Est autem consuetudo in terra illa, quòd corpora mortua non traduntur
sepulturæ, sed in campis dimittuntur, et ex calore Solis citò resoluuntur,
et sic consumantur: Corpora autem trium fratrum praedictorum per 14. dies
illic in fuerore Solis iacuerunt, et ita recentia et redolentia inuenta
fuerunt sicut illa die quandò martirizati erant: quod videntes Christiani
qui in illa terra habitabant, praedicta corpora ceperunt, et honorificè
sepelierunt. Ego autem Odoricus audiens factum et martyrium illorum
fratrum, iui illuc, et corpora eorum effodi, et ossa omnia mecum accepi, et
in pulchris towallijs colligaui, et in Indiam superiorem ad vnum locum
fratrum nostrorum ea deportaui, habens mecum socium, et vnum famulum. Cum
autem essemus in via, hospitabamus in domo cuiusdam hospitarij, et ipsa
ossa capiti meo supposui, et dormiui: Et dùm dormirem domus illa à
Saracenis subitò accendebatur, vt me cum domo comburerent. Domo autem sic
accensa, socius meus et famulus de domo exierunt, et me solum cum ossibus
dimiserunt, qui videns ignem supra me, ossa accepi et cum illis in angulos
domus recollegi. Tres autem anguli domus statim combusti fuerunt, angulo in
quo steti cum ossibus saluo remanente: Supra me autem ignis se tenuit in
modum aeris lucidi, nec descendit quamdiu ibi persistebam; quàm citò autem
cum ossibus exiui, statim tota pars illa sicut aliæ priores igne consumpta
est, et multa alia loca circumadiacentia combusta sunt. Aliud miraculum
contigit, me cum ossibus per mare proficiente ad ciuitatem Polumbrum vbi
piper nascitur abundantèr, quia nobis ventus totaliter defecit: quapropter
venerunt Idolatræ adorantes Deos suos pro vento prospero, quem tamen non
obtinuerunt: Tunc Saraceni suas inuocationes, et adorationes laboriose
fecerunt, sed nihil profecerunt: Et praeceptum est mihi et socio meo vt
orationes funderemus Deo nostro: Et dixit rector nauis in Armenico mihi,
quod alij non intelligerent: quòd nisi possemus ventum prosperum à Deo
nostro impetrare, nos cum ossibus in mare proijcerent: Tunc ego et socius
fecimus orationes, vouentes multas missas de beata virgine celebrare, sic
quòd ventum placeret sibi nobis impetrare. Cum autem tempus transiret, et
ventus non veniret, accepi vnum de ossibus, et dedi famulo, vt ad caput
nauis iret, et clàm in mare proijceret; quo proiecto statim affuit ventus
prosper qui nunquam nobis defecit, vsquequò peruenimus ad portum, meritis
istorum martyrum cum salute. Deinde ascendimus aliam nauem vt in Indiam
superiorem iremus; Et venimus ad quandam ciuitatem vocatam Carchan in qua
sunt duo loca fratrum nostrorum, et ibi reponere istas reliquias volebamus.
In naui autem illa erant plus 700. mercatores et alij: Nunc illi Idolatræ
istam consuetudinem habebant, quòd semper antequàm ad portum applicuerint,
totam nauem perquirerent, si isti aliqua ossa mortuorum animalium
inuenirent, qui reperta statim in mare proijcerent, et per hoc bonum portum
attingere, et mortis periculum euadere crederent. Cùm autem frequentèr
perquirerent, et illa ossa frequenter tangerent, semper oculi delusi
fuerunt, sic quòd illa non perpenderunt; et sic ad locum fratrum
deportauimus cum omni reuerentia, vbi in pace requiescunt; vbi etiam inter
idolatras Deus continuè miracula operatur. Cum enim aliquo morbo grauantur,
in terra illa vbi fratres passi sunt ipsi vadunt; et de terra vbi corpora
sanguinolenta iacuerunt sumunt quam abluunt, et ablutionem bibunt, et sic
ab infirmitatibus suis liberantur.
Quo modo habetur Piper, et vbi nascitur.
