many dyverse yles, and be many contrees, that were to longe for to telle
of. And a 52 iorneyes fro this lond, that I have spoken of, there is
another lond, that is fulle gret, that men clepen Lamary. In that lond is
fulle gret hete: and the custom there is such, that men and wommen gon alle
naked. And thei scornen, whan thei seen ony strange folk goynge clothed.
And thei seyn, that God made Adam and Eve alle naked; and that no man
scholde schame, that is of kyndely nature. And thei seyn, that thei that
ben clothed ben folk of another world, or thei ben folk, that trowen not in
God. And thei seyn, that thei beleeven in God, that formede the world, and
that made Adam and Eve, and alle other thinges. And thei wedden there no
wyfes: for all the wommen there ben commoun, and thei forsake no man. And
thei seyn, thei synnen, zif thei refusen ony man: and so God commannded to
Adam and Eve, and to alle that comen of him, whan he seyde, _Crescite et
multiplicamini, et replete terram_. And therfore may no man in that contree
seyn, this is my wyf: ne no womman may seye, this is myn husbonde. And whan
thei han children, thei may zeven hem to what man thei wole, that hathe
companyed with hem. And also all the lond is comoun: for alle that a man
holdethe o zeer, another man hathe it another zeer. And every man takethe
what part that him lykthe. And also alle the godes of the lond ben comoun,
cornes and alle other thinges: for no thing there is clept in clos, ne no
thing there is undur lok; and every man there takethe what he wole, with
outen ony contradiccioun: and als riche is o man there, as is another. But
in that contree, there is a cursed custom: for thei eten more gladly mannes
flesche, than ony other flesche: and zit is that contree habundant of
flesche, of fissche, of cornes, of gold and sylver, and of alle other
godes. Thidre gone Marchauntes, and bryngen with hem children, to selle to
hem of the contree, and thei byzen hem: and zif thei ben fatte, thei eten
hem anon; and zif thei ben lene, thei feden hem, tille thei ben fatte, and
thanne thei eten hem: and thei seyn, that it is the best flesche and the
swettest of alle the world. In that lond, ne in many othere bezonde that,
no man may see the sterre transmontane, that is clept the sterre of the
see, that is unmevable, and that is toward the northe, that we clepen the
lode sterre. But men seen another steere, the contrarie to him, that is
toward the south, that is clept Antartyk. And right as the schip men taken
here avys here, and governe hem be the lode sterre, right so don schip men
bezonde the parties, be the sterre of the southe, the whiche sterre
apperethe not to us. And this sterre, that is toward the north, that wee
clepen the lode sterre, ne apperethe not to hem. For whiche cause, men may
wel perceyve, that the lond and the see ben of rownde schapp and forme. For
the partie of the firmament schewethe in o contree, that schewethe not in
another contree. And men may well preven be experience and sotyle
compassement of wytt, that zif a man fond passages be schippes, that wolde
go to serchen the world, MEN MYGHTE GO BE SCHIPPE ALLE ABOUTE THE WORLD,
and aboven and benethen. The whiche thing I prove thus, aftre that I have
seyn. For I have ben toward the parties of Braban, and beholden the
astrolabre, that the sterre that is clept the Transmontayne, is 53 degrees
highe. And more forthere in Almayne and Bewme, it hathe 58 degrees. And
more forthe toward the parties septemtrioneles, it is 62 degrees of heghte,
and certeyn mynutes. For I my self have mesured it by the astrolabre. Now
schulle ze knowe, that azen the Transmontayne, is the tother sterre, that
is clept Antartyke; as I have seyd before. And tho 2 sterres ne meeven
nevere. And be hem turnethe alle the firmament, righte as dothe a wheel,
that turnethe be his axille tree; so that tho sterres beren the firmament
in 2 egalle parties; so that it hathe als mochel aboven, as it hathe
benethen. Aftre this, I have gon toward the parties meridionales, that is
toward the southe: and I have founden, that in Lybye, men seen first the
sterre Antartyk. And so fer I have gon more forthe in tho contrees, that I
have founde that sterre more highe; so that toward the highe Lybye, it is
18 degrees of heghte, and certeyn minutes (of the whiche, 60 minutes maken
a degree). After goynge be see and be londe, toward this contree, of that I
have spoke, and to other yles and londes bezonde that contree, I have
founden the sterre Antartyk of 33 degrees of heghte, and mo mynutes. And
