Amen

[Footnote 1: Urban V.]

Imprinted at London in Breadstreat at the nether ende

by Thomas East. An 1568

The 6 day of October

[Decoration]

[Decoration]

_Here beginneth the journall of Frier Odoricus, one of the

order of the Minorites, concerning strange things which hee

sawe among the Tartars of the East._

ALBEIT many and sundry things are reported by divers authors

concerning the fashions and conditions of this world: notwithstanding

I frier Odoricus of Friuli, de portu Vahonis being desirous to travel

unto the foreign and remote nations of infidels, sawe and heard great

and miraculous things, which I am truly able to avouch. First of

al therefore sayling from Pera by Constantinople, I arrived at

Trapesunda.[1] This place is right commodiously situate, as being an

haven for the Persians and Medes, and other countries beyonde the

sea. In this lande I behelde with very great delight a very strange

spectacle, namely a certain man leading about with him more than foure

thousande partriges. The man himselfe walked upon the grounde, and

the partriges flew in the aire, which he ledde unto a certaine castle

called Zavena, being three days journey distant from Trapesunda. The

saide partriges were so tame, that when the man was desirous to lie

downe and rest, they would all come flocking about him like chickens.

And so hee led them unto Trapesunda, and unto the palace of the

Emperour, who tooke as many of them as he pleased, and the reste the

saide man carried unto the place from whence he came. In this citie

lyeth the body of Athanasius, upon the gate of the citie. And then

I passed on further unto Armenia major, to a citie called Azaron,[2]

which had been very rich in olde time, but nowe the Tartars haue

almost layde it waste. In the saide citie there was abundance of bread

and flesh, and of all other victuals except wine and fruits. This

citie also is very colde, and is reported to be higher situated, then

any other city in the world. It hath most holesome and sweete waters

about it: for the veines of the saide waters seeme to spring and flow

from the mighty river of Euphrates, which is but a dayes journey from

the saide city. Also, the saide citie stands directly in the way

to Tauris.[3] And I passed on unto a certaine mountaine called

Sobissacalo. In the foresaide countrey there is the very same

mountaine whereupon the Arke of Noah rested; unto the which I would

willingly haue ascended, if my company would haue stayed for me.

Howbeit the people of that countrey report, that no man could euer

ascend the saide mountaine, because (say they) it pleaseth not the

highest God. And I travailed on further unto Tauris that great

and royal city, which was in olde time called Susis. This city is

accompted for traffique of merchandize the chiefe citie of the world:

for there is no kinde of victuals, nor any thing else belonging unto

merchandize, which is not to be had there in great abundance. This

citie stands very commodiously: for unto it all the nations of the

whole worlde in a maner may resort for traffique. Concerning the saide

citie, the Christians in those parts are of opinion, that the Persian

Emperour receives more tribute out of it, then the King of France out

of all his dominions. _Neare unto the saide citie there is a salt-hill

yeelding salt unto the city: and of that salt ech man may take what

pleaseth him, not paying ought to any man therefor._ In this city many

Christians of all nations do inhabite, over whom the Saracens beare

rule in all things. Then I traveiled on further unto a city called

Soldania,[4] wherein the Persian Emperour lieth all Sommer time: but

in Winter hee takes his progresse unto another city standing upon the

sea called Baku.[5] Also the foresaide city is very great and colde

having good and holesome waters therein, unto the which also store of

marchandize is brought. Moreover I travelled with a certaine company

of Caravans toward upper India: and in the way, after many days

journey, I came unto the citie of the three wise men called Cassan,[6]

which is a noble and renowned city, saving that the Tartars haue

destroyed a great part thereof, and it aboundeth in bread, wine, and

many other commodities. From this citie unto Jerusalem (whither

the three foresaid wisemen were miraculously led) it is fifty days

journey. There be many wonders in this citie also, which for brevities

sake, I omit. From thence I departed unto a certain city called Geste,

_whence the sea of sand is distant one dayes journey, which is a most

wonderful and dangerous thing_. In this city there is abundance of all

kinds of victuals and especially of figs, raisins, and grapes: more

(as I suppose) then in any part of the whole world besides. This is

one of the three principall cities of all the Persian Empire. Of this

city the Saracens report, that no Christian can by any means live

therein above a yeere. Then passing many dayes journey on forward, I

came unto a certain city called Comum[7] which was a huge and mightie

citie in olde time, conteyning well nigh fiftie miles in circuite, and

hath done in times past great damage unto the Romanes. In it there are

stately palaces altogether destitute of inhabitants, notwithstanding

it aboundeth with great store of victuals. From hence travailing

through many countreys, at length I came unto the land of Job called

Hus, which is full of all kinde of victuals and very pleasantly

situated. Thereabouts are certaine mountaines having good pastures for

cattell upon them. Here also Manna is found in great aboundance. Four

partriges are here solde for lesse than a groat. In this countrey

there are most comely olde men. Here also the men spin and card, and

not the women. This land bordereth upon the North part of Chaldea.

[Footnote 1: Trebizonde.]

[Footnote 2: Erzeroum.]

[Footnote 3: Tauris, a city of Persia.]

[Footnote 4: Or Sultania.]

[Footnote 5: The Caspian Sea.]

[Footnote 6: Or Cassibin.]

[Footnote 7: Como.]

_Of the maners of the Chaldeans, and of India._

FROM thence I traveled into Chaldæa, which is a great kingdome and

I passed by the tower of Babel. This region hath a language peculiar

unto itselfe, and there are beautiful men and deformed women. _The men

of the same countrey used to haue their haire kempt, and trimmed like

unto our women: and they weare golden turbants upon their heads

richly set with pearle, and pretious stones. The women are clad in

a course smock onely reaching to their knees and having long sleeves

hanging downe to the ground._ And they goe barefooted, wearing

breeches which reach to the ground also. They weare no attire upon

their heads, but their haire hangs disheaveled about their eares: and

there be many other strange things also. From thence I came into the

lower India, which the Tartars overran & wasted. And in this countrey

the people eat dates for the most part, whereof 42 li are there sold

for lesse than a groat. I passed further also many dayes journey unto

the Ocean Sea & the first lande where I arrived, is called Ormes,[1]

being well fortified, and having great store of merchandize and

treasure therein. Here also they use a kinde of Bark or shippe called

Jase, being compact together onely with hempe. And I went on board

into one of them, wherein I could not finde any yron at all, and in

the space of 28 days I arrived at the city of Thana,[2] wherein foure

of our friers were martyred for the faith of Christ. This countrey is

well situate having abundance of bread and wine, and of other victuals

therein. This Kingdome in olde time was very large and under the

dominion of King Porus, who fought a great battell with Alexander the

great. The people of this countrey are idolaters worshipping fire,

serpents and trees. And ouer all this land the Saracens do beare rule,

who tooke it by maine force, and they themselues are in subjection

unto King Daldilus. There be divers kinds of beasts, as namely blacke

lyons in great abundance, and apes also, and monkeis, and battes as

bigge as our doves. And there are mise as bigge as our countrey dogs,

and therefore they are hunted with dogs, because cats are not able to

encounter them. Moreouer in the same countrey every man hath a bundle

of great boughs standing in a water-pot before his doore, which bundle

is as great as a pillar, and it will not wither, so long as water is

applied thereunto: with many other novelties and strange things, the

relation whereof would breed great delight.

[Footnote 1: Ormus.]

[Footnote 2: Thana, whereof Frederick Cæsar maketh mention.]