[Sidenote: Malabar.] Vt autem videatur quo modo habetur piper, sciendum
quòd in quodam imperio ad quod applicui, nomine Minibar, nascitur, et in
nulla parte mundi tantum, quantum ibi; Nemus enim in quo nascitur, continet
octodecim dietas, et in ipso nemore sunt duæ ciuitates vna nomine
Flandrini, alia nomine Cyncilim: In Flandrina habitant Iudaei aliqui et
aliqui Christiani, inter quos est bellum frequenter, sed Christiani vincunt
Iudaeos semper: In isto nemore habetur piper per istum modum. Nam primò
nascitur in folijs olerum, quæ iuxta magnas arbores plantantur, sicut nos
ponimus vites; et producunt fructum, sicut racemi nostri producunt vuas;
sed quandò maturescunt sunt viridis coloris, et sic vindemiantur vt inter
nos vindemiantut vuæ, et ponuntur grana ad solem vt desiccentur: quæ
desiccata reponuntur in vasis terreis, et sic fit piper, et custoditur. In
isto autem nemore sunt flumina multa in quibus sunt Crocodili multi, et
multi alij serpentes sunt in illo nemore, quos homines per stupam et paleas
comburunt, et sic ad colligendum piper securé accedunt. [Sidenote:
Polumbrum ciuitas. Adoratio bouis.] A capite illius nemoris versus meridiem
est ciuitas Polumbrum in qua maxima mercimonia cuiuscunque generis
reperiuntur Omnes autem de terra illa bouem viuum sicut Deum suum adorant,
quem 6. annis faciunt laborare, et in septimo faciunt ipsum quiescere ab
omni opere; ponentes ipsum in loco solemni, et communi, et dicentes ipsum
esse animal sanctum. Hunc autem ritum obseruant: quolibet mane accipiunt
duas pelues de auro, vel de argento, et vnam submittunt vrinæ bouis, et
aliam stercori, de vrina lauant sibi faciem et oculos, et omnes 5. sensus:
de stercore verò ponunt in vtròque oculo, posteà liniunt summitates
genarum, et tertiò pectus, et ex tunc dicunt se sanctificatos pro toto die
illo: et sicut facit populus, ita etiam facit rex et regina. Isti etiam
aliud idolum mortuum adorant, quod in medietate vna superior est homo, et
in alia est bos, et iliud idolum dat eis responsa, et aliquotièns pro
stipendio petit sanguinem, 40. virginum: et ideo homines illius regionis
ita vouent filias suas et filios, sicut Christiani aliqui alicui religioni,
vel sancto in coelis. Et per istum modum immolant filios et filias, et
multi homines per istum ritum moriuntur ante idolum illud, et multa alia
abominabilia facit populus iste bestialis, et multa mirabilia vidi inter
eos quæ nolui hic inserere. [Sidenote: Combustio mortuorum.] Aliam
consuetudinem vilissimam habet gens illa: Nam quamdo homo moritur,
comburunt ipsum mortuum, et si vxorem habet, ipsam comburunt viuam, quia
dicunt quod ipsa ibit in aratura, et cultura cum viro suo in alio mundo: si
autem vxor illa habeat liberos ex viro suo, potest manere cum eis si velit
sine verecundia et improperio, communiter tamen omnes praeeligunt comburi
cum marito; si autem vxor praemoriatur viro, lex illa non obligat virum,
sed potest aliam vxorem ducere. Aliam consuetudinem habet gens illa, quòd
foeminæ ibi bibunt vinum, et homines non: foeminæ etiam faciunt sibi radi
cilia, et supercilia, et barbam, et homines non: et sic de multis alijs
vilibus contra naturam sexus eorum. [Sidenote: Mobar regnum vel Maliapor.]
Ab isto regno iui decem dietas ad iliud regnum dictum Mobar, quod habet in
se multas ciuitates, et in illo requiescit in vna ecclesia corpus beati
Thomæ Apostoli, et est ecclesia illa plena idolis, et in circuitu ecclesiæ
simul Cononici viuunt in 15 domibus Nestoriani, id est, mali Christiani, et
schismatici.
De quodam idolo mirabili, et de quibusdam ritibus eorum.