zif I hadde had companye and schippynge, for to go more bezonde, I trowe
wel in certeyn, that wee scholde have seen alle the roundnesse of the
firmament alle aboute. For as I have seyd zou be forn, the half of the
firmament is betwene tho 2 sterres: the whiche halfondelle I have seyn. And
of the tother halfondelle, I have seyn toward the north, undre Transmontane
62 degrees and 10 mynutes; and toward the partie meridionalle, I have seen
undre the Antartyk 33 degrees and 16 mynutes: and thanne the halfondelle of
the firmament in alle, ne holdethe not but 180 degrees. And of tho 180, I
have seen 62 on that o part, and 33 on that other part, that ben 95
degrees, and nyghe the halfondelle of a degree; and so there ne faylethe
but that I have seen alle the firmament, saf 84 degrees and the halfondelle
of a degree; and that is not the fourthe part of the firmament. For the 4
partie of the roundnesse of the firmament holt 90 degrees: so there
faylethe but 5 degrees and an half, of the fourthe partie. And also I have
seen the 3 parties of alle the roundnesse of the firmament, and more zit 5
degrees and an half. Be the which I seye zou certeynly, that men may
envirowne alle the erthe of alle the world, as wel undre as aboven, and
turnen azen to his contree, that hadde companye and schippynge and conduyt:
and alle weyes he scholde fynde men, londes, and yles, als wel as in this
contree. For zee wyten welle, that thei that ben toward the Antartyk, thei
ben streghte, feet azen feet of hem, that dwellen undre the transmontane;
als wel as wee and thei that dwellyn undre us, ben feet azenst feet. For
alle the parties of see and of lond han here appositees, habitable or
trepassables, and thei of this half and bezond half. And wytethe wel, that
aftre that, that I may parceyve and comprehend, the londes of Pestre John,
Emperour of Ynde, ben undre us. For in goynge from Scotland or from England
toward Jerusalem, men gon upward alweys. For oure lond is in the lowe
partie of the erthe, toward the west: and the lond of Prestre John is the
lowe partie of the erthe, toward the est: and thei han there the day, whan
wee have the nyghte, and also highe to the contrarie, thei han the nyghte,
whan wee han the day. For the erthe and the see ben of round form and
schapp, as I have seyd beforn. And that that men gon upward to o cost, men
gon dounward to another cost. Also zee have herd me seye, that Jerusalem is
in the myddes of the world; and that may men preven and schewen there, be a
spere, that is pighte in to the erthe, upon the hour of mydday, whan it is
equenoxium, that schewethe no schadwe on no syde. And that it scholde ben
in the myddes of the world, David wytnessethe it in the psautre, where he
seythe, _Des operatus est salutem in medie Terre_. Thanne thei that parten
fro the parties of the west, for to go toward Jerusalem, als many iorneyes
as thei gon upward for to go thidre, in als many iorneyes may thei gon fro
Jerusalem unto other confynyes of the superficialtie of the erthe bezonde.
And whan men gon bezonde tho iourneyes, toward Ynde and to the foreyn yles,
alle is envyronynge the roundnesse of this erthe and of the see, undre oure
contrees on this half. And therfore hathe it befallen many tymes of o
thing, that I have herd cownted, whan I was zong; how a worthi man departed
somtyme from oure contrees, for to go serche the world. And so he passed
Ynde, and the yles bezonde Ynde, where ben mo than 5000 yles: and so longe
he wente be see and lond, and so enviround the world be many seysons, that
he fond an yle, where he herde speke his owne langage, callynge an oxen in
the plowghe, suche wordes as men speken to bestes in his owne contree:
whereof he hadde gret mervayle: for he knewe not how it myghte be. But I
seye, that he had gon so longe, be londe and be see, that he had envyround
alle the erthe, that he was comen azen envirounynge, that is to seye,
goynge aboute, unto his owne marches, zif he wolde have passed forthe, til
he had founden his contree and his owne knouleche. Bur he turned azen from
thens, from whens he was come fro; and so he loste moche peynefulle labour,
as him self seyde, a gret while aftre, that he was comen hom. For it
befelle aftre, that he wente in to Norweye; and there tempest of the see
toke him; and he arryved in an yle; and whan he was in that yle, he knew
wel, that it was the yle, where he had herd speke his owne langage before,
and the callynge of the oxen at the plowghe: and that was possible thinge.