_How peper is had: and where it groweth._

MOREOUER, that it may be manifest how peper is had, it is to be

understood that it groweth in a certaine kingdome whereat I myself

arrived, being called Minibar,[1] and it is not so plentifull in

any other part of the worlde as it is there. For the wood wherein it

growes conteineth in circuit 18 dayes journey. And in the said wood

or forrest there are two cities one called Flandrina,[2] and the other

Cyncilim. In Flandrina both Jewes & Christians doe inhabite, betweene

whom there is often contention and warre: howbeit the Christians

overcome the Jewes at all times. In the foresaid wood pepper is had

after this maner: first it groweth in leaves like unto pot-hearbes,

which they plant neere unto great trees as we do our vines, and they

bring forth pepper in clusters, as our vines doe yeeld grapes, but

being ripe, they are of a green colour, and are gathered as we gather

grapes, and then the graines are layd in the Sunne to be dried, and

being dried are put into earthen vessels: and thus is pepper made and

kept. Now, in the same wood there be many rivers, wherein are great

store of Crocodiles, and of other serpents, which the inhabitants of

that countrey do burne up with strawe and with other dry fewel, and so

they go to gather their pepper without danger. At the South End of

the said forrest stands the city of Polumbrum,[3] which aboundeth

with marchandize of all kinds. All the inhabitants of that countrey do

worship a living oxe, as their god, whom they put to labour for sixe

yeres, and in the seventh yere they cause him to rest from al his

worke, placing him in a solemne and publique place: and calling him an

holy beast. _Moreouer they use this foolish ceremonie: Every morning

they take two basons, either of silver or of gold, and with one they

receive the urine of the oxe, and with the other his dung. With the

urine they wash their face, their eyes, and all their fiue senses. Of

the dung they put into both their eyes, then they anoint the bals of

their cheeks therewith, and thirdly their breast: and then they say

that they are sanctified for all that day: And as the people doe, euen

so doe their king and Queene._ This people worshippeth also a dead

idole which from the navel upward, resembleth a man, and from the

navel downward an oxe. The very same Idol delivers oracles unto them,

and sometimes requireth the blood of fourtie virgins for his hire.

And therefore the men of that region do consecrate their daughters and

their sonnes unto their idols, euen as Christians do their children

unto some Religion or Saint in heaven. Likewise they sacrifice their

sonnes and their daughters, and so, much people is put to death before

the said Idol by reason of that accursed ceremony. Also, many other

hainous and abominable villainies doeth that brutish beastly people

commit: and I saw many more strange things among them which I meane

not here to insert. Another most vile custome the foresaide nation

doeth retaine: _for when any man dieth they burne his dead corpse to

ashes: and if his wife surviveth him, her they burne quicke,

because (say they) she shall accompany her husband in his tilthe and

husbandry, when he is come unto a new worlde. Howbeit the said wife

having children by her husband, may if she will, remaine still alive

with them, without shame or reproche: notwithstanding, for the most

part, they all of them make choice to be burnt with their husbands._

Now, albeit the wife dieth before her husband, that law bindeth not

the husband to any such inconvenience but he may marry another wife

also. _Likewise, ye said nation hath another strange custome, in that

their women drink wine, but their men do not. Also the women haue the

lids & brows of their eyes & beards shaven, but the men haue not_:

with many other base and filthie fashions which the said women do use

contrary to the nature of their sexe. From that kingdome I traveiled

10 daies journey unto another kingdome called Mobar,[4] which

containeth many cities. Within a certaine church of the same countrey,

the body of S. Thomas the Apostle is interred, the very same church

being full of idols: and in 15 houses round about the said Church

there dwell certaine priests who are Nestorians, that is to say,

false, and bad Christians and schismatiques.

[Footnote 1: Malabar.]

[Footnote 2: Or Alandrina.]

[Footnote 3: _Query_, whether this is not _Kaulam_ or

_Ballád-ul-Falfal_, the Pepper Country, or Malabar, latinized

into Columbum or Columbus.]

[Footnote 4: Malabar.]

_Of a strange and uncouth idole: & of certaine customes

and ceremonies._

IN the kingdome of Mobar there is a wonderfull strange idole, being

made after the shape and resemblance of a man, as big as the image of

our Christopher, & consisting all of most pure and glittering gold.

And about the necke thereof hangeth a silke riband, ful of most rich

& precious stones, some one of which is of more value than a whole

kingdome. The house of this idol is all of beaten gold, namely the

roofe, the pavement, and the sieling of the wall within and without.

Unto this idol the Indians go on pilgrimage, as we do unto St. Peter.

Some go with halters about their necks, some with their hands bound

behind them, some with knives sticking on their armes or legs: and if

after their peregrination, the flesh of their wounded arme festereth

or corrupteth, they esteeme that limme to be holy, & thinke that their

God is wel pleased with them. _Neare unto the temple of that idol is a

lake made by men in an open and common place, whereinto the pilgrimes

cast gold, silver and precious stones, for the honour of the idol

and the repairing of his temple. And therefore when anything is to be

adorned or mended, they go unto this lake taking up the treasure which

was cast in. Moreouer at euery yerely feast of the making or repairing

of the said idol, the king and queene, with the whole multitude of the

people, & all the pilgrimes assemble themselues, & placing the said

idol in a most stately & rich chariot, they cary him out of their

temple with songs, & with all kinds of musical harmonie, and a great

companie of virgins go procession-wise two and two in a rank singing

before him. Many pilgrims also put themselves under the chariot

wheeles, to the end that their false god may go ouer them, and al

they ouer whom the chariot runneth, are crushed in pieces, & divided

asunder in the midst, and slaine right out. Yea, & in doing this,

they think themselves to die most holily & securely, in the service

of their god._ And by this meanes every yere, there die under the said

filthy idol, mo then 500 persons, whose carcases are burned, and their

ashes are kept for reliques, because they died in that sort for their

god. Moreover they haue another detestable ceremony. For when any man

offers to die in the service of his false god, his parents & all his

friends assemble themselues together with a consort of musicians,

making him a great & solemne feast: which feast being ended, they hang

5 sharpe knifes about his neck carrying him before the idol & so soone

as he is come thither, he taketh one of his knives crying with a loud

voice, For the worship of my god do I cut this my flesh, and then he

casteth the morsel which is cut, at y^e face of his idol: but at the

very last wound wherewith he murthereth himselfe, he uttereth these

words: "Now do I yeeld myself to death in the behalfe of my god" and

being dead his body is burned, & is esteemed by al men to be holy.

The king of the said region is most rich in silver, gold, and precious

stones, & there be the fairest unions in al the world.

Traveling from thence by the Ocean sea 50 daies journey southward,

I came unto a certaine land named Lammori,[1] where, _in regard of

extreeme heat, the people both men and women go stark-naked from top

to toe: who seeing me apparelled, scoffed at me, saying that God made

Adam and Eve naked. In this countrey al women are common, so that no

man can say, this is my wife. Also when any of the said women beareth

a son or a daughter, she bestowes it upon anyone that hath lien

with her, whom she pleaseth. Likewise al the land of that region

is possessed in common, so that there is not mine & thine, or any

propriety of possession in the division of lands: howbeit euery man

hath his owne house peculiar unto himselfe._ Mans flesh, if it be fat,

is eaten as ordinarily there as beefe in our countrey. And albeit the

people are most lewd, yet the countrey is exceeding good, abounding

with al commodities, as fleshe, corne, rise, silver, gold, wood of

aloes, Camphir, and many other things. Marchants coming unto this

region for traffique do usually bring with them fat men, selling them

unto the inhabitants as we sel hogs, who immediately kil and eat them.

In this island towards the south, there is another kingdome called

Simoltra,[2] where both men and women marke themselves with red-hot

yron in 12 sundry spots of their faces: and this nation is at

continual warre with certaine naked people in another region. Then I

traveled further unto another island called Java, the compasse whereof

by sea is 3000 miles. The king of this Iland hath 7 other crowned

kings under his jurisdiction. The said Island is throughly inhabited

& is thought to be one of the principall Ilands of y^e whole world.

