This Bridge hathe foure and twentie arches of Marble, very artificially wroughte, at the heade of this Bridge at the one side standeth a Piller being verye greate of Marble, hauing a Lion standing on the toppe, and an other Lion at the neather ende, being very liuely made, and a pace and a halfe distant, from that standeth an other like vnto it, and so orderly standeth one by another, til you come vnto the further ende of the bridge, so there is on eche side of the bridge two hundred pillers, and in the middes of euery piller, there is made Images of men very artificially.

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Of the Citie named Goygu, and of many meruellous things. CHAP. 64.

FRom this Bridge you shall goe tenne miles throughe fields full of Vines, & very faire palaces: at y ^e ten miles end, there is a Citie named Goygu, it is very great & faire, in it there strādeth a gret Abby of Idolatry. The people of this Country liue vppon merchaundize, Here is plentie of cloth of Golde. and be artificers, for they do make great plentie of cloth of golde and silke. Also there is plentie of lodgings for those that do trauaile, and come thither out of other places.

Of the vvay that goeth vnto the Countrey of the Magos. CHAP. 65.

GOyng from this Citie almoste a myle, there parteth twoo wayes, the one goeth vnto the Occident or Weast, and the other goeth towardes the Siroco: The waye whiche goeth vnto the Occident or Weaste, leadeth vnto the Occean Sea towards the high Countrey of the Magos, and you may trauaile throughe the prouince of Cata [...]a tenne dayes iourney, in the whiche waye there is many Cities and Townes.

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Of the Citie named Tarasu. CHAP. 66.

AFter you do goe from the Citie of Goygu trauailing ten dayes iourney, you come vnto a Citie named Tarasu, whiche is the heade Citie of that countrie or prouince, where there is plentie of vines & muche wine, and there they doe make all kinde of armoure for the greate Canes Court. Here is much armor [...]de. In the Countrie of Cataya, there is no wine, for they prouide themselues of wine out of this region.

Of the Citie named Paimphu. CHAP. 67.

TRaueling from thēce towards the Occident or Weast eighte dayes iourney throughe fayre Cities and Townes, wherein they doe traffike Merchandizes, at the eyght dayes iorney you shal come vnto a very gret and fayre Citie whiche is named Paymphu, and going twoo dayes iorney beyonde it, you shall come vnto a fayre Towne named Caychin, whiche was made by their King.

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Of a King named Bur. CHAP. 68.

THis Bur warred a long time with Prester Iohn, & he coulde neuer haue anye vauntage of him, but at laste Prester Iohn gotte him by a traine after this sorte: Seauen yong Gentlemen of Prester Iohns Courte went from him with his licēce, and came to the Court of this king Bur, shewing as though they had departed from Prester Iohn in great displeasure, & so offered themselues to serue the said King Bur, who retayned them as squires and pages in his Courte, and after they had bin with hym two yeares, hauing greate confidence and truste in them, thys King Bur on a tyme roade abroade for his pleasure, and taking with him the saide seauen Gentlemen, and being the distaunce of a myle from his Castell, perceyuyng they had him now at aduantage to execute their purpose, tooke him, and carryed him to Prester Iohn, and Prester Iohn made him his shéepehearde, and kept his shéepe two yeares, A King was made a sheephearde by Prester Iohn. and afterwardes gaue him horses and menne, and sent him to his Castell as his shéepehearde.

Of the Citie named Casiomphur. CHAP. 69.

BEyond this castel twentie miles towardes the Occident, there standeth a great Citie named Casiomp [...]ur, and the people of it worship Idolles. Cloth of gold and cloth of silke made. The like doe all those of the Countrey of Cataya. In this Citie there is made muche cloth of golde and of silke.

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Of the Citie named Bengomphu, and of many things that there is found in those parties. CHAP. 70.

GOing from Casiomphur eight dayes iourney towards the Occident, you shal goe alwayes by greate Cities and faire Townes, and excellente places, with goodlie and faire Gardens, with principal houses: there is great plentie of wilde beasts and foules, for hunting and hauking, and at the ende of these eight dayes iourney, there standeth a faire Citie whiche is called Bengomphu, and is the head Citie of that realme. There is in this Citie as king, one of the great Canes sonnes, who is called Magala. The people of this Realme are Idolatours. This Citie hath plentie of all things, and without this Citie standeth the pallace royall of the king, the which with the Wal of the Citie is tenne myle compasse. In this Citie there is a lake made of many fountaines, that runneth and serueth the Citie. The inside of the pallace wall is layde on with gold. The Walles of this Citie haue very faire battlementes, and on the inside of the Wall of the Pallace it is layde on with gold, like playster, and without this Pallace, round about that lake, there is very faire and delectable ground and fields.

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Of the prouince named Chinchy. CHAP. 71.

GOing from thys pallace towards the Occident thrée dayes iourney, you come vnto a playne full of faire Cities and townes, and at this thrée dayes iourneys ende, there bée greate mountaines and valleis belonging [...]o the prouince of Chinchy, in these mountaines and valleys there be many Cities and townes, and all the people there are Idolaters, husbandmen, and hunters. This iorney endureth twentie dayes, there be in it manye Lions, [...]nd plentie of other wilde beastes, and in all these twentie dayes iourney there is plentie of lodging for those that doe trauell.

M [...]ngi a citie.Of the Countrey and Citie called Cineleth Mangi, and many other things which be founde there. CHAP. 72.

AT the end of twentie dayes iourney standeth a Citie named Cyneleth, a noble and a greate Citie, and vnder the obedience of this Citie there be many Cities & townes towa [...]d the Occident. The people of thys Countrey are Idolatours, they haue great trade of Merchandise. In this countrey there is plentie of Ginger▪ and from thence the Merchaunts do carrie it vnto Cataya. Also there is aboundance of wheate and other graine. Great trade o [...] Merchand [...]se. M [...]ng [...] Thys countrey is called Cyneleth Mangi, and it hath two dayes iourney of plaine countrey. Beyond this countrey, there [Page 75] be great playnes and valleys & mountaines, being greatly inhabited, with Cities and townes, for the space of twentie days iourney, where there be many Lions and beares, besides other wilde beastes. Here be many Muske cuttes. Also there is greate plentie of Muskcats, and other noble and faire beastes.

Of the countrey and Citie named Cindarifa, and of a maruellous bridge. CHAP. 73.

AFter you haue gone these twentye dayes iourney, you come vnto a great plain, being of the countrey named Cindarifa, whiche is twenty miles compasse, and the great Cane before he died, diuided it into thrée partes, & al thrée parts be strongly walled rounde about. Through the middest of this countrey runneth a great riuer, which is called Champhu, half a mile brode. There is in this riuer plentie of fish, and there is scituated vpon this riuer many Cities and townes: also by shipping vpon this riuer they sayle from Citie to Citie, with all kind of Merchaundises· From the beginning and heade of this riuer, vntill the entring into the maine sea, there is thirtie days iourney, and the chiefe Citie of this countrey is named Sindarifa. From this citie ouer the riuer, there is a bridge of a mile long, and eight paces brode, made of marble stone, A bridge of a myle long, and eight paces brode of marble and housen on it. and couered with timber of Pineaple trée, verye fayre. On the sides of this bridge, there be houses and shops for Merchauntes, and of diuerse occupations, and at the foote of this bridge there standeth a custome house, verye faire made, where they do gather their Lords customes, and euery daye they receiue tenne thousande Bisancios of God. The people of this countrey are Idolatours.

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Of the prouince named Cheleth. CHAP. 74.

GOing from this countrey, you shal trauell through a faire plaine country, ful of many townes and Cities, it indureth fiue dayes iourney, and then you shal come vnto a prouince, whiche is called Cheleth, which was destroyed by the great Cane. In this prouince there bée Canes which are called Berganegas of fiftéene paces long, and tenne spannes in compasse euerye one of them, and they haue from the one knot to the other thrée spans. Here be Canes of fifteen paces long and ten spans about. The trauellours make fire with these Canes, for they haue this propertie, that as soone as they féele the heate of the fire, they giue such a great cracke, that the sound is harde many miles off, and the Lyons and wilde beastes that are thereabou [...]s, be so fearefull of that noyse, that they do run away, and do no hurt vnto those that trauell, and the horses that the trauellours doe ride on, haue so much feare of that noyse, being not vsed vnto it, that they breake theyr brydles and haulters, and runne away, so that sometimes they cannot finde them againe, theref [...]re those that trauell, doe tye their horses and Asses in certaine holes or Caues that they finde in the Mountaines. This countrey is twentie dayes iourney long, where they finde nothing to eate, nor yet to drinke, nor no habitation, therfore those that trauell that way do carrie prouision for those twenty daies iourney, whiche they do passe with great feare and trauell.

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Of the Prouince named Thebet, and of the maruellous beastlinesse and filthie liuing of the people there. CHAP. 75.

AT these twenty dayes iourneys end, you come vnto a Prouince or Countrey, that is full of Cities and Townes. And the custome in this Countrey is, that none dothe marrie with maydes nor virgins, but that first she must be knowen carnally of many men, No maydens may marrie in this Countrey. and specially of strangers. And for this occasion, when the mothers meane to marrie anye of their damsels, the mother dothe carrie them néere the high way side, and with mirth and chéere procureth those that do trauell, to sléepe with hir, and sometimes there lyeth with hir ten, and with some other twenty. And when the stranger or traueller goeth his wayes from any suche Damsell, hée must leaue vnto hir some iewell, the whiche iewell, the saide damsels or wenches do hang at their neckes, in token and signe that they haue lost their virginitie wyth strangers. And she that hathe vsed hir selfe with moste strangers, it shall be knowen by the most quantitie of iewels that she weareth aboute hir necke, and she most soonest shall finde a mariage, and shall be most praysed and loued of hir husband. And those of this prouince are Idolaters, euill men, cruell, and robbers. In this Countrey there be manye wilde beastes, For lacke of wollen cloth, they do wear Canuas, and wilde beastes Skynnes. Maugy. and specially of Muskettes. All those of this Countrey doe weare Canuas, and Cowhydes, and the skinnes of wilde beastes, whych they do take in hunting. This Countrey is named Thebethe, and is adioyning vnto the Prouince of Maugy.

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Of the Prouince and Countrey named Maugi. CHAP. 76.

Maugy. MAugi is a great prouince and Countrey, and it hathe vnder it eyghte Kingdomes and Riuers, and in the same there is found much gold of Payulsa. And they doe vse money made of Currall, Heere is found plenty of golde. Their money is made of Corrall. Here is cloth of gold, cloth of silke, and Chamlets made. Heere groweth spices. Masties as bigge as Asses. and the Currall is there very déere, for that the women do vse to weare it about their neckes, and doe decke their Idols with it. In this Countrey they doe worke cloth of gold and silke, and of Chamlet great plenty. Also, there groweth much spice. Also, there be manye Negromancers, Astronomers, Inchanters, and euill disposed men. Also, there be in this Countrey Masties as bigge as Asses, and the people be subiects to the great Cane.

Of the Prouince and Countrey named Candon, and of the iewels that grow there, and of the beastly conditions of the people. CHAP. 77.

CAndrew is a Countrey that lyeth towards the Occident, and it hathe vnder it seauen Kingdomes of Idolaters, subiectes vnder the greate Cane. In this Countrey there be many Cities, Townes, and Villages. And in one place of this Countrey, there is greate plenty of Pearles and precious stones, Plenty of Pearles and precious stones. but the great Cane dothe not suffer them to be had out. And in the Mountaynes in this Countrey there be foūd many Turquesses, and they may not be had out of the Countrey, without expresse licence [Page 79] of the greate Cane. Also, the custome of the people in this Countrey is, Heere they haue an ill custome. that as soone as there commeth a stranger to lodge in his house, the good man goeth out, commaunding his wife, children, and seruantes to obey that Stranger, as his owne proper person, and hée neuer commeth home vnto his owne house, vntill he know that the Stranger is gone from his house, and he knoweth it by a signe and a token that the Stranger dothe leaue at his going at the dore. And when the good man spyeth the signe or token, he entreth into hys house. This vse they doe kéepe thorough all that Countrey, and take it for no shame, although the Strangers do vse their wiues. But rather they doe take it in greate honor and estimation, that they do so well enterteyne the Strangers. And theyr Idols tell them, for that they doe honoure the Strangers, their Gods do encrease their substance. The people of this Coūtrey do vse money made of gold, Heere is mone [...] of golde. Here is great plenty of Spices. that euery pée [...]e is worth .7. Duckets. In this prouince and Countrey there is great plenty of all kinds of spice and muske, and great plentye of fishe, by reason of the greate lakes and pooles that be there.

Of another Prouince, vvhere there is found gold and other things. CHAP. 78.

GOing out of the foresaid prouince, and trauelling tenne dayes iourney through a Countrey full of Cities and Townes, and verye much people, seming much in their vse and custome, vnto those of the last rehearsed Countrey. And at the tenne dayes iourneys end, you come vnto a greate Riuer, whiche is named Bru [...], at the which endeth the Countrey and prouince named Candew. [Page 80] In this Riuer there is founde great plentie of gold. Heere is found greate plentye of gold. A Riuer into the Seas. And fast by this riuer groweth very much Ginger. And thys Riuer falleth into the Occean Sea.

Of the Prouince named Caraya. CHAP. 79.

BEyonde this Riuer you come vnto a Prouince named Caraia towards the occident. In this Countrey there be seauen Kingdomes, subiectes vnder the great Cane. Héere raigneth one of the greate Canes sonnes, named Esentemur, being rich, wise, and a valiant man, and gou [...]rneth his subiects with great prudence and iustice. These people be Idolaters. And after that you haue passed the saide Riuer, and trauelling fiue dayes iourney, Heere be many Horses bredde. there be many Cities and Townes, and there is brought vp and bredde great plentie of Horses.

Of the Prouince named Ioci, and of their beastly customes. CHAP. 80.

AT fiue dayes iourneys end, you come vnto a Citie which is named Ioci, and is verye great and full of people Idolaters, sauing that there be some Christian people Heretikes Nestorians. They do vse for their money fine shelles white, whiche are founde in the Sea, and fourescore of them are worth a Sazo of gold, whyche is worth two grotes of golde. A Sazo of gold is worth eyght of siluer, which is an ounce. And eyght Sazos of siluer, which is an ounce, and is worth a Sazo of golde. There they do make Sault of the water of Welles great plēty. And in this Countrey no man careth though another [Page 81] man haue to do with his wife. There is a Lake in thys Prouince, hauing in compasse a hundred miles. Therein is plentie of excellent good fish. The people of this Countrey do eate rawe fleshe after this manner. They cut it in small péeces, and sauce it with Garlike and spices, which giueth them a good tast vnto the flesh.

Of the Prouince named Chariar, and of the strange Serpents that be there. CHAP. 81.

GOing from this Prouince Ioci, and trauelling tenne dayes iourney, you come vnto another Prouince named Chariar, subiect vnto the greate Cane, and it is full of people of Idolaters, and one of y ^e great Canes sonnes named Chocayo, ruleth and gouerneth them. And in this Countrey there is found great plenty of gold. Heere is great plent [...] of golde. And a Sazo of gold goeth there for sixe of siluer. And they doe vse in this Countrey little white shelles of the Sea, in stead of money, which is broughte from India. In this Prouince there be certayne Serpents of tenne paces in length, and their gaule is solde very déere, for they do vse it in m [...]nye medicines: for if a man shoulde be bitte with a madde Dogge, laying vppon the sore so muche quantitie of that gaule as will lye vpon a farthing, it healeth it immediately. Also, it easeth a woman of hir pangs, that is in trauell. The men of this Countrey are peruerse people, and cruell, for if they do sée anye trauellers that are prudente and faire, they do marke where the night doth take them, and thither they come and kill them, saying, that the fairenesse and prudence of the dead, doth passe vnto them, and therefore they do kill them, and not for to rob them. This peruerse custome was among them before they became [Page 82] vnder the great Cane. But .95. yeares hitherto that they were vnder the greate Cane, they dare not doe anye such thing, and therefore become a greate deale better people, and of a better disposition.

Of the Prouince named Cingui, and of many things that be there, and of the Citie named Caucasu. CHAP. 82.

AFter that a man departeth from Chariar, he goeth fiue dayes iourney towards the Occident, and commeth to another Prouince named Nocteam, and also the Citie named Nociam, whiche is the head of thys Prouince, and it is vnder the great Cane. All the men of this Prouince haue their téeth couered with golde. And the women do dresse their Horses. The men of this countrey haue theyr teeth couered with gold. The men doe no other thing, but goe on Hunting, passing the time in the fields, and goe vnto the warre. The women doe buy and sell, and do all things necessarie belonging to the house, and gouerne all the goodes, and their men and women Seruantes. Ouer and aboue this, the women of this Countrey haue this custome, that as she is deliuered of childe, she riseth and wrappeth the childe, Heere is a custome, that the good man is much made of, after hys wife is broughte a bed. and dothe all things belonging to the house, and receyueth no more payne, than though she had not bin deliuered of childe, but in giuing the childe sucke, and as soone as she is deliuered, the husband lyeth in the bedde, laying the childe by hym, as though he had borne it himselfe, for the space of fortye dayes, and the woman dothe serue him. He is visited of the kinsmen and friends & neyghbours, as though he had bin deliuered himselfe, making great feastes for the space of thirtie dayes. In this Countrey they doe giue a Sazo [Page 83] of golde, which is an ounce, for fyue Sazos of siluer, A Sazo of gold is an ounce, and is worth fyue of Si [...]er. being fyue ounces. Also, they doe vse Persiuolas, béeyng little shelles of the Sea, whiche come from In [...]i [...], in stead of money. These people haue no Idols, but euery householde worshippeth theyr Superiour and Mayster. None of them can write nor reade, for that they dwell among the moyst Mountaynes, corrupted with euill ayres. In thys Prouince, and in the other two afore specifyed, there be no Phisitions, but when they doe fall sicke, they cause to come vnto their houses certayne Ministers, which vse inchantmentes by the power of the Diuell, and declare the sicknesse that the diseased hathe, and these Ministers sounde their instrumentes in honor of theyr Idols, A strange kind of Phisicke. in so muche that the Deuill entereth into one of those Ministers, Inchanters, or Idols, and falleth downe as though hée were dead, and those Ministers, or Maysters of the Idols, demaunde of hym that lyeth inchanted, or in a trance, wherefore that man fell sicke, and hée aunswereth, for that he hathe angered suche or suche an Idoll, and then those Maysters or Ministers of the Idols saye vnto him that is inchanted, we request thée to pray vnto that Idoll that is angrie wyth the sicke bodye, to pardon hym, and wyll make hym Sacrifice with hys owne bloud. And if hée that is in thys trance, doe beléeue that the disease is mortall, hée aunswereth, thys sicke man hathe so displeased the Idoll, that I knowe not whether he will pardon hym or not, for that hée hathe determined that hée shoulde dye, and if he thynketh that hée shall escape hée sayeth, if hée wyll lyue, it behoueth hym to gyue vnto the Idoll so manye Shéepe that haue blacke neckes, and to dresse so many sortes of meates dressed with spices, sufficient to make the sacrifices vnto the Idoll that is angry with him, and for the ministers that serue him, and for the women that serue in [Page 84] his temple, whiche is all fraude and guile of the inchanters for to gette victuals, by this meanes all are damned vnto Hell. To this banket there is conuited the maisters and ministers of the Idols, the inchanters and women that serue in y ^e temple of that Idoll. And before they sitte downe to the Table, they doe sprincle the broath aboute the house, singing and daunsing in the honor of that Idoll. And they doe aske the Idoll, if he haue forgiuen the sicke man. And sometimes the Féende aunswereth, that there lacketh such or suche a thing, whiche immediately they do prouide: and when he answereth that he is pardoned, then they do sitte downe to eate and to drinke that sacrifice which is drest with spices, and this done, they go vnto his house with great ioy. If the paciente heale, it is good for him, but if he dye, it is an euerlasting payne for him, and if he recouer, they do beléeue that the diuelishe Idol hath healed him, and if he die, they say that the cause of his deathe was for the greate offence that he had done vnto him, and so they be lost as brute beasts in all that Countrey.