But how it semethe to symplemen unlerned, that men ne mowe not go undre the
erthe, and also that men scholde falle toward the hevene, from undre! But
that may not be, upon lesse, than wee mowe falle toward hevene, fro the
erthe, where wee ben. For fro what partie of the erthe, that men duelle,
outher aboven or benethen, it semethe alweys to hem that duellen, that thei
gon more righte than ony other folk. And righte as it semethe to us, that
thei ben undre us, righte so it semethe hem, that wee ben undre hem. For
zif a man myghte falle fro the erthe unto the firmament: be grettere
resoun, the erthe and the see, that ben so grete and so hevy, scholde
fallen to the firmament: but that may not be: and therfore seithe oure Lord
God, _Non timeas me, qui suspendi Terram ex nichilo?_ And alle be it that
it be possible thing, that men may so envyrone alle the world, natheles of
a 1000 persones, on ne myghte not happen to returnen in to his contree.
For, for the gretnesse of the erthe and of the see, men may go be a 1000
and a 1000 other weyes, that no man cowde redye him perfitely toward the
parties that he cam fro, but zif it were be aventure and happ, or be the
grace of God. For the erthe is fulle large and fulle gret, and holt in
roundnesse and aboute envyroun, be aboven and be benethen 20425 myles,
aftre the opynyoun of the olde wise astronomeres. And here seyenges I
repreve noughte. But aftre my lytylle wytt, it semethe me, savynge here
reverence, that it is more. And for to have bettere understondynge, I seye
thus, Be ther ymagyned a figure, that hathe a gret compas, and aboute the
poynt of the gret compas, that is clept the centre, be made another litille
compas: then aftre, be the gret compas devised be lines in manye parties;
and that alle the lynes meeten at the centre; so that in as many parties,
as the grete compas schal be departed, in als manye schalle be departed the
litille, that is aboute the centre, alle be it that the spaces ben lesse.
Now thanne, be the gret compas represented for the firmament, and the
litille compas represented for the erthe. Now thanne the firmament is
devysed, be astronomeres, in 12 signes; and every signe is devysed in 30
degrees, that is 360 degrees, that the firmament hathe aboven. Also, be the
erthe devysed in als many parties as the firmament; and lat every partye
answere to a degree of the firmament: and wytethe it wel, that aftre the
auctoures of astronomye, 700 fulonges of erthe answeren to a degree of the
firmament; and tho ben 87 myles and 4 furlonges. Now be that here
multiplyed by 360 sithes; and than thei ben 31500 myles, every of 8
furlonges, aftre myles of oure contree. So moche hathe the erthe in
roundnesse, and of heght enviroun, aftre myn opynyoun and myn
undirstondynge. And zee schulle undirstonde, that aftre the opynyoun of
olde wise philosophres and astronomeres, oure contree ne Irelond ne Wales
ne Scotlond ne Norweye ne the other yles costynge to hem, ne ben not in the
superficialte cownted aboven the erthe: as it schewethe be alle the bokes
of astronomye. For the superficialtee of the erthe is departed in 7
parties, for the 7 planetes: and tho parties ben clept clymates. And oure
parties be not of the 7 clymates; for thei ben descendynge toward the west.
And also these yles of Ynde, which beth even azenst us, beth noght reckned
in the climates; for thei ben azenst us, that ben in the lowe contree. And
the 7 clymates strecchen hem envyrounynge the world.
Of the Palays of the Kyng of the Yle of Java. Of the Trees, that beren
Mele, Hony, Wyn and Venym; and of othere Mervayilles and Customes, used
in the Yles marchinge thereabouten.
[Sidenote: Cap. XVIII.] Besyde that yle that I have spoken of, there is
another yle, that is clept Sumobor, that is a gret yle: and the kyng
thereof is righte myghty. The folk of that yle maken hem alweys to ben
marked in the visage with an hote yren, bothe men and wommen, for gret
noblesse, for to ben knowen from other folk. For thei holden hem self most
noble and most worthi of alle the world. And thei han werre alle weys with
the folk that gon alle naked. And faste besyde is another yle, that is
clept Betemga, that is a gode yle and a plentyfous. And many other yles ben
there about; where ther ben many of dyverse folk: of the whiche it were to
longe to speke of alle.