In the same Iland there groweth great plenty of cloves, cubibez, and

nutmegs, and in a word all kinds of spices are there to be had, and

great aboundance of all victuals except wine. The king of the said

Iland of Java hath a brave and sumptuous pallace, the most loftily

built, that euer I saw any, & it hath most high greeses[3] and stayers

to ascend up into the roomes therein contained, one stayre being of

silver, & another of gold, throughout the whole building. Also the

lower roomes were paved all ouer with one square plate of silver, &

another of gold. All the walls upon the inner side were seeled ouer

with plates of gold, wherupon were ingraven y^e pictures of knights,

having about their temples, ech of them a wreath of golde, adorned

with precious stones. The roofe of the palace was of pure gold. With

this King of Java the great Can of Catay hath had many conflicts

in war; whom notwithstanding the said king hath always overcome and

vanquished.

[Footnote 1: Perhaps he meaneth Cammori.]

[Footnote 2: Sumatra.]

[Footnote 3: Steps.]

_Of certaine trees yeelding meale, honey, and poyson._

NEERE unto the said Iland is another countrey called Panten, or

Tathalamasin.[1] And the king of the same countrey hath many Ilands

under his dominion. In this land there are trees yeelding meale, hony,

& wine & the most deadly poison in all y^e whole world: for against it

there is but one only remedy: & that is this: if any man hath taken

of y^e poyson, & would be delivered from the danger thereof, let

him temper the dung of a man in water, & so drinke a good quantitie

thereof, & it expels the poyson immediatly, making it to avoid at the

fundament. Meale is produced out of the said trees after this maner.

They be mighty huge trees and when they are cut with an axe by the

ground, there issueth out of the stock a certain licour like unto

gumme, which they take and put into bags made of leaues, laying them

for 15 days together abroad in the sunne, & at the end of those 15

dayes, when the said licour is throughly parched, it becometh meale.

Then they steepe it first in sea water, washing it afterward with

fresh water, and so it is made very good & savorie paste, whereof they

make either meat or bread, as they thinke good. Of which bread I my

selfe did eate, & it is fayrer without & somewhat browne within.

By this countrey is the sea called Mare mortuum, which runneth

continually Southward, into y^e which whosoever falleth in (_is_)

never seene after. In this countrey also are found canes of an

incredible length, namely of 60 paces high or more, & they are as

bigge as trees. Other canes there be also called Cassan,[2] which

overspread the earth like grasse, & out of euery knot of them spring

foorth certaine branches, which are continued upon the ground almost

for the space of a mile. In the said canes there are found certaine

stones, one of which stones, whosoever carryeth about with him, cannot

be wounded with any yron: & therefore the men of that countrey for the

most part, carry such stones with them, whithersoever they goe. Many

also cause one of the armes of their children, while they are yong,

to be launced, putting one of the said stones into the wound, healing

also, and closing up the said wound with the powder of a certaine

fish (the name whereof I do not know) which powder doth immediatly

consolidate and cure the said wounde. And by the virtue of these

stones the people aforesaid doe for the most part triumph both on sea

and land. Howbeit there is one kinde of stratageme, which the enemies

of this nation, knowing the vertue of the sayd stones, doe practise

against them: namely, they provide themselues armour of yron or steele

against their arrowes, & weapons also poisoned with the poyson of

trees & they carry in their hands wooden stakes most sharpe and hard

pointed, as if they were yron: likewise they shoot arrowes without

yron heads, & so they confound and slay some of their unarmed foes

trusting too securely unto the vertue of their stones. Also of the

foresayd canes called Cassan they make sayles for their ships, and

litel houses, and many other necessaries. From thence after many dayes

travell, I arrived at another kingdome called Campa, a most beautiful

and rich countrey, & abounding with all kind of victuals: the king

whereof, at my being there, had so many wives & concubines, that

he had 300 sonnes & daughters by them. This king hath 10004 tame

Elephants, which are kept even as we keepe droves of oxen or flocks of

sheepe in pasture.

[Footnote 1: _Query_, The Tathsiaulu of Marco Polo, or

Thibet.]

[Footnote 2: An exaggeration for bamboos.]

_Of the abundance of fishes, which cast themselues upon

the shore._

IN this countrey there is one strange thing to be observed, y^t euery

several kind of fishes in those seas come swimming towards the said

countrey in such abundance, that, for a great distance into the

sea, nothing can be seene but the backes of fishes: _which casting

themselues upon the shore when they come neere unto it, do suffer

men, for the space of 3 daies to come & take as many of them as they

please, & then they return again to the sea. After that kind of fishes

comes another kind, offering itselfe after the same maner, & so in

like sort all other kinds whatsoever: notwithstanding they do this but

once in a year. And I demaunded of the inhabitants there how, or by

what meanes this strange accident could come to passe: They answered,

that fishes were taught, even by nature to come and do homage unto

their Emperour._ There be Tortoises also as bigge as an oven. Many

other things I saw which are incredible, unlesse a man should see them

with his own eies. In this countrey also dead men are burned, & their

wives are burned aliue with them, as in the city of Polumbrum

aboue mentioned: for the men of that countrey say that she goeth to

accompany him in another world, that he should take none other wife in

mariage. Moreouer I traveled on further by the ocean-sea towards the

South, & passed through many countries and islands, whereof one is

called Moumoran, & it containeth in compasse ii. M miles, wherein

men & women haue dogs faces, and worship an oxe for their god: and

therefore euery one of them cary the image of an oxe of gold or silver

upon their foreheads. The men & women of this country go all naked,

saving that they hang a linen cloth round their loins. The men of the

said country are very tall and mighty, and by reason that they goe

naked, when they are to make battell, they cary yron or steele-targets

before them, which do cover and defend their bodies from top to toe:

and whomsoever of their foes they take in battel not being able to

ransome himselfe for money, they presently devoure him: but if he be

able to redeeme himselfe for money, they let him go free. Their king

weareth about his necke 300 great & most beautiful unions,[1] and

saith euery day 300 prayers unto his god. He weareth upon his finger

also a stone of a span long, which seemeth to be a flame of fire, and

therefore when he weareth it, no man dare approach unto him: and they

say that there is not any stone in the whole world of more value than

it. Neither could at any time the great Tartarian Emperour of

Katay either by force, money, or policie obtain it at his hands,

notwithstanding that he hath done the utmost of his indeavour for this

purpose.

[Footnote 1: Large and fine pearls.]

_Of the Island of Sylan: and of the mountaine where Adam

mourned for his sonne Abel._

I PASSED by also another island called Sylan,[1] which conteineth in

compasse aboue ii M miles, wherin are an infinit number of serpents,

& great store of lions, beares, & al kinds of ravening & wild beasts,

and especially of elephants. In the said countrey there is an huge

mountaine, whereupon the inhabitants of that region do report that

Adam mourned for his son Abel y^e space of 500 yeres. In the midst of

this mountaine there is a most beautiful plain, wherin is a litle lake

conteining great plenty of water, which water y^e inhabitants report

to haue proceeded from the teares of Adam & Eve: howbeit I proved that

to be false, because I saw the water flow in the lake. This water is

ful of hors-leeches, & blood suckers, & of precious stones also, which

precious stones the king taketh not unto his owne use, but once or

twise euery yere he permitteth certaine poore people to diue under

water for ye said stones & al that they may get he bestoweth upon

them, to the end that they may pray for his soule. But y^t they may

with less danger dive under water, they take limons[2] which they

pil,[3] anointing themselves with the juice thereof, & so they may

diue naked under y^e water, the hors-leeches not being able to hurt

them. From this lake the water runneth even unto the sea, and at a low

ebbe the inhabitants dig rubies, diamonds & perles, and other precious

stones out of the shore: wherupon it is thought, that ye king of

this island hath greater abundance of pretious stones, then any other

monarch in the whole earth besides. In the said countrey there be all

kinds of beastes and foules: & the people told me, that those

beasts would not invade nor hurt any stranger but only the natural

inhabitants.