Vnicornes.Of another Prouince named Machay where there be Vnicornes, Elephants, and wilde Beastes, with many other strange things. CHAP. 83.

GOing from the Prouince of Charian, you go downe a greate penet or hill, whiche endureth two dayes iourney, without any habitation, sauing one towne, where they doe kéepe holyday three dayes in the wéeke. There they doe take a Sazo of golde for fyue of siluer. And past these two dayes iourney, you doe com [...] [Page 85] vnto the prouince named Machay whyche lyeth towardes the midde daye or South, adioyning vnto the Indias, and through this prouince you trauell fiftéene dayes iourney, through deserte mountaines, where there be many Elephants, and other wilde beastes, for that the countrey is not inhabited. Also there is found Vnicornes. When they wil take any Elephant, the do compasse him with dogges, and so they do hunt him, that they make him wearie, and so he is faine to rest for wearinesse, and his resting is, leaning vnto a great trée, for that he hath no ioyntes in hys knées, so that he can not lye downe nor rise vp. The Masties dare not come neare him, but barke at him aloofe, & the Elephante hath neuer his eye off those Masties, and then those that be expert and hunt him, hurle Dartes, and to kil him. In this countrey is much gold and silke.

Of a prouince named Cinguy, and of the Citie named Cancasu. CHAP. 84.

BEyond this prouince Machay, there is another prouince named Cinguy, and trauelling foure dayes iourney in it, you passe manye Cities and townes, and at these four daies iournyes ende, standeth a greate Citie named Cancasu, being verye noble, Great plen [...] of cloth of Gold and Silke. situated towards the mydday or South, and this is of the streight of Cataya. In thys Citie there is wroughte cloth of Golde, and silke greate plentie.

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Of the Citie named Cianglu. CHAP. 85.

FRom this Citie trauelling fiue dayes iourney, you come vnto another Citie named Cianglu, which is very noble and great, situated towards the midday, or south, and it is of the streight of Cataya, here is made greate plentie of salte: and there runneth through this countrey a very great riuer, that vp and down this riuer there trauell many ships with merchaundise.

Of the Citie named Candrafra, and of the Citie named Singuymata. CHAP. 86.

SIxe dayes iourney beyonde the Citie named Cianglu, towards the midday of south, you come vnto a Citie named Candrafra, y ^e which had vnder it before the greate Cane did conquere it, twelue Cities. In the coū tries aboute this Citie there be faire Gardens, and good grounde for corne and silke, and beyonde this Citie thrée dayes iourney towards the midday, or south, there standeth a fayre Citie named Singuymata, which hath a great riuer that the Citizens made in two parts, the one way runneth towards the east, and the other towardes the Occident, or Weast through Cataya, and vppon this riuer there sayle shippes with Merchaundises in number incredible.

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Of the Riuer Coromoran, and of the Citie Choygamum, and of another Citie named Cayni. CHAP. 87.

GOing from Singuymata seuentéen dayes iourney towards the midday or south, you passe throughe manye Cities and townes, in the whiche there is greate traffique of Merchaundise. The people of this countrey are subiectes vnder the greate Cane. Their language is Persian, and they do honour Idols. At the seauentéen dayes iourneys ende, there is a greate riuer that commeth from the Countrey of Prester Iohn, which is named Coromoran, hauing a myle in bredth, and it is so déepe, that there may sayle any great vessel laden with Merchandise. Vpon this riuer the great Cane hath fiftéene great ships for to passe his people vnto his Idols, that are in the Occean seas, euery shippe of these hath fiftéene horses, and fiftéene mariners, and al victuals necessarie. Vpon this riuer there strā deth two Cities, one on the one side, and the other one the other. The biggest of them in named Choyganguy, and the other Caycu and they be both a dayes iourney from the sea.

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Of the noble prouince named Mangi, and of many maruellous things that were there, and how it was brought vnder the great Canes gouernaunce. CHAP. 80.

PAssing the saide riuer, you enter into y ^e prouince of Mangi, where raigneth a king named Fucusur, Mangi. of more power and riches than any King in y ^e worlde sauing the great Cane. In this realme there be no men of warre, nor horses for the wars, for it is situated strongly, in a place compassed rounde about with many waters. And rounde about his Cities and townes, there be verye déepe ditches and caues, being brode and full of water. The people of this countrey are giuen to féeblen [...]sse, they do liue delicately: if they were giuen to warres, and feats of armes, all the worlde could not conquere the prouince of Mangi. This king of Mangi was very leacherous, but hée had in himselfe two good properties, the one was, that he maintayned his realme in great iustice and peace, that euery one remayned in his place, and both day and nighte you myght traffique and trauell surely: the other propertie was, that he was verye pitifull, and did greate almes vnto the poore, and euerie yeare he brought vppe twentye poore striplings, and he gaue them as sonnes and heires vnto his Barrons and knightes. In his Courte he hadde alwayes tenne thousande Squires that serued hym. It fortuned that in the yeare of our Lord .1267. Cublay Cane got perforce the countrey of Mangi, Mangi. and the sayde king of [Page 89] this prouince fledde with .1000. shippes vnto his Ilandes that were in the Occean Sea▪ He lefte the principall Citie of his prouince Mangi named Gaissay vnder the guiding of his Quéene, Mangi. and when she knew that there was entred into hir land Baylayncon Can a Tartarous name, which is as much to say in Englishe, as a hundreth eyes, a Captaine belonging to the greate Cane with a greate hoste, and so without any resistance, she submitted hir selfe with all hir country, and al the cities sauing one named Sinphu, whiche kepte it selfe thrée year [...]s before it yéelded. Thys Quéene was carryed vnto the greate Canes Courte and kepte like a Quéene, and the King Fucusur came not out of those Ilandes vntill he died, being out of his seigniorie.

Of the Citie named Coygangui, and many other thyngs. CHAP. 91.

HEre I will tell you of the fashion and condition of this saide prouince Mangi. The first Citie at the entring is named Coygangui, whiche is a great and a noble Citie scituated towards the wind Syroco or East southeast. The people of this Citie doe worship the Idolles, and haue the Persian tongue. They haue many shippes, and burne their dead bodies. This citie standeth vppon the riuer Coromoran. In this Citie they make so muche salte as woulde suffice for fortie great cities, and of the abundaunce of thys salte, there groweth greate profites vnto the greate Cane.

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Of the noble Citie named Panguy, and of another Citie named Cayn. CHAP. 92.

PAssyng from Coygangui towardes the winde Siroco, which bloweth betwéene Leuant and the midday, which we call Easte Southeaste, you trauaile vpon a fayre stonye Cawsey well made. It beginneth at the entring of Mangi, and there be very déepe waters on ech side of the cawsey. In this country of Mangi there is a citie named Pangui, very faire, and of greate magnificence. In this prouince they doe vse that money that the greate Cane doeth vse in his countrie, and here is greate scarcitie of corne, and of al things else that susteineth the body. And at another iorneys end towards Siroco there standeth another noble and greate citie named Cayn, and all the inhabitants are Idolators, and there is abundaunce of fishe and beasts, and wildfoule, so that there is boughte thrée good Fesants for the value of sixe pence.

Of the Citie named Tinguy. CHAP. 93.

A Dayes iorney beyond Cayn you shal find fayre villages, and eared grounde, and so you come vnto the grounde of Tinguy, plentiful of Wheate, and of al things necessary for shipping. The people of thys countrey doe honour the Idolles, and [Page 19] thrée dayes iourney from this Citie you come vnto the Occean Sea: and at the sea side there is greate plentie of salte.

Of the Citie named Mangui, vvhiche haue vnder their Lordship seuenteene Cities, and of an other Citie named Saimphu which hath vnder it twelue Cities. CHAP. 94.

BEyond Tinguy a dayes iorney towards the winde Siroco you come vnto a faire Countrie, and at the ende of it standeth a Citie named Manguy very fayre and greate, and there they honour the Idolles, and speake the Persian tong. This Citie hathe vnder it seauentéene Cities, and I Marcus Paulus did gouerne this vnder the great Cane thrée yeares. Toward the Occident or West standeth a prouince or Citie named Manguy, where they doe make greate plentie of cloth of Golde and silke. Also there is greate plentie of corne, and of all manner of victualles. And beyonde this Citie standeth the Citie of Saimphu whiche hathe vnder it twelue Cities, whiche is the Citie that resisted it selfe agayn [...]te the power of the greate Cane the space of thrée yeares.

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Hovve this prouince vvas vvonne by the great Cane. CHAP. 93.

AFter that the great Cane had wonne the prouince of Mangi, conquested by industry and councell of Nicholao and Mathio and Marcus Paulus, as nowe you shall perceiue in this present chapter: From the hoste of the greate Cane I write vnto the greate Cane, that that prouince by no manner of way coulde be wonne or taken, of the whiche newes the greate Cane was sore abashed, and we perceyuing his heauinesse, wée went vnto hym and sayde: Potentissimo and mightie Lord, receiue you no conceite nor heauinesse, for wée wil haue suche means, that this prouince shall come into youre hands: who béeing comforted with oure promise, gaue vs full power and libertie to doe all those things that vnto vs should séeme beste, and that we shoulde be obeyed as to his owne proper person. And then I Marcus Paulus tooke vppon mée this charge, and gathered togither certaine Venetians that I founde in those Countries, being discréete menne, and exercised in feates of armes, and I caused to be made thrée greate Trabuco or greate péeces of ordinaunce, whiche shotte a pellet of a thousande pounde waighte, and hadde them vnto the campe, and planted them where they should be shotte off, and this done, by the meanes of these péeces I shotte into the Citie greate pellettes, and when those of the Citie saw their houses fall about their eares, by suche meanes as they neuer saw nor hearde of before, they receyued great feare, and immediately they yéelded themselues vnto the great Cane.

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Of the Citie named Singuy, and of many other things. CHAP. 94.

GOyng from Siamphu, and trauelling fiftéene dayes iourney towardes Syroco, or to the Easte southeast, you come vnto the Citie named Singuy, wherevnto belongeth a greate number of ships: The riuer Tnoguron the greatest riuer in the world, and this Citie is scituated vpon the greatest riuer of the world named Tuognrou which is .17. miles in breadth, and one hundred dayes iorney in length, and there is neuer a riuer in the worlde, Fiue thousan̄d vessels on this riuer. where there sayleth so manye shippes with Merchaundizes, as there. And I Marcus Paulus was in this Citie, and did tell standing vpon a bridge at one time fiue thousande shippes or barkes that sailed vppon this riuer, and vppon this riuer there standeth two hundred Cities. being greater than this that we haue spoken of. Thys riuer passeth throughe sixetéene prouinces.

Of the Citie named Cianguy. CHAP. 95.

CIanguy is a small Citie standing vpon the saide riuer, it hath nothing vnder it but good ground, where they do gather plentie of corne, and rice, which is caried vnto Cambalu, that the great Cane may haue greate plentie of victualles in his Courte. This Citie standeth towardes the Siroco, and they doe carry this prouision vnto [Page 94] Cambalu vpon this riuer, and not by sea. Therefore there commeth through this riuer greate profite vnto Cambalu, for it is better prouided with barkes than with cartes, or horses.

Of the Citie named Pingramphu, and of many other things that be in that Countrey. CHAP. 98.

PIngramphu is a Citie of the prouince Mangi, in the which there is two churches of Christians Nestorians, edified by Marsar Conostor, which was Lord of that Citie vnder the greate Cane, [...]nd it was in the yeare of oure Lord .1288. Whē you do go from Pingramphu, you goe three dayes iorney againste Solano, whiche is Easte and by South, throughe many Cities and Towns, where there is traffiqued muche merchandizes, and many artes. At these thrée dayes iourneys ende standeth the citie of Tigningui, greate, riche, and abundant of all things to liue vpon, and also of Wine. On a time certaine Christian men named Alanos tooke this citie, and that nighte they drunke so much wine, that they were all drunke, and slepte like dogges al that nighte, and the Citizens perceyuing that they were all asléepe, killed them, and Barayn King of these Alanos, assoone as he knewe this, gathered a great hoste, and went against thys citie, and tooke it perforce, and caused to be killed all those that he foun [...] in the citie, men, women and children, small and gret, in the reuenging of his Christians.

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Of the Citie named Singuy, and of mano other things there. CHAP. 99.

SInguy is a very great and a noble citie whiche is .40. miles in compasse. There is in this citie people innumerable, where you may beléeue, that if the people of Mangi were exercised in the feate of warre, all the worlde coulde not winne it, but they be all Philosophers, Phisitions, Merchaunts and Artificers, Seauen thousand bridges of stone. very cunning in all artes. There be in this Citie .7000. bridges of stone, very faire wroughte, and vnder any of these bridges there may rowe a Galley, and vnder some twoo Galleys maye rowe togither. In the mountaines of this Citie groweth Rewbarbe greate plentie, and so muche Ginger, Plentie of Rewbarbe. Fiue pounde of Ginger for sixe pence. that for sixe pence they doe giue more than fiue pound of Ginger. Vnder this Citie there be .17. Cities greate and fayre. In this Citie they do worke greate plentie of cloth of golde & silke, for that the Citizens there delighte muche to weare suche cloth, and of many coloures.

Of the Citie named Quinsay, that is to say, the Citie of Heauen, which is a hundred miles in compasse, hauing twelue thousand Bridges, and fourteene Bathes, and many other thinges of wonder. CHAP. 97. Quinsay.

GOing from Singuy, and traueling fiue dayes iorney, The nobles [...] Citie of the worlde, it is an hundred miles cōpasse you come vnto a noble and famous Citie named Quinsay, that is to say, the citie of Heauen. This is the noblest Citie of the worlde, and the heade Citie of the [Page 96] prouince of Mangi. And I Marcus Paulus was in this citie, and did learne the customes of it, and it was declared vnto me, that it was one hundred miles in compasse, and 12000. bridges of stone with vaultes and arches so highe, Twelue thousand bridges of stone. that a greate shippe mighte passe vnder, and this Citie standeth vppon the water as Ve [...]i [...]e doth, and the people of this citie euery one of them must vse the science of his fathers, and of his predecessors. In this Cittie there standeth a lake whiche is in compasse thyrtie myles, and in this lake there is builte the fairest Pallaces that euer I saw: And in the mids of this lake standeth two Pallac [...]s wherein they do celebrate all the weddings of that Citie, and euer there remayneth within them all the things necessary whiche belong vnto the weddings. Also there is rounde aboute this Citie other Cities, but they be small ones. In this Citie they doe vse money of Tartaria, to wit of a Mulbery trée, as it is vsed in the great Canes Court, and as it is afore mentioned. Vppon euerye one of these 12000. bridges of stone, continually there standeth watch and warde, bycause there shall be no euill done, and that the Citie doe not rebell. In this citie there is an highe mountaine, and vppon it there standeth a very highe Tower, and vppon it there is a thing to sounde vppon, and it is sounded when there is anye fyre or anye rumour in the Countrey. There is be this citie fourtéene Bathes: and the great Cane hath great watch and ward in this Citie.

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Of the Citie named Gansu. CHAP. 99.

BEy [...]nde Quinsay fiftéene myles, bordereth the Occean sea betwéene east and North, and there stand [...]th a Citie named Gansu, which hath a fayre porte or hauen, and thyther come many ships out of the Indias: betwéen the Citie and the Sea, runneth a great riuer, that passeth through many countries, and out that way there go many ships vnto the sea.

Of the diuision vvhich the great Cane made of the prouince Mangi. CHAP. 100.

THe prouince Mangi was diuided into 8. kingdomes, by the greate Cane, and of euery kingdome there is aboute .140. Cities vnder a king. There is in all the prouince of Mangi .1202. Cities al subiect vnto the great Cane, and al those whiche be borne in this prouince of Mangi, are written by dayes and houres, that the prouince may knowe the number of y ^t people, and that they may not rebel. When they do goe on any iourney, they consult with the Astrologers, and when any dieth, the parents do cloth the deade in Canuas, and burne the bodies with papers, wherevpon is paynted, mony, horses, slaues, beastes for their houses, apparell, wyth all other things, for they doe saye that the deade vseth all this in the other worlde, and that with the smoke of the deade bodie, and of those papers, whereon there is paynted [Page 98] all those things rehearsed, beléeuing, that it goeth all with him, into the other world, and wh [...]n they burne those bodies, they sing and playe vpon al kinde of instrumentes and musicke that they can finde, and saye, that in that order and pleasure, theyr Gods doe receyue them in the other worlde. In this Citie standeth the greate Pallace of Estn [...]fogi, which was Lorde and King of that prouince of Mangi.

This Pallace is made after this wise, it is square and strongly walled, tenne myles in compasse. It is high and fayre, with faire chambers, Hals, Gardens, fruites, fountain [...]s, and a lake with many fishes. In this Pallace there is twentie Halles, wherin there may sitte downe at meales, twentie thousand persons: by this it may be comprehended how bigge this Citie is. In this Citie there is a famous Churche or Temple of Christians Nestorians, and euerye one that dwelleth in this Citie hath written his name, and of his wife, Children, menne seruauntes, and women seruauntes, and horses that he hath in hys house, ouer the Porth of his doore. Also when there is anye that goeth to another Citie, it behoueth that the Inholders that lodge straungers, doe bryng a Register vnto the officers appoynted, giuyng relation howe long they doe remayne, and when they goe away.

