OF THE KINGDOM OF MURFILI, THE DIAMOND MINES
THERE, AND OTHER COUNTRIES ADJACENT.
Murfili, or Monsul, is northward from Malabar five hundred miles; the
inhabitants are idolaters. They have diamonds in their hills, which
they search for after great rains. Westward from St. Thomas is Lac,
whence the Brahmins have their original, who are the honestest
merchants in the world, and will not lie for anything, and faithfully
keep anything committed to their custody, or as brokers sell or
barter merchandise for others. They are known by a cotton thread,
which they wear over the shoulders, tied under the arm crossing the
breast. They have but one wife, are great astrologers, of great
abstinence, and long life; observe their own shadow in the sun, when
they are to buy, and thence conjecture according to the rules of
their art. They constantly chew a certain herb, which makes their
teeth good, and helps digestion. There are some religious among them
called Tangui, who go altogether naked, live austerely, worship cows,
of which they have little brass images on their foreheads, and of the
ox-bones ashes make an ointment, wherewith they anoint their bodies
in divers places with great reverence. They neither kill or eat any
live creature, nor herb green, or root before it is dried, esteeming
everything to have a soul. They use no dishes, but lay their
victuals on dry leaves of apples of paradise. They ease themselves
in the sands, and then disperse it hither and thither, lest it should
breed worms, which must die for want of food. Some of them live to
one hundred and fifty years, and their bodies, after death, are burnt.
In Zeilan I had forgot to mention a high mountain, which none can
ascend but by iron chains, as I was told, in the top whereof the
Saracens say is Adam's sepulchre; the idolaters say it is the body of
Sogoman Barchan, the first idol founder, son to the king of that
island, who betook himself to a solitary life on the top of this
hill, from whence no pleasures nor persuasions could draw him; his
father made an image after his death to represent him, all of gold,
adorned with garments, and commanded all the islanders to worship it;
and hence, as they say, began idolatry. Hither they come from remote
places in pilgrimage, and there his fore-teeth, and a dish of his,
are reserved, and as holy relics solemnly showed. The Saracens say
they are of Adam, which report caused the Khan, A.D. 1281, to send
ambassadors thither, who obtained two teeth and a dish, and some of
his hairs, by grant, from the King of Zeilan, which he caused to be
received by the whole people of Cambalu without the city, and brought
to his presence with great honour.
Gael is a great city, governed by Aster, one of the four brethren,
who is very rich, also very kind to merchants; he hath three hundred
concubines. All the people have a custom to be continually chewing
in their mouths a leaf called tembul, with spices and lime. Coulain
is five hundred miles south-west from Malabar; they are idolaters.
There are also Christians and Jews, who have a speech by themselves.
They have pepper, brazil, indigo, lions all black, parrots of divers
sorts, all white as snow, others azure, others red, and some small
peacocks and peahens, very different from ours, and larger, as are
their fruits; they are lecherous, and marry their sisters and near
kindred: there are many astrologers and physicians. In Camari are
apes so large, that they seem to be men: and here we had a sight of
the north-star. Delai hath a king, and the inhabitants have their
own language: the people are idolaters, and have plenty of spices;
the ships of Mangi come thither. Malabar is a kingdom in the west,
in which, and in Guzerat, are many pirates, who sometimes put to sea
with above a hundred sail, and rob merchants. They bring with them
their wives and children, and there remain all summer. In Guzerat is
abundance of cotton, the trees six fathoms high, and last twenty
years; the cotton of these trees is not fit to spin after they are
above twelve years old, but for quilts: there are many rhinoceroses.
In Canhau is stores of frankincense. It is a great city, where is
great trade for horses. In Cambaia is much indigo, buckram, and
cotton. Semenath is a kingdom of a peculiar language; they are
idolaters, merchants, and a good people. Resmacoran is a great
kingdom of idolaters and Saracens. The last province of the Greater
India, towards the north-west, is five hundred miles, near which are
said to be two islands, one of men and the other of women, those
coming to these, and there stay in March, April, and May. The women
keep their sons till twelve years, and then send them to their
fathers. It seems the air of that country admits of no other course:
they are Christians, and have their bishop, subject to the bishop of
Socotora; they are good fishermen, and have store of amber. Socotora
hath an archbishop, not subject to the Pope, but to one Zatuli, who
resides at Baldach, who chooseth him. The Socotorans are enchanters,
as great as any in the world, though excommunicated therefore by
their prelate, and raise winds to bring back such ships as have
wronged them till they obtain satisfaction.