_I saw in this island fouls as big as our countrey geese, having two

heads, and other miraculous things, which I will not here write off.

Traveling on further South, I arrived at a certaine island called

Bodin,[4] which signifieth in our language unclean. In this island

there do inhabit most wicked persons, who devour & eate rawe flesh,

committing all kinds of uncleannes & abominations in such sort, as it

is incredible. For the father eateth his son, & the son his father,

the husband his owne wife & the wife her husband: & that after this

maner. If any mans father be sick, the son straight goes unto the

sooth-saying or prognosticating priest, requesting him to demand of

his god, whether his father shall recover from his infirmity or no;

Then both of them go unto an idol of gold or silver, making their

prayers unto it in maner folowing: Lord, thou art our god, & thee we

do adore, beseeching thee to resolve us, whether such a man must die,

or recover of such an infirmity or no: Then the divel answereth out

of y^e aforesaide idol: if he saieth (he shal liue) then returneth his

son and ministreth things necessary unto him til he hath attained unto

his former health: but if he saith (he shall die) then goes y^e

priest unto him, & putting a cloth into his mouth doth strangle him

therewith: which being done, he cuts his dead body into morsels, &

al his friends and kinsfolk are invited unto the eating thereof, with

musique & all kinde of mirth: howbeit his bones are solemnely buried._

And when I found fault with that custome demanding a reason thereof,

one of them gaue me this answere; this we doe lest the wormes should

eat his flesh, for then his soule should suffer great torments,

neither could I by any meanes remoove them from that errour. Many

other novelties and strange things there bee in this countrey, which

no man would credite, unles he saw them with his owne eyes. Howbeit,

I (before almighty God) do here make relation of nothing but of that

onely, whereof I am as sure, as a man may be sure. Concerning the

foresaid islands, I enquired of divers wel-experienced persons, who

al of them, as it were with one consent, answered me saying, that this

India contained 4400 islands under it, or within it, in which islands

there are sixty and foure crowned kings: and they say moreouer,

that the greater part of those islands are wel inhabited. And here I

conclude concerning that part of India.

[Footnote 1: Ceylon.]

[Footnote 2: Lemons.]

[Footnote 3: Peel.]

[Footnote 4: Or Dadin.]

_Of the upper India: and of the province of Mancy._[1]

FIRST of al therefore, having traveled many dayes journey upon the

Ocean-sea towards the East, at length I arrived at a certaine great

province called Mancy, being in Latine named India. Concerning this

India I inquired of Christians, of Saracens, & of Idolaters, and of al

such as bare an office under the great Can; who all of them with one

consent answered, that this province of Mancy hath mo then 2000 great

cities within the precincts thereof & that it aboundeth with all

plenty of victuals, as namely with bread, wine, rise, flesh, and fish.

All the men of this province be artificers & marchants, who, though

they be in never so extreme penurie, so long as they can help

themselues by the labor of their handes, will neuer beg almes of any

man. The men of this province are of a faire and comely personage, but

somewhat pale, having their heads shaven but a little, but the women

are the most beautiful under the sunne. The first city of the said

India which I came unto, is called Ceuskalon, which being a daies

journey distant from the sea, stands upon a river, the water whereof,

nere unto the mouth, where it exonerateth it selfe into the sea,

doth overflow the land for the space of 12 daies journey. All the

inhabitants of this India are worshippers of idols. The foresaid city

of Ceuskalon hath such an huge navy belonging thereunto, that no man

would beleeve it unlesse he should see it. In this city I saw 300

li of good and new ginger sold for lesse than a groat. There are the

greatest, and the fairest geese, & most plenty of them to be sold in

al the world, as I suppose: they are as white as milke, & haue a bone

upon the crowne of their heads, as bigge as an egge, being of the

colour of blood: under the throat they haue a skin or bag hanging

down halfe a foot. They are exceeding fat and wel sold. Also they haue

ducks and hens in that countrey, one as big as two of ours. There be

monstrous great serpents likewise, which are taken by the inhabitants

& eaten; whereupon a solemne feast among them without serpents is not

set by.

And to be briefe, in this city there are al kinds of victuals in great

abundance. From thence I passed by many cities & at length I came unto

a citie named Caitan,[2] wherein ye friers Minorites haue two places

of abode, unto which I transported the bones of the dead friers, which

suffered martyrdom for the faith of Christ, as it is aboue mentioned.

In this citie there is abundance of al kind of victuals very cheap.

The said city is as big as two of Bononia,[3] & in it are many

monasteries of religious persons, al which do worship idols.

I myselfe was in one of those monasteries, & it was told me, that

there were in it III M religious men, having XI M idols; and one of

y^e said idols which seemed unto me but litle in regard of the rest,

was as big as our Christopher. These religious men euery day do feed

their idol-gods: wherupon at a certaine time I went to behold the

banquet: and indeed those things which they brought unto them were

good to eate, & fuming hote insomuch that the steam of the smoke

thereof ascended up unto their idols, and they said that their gods

were refreshed with the smoke: howbeit all the meat they conveyed

away, eating it up their owne selves, and so they fed their dumb gods

with the smoke only.

[Footnote 1: Or China.]

[Footnote 2: Thsiuanchau or Chiuchau, the great mediæval port

of China.]

[Footnote 3: Bologna.]

_Of the citie of Fuco._

TRAVELING more eastward, I came unto a city named Fuco,[1] which

containeth 30 miles in circuit, wherein be exceeding great & faire

cocks, _and al their hens are as white as the very snow, having

wool in stead of feathers, like unto sheep_. It is a most stately &

beautiful city & standeth up the sea. Then I went 18 daies journey on

further, & passed by many provinces & cities, and in the way I went

over a certain great mountaine, upon ye one side whereof I beheld al

living creatures to be as black as a cole, & the men and women on that

side differed somewhat in maner of living from others; howbeit, on

the other side of the said hil every living thing was snow-white &

the inhabitants in their maner of living, were altogether unlike unto

others. There, al maried women cary in token that they haue husbands,

a great trunk of horne upon their heads. From thence I traveled

18 dayes journey further and came unto a certaine great river, and

entered also into a city, whereunto belongeth a mighty bridge to passe

the said river. And mine hoste with whom I sojourned, being desirous

to show me some sport, said unto me, Sir, if you will see any fish

taken, goe with me. Then hee led me unto the foresaid bridge, carrying

in his armes certain dive-doppers[2] or water-foules, bound unto a

company of poles, and about every one of their necks he tied a thread,

lest they should eat the fish as fast as they took them: and he

carried three great baskets with him also; then loosed he the

dive-doppers from the poles, which presently went into the water, &

within lesse then the space of one houre, caught as many fishes as

filled the 3 baskets: which being full, mine hoste untied the threeds

from about their neckes, and entering a second time into the river

they fed themselves with fish, and being satisfied they returned

and suffered themselves to be bound unto the said poles as they were

before. And when I did eate of those fishes, we thought they were

exceeding good. Travailing thence many dayes journeys, at length I

arrived at another city called Canasia,[3] which signifieth in our

language, the city of heaven. Never in all my life did I see so great

a city: for it containeth in circuit an hundreth miles; neither sawe I

any plot thereof, which was not throughly inhabited: yea, I sawe many

houses of tenne or twelve stories high, one aboue the other. It hath

mightie large suburbs containing more people then the citie it selfe.