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Of the rent vvhich the great Cane hath of the prouince of Quynsay. CHAP. 101.

SEing I haue declared vnto you of the City and prouince of Quinsay, now I wil declare you what rent the greate Cane hath yearely, out of this prouince only, of the salt euery yere 4500. Hanegs or bushels of Gold, and to euery measure goeth 18000. Sazos, and euery Sazo of Gold is worth seauen Duckets, and of the other rentes ouer and aboue the salte he hath euerye yeare 10000. hanegs of gold.

Of the Citie named Thampinguy, and of many other maruellous things. CHAP. 102.

GOing from Quinsay, trauelling towardes Solano a dayes iourney, you do goe by Cities and townes, and manye Gardens, and at the ende you come vnto the Citie named Thampinguy, which is faire and gret hauing abundaunce of all things, and it is vnder the Seigniorie of y ^e greate Cane: the people are Idolaters, and passing other 3. days iourney, you come vnto an other citie named Vguy, & going two days iourney beyond, towards Salano, or east and by South, there is so many Cities & townes y ^t he that trauelleth, thinketh that he neuer goeth out of townes, & [Page 100] there is great plentie of all prouision, there is Canes great and thicke of foure spannes in compasse, and fiftéene in length. At two iourneys ende strandeth the Citie named Greguy verye noble and greate, hauing aboundance of all things néedeful. The people are Idolatours, and vnder the greate Cane. And going from this Citie thrée dayes iourney towarde Solano, you shall finde many Cities and townes, and many Lyons. The people do kill them in this manner, the man doth put of his hosen, and apparell, and putteth on a wéede of Canuas, carriyng a certaine thing pitched, vpon his shoulders, and carrieth a sharpe knife in his handes with a pointe, and in this manner he goeth vnto the Lions denne, and as the Lion séeth him come, he maketh towards him, The manner how they do kil the Lions and the man when he is neare casteth vnto him the pitched thyng whyche hée hath vpon his shoulders. The Lyon taketh it in hys mouthe, thinking that he hath the manne, and then the man doth wounde him with the sharpe poynted knife, and as soone as the Lyon féeleth hymselfe hurt he runneth away, and as soone as the colde entereth into the wounde he dyeth. In this maner they do kill many Lyons in that countrey, whych is of the prouince of Mangi.

Of the Citie named Cinaugnary, and of many other noble Cities, and of the cruelty of the people that inhabit there, and of other things. CHAP. 101.

TRauelling forward foure dayes iourney you come vnto a citie named Cinaugnary, a great and a famous Citie standing vppon a Mountayne, which parteth a riuer into two partes, and trauelling foure [Page 101] dayes iourney forwarde, you come vnto a Citie named Signy, whiche is vnder the segniorie of Quinsay. And after you enter into the Realme of Fuguy, and trauelling forward sixe dayes iourney towardes Solano, or East, and by South, through mountaynes and valleys, you shall finde many Cities and Townes, hauing plenty of all victuals, and singular for Hunting and Hawking, and plenty of spices, and suger so plenty, Good cheape Suger. that you may buy forty pound of Suger for a Venice groate. There groweth a certayne swéete fruite like vnto Saffron, and they vse it instead of Saffron. The people of this Countrey eate mans flesh, so that he dye not of naturall death. When the people of this Countrey go vnto the warres, they doe make certayne signes in their forheads, to be the better knowen: and they go all on foote, except their Lorde, who rideth on Horsebacke. They are very cruell people, and vse the speare and sword. They do eate the fleshe of those men that they kill, and drinke their bloud. In the middes of these sixe dayes iourney, standeth the Citie named Belimpha, whiche hath foure bridges of marble, with very fayre pillers of marble. Euery bridge of these is a mile in length, & nine paces in breadth. Vnto this Citie there commeth great plenty of Spices. Also, there is in thys Citie very faire men, and more fayre women, and there be blacke Hennes, and fatte without feathers, Faire men and women heere. Blacke Hen [...] and fatie without feathers. and verye perfect to eate. In this countrey there be Lions, and other wilde & perillous beasts, so y ^t they trauel in this cuntrey in great feare. At these sixe dayes iourneys ende, standeth the Citie named Vguca, where there is made great plentye of suger, which is all carried vnto the great Canes court.

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Of the Citie named Friguy, and of manie other maruellous things which be there. CHAP. 104.

PAssing out of the Citie of Vgucu, and trauelling fiftéene miles, you come vnto the Citie named Friguy, which is the head of y ^e Realme of Tonca, which is one of the nyne Kingdomes of Mangi. Through the middest of this Citie runneth a Riuer of seauen miles in breadth. A Riuer of seauen mile broad. There be many Ships made. And in this Citie there be made manye Ships, and is laden greate plentie of Spices, and diuers other Merchandizes that is gathered néere to that Riuer, and Precious stones whiche be broughte out of India maior. This Citie standeth very néere vnto the Occean Seas, and hath abundance of all kind of victuals, or any thyng else néedefull.

Of the Citie named Iaython, and of many other things. CHAP. 105.

GOing from Quinsay, and passing the sayd Riuer, trauelling fyue dayes iourney towardes Solano, or East, and by South, you find many Cities and Townes, hauing abundance of all victuals. And at the ende of these fyue dayes iourney, standeth a great and a faire City named Iaython, This Citie hath the best Hauen in the world. whiche hath a good Hauen, and thither come many Shippes from the Indyes, with many Merchandises, and this is one of the best Hauens that is [Page 103] in the world, and there commeth Shippes vnto it in such quantitie, that for one Shippe that commeth vnto. For one Shippe that commeth to Al [...]xan [...]ria, there commeth in ther a hundreth. Alexandria, there commeth .100. vnto it. The great Cane hathe great custome for Merchandises, in and out of that Hauen, for the Ship that commeth thither, payeth tenne in the hundred for custome, and of Precious stones and spices, and of any other kind of fine wares, they pay thirtie in the hundred: and of Pepper .44. of the hundred, so that the Merchants in freight, tribute, and customes, Great custome is payd heere. pay the one halfe of their goodes. In this Countrey and Citie there is great abundance of victuals.

Of the Ilande named Ciampagu, and of things which be found there, and how the great Cane would conquer it. CHAP. 106.

I Will passe from hence vnto the Countreys of India, where I Marcus Paulus dwelte a [...]ong time: and although the things which I will declare, séeme not to be beléeued of them that shall heare it, but haue it in a certaynetie and of a truth, for that I sawe it all with mine owne eyes. The Iland of Ciampagu is fifteene hundred miles from the mayne lande. And now I will beginne of the Iland named Ciampagu, whiche standeth in the high Sea towardes the Orient, and it is separated from the mayne land .1500. miles. The people of this Countrey are fayre, and of good maners, although they be all Idolaters. There is in thys Iland a King franke and frée, for he payeth no tribute at all to any Prince. The people of this Countrey speake the Persian tong. In this Iland is great plent [...] of golde. And there is found in this Iland great plenty of golde, and they neuer haue it forthe vnto anye place out of the Ilande, for that there commeth thyther fewe Shyppes, and little Merchandise. The Kyng of thys Ilande hathe a maruellous fayre [Page 104] and great Pallace, The Kings Pallace is couered wyth cleane golde. The windowes and pillers thereof is golde. Great [...]lenty of Precious stones. all couered with golde in pas [...]e, of the thicknesse of a péece of two Ryals of plate. And the windowes and pillers of this Pallace bée all of golde. Also there is greate plenty of precious stones. And the great Cane knowing of the greate fame and riches of this Iland, determined to conquere it, and caused to be made great prouision of munition and vittayles, and a greate number of Shippes, and in them he put many Horsemen and footemen, and sent them vnder the gouernance of two of his Captaynes, the one was named Abatan, and the other Vonsaucin, and these two went with this great armie from the Hauen of Iaython and of Glunsay, and they went vnto the Iland Ciampagu, where they went alande, and hauing done great hurt in Mountaynes and valleys, there entred suche enuie and hatred betwéene these two Captaynes, and so much discord, that loke what the one would haue done, the other did againe say it, and through this meanes they toke neyther Citie nor Towne, but only one, and they killed all them that they founde therein, for that they would not yéeld, sauing eyght men, whyche could not be killed with any iron, Men hauing stones that were inchanted, could not be slaine with weapons of iron, but with clubbes. for that eache of them had a precio [...]s stone enchanted in his righte arme, betwéene the fleshe and the skynne, and these stones did defend thē from death to be killed with yron, and knowing of it, these two Captaynes procured to kill these eyghte men with clubs of wodde, and toke those stones for them selues, and in that instant there arose suche a tempest of wind of Septentrion or North so terrible, and doubting that their Shippes would breake, they hoysed vp Sayle, and went vnto another Iland, tenne miles distant off frō this, and the wind was so terrible, that it opened many of their Ships, and manye were forced to make backe towards their owne Countrey againe, and about .30000. of them fledde by land, of these they thought that they were all killed. And as soone as it was caulme on the Sea, the [Page 105] King of this Iland which had bin so spoyled, wente with a great armie of Shippes vnto the other Ilande, where as they were gone to haue taken them that were fledde, and as soone as hée was on lande with his men, the Tartares like wise and politike men, retired backe by the Ilande, and went vnto the Shyppes of this King whiche they had lefte without strength, entred in, hoysed vp the Sayles, with the Auncientes and Flagges of that King, whiche they left behinde in the Ilande, and sayled vnto the first Iland, where they were receyued, The Citie taken by a prettie meanes. and the gates opened, thinking it had bin their owne King. And in thys manner the Tartares tooke that Citie, wherein the King had his habitation, and ransacked it. And as soone as the King of this Ilande knewe of it, he caused many other Shippes to be prepared, and with the men that hée had, and many of her that hée tooke of new, enuironed his proper Citie, hauyng it beséeged seauen moneths. And finallye the abouesayd Tartares hopyng for no succoure, delyuered vp the Citie vnto the right King, conditionally to let them go with their liues, bagge and baggage. Thys hapned in the yeare of our Lorde .1248. In this Ilande there bée Idols, that some haue heads like Wolues, some heads like Hogges, some like Shéepe, some like Dogs, some haue one head and foure faces, some thrée heads, hauing one only necke, and onely one right hande, some haue onely one lefte hande, some haue foure handes, and some tenne, and the Idoll that hath most handes, is taken to be the most beautifull: and to him that demaundeth of them, wherefore they haue so many Idols, they doe gyue no other reason, sauing that so did their predecessors. Whē the people of this Iland do take in battell any stranger, if he doe not caunsome himselfe for money, they kill him, drinke his bloud, and eate his flesh. This Ilande is enuironed round about with the Occean sea. The portes are frée for themselues. The Marriners which vse that Sea, [Page 106] say, In this Sea is .7448. Ilands, whiche be verye frutefull and pleasant. Heere groweth whyte Pepper. that there is in it .7448: Ilandes. There is no trée there, but he is of a swéete odoure, frutefull, and of greate profite. In this Iland groweth the white Pepper. From the Prouince of Mangi vnto the India and home, is a yeares sayling, the reason is, for that there raygneth two stedfast windes, the one in the winter, and the other in the Sommer, contrary the one vnto the other.

Of the Prouince named Ciabane, and of that King, who hath .325. sonnes and daughters of his owne. There be many Elephants and much spices. CHAP. 107.

WHen you do go from Iaython, whych is vnder the segniorie of the greate Cane towardes the Occidente, and somewhat declining towarde the midday fiue dayes iourney, you come vnto a Countrey named Cyaban, wherein there is a Citie riche, great, and famous, subiect vnto a King that he and his subiects speake the Persian tong. And in the yeare of our Lord .1248. the greate Cane sente thither a great Baron, named Sagato, with a greate armie, to conquere that Prouince, and hée coulde do nothing, but destroy muche of that Countrey, and for that he should do no more hurt, that King became tributarie vnto the greate Cane, and euery yeare he sente him his tribute. And I Marcus Paulus was in this countrey in the yeare of our Lord .1275. and I found this King very olde. He had many wiues, and amongst sonnes and daughters he had .325. This King had .325. children. Among his sonnes he hadde .25. of them that were very valiante men of armes. In thys Countrey there be many Elephants and Lyons greate plenty, and great Mountaynes of blacke Ebbante,

[Page 107]

Of the great Iland named Iaua, and of many Spices that grow there. CHAP. 108.

GOing from Ciaban, sayling betwéene the midday and Solano, or East and by South 1400. miles, you come vnto a grea [...]e Ilande named Iaua, whiche is in compasse thrée thousand miles. In this Iland, there be seauen crowned Kings frée, paying no tribute at all. In this Ilande there is great abundance of victuals, A very riche Iland of spices and golde in great plentye. and greate riches, hauing very muche Pepper, Cinamon, Cloues, and many other singular Spices in great quantitie. The people do honour the Idols. The great Cane could neuer make himselfe Lord of it.

Of the Iland named Iocath, and of other two Ilands, their conditions and properties. CHAP. 109.

SAyling seauentéene myles from Iaua, betwéene the midday and Solano, or East and by South, you come vnto two Ilands, the one is named Sondure, and the other Condur. And beyond these two Ilands almost two hundreth miles, standeth the Countrey name Iocathe, great and rich. They speake the Persian tong, and worship Idols. They pay no kinde of tribute to any man, for there is no man that can do them hurt. There is found greate plentye of gold, and a greate number of the small white shels of the Sea, Heere is found plentie of golde. whyche is vsed in some places in stead of money, as before it is rehearsed. Also, there be many Elephantes.

[Page 108]Vnto this Ilande there commeth very fewe Strangers, for that it standeth out of the way.

Of the Kingdome named Malenir, and of the Ilande named Pentera, and of Iaua the lesse, and of their customes. CHAP 110.

SAyling beyond Iocath fiue miles towardes the midday, you come vnto the Iland named Penthera, full of Mountaynes. And in the middes of this Iland, about forty miles, there is but foure passes of water, therefore the great Shippes do take off their Rudders: and being paste these fiue miles towards the midday, you come vnto a Realme named Malenir. The Citie and the Iland is named Pepethan, where there is plentie of Spices. And going forwarde, sayling by Solano, or East, and by South a hundred miles, you come vnto the Ilande named Iaua the lesse, which is in compasse two hundred miles. In this Iland there is eyghte Kings, euery one hauing his Kyngdome by himselfe. They doe all speake the Persian tong, and honour Idols. They haue scant of victuals. From this Ilande you can not sée the North Starre little nor muche. Beyonde it standeth the Realme of Ferlech. The people are Moores. They do honor Martin Piniolo, which is Mahomet. There dwell others in the Mountaynes that haue no kind of law. They doe liue as beastes, honouring the first thing that they do sée in the morning, as their God. They doe eate all kinde of dead fleshe, and the fl [...]sh of man, caring not howe, nor yet after what sorte it dyeth.

[Page 109]

Of the realme named Bassina, and of the Vnicornes, and other wilde beastes. CHAP. 111.

GOing from Ferlech you come vnto y ^e realme of Bassyna, wher the people are without law, liuing as beastes, being subiect at their will vnder the gret Cane, although they do giue him no tribute, sauing, that at sometimes when it pleaseth them they do sende vnto him some strāge thing. In this realme there be Apes of diuerse sorts, and Vnicornes, little lesse than Elephants, hauing a head like vnto a swyne, and alwayes hanging it downward to the grounde, and standeth with a good will in Cieno or miery puddel. They haue but one horne in their forehead, wherby only they are called Vnicornes, theyr horne is large and blacke, their tong is rough and full of prickles long and thicke. The Apes of this country are small, hauing a face like vnto a childe, and those in that countrey do flaye them, so that they looke like vnto a naked childe. They séeth it, and dresse it with swéete spices, so that they haue no euil ayre nor strong sent, and so sodden, they doe sende them aboute in the worlde to sell, saying they be sodden children. In this countrey there be haukes as blacke as Rauens, very strong and good to hauke with.

[Page 110]

Of the realme named Samara, and of many straunge things that are founde in the sayd countrey. CHAP. 112.

GOing from the Realme of Baxina, you [...]nter into the realme of Samara beyng [...]n this same Iland, where I Marcus [...]aulus was fiue moneths, by fortune of weather, and for feare of the euill peop [...]e of that countrey, for the most parte [...]here liueth vppon mans fleshe. From hence, you sée not the North starre, nor yet the other stars that rule the principal winde, the people there are rustical and worshippe Idols, there is singular good fish, they haue no wine, but they get it in this wise. They haue manye trees like vnto the paulme trée, they breake the braunches and from them commeth water, as it commeth from the vyne. This licour is white and redde like vnto Wine, béeing very perfect to drinke, there is great plentie of it. Another realme there is in this Iland, which is named Deragoya, the people are rusticall, and worship Idols. They haue no king, and speake the Persian speach. In this Iland there groweth great plentie of the Indian nuts. They haue this custome in this Iland, that when any falleth sicke, his kinsfolke demaunde of them if the patient shall liue or dy. Then these maisters make Diuellish inchauntments, if they say that he shall escape, they let him lye, and if they say that he shall dye, they sende for the Butchers, whiche stoppe his breath till he dye, and when he is deade, they séeth the bodie▪ and the parents eate the flesh, and kepe his bones in a chest. Thys they do, saying, if the wormes had eaten the fleshe they should die for hunger, and the soule of [Page 111] the deade bodie shoulde iuffer greate penurie in the other world. They do hide this chest with the bones, in a caue of the mountaines, so that it maye not be founde. All the straungers that they doe finde, they kil and eate them, if they be not ransomed for money as soone as they take them.

Of the Kingdome named Lambry, and of the straunge things there founde, and of the realme Samphur, and of the things founde there. CHAP. 113.

LAmbry is another realme in this Ilande, where there is great plentie of spices. The people are Idolaters. In this realme there be men that haue feathers about their priuities, great and bigge, and of the length of a goose quill. The fift realme of this Iland Iaua is named Samphur, where there is found the best Camphore that is in the world, and it is solde for the waight of gold: here they do vse the Wine of trées. In this prouince there is a kinde of great trée, and it hath a very thinne ryne, and vnder the ryne it is full of singular meale, and of thys meale they do make perfect meats, of the which I Marcus paulus did eat many times.

[Page 112]

Of tvvo Ilandes, and of the euill liuing and beastlynesse of the people. CHAP. 114.