In hoc regno est vnum Idolum mirabile, quod omnes Indi reuerentur: et est
statura hominis ita magni, sicut noster Christophorus depictus, et est
totum de auro purissimo et splendidissimo, et circa collum habet vnam
chordulam sericam cum lapidibus pretiosissimis, quorum aliquis valet plus
quàm vnum regnum: Domus idoli est tota de auro, scilicet in tecto, et
pauimento, et superficie parietum interius et exterius. Ad illud idolum
peregrinantur Indi, sicut nos ad S. Petrum: Alij veniunt cum chorda ad
collum, alij cum manibus retro ligatis, alij cum cultello in brachio vel
tibia defixo, et si post peregrinationem fiat brachium marcidum, illum
reputant sanctum, et benè cum Deo suo. Iuxta ecclesiam illius idoli est
lacus vnus manufactus, et manifestus, in quem peregrini proijciunt aurum et
argentum, et lapides pretiosos in honorem Idoli, et ad ædificationem
ecclesiæ suæ, et ideo quando aliquid debet ornari, vel reparari, vadunt
homines ad hunc lacum, et proiecta extrahunt: die autem annua
constructionis illius idoli, rex et regina, cum toto populo et omnibus
peregrinis accedunt, et ponunt illud idolum in vno curru pretiosissimo
ipsum de ecclesia educentes cum Canticis, et omni genere musicorum, et
multae virgines antecedunt ipsum binæ et binæ, processionaliter combinatæ
modulantes: [Sidenote: Crudelissima Satanæ tyrannis, et carnificina.]
Peregrini etiam multi ponunt se sub curru, vt transeat Deus supra eos; et
omnes super quos currus transit, comminuit, et per medium scindit, et
interficit, et per hoc reputant se mori pro deo suo, sanctè et securè: et
in omni anno hoc modo moriuntur in via sub idolo plusquam 500. homines,
quorum corpora comburuntur, et cineres sicut reliquiæ custodiuntur, quia
sic pro Deo suo moriuntur. Alium ritum habent, quando aliquis homo offert
se mori pro deo suo, conueniunt omnes amici eius et parentes cum
histrionibus multis, facientes sibi festum magnum, et post festum appendunt
collo eius 5 cultellos acutissimos ducentes eum ante idolum, quo cum
peruenerit, sumit vnum ex cultellis, et clamat alta voce, pro deo meo
incido mihi de carne mea, et frustum incisum proijcit in faciem idoli:
vltima vero incisione per quam seipsum interficit, dicit, me mori pro deo
meo permitto, quo mortuo corpus eius comburitur, et sanctum fore ab omnibus
creditur. Rex illius regionis est ditissimus in auro et argento, et gemmis
pretiosis; ibi etiam sunt margaritæ pulchriores de mundo. Indè transiens
iui per mare oceanum versus meridiem per 50 dietas ad unam terram vocatam
Lammori, in qua ex immensitate caloris, tam viri quam foeminæ omnes
incedunt nudi in toto corpore: Qui videntes me vestitum, deridebant me,
dicentes Deum, Adam et Euam fecisse nudos. In illa regione omnes mulieres
sunt communes, ita quod nullus potest dicere, haec est vxor mea, et cùm
mulier aliqua parit filium vel filiam dat cui vult de hijs qui
concubuerunt: Tota etiam terra illius regionis habetur in communi, ita quod
non meum et tuum in diuisione terrarum, domos tamen habent speciales:
Carnes humanæ quando homo est pinguis ita benè comeduntur, sicut inter nos
bouinæ: et licet gens sit pestifera, tamen terra optima est, et abundat in
omnibus bonis, carnibus, bladis, riso, auro, argento, et lignis Aloe,
canfari, et multis alijs. Mercatores autem cum accedunt ad hanc regionem
ducunt secum homines pingues vendentes illos genti illius regionis, sicut
nos vendimus porcos, qui statim occidunt eos et comedunt. [Sidenote:
Simoltra vel Samotra.] In hac insula versus meridiem est aliud regnum
vocatum Symolcra, in quo tam viri quam mulieres signant se ferro calido in
facie, in 12. partibus, Et hij semper bellant cum hominibus nudis in alia
regione. Vltra transiú ad aliam insulam quæ vocatur Iaua cuius ambitus per
mare est trium millium milliarium, et rex illius insulæ habet sub se 7.
reges coronatos, et haec insula optimè inhabitatur, et melior secunda de
mundo reputatur. In ea nascuntur in copia garyophylli, cubibez, et nuces
muscatæ: et breuiter omnes species ibi sunt, et maxima abundantia omnium
victualium praeterquam vini. Rex illius terræ habet palatium nobilissimum
inter omnia quæ vidi altissime stat, et gradus et scalas habet altissimos,
quorum semper vnus gradus est aureus, alius argenteus: Pauimentum vero vnum
laterem habet de auro, alium de argento. Parietes vero omnes interius sunt
laminati laminis aureis, in quibus sculpti sunt Equites de auro habentes
circa caput circulum aureum plenum lapidibus pretiosis: Tectum est de auro
puro. Cum isto rege ille magnus Canis de Katay frequenter fuit in bello:
Quem tamen semper ille Rex vicit et superauit.