Also it hath twelue principall gates: and about the distance of 8

miles, in the high way unto euery one of the saide gates standeth a

city as big by estimation as Venice, and Padua. The aforesaide city

of Canasia is situated in waters or marshes, which always stand still,

neither ebbing nor flowing: howbeit it hath a defence for the winde

like unto Venice. In this citie there are mo than 10002 bridges,

many whereof I numbered and passed over them: and upon every of those

bridges stand certaine watchmen of the citie, keeping continuall ward

and watch about the saide citie, the great Can the Emperour of Catay.

The people of this countrey say, that they haue one duetie injoyned

unto them by their lord: for euery fire payeth one Balis in regard of

tribute: and a Balis is five papers or pieces of silk, which are worth

one floren and an halfe of our coine. Tenne or twelue housholds are

accompted for one fire, and so pay tribute but for one fire only. Al

those tributary fires amount unto the number of 85 Thuman, with other

foure Thuman of the Saracens, which make 89 in al: And one Thuman

consisteth of 10000 fires. The residue of the people of the city are

some of them Christians, some marchants, and some traveilers through

the countrey. Whereupon I marveiled much how such an infinite number

of persons could inhabite and liue together. There is great aboundance

of victuals in this city, as namely of bread and wine, and especially

of hogs-flesh with other necessaries.

[Footnote 1: Probably Fuchau in Fokieu.]

[Footnote 2: Cormorants.]

[Footnote 3: Now Hangchau.]

_Of a Monastery where many strange beastes of divers kindes

doe live upon an hill._

IN the foresaide citie foure of our friers had converted a mighty and

rich man unto the faith of Christ, at whose house I continually abode,

for so long time as I remained in the citie, Who upon a certain time

said unto me: Ara, that is to say, Father, will you go and behoulde

the citie? And I said, yea. Then embarked we ourselves, and directed

our course unto a certaine great Monastery: where being arrived, he

called a religious person with whom he was acquainted, saying unto

him concerning me: this Raban Francus, that is to say, this religious

Frenchman commeth from the Westerne parts of the world and therefore

you must show him some rare things, that when he returnes into his

owne countrey, he may say, this strange sight or novelty haue I seene

in the citie of Canasia. Then the said religious man tooke two greate

baskets full of broken reliques which remained of the table, & led

me unto a little walled parke, the doore whereof he unlocked with his

key, and there appeared unto us a pleasant faire green plot, into the

which we entred. In the said greene stands a litle mount in forme of

a steeple, replenished with fragrant herbes, and fine shady trees. And

while we stood there, he tooke a cymbal or bell, and rang therewith,

as they used to ring to dinner or bevoir in cloisters, at the sound

whereof many creatures of divers kindes came downe from the mount,

some like apes, some like cats, some like monkeys, and some having

faces like men. And while I stood beholding of them, they gathered

themselves together about him, to the number of 4200 of those

creatures, putting themselues in good order, before whom he set a

platter, and gaue them the saide fragments to eate. And when they had

eaten he rang upon his cymbal the second time, and they all returned

unto their former places. Then, wondring greatly at the matter, I

demanded what kind of creatures those might be? They are (quoth he)

the Soules of noble men which we do here feed, for the love of God who

governeth the world: and as a man was honorable or noble in this life,

so his soule after death, entreth into the body of some excellent

beast or other, but the soules of simple and rusticall people do

possesse the bodies of more vile and brutish creatures. Then I began

to refute that foule error: howbeit my speech did nothing at all to

prevaile with him, for hee could not be perswaded that any soule might

remaine without a body. From thence I departed unto a certaine citie

named Chilenso, the walls whereof contained 40 miles in circuit. In

this citie there are 360 bridges of stone, the fairest that euer

I saw, and it is wel inhabited, having a great navie belonging

thereunto, & abounding with all kinds of victuals and other

commodities. And thence I went unto a certaine river called Thalay

which where it is most narrow, is 7 miles broad: and it runneth

through the midst of the land of the Pygm[oe]i whose chiefe city is

called Cakam, and is one of the goodliest cities in the world. These

Pygm[oe]ans are three of my spans high, and they make larger and

better cloth of cotton and silke, then any other nation under the

sunne. And coasting along by the said river, I came unto a certaine

city named Janzu, in which citie there is one receptacle for

the Friers of our order, and there be also three Churches of the

Nestorians. This Janzu is a noble and great citie, containing 48

Thumans of tributarie fires, and in it are all kindes of victuals, and

great plenty of such beastes, foules, and fishes, as Christians doe

usually liue upon. The lord of the same citie hath in yeerely revenues

for salt onely, fiftie Thuman of Balis, & one balis is worth a floren

and a halfe of our coyne: insomuch that one Thuman of balis amounteth

unto the value of 15000 florens. Howbeit the sayd lord, favoureth

his people in one respect, for sometimes he forgiveth them frely 200

Thuman, lest there should be any scarcity or dearth among them. There

is a custome in this citie, that when any man is determined to banquet

his friends, going about unto certaine tavernes or cookes houses

appointed for the same purpose, he sayth unto euery particular hoste,

you shall haue such and such of my friends, whom you must entertain

in my name, and so much I will bestowe upon the banquet. And by that

means his friendes are better feasted at diverse places, then they

should haue beene at one. Tenne miles from the sayde citie, about the

head of the foresayd river of Thalay, there is a certaine other citie

called Montu, which hath the greatest navy that I saw in the whole

world. All their ships are as white as snow, & they haue banquetting

houses in them, and many other rare things also, which no man would

beleeve unlesse he had seene them with his owne eyes.

_Of the citie of Cambaleth._

TRAVELING eight dayes journey further by divers territories and

cities, at length I came by fresh water unto a certaine citie named

Leucyn, standing upon a river of Karavoran[1] which runneth through

the midst of Cataie, and doeth great harme in the countrey when it

overfloweth the bankes, or breaketh foorth of the chanell. From thence

passing along the river Eastward, after many dayes travell, and the

sight of divers cities, I arrived at a citie called Sumakoto,[2] which

aboundeth more with silke then any other citie in the worlde: for when

there is a great scarcity of silke, fortie pound is solde for

lesse then eight groates. In this citie there is abundance of all

merchandize, and all kinds of victuals also, as of bread, wine, flesh,

fish, with all choise and delicate spices. Then travelling on still

towards the East by many cities, I came unto the noble and renowned

citie of Cambaleth, which is of great antiquitie, being situate in

the province of Cataie. This citie the Tartars tooke, & neere unto

it within the space of halfe a mile, they built another citie called

Caido. The citie of Caido hath twelve gates, being each of them two

miles distant from another. Also the space lying in the midst betweene

the two foresayde cities is very well and thoroughly inhabited, so

that they make as it were but one citie betweene them both. The whole

compasse or circuit of both cities together is 40 miles. In this citie

the great emperour Can hath his principall seat, and his Imperiall

palace, the wals of which palace containe foure miles in circuit: and

neere unto this his palace are many other palaces and houses of his

nobility which belong unto his court. Within the precincts of the

said palace Imperiall, there is a most beautifull mount, set and

replenished with trees, for which cause it is called the Greene mount,

having a most royall and sumptuous palace standing thereupon, in

which, for the most part, the great Can is resident. Upon the one side

of the sayde mount there is a great lake, whereupon a most stately

bridge is built, in which lake a great abundance of geese, ducks, &

all kinds of water foules, and in the wood growing upon the mount,

there is a great store of all birdes and wilde beastes. And therefore

when the great Can will solace himselfe with hunting or hauking, he

needs not so much as once to step forth of his palace. Moreover, the

principall palace, wherein he maketh his abode, is very large, having

within it 14 pillers of golde, and all the walles thereof are hanged

with red skinnes, which are said to be the most costly skinnes in all

the world. In the midst of the palace stands a cisterne of two yards

high, which consisteth of a precious stone called Merdochas, and is

wreathed about with golde, & at ech corner thereof is the golden image

of a serpent, as it were furiously shaking and casting forth his head.