GOing from Lambry sayling 140. myles towardes the North, you come vnto two Ilands, the one is named Necumea, and the other Nangania. The people of Necumea, liue like beastes, the men and women go naked, couering no part of their secrets: they do vse carnallye like beasts or dogs in the stréets, or wheresoeuer they doe finde, without any shame at all, hauing no difference, nor regard, the father vnto the daughter, nor the sonne vnto y ^e mother, more than vnto another woman, but euery one doth as he lusteth or may. Here there be mountaines of Sandolos or Saūders, and of nuts of India, and of Gardamonia, and many other spyces. Nangama is the other Ilande, it is fayre and great. The people therof are Idolaters, they liue beastly, and eate mens flesh, they are very cruel, they` haue heades lyke great Mastie dogges, and the men and women haue téeth like dogs. In this Ilande there is great plentie of spices.

[Page 113]

Of the Iland Saylan, and many noble things which be founde there. CHAP. 115.

AFter that you go from Nangana, you go towarde the Occident, and declynyng against Arbyno about ten hundred myles, you come vnto the Iland of Saylan, whiche is the beste and the greatest Iland in the world, being in compasse thirtie thousand myles. In this Iland there is a very rich king, the people are Idolatours, and they goe all naked in this Ilande, sauing that they do weare a linnen cloth before their secretes. There is great plentie of Rice and of cattel, and of the Wyne of trées. In this Iland are founde the best Rubies, that bée in the worlde, and they be founde in no other place than here. And here there be founde manye precious stones, as Topases, Amatistes, and of diuerse other kindes. Thys king hath the fairest Rubie in the world, the length of a spanne, and is as thicke as ones arme, as redde as fire, glistering without any blemmish. The men of this countrey are wonderfull leacherous, and they are worth nothing for the warres.

[Page 114]

Of the prouince named Moabar, vvherin there be fiue kingdomes, and of the noble things that be founde there. CHAP. 116.

PAssing from thys sayde place, and trauelling towardes the Occident fortie myles, you come vnto a greate prouince nam [...]d Moabar in the great India. This is the greatest and the best prouince that is in y ^e world, standing in the firme land, being an excellent regigion. There is in thys prouince, Margarites verye fayre and great. This prouince is diuided into fiue kingdomes, wherevpon raigneth fiue brethren legitimate. In the first beginning of this prouince standeth the firste kingdome gouerned by one of those fiue brethren, named Sendarba, and is entituled as king of Nor, here is fine great pearles, in great number. This king hath the tenth of all y ^e pearls whych are founde in his kingdome. The fishermen do fish these pearles, from the beginning of April, vntill the middest of May, in a gulfe of the Sea, where there is greate plentie of them, they are founde in the Oysters. The men and women of this realme goe all naked, sauing that they do weare a certaine cloth to couer theyr priuities. Also the king goeth naked, and to be knowen, he weareth about his necke a lace full of precious stones, whyche are in number a hundereth & foure, in the remembrance of a hundreth & foure prayers, that he vseth to say in the honour of his gods morning and euening, and on his armes, legges, féete, and téeth, he weareth so manye precious Stones, that tenne riche Cities be not able to paye for them.

[Page 115]This king hath fiue hundreth wiues, and one of them he toke from his brother. In this realme there be verye faire women of themselues: also they do vse paynting, s [...]tting more beautie vnto their faces and on their bodies. Thys king ha [...]h alwayes a greate companie with him, to serue him: when the king dyeth they burne his bodye, and with him of their owne voluntarie willes, all those that accompanied and serued him in his life time, leape into the fire, and burne themselues with him, saying, that they do go to beare their king companie in y ^e other world, and liue as they did here in this worlde. Yerely this King buyeth tenne thousande horses of the countrey named Cormos, at the price of fiue ounces of gold euery horse, some more, some lesse, according vnto the goodnesse and beautie of the horse. The merchaunts of Quinsay, of Suffer, and of Beden, sell those horses vnto the merchauntes of this realme. These horses lyue not in this prouince aboue one yeare: by this meanes that king consumeth a greate part of his treasure in horses. In this countrey they doe vse this custome, that is, when a man is condemned to dy, he is begged of the Prince that he maye kill himselfe, and when they haue obtayned the kings good will, he killeth himselfe, in the loue and honour of his Idols. After thys wise, hauing obtayned the kings grace and fauour, the wife of this malefactour and kinred, taketh him, tying about his necke twelue kniues, and in this manner he is carried by them vnto a place of iustice, where he crieth as lowde as he may, saying, I doe kill my selfe in the honour and for the loue of suche an Idoll, and with one of these kniues striketh himselfe, and then with another, vntyll such time as he falleth downe deade: this done, hys parents with great ioye and gladnesse burne the dead body, thinking that he is happy. In this countrey euerye man hath as many wiues as he is able to maintain: whē y ^e husbande [Page 116] dyeth, according vnto their custome, his bodie is burnt, and [...]is wiues of their owne frée willes burne themselues with him, and shée that leapeth firste into the fire, the beholders take hir to be the best. They are all Idolaturs, and for the more part of them, worship the Oxe, saying, he is a Sainct, for that he laboureth and tilleth the grounde, where the corne growth, and so by no manner of meanes they will eate anye kinde of Oxe fleshe, nor yet for all the golde in the world, will they kill an Oxe, and when any Oxe dyeth, with his tallow they do rubbe al the insides of their houses.

These people descende of those that killed Saint Thomas the Apostle, and none of them can enter into Sainct Thomas Churche, whiche he edified in that countrey: besides this, if one will presume to enter into the Temple, he falleth streight deade. It hath bene proued oftentimes, that some of them would enter perforce into the Church, and it hath not bin possible for them doe it. The king and those of this prouince eate alwayes vpon the ground, and if it be demaunded of them by question why they doe so, they doe aunsweare, for that they doe come of the earth, and to the earth they muste, and they cannot doe so much honour vnto the Earth as is worthy. In thys prouince there groweth nothing else but Rice: these people go naked vnto the warres, hauing no other weapon but speare and shield, and they kill no wilde beastes at all for their eating, but they cause some other that is not of their lawe to kill them. All the men and women do wash themselues twice aday, morning, and euening, for otherwise they dare neyther eate nor drinke, and he that should not kepe this vse among them, shoulde be reputed to bée and Hereticke: and they do washe themselues in thys manner, as we haue rehearsed: they goe all naked, and so they go vnto the riuer, and [...]ake of the water, and powre it vpon their heads, and then one doth helpe to washe another. [Page 117] They are good men of warre, and verye fewe of them drinke wine, and those that doe drinke it, are not taken to be as a witnesse, nor yet those that go vnto the Sea, saying, that the Marriners are dronkards. They are desperate men, and estéeme lecherie to be no sinne. This countrey is intollerable hote, and the boyes go altogither naked. It neuer rayneth in that Countrey, sauing in Iune, Iuly, and August. In this Region there be many Philosophers, and many that vse Negromancie, and verye manie of them that tell fortunes. There be Hawkes as blacke as Rauens, bigger than ours, and good to kill the game. Also, there be Owles as bigge as Hennes, that flye in the ayre all night. Many of those men doe offer their children vnto those Idols that they haue most respect vnto, and when they worship and feast those Idols, they do cause to come before them, all the yong men and maydes, whiche are offered vnto them, and they doe sing and daunce before the Idols, and this done, they do cause their meate to be broughte thither, and they doe eate the flesh, saying, that the smell of the flesh filleth the Idols.

Of the Realme named Musuly, vvhere there be found Adamants, and many Serpents, and of the manners of those in that Countrey. CHAP. 117.

MVsuly is a Region that standeth beyonde Moabar, trauelling towards Septentrion which is the North .1000. miles. The people of this Realme worship Idols. And in the Mountaynes of this Countrey, there be found fine Adamants. And after they haue had muche rayne, the men goe to séeke them in [Page 118] the streames that runne from the Mountaynes, and so they do find the Adamants, whiche are brought from the Mountaynes in Sommer when the dayes are long. Also, there be strong Serpents and great, very venemous, séeming that they were serte there to kéepe the Adamantes that they might not be taken away, and in no parte of the world there is found fine Adamants but there. Th [...]re be in this Countrey the biggest Shéepe in the worlde. And in the Prouince of Moabar aforenamed, lyeth the body of the Apostle Sainct Thomas, buryed in a small Citie, whither there goeth but few Merchants, for that it standeth farre from the Sea. There dwell manye Christians and Moores, hauing great reuerence vnto the body of S [...]inct Thomas, for they doe beléeue and say, that he was a Moore, and a great Prophet, and they do call him Thomas Dauana, which is to say, a holy man. The Christians that go on Pilgrimage to visit the body of Saincte Thomas, take of that earth where he was martired, and when any falleth sicke, they doe giue him of it to drinke, with wine and water. In the yeare of our Lorde .1297. it chanced there to be a miracle in this wise: A Knight gathered so much Rice, that he had no place to put it in, but put it into a house of Sainct Thomas, and the Christian men desired him not to pester the holy Apostles house with his Rice, where the Pilgrims did lodge, yet the Knighte would not heare them, and the same night, the spirite of Sainct Thomas appeared with a Gallowes of iron in his hande, putting it aboute the Knightes necke, and sayde, If thou cause not thy Rice to be taken out of the house of Sainct Thomas, I will hang thée. This miracle the Knight told with his owne mouth, vnto all the people of that Countrey, and forthwith the Christians rendred hartie thankes to the holy Apostle, who dothe many miracles on the Christians that committe themselues deuoutely vnto him: All the people of this Countrey [Page 119] be blacke, not bycause they be so borne, but for that they woulde be blacke, they annoynt themselues with a kind of oyle, called oyle of Ai [...]niolly, for the blackest are estéemed most fayre. Also, the people of this Countrey cause their Idols to be paynted blacke, and the Diuels to be painted white, saying, that God and his Sainctes are blacke, and the Diuels white. When they of this Countrey go on warfare, they weare hattes vpon their heads, made of the hides of wild Oxen, and vpon their shieldes. And to the féete of their Horses, they fasten the heares of an Oxe, saying, that Oxen heares be holy, and haue thys vertue, that whosoeuer carieth of them aboute him, can receyue no hurt nor danger.

Of the Prouince Lahe, and of the vertue that is in the people. CHAP. 118.

GOing from that Towne of Sainct Thomas towardes the Occidente, you come vnto a Prouince named Lahe, and there dwell the men named Bragmanos, which are the truest men in the world. They will not lye for all the worlde, nor yet consent vnto any falsehoode for all the world. They are very chast people, being contented only with one woman or wife. They neuer drinke wine, and by no manner of meanes they will take another mans goodes, nor will eate fleshe, nor kill any kinde of beast for all the world. They do honour the Idols, and haue much vnderstanding in the arte of Fortunes. Before they doe conclude anye greate bargayne, and before they doe anye thing of importance, firste they doe consider theyr shadowe agaynste the Sunne, whereby they iudge the thyng that they muste doe by certayne [Page 120] rules which they haue deputed for it. They doe eate and drinke temperately. They are neuer let bloud, therefore they be very wise. In this Countrey there be many religious men, which are named Cingnos, and liue a hundred and fiftie yeares, for their greate abstinence and good liuing. In this Countrey there be also certayne religious men Idolaters, who goe altogither naked, couering no part of their body, saying, that of themselues they be pure and cleane from all sinne. These doe worship the Oxe. These religious men weare eache of them vppon his forhead an Oxe made in mettall. They do oynt all their bodie with an oyntment, which they make with great reuerence of the marou of an Oxe. They do neyther eate in dishes, nor vppon trenchers, but vppon the leaues of the Apple trée of Paradise, and other drye leaues, and not gréene by no manner of meanes, for they saye, that the gréene leafe hath life and soule. They do sléepe naked vppon the ground.

Of the Kingdome named Orbay, and of many things and strange beastes found there, and of their beastly liuing. CHAP. 119.

ORbay is a Kingdome that standeth towards the Orient, or the East, beyond Marbar fiue miles. In this Kingdome there be Christians, Iewes, and Moores. The King of Orbay payeth no tribute. Héere groweth more Pepper, than in any place of the world. There is a thyng in couloure redde, which they do call Indyaco, there is plē tie, and it is good to dye withall, and is made of hearbes. A man can scarce kéepe himselfe in health, for the greate heate that is there, whiche is so vehemente, that if you should put an Egge in the water of the riuer at such time [Page 121] as the Sunne hathe his strength, it woulde séeth it as though it were put in séething or scalding water. There is greate trade of merchandise in this Countrey, Great trade for Pepper by reason of the quantity. by reason of the greate gaynes. There is very muche Pepper, and very good cheape. In thys Countrey there be manye and strange Beastes to beholde. There groweth no other kynde of grayne for sustenance, but Rice. There bée many Phisitions and Astrologers. The men and women are blacke, and go naked, sauing that they do couer theyr priuities. Héere they do marrie the Cousen with the cousen, and the sonne in lawe with the mother in lawe, and throughout all India they do kéepe this manner of wedding

Of the Prouince named Comate, and of the people and strange Beastes that be there. CHAP. 120.

COmate is a Countrey of India, from whence you can not sée the North Starre, nor yet it can not be séene from the Ilande named Iaua to this place. But going from hence, sayling vppon the Sea thirtie miles, you shall discouer the North Starre streight. In this Countrey there are verye strange people, and verye strange Beastes, but specially Apes that are like men.

Of the Kingdome named Hely, and of the strange beastes found there. CHAP. 121.

GOing from Comate agaynste the Occident, or the Weast thirtie miles, you shall playnely sée the North Starre, and come to the Region of Hely, [Page 122] where they are all Idolaters. The King of this place is very rich of treasure, but he is weake of people. Thys Countrey is so strong, that no man can enter into it perforce. And when any Shippe commeth thither by force of weather, or otherwise, those of the Countrey robbe hym, saying, that those Shyps come not thither, but to robbe them, and therefore they do earnestly beléeue that it is no sinne to robbe them. Héere be Lyons, and other wylde beastes a great number.

Of the Kingdome named Melibar, and of the things found there. CHAP. 122.

MElibar is a greate Kingdome in India, towards the Occidente, Melibar. and the King payeth no tribute. All the people of this Countrey be Idolaters. Out of thys Realme and the nexte, there goe manye Shippes vnto the Sea a rouing, whiche robbe all kind of people. They do carrie with them their wiues and chyldren, and they sayle in all the Sommer a hundred Shippes togither, and when they doe come to the shore, they roue into the Countrey a hundred miles, taking all that they can finde, doyng no hurte vnto the people, saying vnto them, Go, and gette more, for peraduenture you shall come againe into our hands. In this Countrey there is plentye of Pepper, Plenty of Pepper and Ginger, and Turbit. of Ginger, and of Turbit, which is certayne rootes for medicines. Of thys Countrey, and their conditions, I will not rehearse, for it would be very tedious, therefore I will passe vnto the Realme of Giesurath.

[Page 123]

Of the Kingdome named Giesurath, of their euill conditions. CHAP. 123.

GIesurath, is a Kingdome, in lawe, faith, and tong of the Persians, standing towards the Occidente. All the people are Idolaters. Frō hence you maye playnely sée the North Starre. In this kingdome be the worst and cruellest Rouers in the worlde, they doe take the Merchantes, not onely taking their goodes, but setting a price of their ransome for their bodyes, and if they do not pay it in a short time, they giue them so great tormentes, that many dye of it. Héere they worke good Leather of all maner of coloures.

Of the Kingdome named Thoma, and of the Kingdome Sembelech, which stand in India the great. CHAP. 124.

GOing from Giesurath towardes the Occidente, you come vnto the Kingdomes of Thoma & vnto Sembelech. In these Realmes there is al kind of Merchandizes. And these Realmes haue the language and fayth of Persia, and in none of them both there groweth anye other sustenance than Rice. They are Realmes and Prouinces of India the great.

[Page 124]

Of the things already declared CHAP. 125.

I Haue onely declared of the Prouinces and Kingdomes of India, which stande only vpon the Sea coast, and haue declared nothyng vnto you of the Prouinces and Kingdomes within the land, for then this treatise would be very long and tedious vnto the Readers, but yet something of those partes, I will not let to declare.

Of tvvo Ilands, the one of men, and the other of women, Christians, and how there is much Amber. CHAP. 126.

WHen you go from Besmaceian, sayling thorough the meane sea towards the midday or South .25. miles, you come vnto two Ilandes of Christians, the one thirtie miles distant from the other. The Iland where there is all men, is named Masculine, and the other where there is all women, is named Feminine. The people of those Ilands are as one. The men go not vnto the women, nor the women vnto the men, but thrée monethes in the yeare, as to witte, August, September, and October, and these thrée moneths, the men and women are togither, and at the third moneths end, they returne vnto their owne houses, doing the rest of their businesse by thēselues. The children Males tarrie with their mothers vntill they be seauen yeares of age, and then they goe vnto their fathers. In this Ilande there is greate plentye of Amber, by reason of the greate number of Whales that they do take. In thys Iland they are good [Page 125] fishers, and take greate plentie of fishe, and dr [...]e it at the sunne, hauing great trade with it. Here they liue wyth fleshe, milke, fishe, and rice, and there increaseth no other sustenaunce. Here ruleth, and gouerneth a Bishop suffragane of the Archbishop of Discorsia.

Of the Iland named Discorsia, vvhiche are Christians, and of the things that be founde there. CHAP. 127.

GOing from these two Ilandes, and sayling towards the middaye 500. myles▪ you come vnto an Ilande named Discorsia, wherein are Christians, and haue an Archebishoppe. Here is great abundāce of Amber. Also they do make very faire clothes of Cottenwooll, the people goe all naked without any clothing. Here is the stall of Rouers and Pirates, and the Christians buy with a good wil the goods whiche they bring, & haue robbed, for that these Pyrates do not robbe but only the Moores and Paynims, and meddle not with the Christians. When a ship sayleth vnder sayle with a prosperous winde, a whole day, the day following the Pyrates, with inchauntmentes of the Diuel, cause the shippe to haue a contrarie winde, and so take it.

[Page 126]

Of the Ilande named Maydeygastar, vvhere Elephantes be founde, and other strange things, and the foule named Nichas, which h [...]th quils on his wings twelue paces in length, and of many other conditions. CHAP. 128.