De arboribus dantibus farinam, et mel, et venenum.
Iuxta istam Insulam est alia contrata vocata Panten, vel alio nomine
Tathalamasim, [Marginal note: Vel Malasmi.] et Rex illius contratæ multas
insulas habet sub se. In illa terra sunt arbores dantes farinam, et mel, et
vinum, et etiam venenum periculosius quod sit in mundo, quia contra illud
non est remedium, nisi vnum solum, et est illud. Si aliquis illud venenum
sumpsisset, si velit liberari, sumat stercus hominis et cum aqua temperet,
et in bona quantitate bíbat, et statim fugat venenum faciens exire per
inferiores partes. Farinam autem faciunt arbores hoc modo, sunt magnæ et
bassæ, et quandò inciduntur cum securi propè terram, exit de stipite liquor
quidam secut gummæ, quem accipiunt homines et ponunt in sacculis de folijs
factis, et per quindecim dies in sole dimittunt, et in fine decimi quinti
diei ex isto liquore desiccato fit farina, quam primò ponunt in aqua maris,
posteà lauant eam cum aqua dulci, et fit pasta valdè bona et odorifera, de
qua faciunt cibos vel panes sicut placet eis. De quibus panibus ego comedi,
et est panis exterius pulcher, sed interius aliquantulum niger. [Sidenote:
Mare quod semper currit versus meridiem.] In hac contrata est mare mortuum
quod semper currit versus meridiem, in quod si homo ceciderit, nunquam
posteà comparet. In contrata illa inueniuntur Cannæ longissimæ plures
passus habentes quàm 60 et sunt magnæ vt arbores. Aliæ etiam Cannæ sunt ibi
quæ vocantur Cassan quæ per terram diriguntur vt gramen, et in quolibet
nodo earum ramuli producuntur qui etiam prolongantur super terram per vnum
miliare ferè: in hijs Cannis reperiuntur lapides, quorum si quis vnum super
se portauerit, hon poterit incidi aliquo ferro, et ideò, communiter homines
illius contratæ portant illos lapides super: Multi etiam faciunt pueros
suos dum sunt parui incidi in vno brachio, et in vulnere ponunt vnum de
illis lapidibus, et faciunt vulnus recludere se per vnum puluerem de quodam
pisce, cuius nomen ignoro, qui puluis statim vulnus consolidat et sanat: et
virtute illorum lapidum communitèr isti homines triumphant in bellis, et in
mari, nec possent isti homines laedi per aliqua arma ferra: Vnum tamen
remedium est, quod aduersarij illius gentis scientes virtutem lapidum,
prouident sibi propugnacula ferrea contra spicula illorum, et arma venenata
de veneno arborum, et in manu portant palos ligneos accutissimos et ita
duros in extremitate sicut esset ferrum: Similitér sagittant cum sagittis
sino ferro, et sic confundunt aliquos et perforant inermes ex lapidum
securitate. [Sidenote: Vela ex arundinibus facta.] De istis etiam Cannis
Cassan faciunt sibi vela pro suis nauibus et domunculas paruas, et multa
sibi necessaria. [Sidenote: Campa.] Inde recessi per multas dietas ad aliud
regnum vocatum Campa, pulcherrimum, et opulentissimum in omnibus
victualibus. Cuius rex quamdo fui ibi tot habuit vxores, et alias mulieres,
quod de illis 300. filios et filias habuit. Iste rex habet decies millesies
et quatuor elephantum domesticorum, quos ita facit custodiri sicut inter
nos custodiunt boues, vel greges in pascuis.
De multitudine Piscium, qui se proijciunt in aridam.