This cisterne also hath a kinde of network of pearle wrought about it.

Likewise by the sayd cisterne there is drinke conveyed thorow certaine

pipes and conducts such as useth to be drunke in the emperours

court, upon the which also there hang many vessels of golde, wherein

whosoever will may drinke of the said licour. In the foresayd palace

there are many peacockes of golde: & when any Tartar maketh a banquet

unto his lorde, if the guests chance to clap their hands for joy and

mirth the said golden peacocks also will spread their wings abroad,

and lift up their traines, seeming as if they danced, and this I

suppose to be done by arte magicke or by some secret engine under the

grounde.

[Footnote 1: Karamoron.]

[Footnote 2: Sumacoto.]

_Of the glory and magnificence of the great Can._

MOREOVER, when the great emperour Can sitteth on his imperiall throne

of estate, on his lefte hand sitteth his queene or empresse and

upon another inferior seate there sit two other women, which are to

accompany the emperour, when his spouse is absent, but in the lowest

place of all, there sit all the ladies of his kinred. _All the married

women weare upon their heads a kind of ornament in shape like unto a

man's foote of a cubite and a halfe in length, and the lower part

of the said foote is adorned with cranes feathers_, and is all ouer

thicke set with great and orient pearles. Upon the right hande of the

great Can sitteth his first begotten sonne and heire apparent unto his

empire, and under him sit all the nobles of the blood royall. There

bee also foure Secretaries, which put all things in writing that the

emperour speaketh. In whose presence likewise stand his Barons and

divers others of his nobilitie, with great traines of folowers after

them, of whom none dare speake so much as one worde, unlesse they haue

obtained licence of the emperour so to doe, except his jesters and

stage players, who are appointed of purpose to solace their lord.

Neither yet dare they attempt to doe ought, but onely according to

the pleasure of their emperor, and as hee enjoineth by lawe. About the

palace gate stand certaine Barons to keepe all men from treading upon

the threshold of the sayd gate. When it pleaseth the great Can to

solemnize a feast, he hath about him 14000 Barons, carying wreathes &

litle crownes upon their heads, and giving attendance upon their lord,

and eueryone of them weareth a garment of golde and precious stones,

which is worth ten thousand florens. His court is kept in very good

order, by governours of tens, governours of hundreds, and governours

of thousands, insomuch that euery one in his place performeth his

dutie committed to him, neither is there any defect to bee found.

I Frier Odoricus was there present in person for the space of three

yeares and was often at the sayd banquets: for wee friers Minorites

have a place of aboad appointed out for us in the emperours court,

and are enjoined to goe and to bestow our blessing upon him. And

I enquired of certain courtiers concerning the number of persons

pertaining to the emperors court. Moreouer, when he will make his

progresse from one countrey to another, hee hath foure troupes of

horsemen, one being appointed to goe a dayes journey before, and

another to come a dayes journey after him, the third to march on his

right hand and the fourth on his left, in the maner of a crosse, he

himselfe being in the midst, and so euery particular troupe haue

their daily journeys limited unto them, to the ende they may provide

sufficient victuals without defect. Nowe the great Can himselfe is

caried in maner following: hee rideth in a chariot with two wheeles,

upon which a majesticall throne is built of the wood of Aloe, being

adorned with gold and great pearles and precious stones, and foure

elephants bravely furnished doe drawe the sayd chariot, before which

elephants foure greate horses richly trapped and covered doe lead

the way. Hard by the chariot on both sides thereof, are foure Barons

laying hold and attending thereupon, to keepe all persons from

approching neere unto their emperour. Upon the chariot two milke-white

jer-falcons doe sit, and seeing any game which hee would take, hee

letteth them fly, and so they take it, and after this maner doeth hee

solace himselfe as hee rideth. Moreover, no man dare come within a

stone's cast of the chariot, but such as are appointed. The number of

his owne followers, of his wives attendants, and of the traine of his

first begotten sonne and heire apparent, would seem incredible to any

man; unless he had first seene it with his owne eyes. The foresayd

great Can hath divided his Empire into twelue parts or provinces, and

one of the said provinces hath two thousand great cities within the

precincts thereof. Whereupon his empire is of that length and breadth,

that unto whatsoever part thereof he intendeth his journey, he hath

space enough for six moneths continual progress, except his islands

which are at the least 5000.

_Of certaine Innes or hospitals appointed for traveilers

throughout the whole empire._

THE foresayd Emperor (to the end that travailers may haue all things

necessary throughout his whole empire) hath caused certaine Innes

to be provided in sundry places upon the highwayes, where all things

pertaining unto victuals are in a continuall readinesse. And when any

alteration or newes happen in any part of his Empire, if he chance

to be farre absent from that part, his ambassadors upon horses or

dromedaries ride post unto him, and when themselves and their beaste

are weary, they blowe their horne, at the noise whereof, the next Inne

likewise provideth a horse and a man, who takes the letter from him

that is weary, and runneth unto another Inne: and so by divers Innes,

and divers postes, the report, which ordinarily could skarce come

in 30 dayes, is in one naturall day brought unto the Emperour: and

therefore no matter of any moment can be done in his empire, but

straightway he hath intelligence of it. Moreouer when the great Can

himselfe will go on hunting, he useth this custome. Some 20 days

journey from the citie of Kambaleth there is a forrest containing six

dayes journey in circuit, in which forrest there are so many kinds of

beasts and birds as it is incredible to report. Unto this forrest,

at the ende of euery thirde or fourthe yeere, himself with his whole

traine resorteth, and they all of them together environ the said

forrest, sending dogs into the same, which by hunting doe bring foorth

the beasts: namely lions and stags, and other creatures, unto a most

beautifull plaine in the midst of the forrest, because all the beasts

of the forrest doe tremble, especially at the cry of hounds. Then

cometh the great Can himselfe, being caried upon three elephants, and

shooteth fiue arrowes into the whole herd of beasts, and after him all

his Barons, and after them the rest of his courtiers and family doe

all in like maner discharge their arrowes also, and euery mans arrow

hath a sundry marke. Then they all goe unto the beasts which are

slaine (suffering the living beasts to returne into the wood that they

may haue more sport with them another time) and euery man enjoyeth

that beast as his owne, wherein he findeth his arrow sticking.

_Of the foure feasts which the great Can solemnizeth euery

yeere in his court._

FOURE great feasts in a yeere doeth the emperor Can celebrate: namely

the feast of his birth, the feast of his circumcision, the feast of

his coronation, and the feast of his mariage. And unto these feasts he

inviteth all his Barons, his stage players, and all such as are of

his kinred. Then the great Can sitting in his throne, all his Barons

present themselves before him, with wreaths and crowns upon their

heads, being diversely attired, for some of them are in greene, namely

the principall: the seconde are in red, and the third in yellow: and

they hold each man in his hand a little Ivorie table of elephants

tooth, and they are girt with golden girdles of halfe a foote broad,

and they stand upon their feete keeping silence. About them stand the

stage-players or musicians with their instruments. And in one of the

corners of a certaine great pallace, all the Philosophers or Magicians

remaine for certaine howers, and do attend upon points or characters;

and when the point and hower which the sayd Philosophers expected for,

is come, a certain crier crieth out with a loud voice, saying, Incline

or bowe your selves before your Emperour; with that all the Barons

fall flat upon the earth. Then hee crieth oute againe: Arise all, and

immediately they all arise. Likewise the Philosophers attend upon a

point or character the second time, and when it is fulfilled the crier

crieth out amaine: Put your fingers in your eares; and foorthwith

againe he saieth: Plucke them out. Againe, at the third point he

crieth, Boult this meale. Many other circumstances also doe they

performe, all which they say haue some certaine signification, howbeit

neither would I write them, nor giue any heed unto them, because they

are vaine and ridiculouse. And when the musicians houre is come, then

the Philosophers say, Solemnize a feast unto your Lord: with that all

of them sound their instruments, making a great and melodious noise.