MAydeygastar is an Ilande standing towardes the midday, distaunt from Discorsia about a thousande myles. This Ilande is gouerned by foure Moores, and hath in compasse a thousand four hundred myles. Here is greate trade of Merchaundise for Elephantes téeth, for that there is great plentie: they eate no other flesh in this Iland but of Elephants, and of Cammels. Here be many mountaines of redde Sandalos or Saunders trées, also there is founde greate plentie of Amber. Here is good hunting of wilde beasts, and hauking of foules, and hither come many shippes with Merchaundise. Also there is very great plentie of wilde Boares. There was sente from hence vnto the greate Cane the Iawe of a wilde Boare which wayghed twentie fiue poundes. In some times of the yeare, there is founde in this Ilande a certaine foule named Nichas, which is so big, that the quill of his wings is of twelue paces long, and he is of suche bignesse and strength, that he with his talents taketh an Elephante, and carrieth him vp into the ayre, and so killeth him, and the Elephant so being dead, he letteth him fal, and leapeth vpon him, and so féedeth at his pleasure.

[Page 127]

Of the Iland named Tanguybar, vvhere there be men like Gyants. CHAP. 129.

TAnguybar is an Ilande of great nobility, being tenne thousand myles in compasse, and the people of this countrey are Idolatours, and so bigge and grosse, that they séeme like Giants One of them wil bear a burthen as waightie as sixe of our men may beare. They are all black, and go naked without any couer. These men are fearefull to beholde, hauing greate mouthes, and a great redde nose, great eares, and bygge eyes, horrible in sight. The women are filthy and euil fauoured. There is great trade of Merchandise. These people are bigge of their bodies, strong, and great fighters, and estéeme not their liues. The wilde beastes of thys Iland differ much from other wilde beastes of other Ilāds and countries.

Of the things rehearsed. CHAP. 130.

YOu shall vnderstande that all whyche I haue declared of India, is only of the noble and great prouinces bordering vppon the sea coastes, and I doe beléeue that there was neuer man, Christian, nor Iew, nor Paynim, that hath séene so much of the leuaunt parties as I Marcus paulus haue séene, for I haue séene India bothe the greate and the lesse, & Tartaria, wyth other prouinces & Ilands, which are so many, y ^t the age of one man, yea peraduenture of ij. men, would not suffice to [...] [Page 128] them all. And now I will declare vnto you of India the great.

Of Abashya. CHAP. 131.

IN India the greate, there is a greate prouince named Abashia, whych is to say the middle India, for it standeth betwéene India the greate, and India the lesse. The king of the prouince is a Christian, and the Christians that be vnder hym carrye two tokens made with a burning yron, from the forheade vnto the pointe of their nose. The great King dwelleth in the middest of the prouince, the Moores dwel towardes the prouince of Cadamy.

The holye Apostle Saint Thomas did conuerte muche people vnto the Christian faith in this prouince, and afterwards went from thence vnto the prouince of Moaber, where he was martyred. In this prouince there be many valiant knights, and mē of armes, and they do euer make war against the Souldan of Aden. The people of thys countrey liue vpon fleshe, milke, and Rice, and of no other thing. There they vse muche vsurie, and in this prouince there be many Cities and townes.

[Page 129]

Of the prouince of Adem or Ades, and of the things found there. CHAP. 132.

THe prouince of Adem hathe a King, and he is named the Sowdan of Ad [...]m. There be in this prouince many Cities and Townes, and the people are Moores, and haue greate strife with the Christians. There be in this prouince Ports and Hauens, whither many shippes come with merchaundize, and the moste of this prouince liue vppon Rice, for that they haue little fleshe, and lesse milke. This country is very dry and without fruite, and there groweth no grasse, and therefore the beastes of this prouince liue vppon drie fishe, salte and rawe, which they doe eate in steade of strawe and barley.

Of a mightie King of the Orient parties. CHAP. 133.

NOwe I haue tolde you of India the greate, India the lesse, and of middle India, and nowe I haue remayning to tell you of the Countries whiche are towards Septentrion or the North, where there raygneth a King of the imperiall house of the greate Cane. These people do worshippe the same Idoll that the Tartarians doe worshippe, whiche they name Nazigay. This prouince hathe plaines [Page 130] and mountaines. There groweth no kinde of sustenaunce nei [...]her corne nor Rice, and the people liue onelye vppon fleshe and milke of Mares, and no man maketh warre againste them, nor they againste no manne. Here bée manye Camelles and other beastes, but they are deade. Vppon the Seigniorie of this Kyng there is a Countrey so strong, that no manne maye enter into it, nor yet beaste being bigge, by reason of the straites, lakes, and fountaynes whyche bée there, and for that alwayes there is suche feruent colde, that it is alwayes frozen, and vnto them there can come no shipping. This Countrey is in compasse twelue dayes iorney.

Hovve Armines are boughte, and of other beastes. CHAP. 134.

I Will declare vnto you howe in these twelue dayes iourney they doe buy the wilde beasts for to haue theyr skinnes. In euerye place of these twelue dayes iourney there is plentie of habitations, and there be masties or dogges little lesse than Asses. These masties doe drawe after them a certaine thing made of Woodde, whiche is called Slioiala, whiche is a sleade, as the Oxen or Horses doe drawe a Carte, sauing it hathe no whéeles as oure Cartes haue, and these Slyoialas or sleddes, are as bigge as twoo menne maye be in it, that is to saye, the Mayster of the maysties or carte, and the Merchaunt that goeth to buy the skinnes. And these masties cease not drawing, excepte it be in some myry place, they sette foure [Page 131] or sixe masties to drawe, as among vs wée doe sette Oxen or Horses, & when they do come to their iourneys end, the Merchaunt hyreth an other carter with his slead and masties, for that the firste coulde not endure so muche labor, and so he maketh his twelue dayes iourney, till he come to the mountains where the Armins and skinnes are sold, where they buy them, and afterwa [...]des they retourne as they came. At the ende of this Countrey there standeth a Kingdome whiche is named the Barkland, for it is there euer darke, as wee call the Twylight, A darke land for the Sunne shyneth not there, and is not séene. The people of this Countrey haue no King, but liue as beastes without lawe. In this Countrie the men and women are well made of their bodies, although they be somewhat yellowe of coloure. The Tartarians that border vppon them, doe spoyle them very muche, and when the Tartarians doe goe to robbe in that darke valley, they ride vppon mares that haue horse or mare coltes following them, for they doubte to come oute that wayes that they were in, by reason of the darknesse and wooddes, and when they come neare vnto the place where they meane to robbe, they doe tye their horse or mare coltes vnto the trées, and ride vppon the mare, and doe their feate, and as they haue done it, they lette their mares goe whither they liste, and the mares goe straighte vnto their horse or mare coltes, where they lefte them tyed vnto the trées. Those in that Countrie, wyth certaine deuises doe take many Armines, and diuers other wilde beasts, and take the skinnes and dresse them, & make merchaundize. This obscure and darke Coun [...]rey, ioyneth one parte with Ronselande.

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Of Rouseland, and of other thinges whiche be founde there. CHAP. 135.

ROuselande is a greate Prouince towardes Trasmontana whiche is the North. The people of Russia are Christians, according to the vse of the Gréekes. Touching the things [...]f the holy Church, they are verye simple, Rouseland is a strong Countrey, and hathe very strong passages. There be very fayre menne and women, and vnto no man they giue tribute, sauing vnto the King of Tartarie of the Occident. There is made greate merchaundize of noble furres for apparell. In Rouseland there be founde many mines of siluer, also there is such feruent colde, that the people can scarce liue. This prouince reacheth vnto the Occean Seas towardes the Septentrion, in which Seas there be many Ilandes wherein bréedeth many Gerfaulcons, and singular Hawkes.

FINIS.

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The Introduction.

FOr that this treatise which I found in the secōd Booke towards the end, that Maister Pogio Florētine, Secretary vnto Pope Eugenius the fourth wryteth of the varietie or chaunge of fortune, it maketh muche vnto the confirmation and proofe of the things that Maister Marcus Paulus writeth in h [...]s Booke, for that by the mouth of two or three (as our Redeemer sayth) there is proued the truth I thoughte good to translate it out of Eloquent Latine, whiche hee did write it in, and to communicate it into my rude Castilian and naturall tongue, for that ioyntly suche twoo witnesses in thys present worke may make a full, or almoste a sure proofe of some things, for that it hath not bin seene in our Europa, or that in any auntient writing appeareth, it may be thoughte harde or difficile credence. And the saide Pogio followeth in this manner, in the ende of his seconde Booke.

IT séemeth not vnto me a thing straunge from reason, if I decline from the stile that hitherto I haue vsed in this Booke, declaring of the harde fortune making an ende, counting the diuersities of thinges, wherein the heartes of the Readers finde more taste, and amiable gladnesse, than in those that already I haue written. Notwithstanding that also in the cause I will declare, appeareth plainelye the force of Fortune, in retourning a man vnto Italy oute of the extreame partes of the worlde of the Orient, after that he had suffered and passed fiue and twentie yeres such greate fortunes, aswell by sea as by lande. The olde Authors do write many things of the Indians with the common [Page 134] fame, of the whiche the certaine knowlege that since we haue hadde, sheweth them to be rather fables than of truth, as it appeareth by the referring of one Nicholas a Venetian, that after he had trauailed the intrailes of the Indias, he came vnto Eugenius the fourth Pope of that name, who then was in Florence, to reconcile himselfe, and to haue pardon, for that comming oute of India, and ne [...]re vnto Egipt towards the redde Sea, hée was constrayned to renounce and forsake the faith, for feare of death, more of his wife and children, than of hymselfe. And for that I hearde by manye, that he declared of manye singular things, I desired muche to heare hym, and not onelye to demaunde of him concerning the things whiche hée hadde séene, in the presence of wise Barons, and of greate authoritie, but also to enforme my selfe wyth hym in myne owne house, and to take a note of his relation, for that there mighte remaine a remembraunce of it vnto those that hereafter shoulde come after mée. And of a trueth hée tolde so certaynelye, so wisely, and so attentiuely all hys trauaile made amongest people of so farre Countries, the vse, manners, and custome of the Indians, the diuersitie of wilde beastes, trées, the lynages of Spices, and in what place it groweth, that it appeared well, hée dydde not declare a fained tale, but the trueth of that whiche hée hadde séene. And as it séemeth, this man went so farre, as none of the olde tyme hadde béene, for he passed the riuer Gangy, and wente beyonde the Ilande Taprobana, where we reade there came none, excepte one Captaine of Alexanders fléete named Onesycrito, and a Citizen of Rome, that by fortune of tēpest arriued in those parties in the time of Tiberius Cesar. This Nicholas Venetian being yong, was as a Merchaunt in the Citie of Damasco in Syria, and hauing learned the Arabian tongue, he departed from the sayde Citie in the company of .600. Merchantes, the whiche company they do call Carouana, [Page 135] or Carauana, & trauailing with his merchaundize through the deserts of Arabia, otherwise named Petrea, and from thence thoroughe Chaldie, he came vnto the greate riuer Euphrates.

Hée saide, that at the going out of the Deserte, hée sawe a meruailous thing, that aboute midnighte, being all at reste, he heard a great noise and sound, that they thoughte it hadde bin companies of Alarabes wild naked menne, or robbers, and that they were comming to doe them some hurte, and all the whole company arose and were al ready with the feare, and they sawe manye battels of horsemen whiche passed harde by their tents much like an hoste, dooing vnto them no hurte at all, and those that hadde vsed that way, said it was certaine companies of fiends which did ouer run in that sorte the Deserts.

There standeth aboue Euphrates a noble Citie that the walles of it be of fouretéene thousande paces. And this Citie was a parte of the olde Babilon, and those of that Countrie, name it by a newe name Baldachia, and Euphrates runneth in the middes of it, and they doe passe ouer a bridge that hath fourtéene arches of ech side, where appeareth many remembraunces of the olde Babilon, and manye edifications throwne downe. It hath a strong and a greate Pallaice royall standing vpon a mountaine. The King of this prouince is of a mightie power. From hence vp the riuer twentie dayes sayling, he sawe manye noble and populous, and earable groundes of Ilandes, and so he trauailed eight dayes iourney by lande vnto the Cittie Balsera, and from thence in foure dayes he came vnto the Sea of Persia, whiche ebbeth and floweth as ours doeth, and so there saylyng fyue dayes, he arryued at a Hauen called Chalcou, and from thence hée wente vnto an Iland named Omersia, whych is a small Iland, & distant from the firme lād about .12000 paces, & frō thēce he passed toward [Page 136] India a hundred myles, and came vnto a Citie named Calabatia, which is a noble Citie of the Persians, where merchaunts vse to traffique, and here he was a certaine time, and learned the Persian tongue, and made him apparell as the Persians had, and so he passed from thence forward al his time and trauell. And here he tooke shipping in a shippe with company of the Persians, and of the Moores, & among them they kéepe muche their promise, lawes, and othes made in company, and so sayling a moneth, he came vnto a noble Citie named Cambayta, situated at the second entraunce that the riuer of India maketh in the lande. In this Countrie there is founde the pretious stones whiche are called Sardins or Sardonicas: and here when the husband dieth, they do burne his wife or wiues that he hath, with his body, and she that he most loued, layeth hir neck vppon hir husbandes arme, and in this wise being in hir husbandes armes, they burne them: and the other wiues they burne in an other fire whiche is made for that purpose, and of this vse it shall be rehearsed hereafter. And passing on twentie dayes iourney, he founde two Cities, the one named Pacamunria, and the other Hely. In this Countrey there groweth Ginger whiche is called in that countrie Bellyedy, Gebelly, and Belly, and it is the roote of trées of two cubites in height, the leaues are great, and after the fashion of a kettle, y ^e bark is hard like y ^e barke of Canes, & it couereth his fruit: out of it procéedeth the ginger, which mingled with ashes, & layd against the Sun, it drieth in thrée dayes. From hence he went trauailing frō the sea coaste thrée hundreth myles, and he came vnto the greate Citie named Berengalia whych, is in compasse thrée score myles, being enuironed on the one side with harde and highe rockes, and on the other side towards the valleys and playne grounde with strong adarnes and boughes. They saye héere is .900000. menne that may weare armoure. The men of that country take [Page 137] as manye wiues as they lifte, and are burnte with them when they dye. In this their King hath ouer them greate vantage, for he taketh twelue thousād wiues, and of these there goeth on foote after him wheresoeuer he goeth foure thousande, whych do only prepare and dresse his victuals: and there rideth foure thousand on horsebacke, well apparelled, and of more estimation than the firste. The other foure thousand ryde in carts and wagons, and of these at the leaste there be two thousand or thrée thousand of them that he taketh with condition, that when the king is dead, they of their owne frée willes muste be burnte wyth him: vnto these they do great seruice and obedience. This king hath another very noble Citie, which hath ten thousande paces in compasse, being eight dayes iourney from Berengalia, from whence in twentie dayes iourney by lande, hée came vnto a Citie vppon the sea coste, with a good hauen called Pedifetaman, and in these twentie dayes iourney hée went through two Cities, the one named Odes Chyria, and the other Conteri Chyrian, where there groweth the redde Sandolos or Saunders. From hence he passed vnto a Citie named Malpurya, whiche standeth beyonde the seconde entring, that the riuer India maketh in y ^e end, wher the body of Saint Thomas the Apostle lyeth honourably in a fayre and famous Church, where he is greatlye honoured and worshipped by the Heretickes Nestorians: and there liue almost a thousande men of them in this Citie. These doe liue throughout all India scattered as the Iewes doe among vs. All this prouince is named Mahabaria, beyonde there standeth a Citie named Cayla, where there be plenty of peares, and many trées that beare no fruite, of sixe Cubits high, and as muche in compasse: the leaues of these trées are so thinne, that being playted or foulded vp, you may put one of them in the palme of your hand. They doe vse these leaues in steade of Paper to write vpon, and for to couer their heades with when it rayneth, for one leafe [Page 138] will couer thrée or foure men, when they doe trauell. In the middest of this sea there standeth a noble Ilande named Zaylan, whyche is thrée thousande myles in compasse, where there be many precious stones, as Rubies, Saphires, Granates, and those that are named Cattes eyes, whyche are muche estéemed there. Also there is plentye of Synamon, whiche is a trée muche like vnto oures of the greatest Hawtho [...]es, sauing that the braunches runne not vpwarde, but open and streight slopewise: the leaues be muche like vnto our Bay leaues, sauing that those of y ^e Synamon are bigger: the rine or barke of the braunches is best and thinnest, and the rine of the bodye and roote is thickest, and of lesse taste: the fruite is like vnto the Baye berries, out of whych there commeth a very swéete Oyle, and the people vse to make oyntment of it, wherewith the Indians do annoint themselues: they burne the wood of the trée, when the rine is taken away. There is in this countrey a lake, and in the middest of it standeth a royall Citie of thrée myles compasse. The Lords of this Iland are of the lynage of the Bragmanos, and are taken to be of more witte than the others. The Bragmanos Studie Phylosophy all their life, and also Astrologie, and liue honestly. From hence he passed vnto the famous Ilande named Taprobana, which the Indians, call Scyamucera, where is a noble Citie, and there he was a twelue month: it is sixe myles in compasse, and is a famous Citie, hauing greate trade of Merchaundise there, and in al that Iland. From hence be sayled with a prosperous winde, leauing on the right hand the Iland Adamania, which is as much to say, as the Ilande of Colde, whyche is 800. myles compasse, wherein the Euitrofagitas doe liue, and no straungers goe thyther, except it be for necessity of weather, and immediately those barbarous people hewe them in péeces, and eate them. He sayde that Taprobana is 1600000. paces in compasse, the men are verye cruell, and of stubberne conditions, [Page 139] and the men and women haue very bigge eares, laden with Hoopes of golde, and with precious stones. They do weare linnen and cloth of silke or cruell downe vnto their knées: they take many wiues: their houses are lowe, by reason of the greate heate that the sunne hath there. They are Idolatours, and haue muche Pepper named the greatest, and of the long Pepper, and greate plentie of Camphore and golde. The trée that maketh the pepper is like the Yedra, or Iuie trée, the berries are gréen lyke vnto the Iuniper berries, and redde, and being mingled wyth ashes, they harden with the sunne: there is a gréene fruite named Durians, of the bignesse of Cucumbers. And there be some of them lyke Orengies or Lemans, of diuerse sauours and taste, as like butter, lyke milke, and like curdes. In that part of this lande, whiche is named Bateth, y ^e Antropophagos dwel, and haue continuall warre with their neyghbours, and eate the fleshe of their enimies that they doe take, and kéepe their heades for treasure, and vse them in steade of money, when they do buy anye thing, in giuing moste heades for the thing that is most worth, and he that hath moste heades of the deade men in his kéeping, is estéemed to be most rich.