In hac contrata vnum mirabile valde reperitur, quod vnaquaeque generatio
piscium in mari ad istam contratam venit in tanta quantitate, quod per
magnum spatium maris nil videtur nisi dorsa piscium, et super aridam se
proijciunt quando prope ripam sunt, et permittunt homines per tres dies
venire, et de illis sumere quantum placuerint, et tunc redeunt ad mare:
Post illam speciem per illum modum venit alia species, et offert se, et sic
de omnibus speciebus, semel tamen tantum hoc faciunt in anno. Et quaesiui à
gente illa quomodo et qualiter hoc possit fieri? responderunt quod hoc modo
pisces per naturam docentur venire, et imperatorem suum reuereri.
[Sidenote: Testitudines magnæ.] Ibi etiam sunt testudines ita magnæ sicut
est vnus furnus, et multa alia vidi quæ incredibilia forent, nisi homo illa
vidisset. In illa etiam contrata homo mortuus conburitur, et vxor viua cum
eo, sicut superius de alia contrata dictum est, quia dicunt homines illi
quod illa vadit ad alium mundum ad morandum cum eo, ne ibi aliam vxorem
accipiat. [Sidenote: Moumoran.] Vltra transiui per mare Oceanum versus
meridiem, et transiui per multas contratas et insulas, quarum vna vocatur
Moumoran, et habet in circuitu 2000. milliaria, in qua homines portant
facies caninas et mulieres similitèr, et vnum bouem adorant pro Deo suo, et
ideo quilibet vnum bouem aureum vel argenteum in fronte portat: Homines
illius contratæ et mulieres vadunt totaliter nudi, nisi quod vnum pannum
lineum portant ante verenda sua. Homines illius regionis sunt maximi et
fortissimi, et quia vadunt nudi, quando debent bellare, portant vnum scutum
de ferro, quod cooperit eos à capite vsque ad pedes, et si contingat eos
aliquem de aduersarijs capere in bello qui pecunia non possit redimi,
statim comedunt eum; si autem possit se redimere pecunia, illum abire
permittunt: Rex eorum portat 300. margaritas ad collum suum maximas et
pulcherrimas, et 300. orationes omni die dicit Deo suo: Hic etiam portat in
digito suo vnum lapidem longitudinis vnius spansæ, et dum habet illum
videtur ab alijs quasi vna flamma ignis, et ideò nullus audet sibi
appropinquare, et dicitur quòd non est lapis in mundo pretiosior illo.
Magnus autem imperator Tartarorum de Katai, nunquam vi, nec pecunia, nec
ingenio illum obtinere potuit, cùm tamen circa hoc laborauerit.
De Insula Ceilan, et de monte vbi Adam planxit Abel filium suum.
[Sidenote: Ceilan insula.] Transiui per aliam insulam vocatam Ceilan, quæ
habet in ambitu plusquam duo millia milliaria, in qua sunt serpentes quasi
infiniti, et maxima multitudo leonum, vrsarum, et omnium animalium
rapacium, et siluestrium, et potissimè elephantum. In illa contrata est
mons maximus, in quo dicunt gentes illius regionis quod Adam planxit Abel
filium suum 500. annis. In medio illius montis est planicies pulcherrima,
in qua est lacus paruus multum habens de aqua, et homines illi dicunt aquam
illam fuisse de lachrymis Adæ et Euæ, sed probaui hoc falsum esse, quia
vidi aquam in lacu scaturire: haec aqua plena est hirudinibus et
sanguisugis, et lapidibus pretiosis; istos lapides rex non accepit sibi,
sed semel vel bis in anno permittit pauperes sub aqua ire pro lapidibus, et
omnes quot possunt colligere illis concedit, vt orent pro anima sua. Vt
autem possint sub aqua ire accipiunt lymones, et cum illis vngunt se valdè
benè, et sic nudos se in aquam submergunt, et sanguisugæ illis nocere non
possunt. Ab isto lacu aqua exit et currit vsque ad mare, et in transitu
quando retrahit se, fodiuntur Rubiæ, et adamantes, et margaritæ, et aliæ
gemmæ pretiosæ: vndè opinio est quod rex ille magis abundat lapidibus
pretiosis, quàm aliquis in mundo. In contrata illa sunt quasi omnia genera
animalium et auium; et dixerunt mihi gentes illæ quod animalia illa nullum
forensem inuadunt, nec offendunt, sed tantum homines illius regionis. Vidi
in illa insula aues ita magnas sicut sunt hic anseres, habentes duo capita,
et alia mirabilia quæ non scribo. [Sidenote: Bodin Insula.] Vltra versus
meridiem transiui, et applicui, ad insulam quandam quæ vocatur Bodin, quod
idem est quod immundum in lingua nostra. In ea morantur pessimi homines,
qui comedunt carnes crudas, et omnem immunditiam faciunt quæ quasi
excogitari non poterit; nam pater comedit filium et filius patrem, et
maritus vxorem, et è contrario, et hoc per hunc modum: si pater alicuius
infirmetur, filius vadet ad Astrologum sacerdotem, scz. rogans eum quod
consulat Deum suum, si pater de tali infirmitate euadet, vel non. Tunc ambo
vadunt ad idolum aureum, vel argenteum, facientes orationes in hac forma.