And immediately another crieth, Peace, Peace, and they are all whist.

Then come the women-musicians, and sing sweetly before the Emperour,

which musike was more delightfull unto me. After them come in the

lions and doe their obeisance unto the great Can. Then the juglers

cause golden cups full of wine to flie up and downe in the ayre & to

apply themselves unto mens mouths that they may drinke of them. These

any many other strange things I sawe in the court of the great Can,

which no man would beleeve unlesse he had seen them with his owne

eies, and therefore I omit to speake of them. I was informed also by

certaine credible persons of another miraculous thing, namely, that

in a certaine Kingdome of the sayd Can, wherein stand the mountains

called Kapsei (the Kingdomes name is Kalor) there _groweth great

Gourds or Pompions,[1] which being ripe, doe open at the tops, and

within them is found a little beast like unto a yong lambe, even as I

my selfe have heard reported, that there stand certain trees upon the

shore of the Irish Sea, bearing fruit like unto a gourd, which at a

certaine time of the yeere doe fall into the water, and become birds

called Bernacles, and this is most true_.

[Footnote 1: Pumpkins.]

_Of divers provinces & cities,_

AND after three yeeres I departed out of the empire of Cataie,

traveiling fiftie dayes journey towards the West. And at length I came

unto the empire of Pretegoani,[1] whose principall citie is Kasan,

which hath many cities under it. From thence passing many dayes travel

I came unto a province called Casan, which is for good commodities,

one of the onely provinces under the Sunne, & is very well inhabited,

insomuch that when we depart out of the gates of one city we may

beholde the gates of another city, as I myselfe sawe in divers of

them. The breadth of the said province is 50 dayes journey and the

length aboue sixtie. In it there is great plenty of all victuals, and

especially of chesnuts, and it is one of the twelve provinces of the

great Can. Going on further, I came unto a certaine Kingdome called

Tebek,[2] which is in subjection unto the great Can also, wherein I

thinke there is more plenty of bread and wine then in any other part

of the worlde besides. The people of the sayd countrey do, for the

most part, inhabit in tents made of blacke felt. Their principall

city is invironed with faire and beautifull walls, being built of

most white and blacke stones, which are disposed checkerwise one by

another, and curiously compiled together: likewise all the high wayes

in this countrey are exceedingly well paved. In the said countrey none

dare shed the bloud of a man, or of any beast, for the reverence of

a certaine idol. In the aforesayd citie their Abassi, that is to say,

their Pope is resident, being the head and prince of all idolaters

(upon whom he bestoweth and distributeth gifts after his maner)

euen as our Pope of Rome accounts himselfe to be the head of all

Christians. The Women of this countrey weare aboue an hundreth tricks

& trifles about them, and they haue two teeth in their mouthes as long

as the tuskes of a boare. _When any mans father deceaseth among them,

his sonne assembleth together all the priests and musicians that

he can get, saying that he is determined to honour his father:

then causeth he him to be caried into the field (all his kinsfolks,

friends, and neighbours, accompanying him in the sayd action) where

the priests with great solemnity cut off the fathers head, giving

it unto his sonne, which being done, they divide the whole body into

morsels, and so leaue it behinde them, returning home with prayers in

the company of the said sonne. So soone as they are departed, certain

vultures, which are accustomed to such bankets, come flying from

the mountains, and cary away all the sayd morsels of flesh: and from

thenceforth a fame is spread abroad, that the sayd party deceased was

holy, because the angels of God carried him into paradise. And this is

the greatest and highest honour, that the sonne can devise to performe

unto his father. Then the sayd sonne taketh his fathers head, seething

it and eating the flesh thereof, but of the skull he maketh a drinking

cup, wherein himselfe with all his family and kinred do drinke

with great solemnitie and mirth, in the remembrance of his dead and

devoured father._ Many other vile and abominable things doth the sayd

nation commit, which I meane not to write because men neither can nor

will beleeve, except they should haue a sight of them.

[Footnote 1: Prester John.]

[Footnote 2: Or Thibet.]

_Of a certaine riche man, who is fed and nourished by

50 virgins_.

WHILE I was in the province of Mancy, I passed by the palace of a

certaine famous man, which hath fifty virgin damosels continually

attending upon him, feeding him euery meale as a bird feeds her yoong

ones. Also he hath sundry kinds of meat served in at his table and

three dishes of ech kinde: and when the said virgins feed him, they

singe most sweetly. This man hath in yeerely revenues thirty thuman of

tagars of rise, euery of which thuman yeeldeth tenne thousand tagars,

and one tagar is the burthen of an asse. His palace is two miles in

circuit, the pavement thereof is one plate of golde and another

of silver. Neere unto the wall of the sayd palace there is a mount

artificially wrought with golde and silver, whereupon stand turrets

and steeples, and other delectable things for the solace and

recreation of the foresayd great man. And it was tolde me that there

were foure such men in the sayd kingdome. It is accounted a great

grace for the men of that countrey to haue long nailes upon their

fingers, and especially upon their thumbes which nailes they may folde

about their handes: but the grace and beauty of their women is to haue

small and slender feet: and therefore the mothers when their daughters

are yoong, do binde up their feete that they may not grow great.

Travelling on further towards the South, I arrived at a certain

countrey called Melistorte, which is a pleasant and fertile place. In

this countrey was a certain aged man called Senex de monte, who round

about two mountaines had built a wall to inclose the said mountaines.

Within this wall there were the fairest and most chrystall fountaines

in the whole world: and about the sayd fountaines there were the most

beautifull virgins in great number, and goodly horses also, and in a

word, euery thing that could be devised for bodily solace and delight,

and therefore the inhabitants of the countrey call the same place

by the name of Paradise. The olde Senex, when he saw any proper and

valiant yoong man, he would admit him into his paradise. Moreover

by certain conducts he makes wine and milke to flow abundantly. This

Senex when he hath a minde to revenge himselfe or to slay any king or

baron, commandeth him who is governor of the sayd paradise, to

bring thereunto some of the acquaintance of the sayd king or baron,

permitting him a while to take his pleasure therein, and then to give

him a certaine potion being of force, to cast him into such a slumber

as should make him quite voide of all sense, and so being in a

profound sleepe to convey him out of his paradise: who being awakened

and seeing himselfe thrust out of the paradise, would become so

sorrowfull, that he could not in the world devise what to do, or

whither to turne him. Then would he goe unto the foresaid old man,

beseeching him that he might be admitted again into his paradise, who

saith unto him, You cannot be admitted thither, unlesse you will slay

such or such a man for my sake, & if you will giue the attempt onely,

whether you kill him or no, I will place you againe in paradise, that

there you may remain always: then would the party without faile put

the same in execution, indevouring to murther all those against whom

the old man had conceived any hatred. And therefore all the kings of

the east stood in awe of the sayd olde man, and gaue unto him great

tribute.