Hauing the Iland Taprobana, and sayling fiftéene days, he arriued by tempest of weather, vnto the entring of a riuer called Tenaserim, and in this region there be manye Elephants, and there groweth much Brasill. And goyng from thence trauelling many dayes iourney by land, and by sea, he entred at the mouth of the Ryuer Gangey, and sayled fiftéene dayes vp the riuer, and came vnto a Citie named Cernomen, very noble and plentiful.

Thys Riuer Gangey is of suche breadth, that Saylyng in the middest, you shall sée no lande on neyther side, and hée affyrmeth that it is in some places fiftéene myles in breadth. In the armes and braunches of this ryuer there be Canes of suche a maruellous lēgth, [Page 140] and so bigge, that scarce a manne maye compasse one of them wyth both his armes: and of the hollownesse or pith of them, they do make things to fishe with, and of y ^e wood which is more than a spanne thick, they do make boates to trauell with vpon the riuer, and from knot to knotte of these Canes it hath of hollownesse the length of a man. There be in this riuer certaine beasts, hauing four féete, named Crocodiles, which liue in the day time vpon the lād, and in the night in water: and there be many kindes of fishe whiche are not founde among vs, and vppon the braunches of this riuer be manye fayre Gardens, habitations, and delectable grounde. On eche side there groweth a kinde of fruite muche like vnto a figge, whych is named Musa, and it is verye pleasaunte, and more swéete than honnye. Also there is another fruite, whyche we call Nuttes of India, and manye other diuerse fruites. Going from hence vppe the ryuer thrée moneths, leauing behinde him foure famous Cities, he came to a goodlye famous Citie named Maarazia, where there is great plenty of the trées called Alloes, and plentie of golde, and siluer, Pearles, and precious stones. And going from hence he directed hys waye vnto the mountaines of the Orient, for to haue Carbuncles, and trauelling thirtéene dayes, he returned firste to Cermon and afterwardes vnto Buffetanya.

And after that, sayling a whole moneth by sea, he came vnto the entring of the riuer Nican, and sayling vppon it sixe dayes, he came vnto the Citie also named Nican, and he went from thence seauentéene dayes iourney throughe deserte mountaynes, and plaine countrey, the fiftéene days of plaine countrey, vntil he came to a riuer greater than the riuer Gange, which the people of that countrey cal Claua, and sayling vp this riuer a month, he came vnto a famous great Citie called Aua, being 15. miles in compa [...]e. This prouince is named of the inhabitauntes Marcin [...]. [Page 141] They haue greate plenty of Elephantes, for their Kyng dothe kéepe tenne thousande of them for the warres▪ and setteth vpon euery Elephantes backe a Castell, whyche maye carrie eyghte or tenne men with Speares and Shields, or Bowes, or Crossebowes. He rehearsed that they toke the Elephantes in this manner, Plinie agreeth vnto the like. They let the tame Elephants females goe vnto the mountaynes, vntill suche time as the wilde bee acquainted with them, for the male commonly doth content himselfe with one female, and when they haue once acquaintance, the female bringeth the wild, by little and little, grasing, vnto a small yard strongly walled, hauyng two dores, one to come in at, and another to goe out at. The female when she is in at the first gate, she goeth out at the seconde, and the male following hir, the two dores be locked againste him, and then hauing him within, by certayne loupe holes made for the purpose, there commeth in to the number of a thousand men, euery one with his snare in his hande, and one of those men presenteth himselfe before the Elephant, which runneth, thinking to kill the man, and then all those men runne vnto the Elephant, fastning those snares on his féete, and whē they be fastned, with great diligence, they do tye the snares vnto a great post, which is set there for that purpose, and they let him alone so thrée or four dayes, till he be more feeble, and after the space of fiftéene dayes, they giue him a little grasse, in the whiche time he wareth tame, and then they do tye him among other tame Elephants, and carrie him aboute the Citie, and in tenne dayes he becommeth as gentle as one of the others. Also he sayde, they did tame them in this other wise, that they had and dra [...]e them vnto a valley compassed round about, where they did put vnto them the females that were tame, and being somewhat féeble with hunger, they draue them into strayter places made for the nonce, where they be made tame, [Page 142] and these the Kings do buy for their owne vse. Some are fedde with Rice, and Butter, and some with grasse. The wilde Elephantes féede vpon grasse, and vpon the trées of the fields. He that hathe charge of them, rul [...]th them with a rodde of yron, or a ring whiche he putteth round about his head. The Elephants haue so much prouidence, that manye with their féete, pull away the Speares from their enimies, for that they shoulde not hurt those that be vpon their backes. The King rideth vpon a white Elephant, which hath a chayne of golde about his necke, being long vnto his féete, set full of many precious stones. The men of this Countrey haue but one wife a péece. Both men and women of this Countrey pricke themselues, making diuers markes, and of diuers couloures, on theyr bodyes. They be all Idolaters, and assoone as they do rise in the morning, they looke into the Orient, holding their hāds togither, and worship. There is in that Countrey a certayne kinde of fruite, like vnto the Orenge, whiche they doe call Cyeno, full of iuice and swéetenesse. Also, there is a trée whiche they doe call Tall, whereon they do write, for in all India, except it bée in the Citie of Combahita, they doe vse no paper, and it beareth a fruite like vnto the Turnep, but they are greate and tender like vnto Gelly. It is pleasant in eating, but the ryne is more pleasant. There be in that Countrey daungerous Serpents, of sixe cubites in length, and as thicke as a man, hauing no féete. The people of that Country haue great delight in eating of those Serpēts rosted. Also they do eate a certayne redde Ante as bigge as a crabbe, estéeming it much drest with Pepper. Also, there is a certaine Beast, hauing a head like vnto a Hogge, the tayle lyke vnto an Oxe, and a horne in his forehead, like vnto a Vnicorne, but smaller by a cubite. He is couloure and bignesse like vnto the Elephante. He is an enimie to the Elephant. The vtter part of his hornes is good for medicines [Page 143] against poyson, and for this cause he is had in great price and estimation. At the end of this Region towards Catay, there be Oren both blacke and white, had in great estimation. They haue a mane and a tayle lyke vnto a Horse, but more hearie, and reacheth vnto their féete. The heares of their tailes be very fine, and like vnto feathers, and they be sold by weight, and therof they do make Moscaderos or Table clothes, for the Altares of their Gods, or for to couer the Table of their King, or for to trimme them with gold and siluer, to couer y ^e buttocks or breasts of their Horses, for beautyfulnesse, & they estéeme thē for principall ornaments. Also, the Knightes hang of these heares fast by the yron of their Speares, in token among them of singular nobilite.

Beyond the sayde Marcino, there is another Prouince more principall than the others, which is named Cataya, Cataya. and he is Lord of it that is named the great Cane, whych is as muche to saye in their tong, as Emperoure, The great Cane. and the City royall, which is .28. miles in compasse, four square, is named Cymbalechya. There standeth in the middest thereof, a very faire and strong Pallace, that serueth for the King. At euery corner standeth a round fortresse of .4. miles compasse, whiche serue for houses of all manner of armoure, and necessarie engines for the warre, and combat against any Citie. And from the Pallace royall there runneth a wall with arches vnto euery one of these fortresses, whereon the King may go vnto any of them, if in case they would rise against him in the Citie. From thys Citie fiftéene dayes iourney, there standeth another Citie newly edifyed by the great Cane, and is named Nentay. It is in compasse thirtie miles, and is most populous of all the rest. And this Nicholas affirmeth, that the houses and Pallaces, and all other policies of these two Cities, séemed much like vnto those of Italy, the men béeing modest and curteous, and of more riches thā the other be.

[Page 144]Going from Aua vpon a small riuer seauentene dayes iourney, he came vnto a Hauen Citie, being very greate, named Zeitano, and from thence he entred into another Riuer: and in tenne dayes, he came vnto another greate and populous Citie, whiche is in comapasse .12000. paces, whiche is called Paconya, where he remayned foure monethes. In this Citie he founde Vines though they were few, for all India lacketh Vines and Wine, nor they make no wine of the Grapes. This Grape groweth among the trées, and after the Grape is cut, the first thing of all, if they do not sacrifice with it vnto their Gods, it is by and by auoyded out of their sight. Also, there be in this Countrey Pines, Aberrycocks, Chestnuttes, and Mellons, although they be small and gréene. Héere is whyte Sandales or Saunders, and Camphora, or Camphire.

There is in India farre within, almost at the furthest end of the world, two Ilandes, and both of them are named Laua, the one is of two miles in length, and the other of thrée, towards the Orient, and they are knowen in the name, for the one is called the greate, and the other the lesse. And turning vnto the Sea, he went vnto them, béeing distant from the mayne land a monethes sayling, and the one is a hundred miles distāt from the other. He was in these with his wife and children nine moneths, for in all his pilgrimage he had them euer with him. The dwellers in these Ilands are the most cruell and vncharitable people in the world. They eate Rattes, Cattes, Dogges, and other viler beastes. They estéeme it nothing to kill a man, and he that doth any crime, hathe no penaltie, and the debters be giuen to be as slaues vnto the creditors, and some debters will rather dye than serue, and take a Sword, and kill those that are weaker than they, till they find one that is of more strength than themselfe, who killeth them, & then they carrie the creditor of that murtherer before the Iudge, and cause him to [Page 145] pay the debtes of the debler. If any of them do buy a new Sword or knife, he proueth it vpon the body of the firste that he méeteth, and there is no penaltie for it. Those that come by looke vpon the wound, and prayse the hardinesse of him that did it, if it be a great wound. They take as many wiues as they list. They do vse much the game of Cockfighting, and they that bring them as well as the lokers on, lay wagers whiche Cocke shall ouercome, and winne the game. In Laua the great, there is a Fowle like vnto a Doue, which hath no féete, his feathers light, and a long tayle: he resteth alwayes on the trées, hys flesh is not eaten, the skinne and tayle are estéemed, for they do vse to weare them on their heads.

Sayling fiftéene dayes beyond these two Ilandes towards the Orient, you come vnto two other Ilands, the one is named Sanday, where there is Nutmegges and Almaxiga or Masticke. The other is called Bandan, where Cloues grow, and from thence it is caryed vnto the Ilands named Clauas. In Bandan there be thrée kinds of Popiniayes or Parrets, with redde feathers, and yellowe billes, and others of diuers couloures, whiche are called Noros, that is to say, cleare. They are as bigge as doues. There be other white ones as bigge as Hennes, named Cachos, that is to say, better, for they excéede the others, and they speake like men, in so muche, that they doe aunswere vnto the things that they are asked of. The people of these two Ilandes are blacke, by reason of the greate heate. Beyond these Ilands there is a mayne Sea, but the contrary winds will not suffer men to trauell on it.

Leauing these sayde Ilands, and hauing done his Merchandise, he toke his waye towards the Occidente or Weste, and came vnto a Citie named Cyampa, hauing abundaunce of Aloes and of Camphora, or Camphire, and of golde, and in so muche time as he came hither, whiche was a moneth, he came vnto a Citie named [Page 146] Coloen, whiche is a noble Citie of thrée miles compasse, where there is Ginger named Conbobo, and Pepper, and Vergino, and Sinamon, which is named Gruessa. Thys Prouince is named Melibarya. Also, there be Serpents of sixe cubites in length, and fearefull to behold, but they do no hurt, except they receyue hurt. They do delight muche to sée children, and for to sée them, they come where men be. Their heads when they be layde, séeme like to Celes heads, and when he lifteth vp his head, it séemeth bigger. It hath at the hinder partes a face like to a man and as though it were paynted of diuers couloures. They doe take them by inchantments, which the people vse muche there, and carrie them to be séene, and doe no hurt to anye body. Also, there is in this Prouince, and in the nexte adioyning named Susynaria, another kind of Serpēts, which hath foure féete, and a long tayle lyke mastyes. They doe take them hunting, and eate them, for they doe no hurte, and are to eate as amongst vs the Hinde or wilde Goate. The people say they are good meate. Their Skinnes be of diuers couloures, and those people vse them for diuers couerings, for it is very fayre to behold. Also, there be other Serpentes of a maruellous figure in that Countrey, of y ^e length of one cubite, with wings like vnto Battes. They haue seauen heads, ordinarily sette of the length of his bodye. They dwell among the trées, and are of a swifte flighte. The yare more venomous than the other, that onely with their breath they kill a man. Also, there be Cattes of the Mountayne, that flye, for they haue a small skinne from the backe vnto the bellie, ouer all theyr body and féete, whyche is gathered vp when they are still: and when they will flye, they spredde it, and moue it lyke wings, leaping from one trée vnto another. The Hunters do follow them, till they be wéerie with flying, that they fall downe, and so are taken. Also, there is in this Countrey a trée named Cachy, that of the troncheon [Page 147] there groweth a fruite lyke vnto a Pyne, but it is so great, that a man can scarce beare it. The hull is gréene and harde, but it is of suche a sorte, that if you thrust it with your finger, it gyueth place. It hath within it two hundred and fiftie, or thrée hundred Apples, like vnto Figges. They are of a pleasante tast, and are separated with a very thinne rine. The hull within is like vnto the Chestnut in hardnesse and sauoure, and in like maner they are rosted. They are windie, so that if they be putte into the fire, except they be cut, they will start out. They do giue the vtter rine vnto the Oxen to eate. Sometimes they fynde this fruite vnder grounde in the rootes of the trées, and those be of a pleasanter tast, therefore they doe vse to presente them vnto the Kings and Nobles. The fruite within hath no rine. This trée is muche like vnto a great Figge trée: the leaues are like vnto the leaues of Platanos, or ragged. The wodde is like vnto Bore, therefore it is hadde in estimation, and is vsed aboute manye things. Also, there is another fruite named Amba, verye gréene, like vnto a Walnut, but bigger than a Peache. The rine is bitter, and within, it hath the sauour of hony. They lay them in water before they ripe, and dresse them as we doe the gréene Olyues for to eate.

From Coloen he wente thrée dayes iourney vnto a Citie named Cochin, it is fiue myles in compasse, scituated at the entring of a Riuer, of the whiche it hath the name, and sayling a certayne time vpon the Riuer: he saw manye fiers and nettes fast by the Riuer, and thought there had bin fishermen, and he demaunded what those fishermen did with those fires euery nighte, and those of that Coūtrey gaue him answere yeepe, yeepe, that is to say, they were fishes or monsters, hauing humane forme, that on the daye time liued in the water, and in the night they doe come out of the water, and gather wodde togither, and make a fyre, striking one stone agaynste [Page 148] another, whiche Monsters did take and eate fishe, for there woulde come manye vnto the lighte of the fire, and sometimes there is taken some of them, and there is found no difference in them from other men and women. In this Region, the frutes are like vnto those of Col [...]en. Beyond this, there standeth another Citie named Calonguria, standing at the entring of another Riuer into the Sea, and beyond, there standeth Paluria, and Malyancora, and this name among them signifyeth a great Citie, it is nine miles in compasse. He wente through all those, and came vnto Colychachia, a City standing vpon the Sea coaste, it is eyght miles in compasse, it is the most noble in trade of Merchandise, that is in all India.

There is héere very much Pepper, Laccar, Ginger, grosse Sinamon, and other spices Aromatike, and of a swéete sauoure. Only in this region, the woman taketh as many husbands as she listeth, and the husbands agrée among themselues what eache shall giue towardes the mayntenance of the wife. Euery husband is in his owne house, and when he goeth vnto his wife, he setteth a signe at the dore, and when another of them commeth, and séeth the signe, he goeth another way. The children are the husbands that the wife listeth to giue them vnto. The sonne dothe not inherit his fathers lande, but hys sonnes sonne.

From hence he trauelled [...]iftéene dayes, tyll hée came to a Citie called Cambayta, standing néere the Sea. It is twelue miles in compasse towardes the Occidente. There is plentye of Espico, Nardo, or Lacca Indico, or Gome Laka, Myrabolanos, & Crewill.

There is héere a certayne kind of Priestes, whiche are named Bachales, hauing but one wife a péece, and she (by their law) is burnt with hir husband. This kind of people eateth no flesh, but onely fruites of the grounde, and Rice, milke and hearbes.

[Page 149]Here be many wilde Oxen, they haue manes like vnto Horses, but longer, and his hornes are so long, that when he turneth his heade they reache vnto his tayle, and for that they be so bigge, they doe vse them in steade of bottels to drinke in by the waye. Returning to Colicuchia, hée passed vnto an Iland named Secutera, whiche standeth towards the Occident, distant from the mayne lande a hundreth myles. It is sixe hundreth myles in compasse, and it is replenished for the most parte with Christians Nestorians Heretickes. Right against this Iland no more thā fiue myles, there standeth two Ilands, a thousande myles distant the one from the other, the one is of men, the other of women, sometimes the men passe vnto the women, and sometimes the women go ouer vnto the men, and they returne backe vnto their Ilande before sixe moneths, for if they shoulde tarrie any longer, they thinke shoulde dye.

From hence he passed by sea, vnto a Citie named Adena in fiue days, which hath many edifications, and from thence in seauen dayes he wente vnto Ethiopia, vnto a hauen named Barbara, and from thence in a monthes sayling he came vnto the redde sea, vnto a hauen called Byonda, and from thence he sayled two monthes with great difficultie, and landed in a countrey neare vnto mounte Sinay, & from thence trauelling through the deserts, he came vnto Carras, a Citie in Egipt with his wife, foure sonnes, and as many seruaunts. In this Citie his wife, two sonnes, and his seruauntes died of the plague, and finallye after long perilous and daungerous pilgrimages, he came vnto Venice, his own countrey.

[Page 150]

Pogio.

I Demaunding him of the life and customes of the Indians, he gaue me aunsweare that all India was diuided into thrée parts, the one from Persia vnto the riuer Indo, another from the riuer Indo, vnto the riuer Gange, and the other stā deth beyond these, and excéedeth the others in riches, humanitie, and pollicie, and are equal vnto vs in customes, life, and pollicie, for they haue sumptuous and neate houses▪ and all their vessels and housholde stuffe very cleane: they estéeme to liue as noble people, auoyded of all villanie and crueltie, being courteous people & riche Merchauntes, in so muche that there is one merchaunte hauing fortie shippes for his owne trade, and euery one of them is estéemed in 50000. Duckets. These only vse as we do, tables couered with table clothes, and haue theyr Cupboardes of plate, for the other Indians eate vppon a thing layde vppon the grounde. The Indians haue neyther vines nor Wine, they doe make their drinke of grounde Rice mingled with water, putting vnto it a certaine redde coloure all tempered with the iuyce of a certayne trée.