Domine, tu es Deus noster, te adoramus, et rogamus vt nobis respondeas,
debetnè talis à tali infirmitate mori vel liberari? Tunc Daemon respondet,
et si dicat, viuet, filius vadit et ministrat illi vsque ad plenam
conualescentiam: Si autem dicat, morietur, Sacerdos ibit ad eum, et vnum
pannum super os eius ponet, et suffocabit eum, et ipsum mortuum incidet in
frusta, et inuitabuntur omnes amici, et parentes eius ad comedendum eum cum
canticis, et omni laetitia, ossa tamen eius honorificè sepelient. Cum autem
ego eos de tali ritu reprehendi, quaerens causam: Respondit vnus mihi, hoc
facimus ne vermes carnes eius comedant, tunc eius anima magnam poenam
sustinerit, nec poteram euellere eos ab isto errore: et multæ aliæ
nouitates sunt ibi, quas non crederent, nisi qui viderent. Ego autem coram
Deo nihil hic refero, nisi illud de quo certus sum sicut homo certificari
poterit. De ista insula inquisiui à multis expertis, qui omnes vno ore
responderunt mihi, dicentes, quod ista India 4400. insulas continet sub se,
siue in se, in qua etiam sunt 64. reges coronati, et etiam dicunt quod
maior pars illius insulæ benè inhabitatur. Et hic istius Indiæ facio finem.
De india superiori, et de Prouincia Manci.
In primis refero, quòd cum transirem per mare Oceanum per multas dietas
versus Orientem, perueni ad illam magnam prouinciam Manci, quæ India
vocatur à Latinis. De ista India superiori inquisiui à Christianis,
Saracenis, idolatris, et omnibus, qui officiales sunt domini Canis magni,
qui omnes vno ore responderunt, quod hæ prouincia Manci habet plusquam
2000, magnarum ciuitatum, et in ipsa est maxima copia omnium victualium,
puta, panis, vini, risi, carnium, piscium, &c. Omnes homines istius
prouinciæ sunt artifices et mercatores, qui pro quacunque penuria, dummodo
proprijs manibus iuuare se possent per labores, nunquam ab aliquo
eleemosynam peterent. Viri istius prouinciæ sunt satis formosi, sed
pallidi, et rasas et paruas barbas habentes; foeminæ vero sunt pulcherrimæ
inter omnes do mundo. Prima ciuitas ad quam veni de ista India vocatur
Ceuskalon, [Marginal note: Vel Ceuscala.] et distat à mari per vnam dietam,
positaque est super flumen, cuius aqua propè mare cui contignatur, ascendit
super terram per 12. dietas. Totus populus illius Indiæ idolatrat. Ista
autem ciuitas tantum nauigium habet, quod incredibile foret nisi videnti.
[Sidenote: Hi sunt alcatrarsi vel onocratoli.] In hac ciuitate vidi quod
300. libræ de bono et recenti zinzibero habentur pro minori quam pro vno
grosso: Ibi sunt anseres grossiores et pulchriores, et maius forum de
illis, quam sit in mundo, vt credo, et sunt albissimi sicut lac, et habent
vnum os super caput quantitatis oui, et habet colorem sanguineum, sub gula
habent vnam pellem pendentem semipedalem: Pinguissimi sunt, et optimi fori:
et ita est de anatibus, et gallinis, quæ magnæ sunt valdé in illa terra
plusquam duæ de nostris. Ibi sunt serpentes maximi, et capiuntur et a gente
illa comeduntur: vnde qui faceret festum solemne, et non daret serpentes,
nihil reputaret se facere; breuiter in hac ciuitate sunt omnia victualia in
maxima abundantia. Indè transiui per ciuitates multas, et veni ad ciuitatem
nomine Kaitan, [Marginal note: Vel Zaiton.] in qua fratres Minores habent
duo loca, ad quæ portaui de ossibus fratrum nostrorum pro fidi Christi
interfectorum, de quibus supra. In hac est copia omnium victualium pro
leuissimo foro, haec ciuitas ita magna est, sicut bis Bononia, et in ea
multa monasteria religiosorum, qui omnes idolis seruiunt. In vno autem
istorum monasteriorum ego fui, et dictum est mihi quòd inerant 3000.