But fast besyde that yle, for to passe be see, is a gret yle a gret
contree, that men clepen Java: and it is nyghe 2000 myle in circuyt. And
the kyng of that contree is a fulle gret lord and a ryche and a myghty, and
hathe undre him 7 other kynges of 7 other yles abouten hym. This yle is
fulle wel inhabyted, and fulle wel manned. There growen alle maner of
spicerie, more plentyfous liche than in ony other contree; as of gyngevere,
clowegylofres, canelle, zedewalle, notemuges and maces. And wytethe wel,
that the notemuge berethe the maces. For righte as the note of the haselle
hathe an husk with outen, that the note is closed in, til it be ripe, and
aftre fallethe out; righte so it is of the notemuge and of the maces. Manye
other spices and many other godes growen in that yle. For of alle thing is
there plenty, saf only of wyn: but there is gold and silver gret plentee.
And the kyng of that contree hathe a paleys fulle noble and fulle
marveyllous, and more riche than ony in the world. For alle the degrez to
gon up into halles and chambres, ben on of gold, another of sylver. And
also the pavmentes of halles and chambres ben alle square, on of gold and
another of sylver: and alle the walles with inne ben covered with gold and
sylver, in fyn plates: and in tho plates ben stories and batayles of
knyghtes enleved. And the crounes and the cercles abouten here hedes ben
made of precious stones and riche perles and grete. And the halles and the
chambres of the palays ben alle covered with inne with gold and sylver: so
that no man wolde trowe the richesse of that palays, but he had seen it.
And witethe wel, that the kyng of that yle is so myghty, that he hathe many
tymes overcomen the grete Cane of Cathay in bataylle, that is the most gret
emperour that is undre the firmament, outher bezonde the see or on this
half. For thei han had often tyme werre betwene hem, be cause that the
grete cane wolde constreynen him to holden his lond of him: but that other
at alle tymes defendethe him wel azenst him.
Aftre that yle, in goynge be see, men fynden another yle, gode and gret,
that men clepen Pathen, that is a gret kyngdom, fulle of faire cytees and
fulle of townes. In that lond growen trees, that beren mele, wherof men
maken gode bred and white, and of gode savour; and it semethe as it were of
whete, but it is not allynges of suche savour. And there ben other trees,
that beren hony, gode and swete: and other trees, that beren venym; azenst
the whiche there is no medicyne but on; and that is to taken here propre
leves, and stampe hem and tempere hem with watre, and then drynke it: and
elle he schalle dye; for triacle will not avaylle, ne non other medicyne.
Of this venym, the Jewes had let seche of on of here frendes, for to
empoysone alle Cristiantee, as I have herd hem seye in here confessioun,
before here dyenge. But thanked be alle myghty God, thei fayleden of hire
purpos: but alle weys thei maken gret mortalitee of people. And other trees
there ben also, that beren wyn of noble sentement. And zif zou like to here
how the mele comethe out of the trees, I shalle seye zou. Men hewen the
trees with an hatchet, alle aboute the fote of the tree, tille that the
bark be parted in many parties; and than comethe out ther of a thikke
lykour, the whiche thei resceyven in vesselles, and dryen it at the hete of
the sonne; and than thei han it to a mylle to grynde; and it becomethe
faire mele and white. And the hony and the wyn and the venym ben drawen out
of other trees, in the same manere, and put in veselles for to kepe. In
that yle is a ded see, that is a lake, that hathe no ground. And zif ony
thing falle in to that lake, it schalle nevere comen up azen. In that lake
growen redes, that ben cannes, that thei clepen thaby, that ben 30 fadme
long. And of theise canes men maken faire houses. And ther ben other canes,
that ben not so longe, that growen neer the lond, and han so longe rotes,
that duren wel a 4 quartres of a furlong or more; and at the knottes of tho
rotes, men fynden precious stones, that han gret vertues: and he that
berethe ony of hem upon him, yren ne steel ne may not hurt him, ne drawe no
blood upon him: and therfore thei that han tho stones upon hem, fighten
fulle hardyly, bothe on see and lond: for men may not harmen hem on no
partye. And therfore thei that knowen the manere, and schulle fighten with
hem, thei schoten to hem arwes and quarrelles with outen yren or steel; and
so thei hurten hem and sleen hem. And also of tho cannes, thei maken houses
and schippes and other thinges; as wee han here, makynge houses and
schippes of oke or of ony other trees. And deme no man, that I seye it, but
for a truffulle: for I have seen of the cannes with myn owne eyzen fulle
many tymes lyggynge upon the ryvere of that lake: of the whiche, 20 of oure
felowes ne myghten not liften up ne beren on to the erthe.