Also they make their pottage like vnto their Wine. In the Ilande named Taprobana they doe cutte the braunches of a certaine trée, whiche is named Tall, and leaue them hanging, and out of them there runneth a swéete licour whiche they vse to drinke. Also there is a lake betwéene the riuers Indo and Gange, of a maruellous sauerie and pleasaunt water to drinke, and al those that dwell there about drink of it, and also farre off, for they haue set [Page 151] horse from place to place, [...]or the purpose, so that they haue it brought fresh euery daye: they haue all want of breade: they liue vppon Farre or Rice, fleshe, milke, and chéese. They haue gret plentie of Hennes, Capons, Partridges, Feysauntes, and manye other wildefoules. They doe vse much fowling and hunting. They shaue their beardes, and nourishe a Heare tayle: and some tye their haire wyth a silken lace, behinde their shoulders, like a tayle, and so they weare them vnto the warres. They haue Barbars as we haue, they are tall of bodye as we be, and also in their time of life, they doe lye in sumptuous beddes, and couered with quilles of Cotten. Their apparell is diuerse according vnto the diuersitie of the countrey. They haue all scante of woollen cloth, they do vse cloth of lyne and of cruell, and make apparell of it. As well the men as the women couer their secréetes vnto their hammes, with a péece of linnen, & vpon it they put a vesture of linnen, or of silke, for the greate heate will not suffer them to weare more apparell, and therefore they doe goe so single tyed with Crimson lace, and of gold tyed as we do sée the painters make on the auntient pictures. The women vse certaine thinne shoes of leather, trimmed wyth Golde and cruell.

Also they doe weare for gallauntnesse Hoopes of golde on their armes, and about their neckes, about their breastes, and on their legges, the waight of thrée pounde set with precious stones: the common women kepe theyr houses as baudes: there be manye and easie to finde, for they are almost in euery stréet, the which with perfumes and soft oyntmentes, with their tender age and beautie prouoke muche the menne, for in that countrey they are muche inclyned vnto those women, and for thys cause the Indians knowe not what thyng is that abhominable sinne. Of manye wayes they doe dresse theyr heades, but commonlye moste of them vse to couer their [Page 152] heades with fine lawnes wrea [...]hed, and their haire laced with a silken lace: in some other p [...]aces they binde theyr haire vp to their heades, in manner like vnto a peare, and on the knot aboue on their haire they set a pinn [...] of golde, whereby they do hang certaine cordes of golde, being of diuerse colours, hanging betwéene the haires. Some women vse commonly blacke haire, and among them it is most estéemed. Some women couer theyr heades wyth certaine painted leaues of trées, and they doe not paynte their faces, but those inhabiting the prouince named Cataya doe.

In the India within, they do not consent to a man to haue but one wife. In the others they haue as manye as their carnall lust wil, sauing the Christian Hereticke N [...] storians, which dwel scattered throughout all the Indias, for they take but one woman. The maner of their tombes is not as one in all the Indias, for the moste India excéedeth other, in diligence and sumptuousnesse, for they doe make caues vnder grounde, in trimming it with a fine wal, and laye in the deade body in a precious bedde, trimmed wyth Ornaments of Golde, setting certaine baskettes round about wyth his moste precious apparell, and put on rings, as though the deade bodye shoulde enioye those things in Hell. They close the mouth of the caue very strongly, that none may enter, and vpon it they do make a sumptuous and rich tombe strong to abide rayne, and to be the more durable: but in the middle India they doe burne the deade bodies, and most commonly they do burne their wiues alyue with the deade body, one or manye, according as hée had.

They doe by law burn the first wife with him, although it be but one. Also they doe take other wiues on this condition, for to honoure him in death, burning hir selfe with him: and this among them is no little honour. They do laye the deade bodie in a bedde trimmed with the beste [Page 153] apparell that he hath. They do make a fyre rounde about with swéete wood, and when it burneth, his wife is trunly drest with hir beste aray, and comming with Trumpets and Shawmes and songs merily, as thoughe she did sing, she goeth rounde about the fire. At this there is presente the Prieste, whiche they name Bachale in a Pulpit, preaching vnto hir howe she muste not estéeme the life nor death, saying, that she shall haue in the other worlde with hir husband muche pleasure, and shall possesse greate riches, honour and apparell: she inflamed with those words that he telleth hir, after that she hath gone a certaine time rounde about the fire, shée standeth nigher the Priestes Chayre or Pulpit, and putteth off all hir apparell, & putteth on a white linnen shéete, and leapeth into the fyre. If some of them be fearefull (for they haue séene the lyke of some) that lamenteth and striueth with death, after that she hath leapte in, then the standers by doe throwe hir in wheather shée will or no. After they be burnte, they gather the ashes, and putte them into pottes, and some into the graue.

¶ They doe wéepe for the deade after diuers manners. The inner Indians couer theyr heades with a sacke, and some putte boughes of trées in the highe wayes, and doe hang from the toppe to the grounde painted verses, playing thrée daies vpon certain instrumēts of Copper. They do giue vnto the poore for Gods sake. Other do wéep thrée dayes for the deade, and all the kinsfolkes and neighbors goe vnto the deade bodies house, and they doe carry victualles, but it is not dreste in the dead mans house. In these thrée dayes, those that haue buried their father or mother, do carry a bitter leafe in their mouth, and in a whole yere after they doe not chaunge their apparell, nor eate not but once a day, nor yet cutte theyr nailes, nor haire of their heade or bearde. The women which wéepe for the dead, are many, they stande neare vnto the deade bodies bedde, [Page 154] being naked vnto the nauell, and strike theyr breastes wyth a loude voyce, saying, alacke, alacke: and one of them beginneth to praise vertues of the deade bodye, and all the reste aunswered vnto hir wordes, striking theyr breasts: some put in certaine vessels of gold, and of si [...]uer. The ashes of their Prince they cause to be cast into a lake that they haue, saying, it is hallowed by their Goddes, and that that waye they goe downe vnto their Gods. The Priestes whyche they doe call Bachales, eate of no kinde of beastes, especially not of the Oxe, for they will neither eate, nor kill him, saying, he is verye profitable vnto menne aboue al beastes. They doe eate Rice, hearbes, fruites, and such like, and haue but one wife, whiche is borne with hir husbande when he dyeth, laying hir armes aboute his necke, receyuing hir death with so so good a wil, that she sheweth no signe of paine. Through out al India there is founde a lynage of Philosophers named Bramanos, whiche studye Astrologie, and prognosticate things to come. They are apparelled more honestly, and liue more holily than the others. Nicholas saide, Men liue three hūdreth yeares. that he hadde séene amongest these men, some of .300 yeares, and among them it was hadde for a miracle, for wheresoeuer that man wente, the boyes woulde followe hym, as a thing of noueltie: and among them is muche vsed the superstition whyche they doe call Geomancia, by the whiche they tell thinges to come, as thoughe they were present. Also they are gyuen vnto inchauntementes, so that dyuers tymes they doe moue and cause t [...]mpestes to cease, and for this cause manye do eate in secret, for that they should be enchaunted by those that looke vppon them.

¶ The saide Nicholas dydde tell for a trueth, that hée béeyng patrone and owner of a Shyppe, hée hadde a calme seauen dayes, and hys marriners fearyng, they wente all vnto the mayne maste, and sette vppe a Table, and [Page 155] after they had made their sacrifices vppon it, they leapte and daunced rounde aboute, calling manye times the name of their Gods, whyche they name Mutia: and among these there entred a Féend in a Alarabe or Moore, whyche was amongest them, he beganne to sing maruellouslye, running aboute the Shippe lyke a madde man, and afterwardes he came vnto the Table, and dydde eate vppe all the meate vnto the bones and fire. Also hée didde demaunde a Cocke, and killed it, and drunke vp the bloude, and immediatelye hée demaunded of those of the Shippe, what they woulde haue that hée shoulde doe, and they demaunded that he shoulde gyue them wind, he promised to giue it them within thrée dayes, and suche, that they shoulde come vnto harborowe: and he shewed, setting his handes behinde, from whence the wind should come, and willed them to prepare for the strength that the winde woulde bring: and when he hadde thus saide, the manne fell downe as halfe deade, without anye knowlege or remembraunce of anye thing that he hadde saide, and in fewe dayes after they were sette in harborowe. Commonly the Indians sayle by the guiding of the Starres of the Pole Antartique, for seldome times they doe sée oure North Starre. They vse not the Loademans stone as wée doe: they doe measure their waye, and distaunce of places, according as their Poale riseth and falleth, and so they doe knowe by this meanes, what place they are in. Their Pole riseth and falleth. They doe make bigger Shippes than wée doe, that is to saye, of twoo thousande Tunnes, wyth fyue sayles, and so manye mastes: they builde their Shippes wyth thrée plancke [...] one vppon another vnder water, that they maye the better resiste the tempestes, for there chaunceth many. These Shippes are made with Chambers, after suche a sorte, that if one of them shoulde breake, the others maye goe and finish the voyage. Throughout al India they doe worshippe Idolles, and haue Churches [Page 156] muche like vnto oures, painted within with diuers pictures, whiche they doe decke with floures at their feasts. They haue within Idolles of stone, and gold, of siluer, and of Iuorie, some of .60. foote in height. They haue among themselues diuers manners in worshipping, and sacrifizing. When they enter into the Church, they wash themselues in cleane water, and so they go in the morning, and in the afternoone, they go in lying along vpon the ground, lifting vppe their féete and handes, and so praye a whyle, then they doe kisse the grounde, and sense their Idolles with the smoake of swéete woodde. On this side of Gange the Indians vse no belles, but in steade of them, they doe strike vppon a vessell of Copper, and with an other vessel they doe offer victualles vnto their Gods as the Gentiles did, and afterwarde doe imparte it to the poore, that they maye eate it.

¶ In the Cittie whiche they name Cambayta the Priestes preache vnto the people in presence of the Idoll their God, declaring howe they shoulde worshippe him, & howe much it pleaseth their Gods, when they do kill themselues for their loue: and there stande in presence many that determine to kill themselues for them. They haue a hoope of Iron aboute their neckes, the vtter parte of the hoope is rounde, and within, it is sharpe like vnto a Rasar: also they doe hang vnto the fore parte of the hoope down theyr breaste a chaine, and being sette downe, they fasten theyr féete vnto it, and béeyng thus, as the Prieste sayeth certaine wordes, they stretch forth their legges; and lifte vp their heades, and thus with the sharpenesse of the hoope, cutte off their heades in sacrifice of their Idoll, yéelding vppe their liues. And they that kill themselues in this order, are estéemed as Saints. In the Citie of Bizenegalia in certaine time of the yeare, they doe carry about the Cittie in procession their Idoll betwéene two cartes, in the company [Page 157] of muche people, and the Damoysellesride in cartes in trimme aray, singing in the praise of hym with muche solempnitie, and manye induced by the strength of theyr faith, do lay themselues vpon the ground, that the whéeles of the cartes may goe ouer them, to bruse their bones, and so to dye, saying, that that death is acceptable vnto theyr God. Others there be, that for the better adorning of the carts, make holes throgh the sides of their bodies, putting a rope throughe it, and tye themselues vnto the carte, and so hanging dead in the procession, accompany theyr Idoll, thinking that they cannot doe greater worshippe nor sacrifice vnto their Gods. And they make their solempnity thrée times in a yeare. In one time there gather togither all the menne and women, and people of all ages, washing themselues in the sea, or in a riuer, hauing all newe apparell, doyng nothing else in thrée dayes but feaste, daunce, and sing. Another feaste they celebrate in burning manye lampes within and withoute their Churches, burning with oyle of Ioni [...]lly, and the light goeth not oute daye nor nighte. In the thirde, they doe sette vppe poales like small mastes through all the stréetes, and from the toppe vnto the grounde, they doe hang very faire clothes, wroughte with golde, belonging vnto their Gods and painted, and on the topped of these poales, al the whole nine dayes that it endureth, they do sette a religious man that hathe a benigne and méeke face, who suffereth all that paine for to receiue the grace of his God, and the people throwe vnto him Orrenges, Lemmons, and other like fruites, and he suffereth it all with patience There bée other thrée solempne dayes, that they doe caste Saffron water vppon those that passe throughe the stréetes, and manye laughe at it. They doe celebrate their weddings wyth banquets, songs, trumpets, and instrumentes muche like vnto ours, sauing Organs whiche they haue not: they doe make very sumptuous feasts day and nighte, with instrumentes, [Page 158] daunces, and songs. They daunce rounde aboute as wée doe, following one after an other in order, and twoo of them carrying twoo painted wandes in their handes, and as they doe méete, they doe chaunge stickes or wandes. And Nicholas rehearseth, that this was a fayre sighte to beholde. They doe vse no Bathes, sauing the Indians beyonde Gange. The others doe washe themselues manye times of the daye with colde water: they haue scant of oile, and other fruites of ours, as Peaches, Peares, Cherries, Damsons, Apples, and of Grapes they haue but fewe, and (as aboue is rehearsed) onely in one place. And in Puditfetamas, a prouince, there groweth a certaine trée withoute fruite, it groweth thrée cubites aboue grounde, and they call it shamefulnesse, for when a man commeth vnto it, it incloseth the braunches, and when he goeth away, it spreadeth abroade his braunches.

¶ Birengalia is a Mountaine whiche standeth beyonde towards the Septentrion fiftéene dayes iorney. It is enuironed with many lakes, named Birenegalias, whiche are full of venomous beastes, and the mountaine standeth daungerous to bée entred, by reason of Serpentes. And thereon growe the Adamantes: and for that menne dare not goe vnto it, the pollicie of manne founde a way to enter, and to take the Adamantes, for there standeth adioyning vnto it an other mountaine, being a little higher, and in certaine times of the yeare menne goe vppe vnto the toppe of it, where they doe kill certaine Oxen that they carrye with them, and the péeces of fleshe being hotte and bloudy, with certaine Crossebowes for the purpose, doe shoote them vppon the toppe of that other mountaine, and with the fall, it cleaueth faste vnto the Adamantes, and then the Bitturs and Eagles that flye in the ayre, snatche vppe that fleshe with their clawes or tallants, and flye vnto other places, where they maye féede vppon it without feare of those Serpentes, and so the men finde [Page 159] the stones that fall from the fleshe: they doe fynde wyth more ease the pretious stones, for they doe digge in sundrye places, where they vse to finde suche stone, so déepe, til they fynde water mingled wyth grauell, and then they doe take a syne for that purpose, and putte in of the grauell, and the water runneth out, and kéepe the stones that remaine behind, and after this sorte in al these parties they doe vse to finde them: and the Maisters that sette to séeke them, haue greate care that their seruauntes doe not steale of those stones, for they haue those that search all their apparell, yea, and so neare, that they leaue not vnsearched their priuie partes, to knowe if they haue hidden any. They diuide [...]he yeare into twelue moneths as we doe, and counte the moneths according to the twelue signes of the Elements. They accompte the yeare in diuers manners, and the moste parte doe recken it from August, for that in the time of Augustus Octauius Caesar there was an vniuersall peace throughoute all the world, and they recken from that time .1490. yeares. In some regions they haue no money, but vse in steade of money a certayne small stone whiche they name Cattes eye, and in some other places they do vse péeces of Iron like néedles, somewhat bigger. In other places they do vse the Kings name written in paper in steade of money. In some prouinces of India more within the lande, they doe vse Venice duckets of golde, and also other mony of two duchettes in one. Also they do vse money of siluer, and of copper, and in other places they doe make certaine péeces of golde, and vse them in steade of money. The firste Indians in the warres vse dartes, & swords, a defence for their armes like Almaine riuets, rounde Targes, and bowes. The other Indians vse skulles, backes, and breaste plates. The Indians which are beyond, vse Crossebowes and gunnes, & al other ingenious artillerie vsed against Cities. These [Page 160] those of the Weaste frée, and saye, that all other people are blinde, sauing they, whiche haue twoo eyes, and saye that we haue but one, signifying, that in prudence they do excéede all the worlde. And onelye the Cambay [...]as write in paper, and all the reste write vppon leaues of trées, and of them make Bookes of a good liking: nor yet they write not as we doe, nor as the Iewes from one side vnto an other, but begin aboue, and so write downewardes. There be among the Indians diuers languages. They haue gret abundaunce of slaues. The debtor that can not paye, they cause him to serue the creditor, & he that is accused of any crime, there being no certaine witnesse againste him, is quitte by his oth: they vse thrée manner of othes. There commeth the partie before hys Idoll, and sweareth by that Idoll, that he is not faultie, and they haue readye a hotte burnyng Iron like vnto a fishe hooke, and cause hym that swore, to touch it with his tongue, and to licke it, and if it doe him no hurte, he is quitte. And others bring the partie before hys Idoll, and cause hym to take that same burning yron in his hande, and so to carry it certaine paces, and if it hurt him not, he is quitte, but if it doe, he is guiltie. The thirde manner of swearing, whiche is moste vsed. is suche: They doe sette before his Idoll, a potte full of hote melted butter, and he that sweareth not to be guiltie, dippeth in two of his fingers into the butter, and so wrappeth them with a clowte, and sealeth it, that it shall not vnloose, and at thrée dayes ende they vndoe it, and if there be founde any signe of burning, hée is guiltie, if not, he is quytte. There is no pestilence in the Indias, nor yet other of the diseases that vse to trouble oure regions, and for this cause there is more Townes and people than is to be beléeued. There be manye that make hostes of a million of menne, whych is .1000000. Nicholas declared, [Page 161] that of one to [...]e, there went out against another tow [...] great hosts, and had battayle, and when the one had ouercome the other, for a great triumph, they did bring twelue Cart loades of gold laces, and of silke, with the whych the men that remayned deade, had tyed theyr locke hayres, that hanged downe vpon their backes. He sayd more, that sometimes he had gone to their wars, only for to sée both parties, and they dyd not hurt hym, for that they knew hé [...] was a straunger.

In an Iland named Laua the great, is founde in a fewe places a trée, that hath in the middest of the harte a rodd [...] of yron, very small, but so long as the hart goeth, and hée that hath of this yron next vnto his flesh, shall not perishe by no kinde of yron, and for this cause there be many that cut their skinnes and put a péece of it betwéene the skinne and the flesh, it is much estéemed.