_Of the death of Senex de monte._

AND when the Tartars had subdued a great part of the world, they

came unto the sayd olde man, and tooke from him the custody of his

paradise: who being incensed thereat, sent abroad divers desperate and

resolute persons out of his forenamed paradise, and caused many of

the Tartarian nobles to be slaine. The Tartars seeing this, went and

beseiged the citie wherein the sayd olde man was, tooke him, and put

him to a most cruell and ignominious death. The friers in that place

haue this special gift and prerogative, namely, that by the vertue of

the name of Christ Jesu, & in the vertue of his precious blood, which

he shedde upon the crosse for the salvation of mankinde, they doe cast

foorth devils out of them that are possessed. And because there are

many possessed men in those parts, they are bound and brought ten

dayes journey unto the sayd friers, who being dispossessed of the

uncleane spirits, do presently beleeve in Christ, who delivered them,

accounting him for their God, and being baptised in his name, and also

delivering immediately unto the friers all their idols and the idols

of their cattell, which are commonly made of felt or of womens haire:

then the sayd friers kindle a fire in a publicke place (whereunto the

people resort, that they may see the false gods of their neighbors

burnt), and cast the sayd idols thereinto: howbeit at first those

idols came out of the fire againe. Then the friers sprinkled the sayd

fire with holy water, casting in the idols the second time, and with

that the devils fled in the likenesse of black smoake, and the idols

still remained till they were consumed unto ashes. Afterward, this

noise and outcry was heard in the ayre: Beholde and see how I am

expelled out of my habitation. And by these means the friers doe

baptise great multitudes, who presently revolt againe unto their

idols; insomuch that the sayd friers must eftsoones, as it were,

underprop them, and informe them anew. _There was another terrible

thing which I saw there: for passing by a certaine valley, which is

situate beside a pleasant river, I saw many dead bodies, and in the

said valley also I heard divers sweet sounds and harmonies of musike,

especially the noise of citherns, whereat I was greatly amazed. This

valley conteineth in length seven or eight miles at the least, into

the which whosoeuer entreth, dieth presently, and can by no means

passe aliue thorow the middest thereof; for which cause all the

inhabitants thereabout decline unto the one side. Moreover, I was

tempted to go in & to see what it was. At length, making my prayers

and recommending my selfe to God in the name of Jesu, I entred, and

saw such swarmes of dead bodies there, as no man would beleeve unless

he were an eyewitnesse thereof. At the one side of the foresayde

valley upon a certaine stone, I saw the visage of a man, which behelde

me with such a terrible aspect that I thought verily I should haue

died in the same place. But alwayes this sentence, the word became

flesh, and dwelt amomgst us, I ceased not to pronounce, signing my

selfe with the signe of the crosse, and neerer than seven to eight

pases I durst not approach unto the sayd head: but I departed & fled

unto another place in the sayd valley_, ascending up into a little

sande mountaine, where looking about, I saw nothing but the sayd

citherns, which methought I heard miraculously sounding and playing by

themselves without the helpe of musicians. And being upon the toppe of

the mountaine, I found silver there like the scales of fishes in great

abundance, and I gathered some part thereof into my bosome to shew

for a wonder, but my conscience rebuking me, I cast it upon the earth,

reserving no whit at all unto my selfe, and so, by God's grace I

departed without danger. And when the men of the countrey knew that I

was returned out of the valley alive, they reverenced me much, saying

that I was baptised and holy, and that the foresayd bodies were men

subject unto the devils infernall who used to play upon citherns, to

the end they might allure people to enter, and so murther them. Thus

much concerning these things which I beheld most certainly with mine

eyes, I frier Odoricus haue heere written: many strange things also

I haue of purpose omitted, because men will not beleeue them unlesse

they should see them.

_Of the honour and reverence done unto the great Can._

I WILL report one thing more, which I saw, concerning the great Can.

It is an usuall custome in those parts, that when the foresayd Can

traveileth thorow any countrey, his subjects kindle fires before their

doores, casting spices thereinto to make a perfume, that their lord

passing by may smell the sweet and delectable odours thereof, and much

people come forth to meet him. And upon a certaine time when he was

comming towardes Cambaleth, the fame of his approch being published,

a bishop of ours with certaine of our minorite friers and myselfe went

two dayes journey to meet him: and being come nigh unto him, we put a

crosse upon wood. I my selfe having a censer in my hand, and began to

sing with a loud voice: Veni creator spiritus. And as we were singing

on this wise he caused us to be called, commanding us to come unto

him: notwithstanding (as it is above mentioned) that no man dare

approche within a stones cast of his chariot, unlesse he be called,

but such onely as keep his chariot. And when we came neare unto

him, he vailed his hat or bonet being of an inestimable price, doing

reverence unto the crosse. And immediately I put incense into the

censour, and our bishop taking the censer perfumed him, and gaue him

his benediction. Moreouer, they that come before the said Can, do

alwayes bring some oblation to present unto him, observing the ancient

law: Thou shalt not appear in my presence with an empty hand. And for

that cause we carried apples with us, and offered them in a platter

with reverence unto him: and taking out two of them he did eate some

part of one. And then he signified unto us, that we should go apart,

lest the horses comming on might in ought offend us. With that we

departed from him, and turned aside, going unto certaine of his

barons, which had been converted to the faith by certaine friers of

our order, being at the same time in his army: and we offered unto

them of the foresayd apples, who received them at our hands with great

joy, seeming unto us to be as glad, as if we had giuen them some great

gift. All the premisses above written frier William de Solanga hath

put downe in writing euen as the foresayd frier Odoricus uttered them

by word of mouth, in the yeere of our Lord 1330 in the moneth of May,

and in the place of S. Anthony of Padua. _Neither did he regard to

write them in difficult Latine, or in an eloquent style, but even as

Odoricus himselfe rehearsed them, to the end that men might the more

easily understand the things reported._ I Odoricus frier, of Friuli,

of a certaine territory called Portus Vahonis, and of the order of

the minorites, do testifie and beare witnesse unto the reverend father

Guidotus minister of the province of S. Anthony, in the marquisate of

Treviso (being by him required upon mine obedience so to doe) that

all the premisses above written, either I saw with mine owne eyes,

or heard the same reported by credible and substantiall persons. The

common report also of the countreys where I was, testifieth those

things, which I saw, to be true. Many other things I haue omitted

because I behelde them not with my owne eyes. Howbeit from day to day

I purpose with my selfe to travell countreys or lands, in which action

I dispose myselfe to die or to live, as it shall please my God.

_Of the death of frier Odoricus._

IN the yeere therefore of our Lord 1331 the foresayd frier Odoricus

preparing himselfe for the performance of his intended journey, that

his travel and labour might be to greater purpose, he determined

to present himselfe unto Pope John the two and twentieth, whose

benediction and obedience being received, he with a certaine number of

friers willing to beare him company might convey himselfe unto all the

countreys of infidels. And as he was travelling toward the pope, and

not farre distant from the city of Pisa, there meets him by the waye a

certaine olde man, in the habit and attire of a pilgrime, saluting

him by name and saying: All haile frier Odoricus. And when the frier

demaunded how he had knowledge of him: he answered: Whilest you were

in India I knew you full well, yea, and I knew your holy purpose also:

but see that you returne immediately unto the coven[1] from where

you came, for tenne dayes hence you shall depart out of this

present world. Wherefore being astonished and amazed at these words,

(especially the olde man vanishing out of his sight, presently after

he had spoken them) he determined to returne. And so he returned in

perfect health feeling no crazedness nor infirmity of body. And being

in his coven at Udene in the province of Padua, the tenth daye after

the foresayd vision, having received the Communion, and preparing

himselfe unto God, yea, being strong and sound of body, hee happily

rested in the Lord: who sacred departure was signified unto the

Pope aforesaid, under the hand of the publique notary in these words

following.

In the yeere of our Lord 1331, the 14 day of Januarie, Beatus Odoricus

a Frier minorite deceased in Christ, at whose prayers God shewed many

and sundry miracles, which I Guetelus publique notarie of Utina, sonne

of M. Damianus de Porto Gruaro at the commandment and direction of

the honorable Conradus of the Borough of Gastaldion, and one of the

Councell of Utina, haue written as faithfully as I could, and haue

delivered a copie thereof unto the friers minorites, howbeit not of

all, because they are innumerable, and too difficult for me to write.

[Footnote 1: Convent.]

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WOODCUTS SELECTED FROM OTHER EDITIONS SHOWING THE DIFFERENT TREATMENT

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