Aftre this yle, men gon be see to another yle, that is clept Calonak: and
it is a fair lond and a plentifous of godes. And the kyng of that contrey
hath als many wyfes as he wole; for he makethe serche alle the contree, to
geten him the fairest maydens that may ben founde, and makethe hem to ben
broughte before him; and he takethe on o nyght, and another another nyght,
and so forthe contynuelle sewyng; so that he hath a 1000 wyfes or mo. And
he liggethe never but o nyght with on of hem, and another nyght with
another, but zif that on happene to ben more lusty to his plesance than
another. And therfore the kyng getethe fully many children; sum tyme an
100, sum tyme an 200, and sum tyme mo. And he hathe also into a 14000
olifauntz or mo, that he makethe for to ben brought up amonges his
vileynes, be alle his townes. For in cas that he had ony werre azenst any
other kyng aboute him, thanne he makethe certeyn men of armes for to gon up
in to the castelles of tree, made for the werre, that craftily ben sett up
on the olifantes bakkes, for to fyghten azen hire enemyes: and so don other
kynges there aboute. For the maner of werre is not there, as it is here or
in other contrees; ne the ordinance of werre nouther. And men clepen the
olifantes, warkes.
And in that yle there is a gret marvayle, more to speke of than in ony
other partie of the world. For alle manere of fissches, that ben there in
the see abouten hem, comen ones in the zeer, eche manere of dyverse
fissches, on maner of kynde aftre other; and thei casten hem self to the
see banke of that yle, so gret plentee and multitude, that no man may
unnethe see but fissche; and there thei abyden 3 dayes: and every man of
the contree takethe of hem, als many as him lykethe: And aftre, that maner
of fissche, after the thridde day, departethe and gothe into the see. And
aftre hem, comen another multitude of fyssche of another kynde, and don in
the same maner as the firste diden other 3 dayes. And aftre hem, another;
tille alle the dyverse maner of fissches han ben there, and that men han
taken of hem, that hem lykethe. And no man knowethe the cause wherfore it
may ben. But thei of the contree seyn, that it is for to do reverence to
here kyng, that is the most worthi kyng, that is in the world, as thei
seyn; because that he fulfillethe the comandement, that God bad to Adam and
Eve, whan God seyde, _Crescite et multplicamini et replete terram_. And for
because that he multipliethe so the world with children, therfore God
sendethe him so the fissches of dyverse kyndes, of alle that ben in the
see, to taken at his wille, for him and alle his peple. And therfore alle
the fissches of the see comen, to maken him homage, as the most noble and
excellent kyng of the world, and that is best beloved with God, als thei
seyn. I knowe not the resoun, whi it is; but God knowethe. But this, me
semethe, is the moste marveylle, that evere I saughe. For this mervaylle is
azenst kynde, and not with kynde, that the fissches, that han fredom to
enviroun alle the costes of the see, at here owne list, comen of hire owne
wille to profren hem to the dethe, with outen constreynynge of man: and
therfore I am syker, that this may not ben, with outen a gret tokene.
There ben also in that contree a kynde of snayles, that ben so grete, that
many persones may loggen hem in here schelles, as men wolde done in a
litylle hous. And other snayles there ben, that ben fulle grete, but not so
huge as the other. And of theise snayles, and of gret white wormes, that
han blake hedes, that ben als grete as a mannes thighe, and somme lesse, as
grete wormes that men fynden there in wodes, men maken vyaunde rialle, for
the kyng and for other grete lordes. And zif a man, that is maryed, dye in
that contree, men buryen his wif with him all quyk. For men seyn there,
that it is resoun, that sche make him companye in that other world, as sche
did in this.
CAPVT. 30.
De Regnis Cynocephalorum, et alijs Insulis.
Per mare oceanum potest hinc veniri in Insulam Kaffa: [Marginal note: Vel
Caffeles.] quicunque ibi infirmari videtur ad mortem, suspenditur ad
arborem, antequam moriatur, vt non ab immundis terræ vermibus, sed a coeli
auibus, quas reputant Dei Angelos, comedatur.
In alia insula faciunt suos infirmos ante mortem ab eductis in hoc magnis
canibus strangulari, manducantes in conuiuio carnes pro optimo ferculo
venationis.
Interpositis quoque multis Insulis, de quibus subticeo gratia breuitatis,
habetur Insula Mylke, [Marginal note: Vel Mekke.] et hij videntur omnium
hominum crudelissimi; Nam quilibet particularitèr pro leui et modica
stimulatione, vulnerat, sauciat, et occidit, proximum, vicinum et amicum:
Et si quando dissidentes contigerit concordari, non habebitur pax rata,
nisi quisque de alterius sanguine biberit bonum haustum.