The things that of the byrde Phoenix be declared and written in verses by Latancio, séeme not to be fables, for the sayde Nicholas doeth say, that at the end of India, there is only one byrde named Seuienda, whose bil is like vnto Alboge, or togither with many hoales, and when the time of his death commeth, he gathereth togither dry woodde into his neste, and sitting vpon it, he singeth so swéetely wyth his bill, that he delighteth and pleaseth muche those that heare him, and then flittering with his wings vppon the wood, there cōmeth fire, and he letteth hymselfe burne, & then there commeth a worme out of his neste, and of hys ashes, and of it bréedeth the birde, vnto the likenesse of that byrdes byl. Those of that country made the Alnogue with the which they play very swéetly. And Nicholas maruelling much of it, they tolde him of what the making of it procéeded. Also there is in the first India, in an Iland called Saylana, a riuer named Arotanie, so full of fishe, that easily they maye take them vp with their handes, but as soone as a manne holdeth one of these fishes in his hande, [Page 162] there commeth vnto him a Feuar, and letting the fish go, the Feuar is gone from hym, the cause of it appeareth to be the nature of the fish, as among vs there is a fish which we call Torpedo, whych fish if a man do hold in his hand, it will be num, and grieue him: although the Indians saye, that it commeth by meanes of their Goddes, by a certaine tale that they do tell of it.

AFter, for an information to the reader, kéeping y ^e truth of the Historie, I did write those things rehearsed, as the sayd Nicholas gaue report, and then there came another out of the high India, which standeth towardes Septentrion, or the North, and he came, sente vnto the Pope for to sée the things and manners of these parties, for in those parties they had fame, that in the Occident or west there was another worlde, being Christians. And this mā declared that neare vnto Cataya there was a kingdome, which indured twentie dayes iourney, the which king and people were Christians, but of the sect of the Nestorians. He declared that the Patriach of the Nestorians had sent him for to bring him tydings certaine from these parties. He rehearsed that they had bigger, & more richer Churches than ours, being al vaulted, and that their Patriarch was very rich in golde and in siluer, that euery father of family did giue yearelye vnto him an ounce of siluer. I communed with this man, by an interpretet whych could the Turkish tong, and the Latin, and I demaunded of him by meanes of this, the wayes, & townes, houses, customs, manners, and of other things that a man delighteth to heare, there was great difficultie to learne it, for lacke of the interpreter, and also of the Indian, but he affirmed the power of the great Cane, or Emperoure of al men, to be greate and mighty, for he had vnder him nyne mighty kings.

[Page 163]Also he declared that he hadde trauelled many months through the high Scithia, is nowe Tartaria, and throughe Persia, and that finallye he came vnto the riuer Euphrates, from whence he entered into the sea, and sayled vnto Trip [...]le, and from thence to Venice, and from thence to Florence. He reported to haue séene manye Cities more fai [...]e than ours, both in publike edifications, and of Citizens, for he declared to haue séene many cities ten myles, and of twentie myles in compasse. And after that this man had spokē with Eugenius the fourth Pope of that name, he wēt from Florence for to sée Rome in deuotion: he demaunded neyther siluer nor gold, séeming, that he came not for gain, but only to fulfil the message of hym that sent him.

IN the same time there came vnto the Pope certaine men from Ethiopia, in deuotion of the faith, with whō I had communication, by an interpreter, to knowe if they knew any thing of y ^e riuer of Nilus, and of his springing. Two of them gaue answere, that they were of a countrey being very neare vnt [...] two welsprings, from whence the riuer Nilus procéedeth: when I hearde this, I coueted to knowe the things that of this matter the olde auntiente Phylosophers, namely Ptolomes, did write: firste of the fountaines of Nilus. It appeareth not that they knewe it, but only by coniecture, to appeare that they drew out some things of the Originall increase of the sayde riuer. And as these witnesses of sighte, did tell me of these and of others worthy to remayne in memorie, it séemed vnto me verye good to write them.

They declared that the Riuer Nilus hadde his heade and Welspryng neare vnto the Region Equinoctiall at the foote of verye hyghe mountaynes, whyche are alwayes couered on the toppe with Mistes, from thrée welsprings, two of them standing 40. paces the one from [Page 164] the other, and in 500. paces they méete, and make the riuer so great, that no man may passe ouer but with boate. The thirde which is the biggest, standeth a thousand paces frō the other two, and he commeth into the riuer of the others, ten myles off. Also they sayde that more than 1000. riuers did enter into Nilus, and it increaseth so muche in those countryes, with the raine of March, April, and May, that it maketh Nilus to swell ouer so muche, that it made wonderfull great floudes. Also they declared that the water of Nilus was verye swéete and sauerie, before he entereth among the other Riuers, and it hath vertue to heale those that haue the leaprie and scabs, if they washe themselues in it. And beyonde the headsprings of Nilus fiftéene dayes iourney, there be verye fruitefull countries, ful of people, and well tilled, hauing very notable Cities, and also sayde that beyonde that countrey there was the sea, but they had not séene it, and that neare vnto the spring of Nilus there was a Citie, wherein they were borne, and it was fiue and twentie myles in compasse, full of people, and in the night had 1000. watches for to defende the Citie from daunger and alterations that might rise. This region is temperate, and delectable, and plentifull of alll thyngs, in so much as 3. times in the yere there springeth new grasse, and twice in the yeare it beareth corne. It hath abundaunce of broade and wine, although the most parte of Ethiopia vse (in steade of wine) barley sodden in water. They haue figges, Peaches, Orenges, and Cucumbers like vnto our Lemmons, Sytrons, and sauing Almonds. They haue al our kinde of fruites▪ Also they named diuers trées that they had, whiche we neuer sawe nor hearde of in our parties, and they are difficult to write, [...]or that the interpreter could not altogither vnderstande the Arabian tongue. But of one of those trées, I muste néedes rehearse, whiche is as thicke as a man maye compasse, and as highe as a man. It hath many rynes one [Page 165] within another, and betwéene those rines hath his fruite like vnto the Chestnut, and being ground, it becommeth meale, and of it they do make pleasant white bread, which they do vse in their bākets. The leafe of this trée is more than a cubit in breadth, and more than two cubits in length. They sayd also, that towardes the Ilande Meroe, the Nilus coulde not be sayled, by reason of the number of Rockes that were there, and that from Meroe vnto Egipt, it was naui [...]able, but they tarrie sixe moneths in the Nauigation, for that the riuer giueth manye turnes. Those that dwell in that Countrey, haue the face of the Sunne towardes the North, as we haue it towardes the South, and in March they haue it right ouer their heads. All Ethiopia hath one manner of letters, although they haue diuers languages, according vnto the greatnesse of the prouinces. Some of them that dwell in the regions towards the Sea coast, and in the hart of the India, there was very much Ginger, Cloues, Nutmegs, and Suger. Betwéene Ethiopia and Egipt there be desertes of .50. dayes iourney, and they trauell so farre, hauing with them prouision of meate and drinke vpon Cammels. It hath dangerous passages in many places, by reason of the wilde men that go naked in those deserts, like wild beastes riding vppon Cammels, whose flesh and milke they do eate. They doe robbe the Cammels and prouision that the trauellers carie, so that many dye for hunger, and for this cause there passe fewe that way vnto vs. The Ethiopians most commonly are of longer life than we, for many liue vntil .120. yeares, and .150. yeares, and in some places they liue tyll 200. yeares. It is a Countrey much inhabited, and neuer hath the plage, nor other infirmities, so with this, & with their long liues, their multitude is much encreased. They haue diuers customes, according to the diuersitie of the Countrey. They haue no wooll, but weare linnen and silk both men and women. And in some places, the women [Page 166] weare long traines, and a girdle of a spanne breade, trimmed with gold and precious stones. Some of them weare vpon their heads a Lawne, weaued with gold: and some weare their heare loose: and some wound vp in a lace hanging downe at their backes. They haue more plentye of gold and precious stones than we. The men vse to weare rings, and the women braselets wrought of gold and precious stones. From Christmas vnto Lent they feast euerie day, eating and daunsing. They do vse little Tables, so that two or thrée may sitte at one of them, and do couer them with table clothes as we do. They haue but one King, whiche is entituled King of Kings, after or vnder God, and they saye, he hath many Kings vnder him, and that they haue diuers kinds of beastes. The Oxen are crooke backed, like vnto Camels, with hornes of thrée cubites in length bending vpon their backes, so that vppon one of their hornes they do carrie a Rundlet of wine. Their dogges are of the bignesse of our Asses, and there is some of them that may do more than a Lion, and hunt with them. They haue very great Elephants, and bring vp some of them for their pleasure & for hostilitie, & some for the warres. They bring them vp of yong ones, & tame them, and then kill the old. Their téeth are of sixe cubites in length. Also, they do tame and bring vp Lions, and to shew them for a magnificēce and ostentation. Also, there is a kind of beastes of diuers couloures like vnto the Elephant, but they haue not suche a tronke and snoute, they do call him Belus. They haue féete like vnto a Camell, and two very sharp hornes, each of a cubit in length, the one standeth in his forehead, and the other vpon his nose. Also, there is another beast somewhat lōger thā a Hare, but in all proportions like, whiche they name Zebet, and hath such a strong smell, that if at any time he rubbe himselfe againste any small trée, he leaueth behinde hym such a swéete sauour, that those that trauell and smell it, [...]utt [...] off that part of the trée where the sent is, and carrie [Page 167] it with them, and in small [...] sell it déerer th [...] [...] Also they reported, that there is another kinde of Beast, of nine cubits in length, and sixe foote in height, hauyng clouen féete like vnto an Oxe. Their body is a cubit in compasse, and much like in haire vnto the Libard, headed like vnto a Camell, and hathe a necke of four cubites in length. His tayle is very thicke, and muche estéemed, for the women do worke with it, emb [...]odering it with precious stones, hanging them at their armes. They haue another wild beast, which they do take hunting, and he is to be eaten. He is as bigge as an Asse, striped with couloures redde and gréene, and hathe wreathed hornes vpward, of thrée cubites in length. Also, there is another much like vnto a Hare, with little hornes, and of coulour redde, whiche giueth a greate leape. There is another muche like vnto a Goate, with his hornes vpon his buttockes more than two cubites pending, and for that the smoke of them healeth Feauers, they are solde for more than fortie Duckets a péece. There is another much like vnto this Beast, sauing that he hathe no hornes. His hayre is redde, hauing a necke of two cubites in length. There is another bodyed lyke vnto a Camell, and of the couloure of a Lybarde, hauing a necke of fire cubites in length. They sayd he had a head like vnto a Déere. Also they sayd they had a bird of the heigth from the ground of sixe cubites, small legges, féete like a Goose, the necke and visage like vnto a Henne. This bird flyeth little, but runneth faster than a Horse.

Many other things they told me, whiche I leaue vnwritten, for that I finde my selfe wéerie. And they sayd, that there were Serpents in the Desertes without féete, of fiftie cubits in length, hauing a Scorpions tayle, and swallow a whole Cau [...]fe at once. And in these things almost they did all agrée, and it séemed vnto me that they made no lie, séeing they had no cause why for to lye, and I thought good to write it, for y ^e profit of those y ^e lis [...] to re [...]e.

FINIS.

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Author: Polo, Marco, 1254-1323?1579

Affrica

Europa

Asia

Ethiopia

Arabia

¶ Howe Miser Marco Polo vsed himselfe in the Court of the Great Cane. CHAP. 1.

The manner and vvayes that the tvvo breethren, and Marcus Paulus had for their returne to Venice. CHAP. 2.

Hovv they sayled to Iaua. CHAP. 3.

Hovv Nicholas and Mapheo, and Marco Polo returned to Venice, after they had seene and heard many mar­uellous thinges. CHAP. 4.

Of Armenia he lesser, and of many things that there is made. CHAP. 5.

Of the Torchomanos in Armenia the lesser. CHAP. 6.

Of Armenia the greater, and of the Arke of Noe. CHAP. 7.

Of the Georgians, and of the Tovver and gate of yron. CHAP. 8.

Of the parties of Armenia tovvards the South, and of the Kingdome of Mosull. CHAP. 9.

Of Baldach, and of many goodly things that be there. CHAP. 10.

Of a Citie called Totis, and of other notable things. CHAP. 11.

Of a great miracle that hapned in Mosull. CHAP. 12.

Of Persia, and of the Countreys of the Magos, and of other good things that be in them. CHAP. 13.

Of eyght Kingdomes in Persia, and the commodities of them. CHAP. 14.

Of Iasoy, and of many maruellous things there. CHAP. 15.

Of the Citie Carmoe, and of many mar­uellous and straunge things that be there. CHAP. 16.

Of the Citie of Crerima, and the death of the Olde man of the Mountaine. C [...]AP. 17.

What is found in that Countrey. CHAP. 18.

Of the Citie of Baldach, and of many other things. CHAP. 19.

Of that Countrey. CHA [...] ▪ 20.

Of the Citie Echasen. CHAP. 12.

Of the manner of the Countrie. CHAP. 22.

Of the prouince called Ballasia, and of the commodities there. CHAP. 23.

Of the Prouince of Abassia vvhere the people be blacke. CHAP. 24.

Of the Prouince called Thassimur, and of many things there. CHAP. 25.

Of the saide prouince of Thassymur. CHAP. 26.

Of a prouince called Vochaym. CHAP. 27.

Of the nouelties of this Countrey. CHAP. 28.

Of the Desert Bosor, and of manye mar­uellous things there. CHAP. 39.

Of the prouince Caschar and of other Nouelties. CHAP. 40.

Of Sumarthan, and of a miracle. CHAP. 31.

Of the prouince of Carcham. CHAP. 32.

Of the prouince Chota and of their manners. CHAP. 33.

Of the prouince of Poym and of their vsages. CHAP. 34.

Of the prouince of Ciarchan being in great Turkie. CHAP. 35.

Of a great deserte, and of the Citie called Iob. CHAP. 36.

Of the prouince of Tanguith, and of the Citie Sangechian, and of many straunge things there. CHAP. 37.

Of the prouince Chamul, and of the euill customes there. CHAP. 38.

Of the prouince Hingnitala, and of the Salamandra that is founde there. CHAP. 39.

Of the Citie called Campion, and of many euill vsages there. CHAP. 44.

Of a Citie called Eusina, and of many notable things in Tartaria. CHAP. xlj.

Of the beginning of the raigne of the Tartars, and of many maruellous and straunge thinges. CHAP. 42.

Of the custome, orders, faith and hono­ring the great Cane, and howe he goeth to the warres. CHAP. 43.

Of a plaine called Barga, and of the customs of the people of that Countrey. CHAP. 44.

Of the greate Sea called the Occean. CHAP. 45.

Of the Kingdome Erguyl, and of ma­ny other Kingdomes, and of Muske, and o­ther sweete and pleasaunte thinges that be there founde, and many other things. CHAP. 46.

Of the Citie called Calacia, and of many things they do make there. CHAP. 47.

Of the Prouince called Tanguthe which is subiect to Prester Iohn, and of a stone called Lapis laguli, that is there found, and of Gog and Magog. CHAP. 48.

Of the Citie Sindathoy in Cataya, where siluer is founde. CHAP. 49.

Of a Citie called Giannorum, and of many nouelties. CHAP. 50.

Of a maruellous Citie called Liander, and of many maruellous and farre things they haue there. CHAP. 51.

Of the sacrifice and other maners, of the life of the greate Cane. CHAP. 52.

Of a victorie the great Cane had. CHAP. 53.

Of the personage of the great Cane, and of his wiues and children. CHAP. 54.

Of a greate Citie called Cambalu, and of all the goodly and maruellous things that be done there. CHAP. 55.

Of the manner the great Cane doth vse in his hunting. CHAP. 56.

Of the manner of his hauking for wildefoule. CHAP. 57.

Of the manner that the great Cane hath in trauelling in his countrey, and how he abydeth in the fields in his tents and pauilions. CHAP. 58.

Of the money that is vsed in all that countrey. CHAP. 59.

Of the order and rules that he hath in his dominions. CHAP. 60.

Of the saide order. CHAP. 61.

Of the Citie Cambalu. CHAP. 62.

Of the meruailous things that be founde in that countrey. CHAP. 63.

Of the Citie named Goygu, and of many meruellous things. CHAP. 64.

Of the vvay that goeth vnto the Countrey of the Magos. CHAP. 65.

Of the Citie named Tarasu. CHAP. 66.

Of the Citie named Paimphu. CHAP. 67.

Of a King named Bur. CHAP. 68.

Of the Citie named Casiomphur. CHAP. 69.

Of the Citie named Bengomphu, and of many things that there is found in those parties. CHAP. 70.

Of the prouince named Chinchy. CHAP. 71.

M [...]ngi a citie.Of the Countrey and Citie called Cineleth Mangi, and many other things which be founde there. CHAP. 72.

Of the countrey and Citie named Cindarifa, and of a maruellous bridge. CHAP. 73.

Of the prouince named Cheleth. CHAP. 74.

Hovv Nicholas and Mapheo, and Marco Polo returned to Venice, after they had seene and heard many maruellous thinges. CHAP. 4.

Of the Citie Carmoe, and of many maruellous and straunge things that be there. CHAP. 16.

Of the Desert Bosor, and of manye maruellous things there. CHAP. 39.

Of the custome, orders, faith and honoring the great Cane, and howe he goeth to the warres. CHAP. 43.

Of the Kingdome Erguyl, and of many other Kingdomes, and of Muske, and other sweete and pleasaunte thinges that be there founde, and many other things. CHAP. 46.

Of the noble prouince named Mangi, and of many maruellous things that were there, and how it was brought vnder the great Canes gouernaunce. CHAP. 80.

Of the Citie named Mangui, vvhiche haue vnder their Lordship seuenteene Cities, and of an other Citie named Saimphu which hath vnder it twelue Cities. CHAP. 94.

Of the Citie named Singuy, and of mano other things there. CHAP. 99.

Of the Citie named Quinsay, that is to say, the Citie of Heauen, which is a hundred miles in compasse, hauing twelue thousand Bridges, and fourteene Bathes, and many other thinges of wonder. CHAP. 97. Quinsay.

Of the Citie named Friguy, and of manie other maruellous things which be there. CHAP. 104.

Of the Prouince named Ciabane, and of that King, who hath .325. sonnes and daughters of his owne. There be many Elephants and much spices. CHAP. 107.

Of the Iland named Iocath, and of other two Ilands, their conditions and properties. CHAP. 109.

Of tvvo Ilandes, and of the euill liuing and beastlynesse of the people. CHAP. 114.

Of the prouince named Moabar, vvherin there be fiue kingdomes, and of the noble things that be founde there. CHAP. 116.

Of the Prouince Lahe, and of the vertue that is in the people. CHAP. 118.

Of the Ilande named Maydeygastar, vvhere Elephantes be founde, and other strange things, and the foule named Nichas, which h [...]th quils on his wings twelue paces in length, and of many other conditions. CHAP. 128.