Hinc nauigando per multas et diuersas Insulas, qui in singulas intrare, et
moram trahere voluerit, stupenda multa videbit, et poterit venire in
Insulam Tracoide. [Marginal Note: Vel Traceda.]
Illic sunt homines àbsque vllo ingenio penitus bestiales, serpentibus,
vermibusque vescentes, nec inuicem loquentes, sed conceptus suos signis et
indicijs ostendentes. Diligunt preciosos lapides tantummodo pulchritudinis
gratia, non causa virtutis: et super omnes vnum diligunt lapidem habentem
60. colorum varietates, qui et Tracoides vocatur propter ipsos.
Intratur hinc per Oceanum in regionem Niconoram, vel Nacumeram, habentem in
circuitu spacium mille leucarum: omnes ibi geniti homines habent capita ad
formam canum, vnde et in Græco Cynocephali dicuntur. Isti etiam incedunt
nudis corporibus, excepto parui panniculi operimento, secretiora loca et
posteriora retro tegente. Rationabiles tamen multum sunt hij, et plurimum
virtuosi, ac de omni forefacto rigidam iustitiam exercentes. Sunt statura
elegantes, robusti corpore, in prælijs lanceam cum tergia lata gerentes,
virilitérque, et prudentèr pugnantes. Omnes pro deo adorant bouem, vnde et
quilibet in fronte argenteam seu auream similitudinem bouis defert, et si
quem viuum in prælio ceperint, sine vlla miseratione manducant.
Rex multum est diues et potens, ac deuotus in superstitione. Nam circa
collum gestat trecentas orientales margaritas, quibus quotidiè antè
commestionem orationes suas colligit, quemadmodum nos colligimus, Pater
noster, etc. Ac præterea portat ad collum [Marginal note: Siue
carbunculum.] rubetum orientalem, nobilem, purum, pulchrum, resplendentem,
et summè preciosum, ad longitudinem pedis humani, quem habet diligentèr
seruare, quod dum eo caret non tenetur pro Rege.
Pro isto carbunculo Grand Can Imperator, per ingenium, per insidias, per
precium, et per prælium sæpè laborauit, sed nihil profecit. Post istam
apparet insula Syllan, habens leucas de circuitu 80. quæ paucos habet
homines propter multitudinem draconum, serpentum, crocodilorum in ea. Sunt
autem crocodili speciales serpentes, coloris virgulati de croceo et nigro,
cum quatuor cruribus, et tibijs et latis pedum vngulis. Aliqui horum habent
longitudinem quínque tensarum, aut citrà, qui dum tendunt per arenosa
relinquunt signum semitæ, acsi sit ibi tractus grandis arboris truncus.
Item in hac insula habetur nons altus, et in sui vertice satis altus et
distentus et magnus aquæ lacus, de quo et stulti homines fabulantur, quòd
primi parentes post eiectionem suam, illam aquam primò lacrymauerunt. In
huius fundo lacus nascuntur margaritæ, et habentur semper lapides preciosi.
Solentque pauperes terræ, accepta à Rege licentia, semel in anno ingredi,
ac piscari gemmas, qui intrantes vngunt se succo Lymonsæ, contra hirudines,
colubros, et serpentes. Sed et de lacu effluit riuulus per montis
descensum, in quo nonnunquam margaritæ inueniuntur, et gemmæ: dicunt etiam
ibi nullum venenatum animal nocere aduenis.
Ibi videntur leones albi in mira magnitudine boum nostrorum, et multæ
diuersæ bestiæ, et aues, bestiolæ, et auiculæ aliarum specierum quàm in
partibus istis. Nam ibi et in nonnullis alijs insulis vidi vnum mirum, de
quo prius vix credidissem narranti, videlicet anates cum duobus capitibus.
Et sciatis quòd tam hic quam alibi mare apparet satis altius suo littore,
imo qui a remotis aspicit videt suspensum quasi ad nubes. Et de hoc
admiratus fuissem, nisi quod scriptum sciui mirabiles elationes maris.
CAPVT. 31.
De multis alijs Insulis Meridionalibus, de quibus et Plinius, et Munsterus.
Versus meridien hinc legendo per mare, inuenitur regio speciosa nomine
Doudin: [Marginal note: Vel Doudeia.] cuius rex imperat seu principatur 54.
regibus in circuitu insularum.