religiosorum habentium 11000. idoloram, et vnum illorum, quod quasi paruum
inter caetera mihi videbatur, est ita magnum sicut Christophorus noster.
Isti religiosi omni die pascunt Deos suos, vnde semel iui ad videntum
comestionem illam, et vidi quòd illa quæ detulerunt sibi comestibilia sunt,
et calidissima, et multum fumigantia, ita quòd fumus ascendit ad idola, et
dixerunt Deos illo fumo recreari. Totum autem cibum illi reportauerunt et
comederunt, et sic de fumo tantum Deos suos pauerunt.
De Ciuitate Fuko.
Vltra versus Orientem veni ad ciuitatem quæ vocatur Fuko, [Marginal note:
Vel Foqaien.] cuius circuitus continet 30. milliaria, in qua sunt Galli
maximi et pulcherrimi, et gallinæ ita albæ sicut nix, lanam solum pro
pennis habentes sicut pecudes. Haec ciuitas pulcherrima est, et sita supra
mare. Vltra iui per 18. dietas, et pertransij multas terras et ciuitates,
et in transitu veni ad quendam montem magnum, et vidi quod in vno latere
montis omnia animalia erant nigra vt carbo, et homines et mulieres diuersum
modum viuendi habent: ab alio autem latere omnia animalia erant alba sicut
nix, et homines totaliter diuersè ab alijs vixerunt. Ibi omnes foeminæ quæ
sunt desponsatæ portant in signum quod habent maritos vnum magnum barile de
cornu in capita. [Sidenote: Magnum flumen.] Inde transiui per 18. dietas
alias, et veni ad quoddam magnum flumen, et intraui ciuitatem vnam, quæ
transuersum illius fluminis habet pontem maximum, et hospitabar in domo
vnius hospitarij, qui volens mihi complacere, dixit mihi: si velis videre
piscari, veni mecum; et duxit me super pontem, et vidi in brachijs suis
mergos ligatos super perticas, ad quorum gulam vbi ille ligauit vnum filum,
ne illi capientes pisces, comederent eos: Postea in brachio vno posuit 3.
cistas magnas, et tunc dissoluit mergos de perticis, qui statim in aquam
intrauerunt, et pisces ceperunt, et cistas illas repleuerunt in pania hora,
quibus repletis vir ille dissoluit fila à collis eorum, et ipsi reintrantes
flumen se de piscibus recreauerunt, et recreati ad perticas redierunt, et
se ligari sicut priùs permiserunt: Ego autem de illis piscibus comedi, et
optimi mihi videbantur. [Sidenote: Aliâs Cansai, vel Quinzai.] Inde
transiens per multas dietas veni ad vnam ciuitatem quæ vocatur Kanasia, quæ
sonat in lingua nostro ciuitas coeli: Nunquam ita magnam ciuitatem vidi,
Circuitus enim eus continet 100. millaria, nec in ea vidi spatium quin benè
inhabitaretur; Imo vidi multas domus habentes 10. vel 12. solaria vnum
supra aliud: haec habet suburbia maxima continentia maiorem populum quàm
ipsa ciuitas contineat 12. portas habet principales, et in via de qualibet
illarum portarum ad 8. milliaria sunt ciuitates fortè maiores vt æstimo,
quàm est ciuitas Venetiarum, et Padua. Haec ciuitas sita est in aquis quæ
semper stant, et nec fluunt, nec refluunt, vallum tamen habet propter
ventum sicut ciuitas Venetiarum. In ea sunt plus decem mille et 2. pontium,
quorum multos numeraui et transiui, et in qualibet ponte stant custodes
ciuitatis continuè custodientes ciuitatem pro magno Cane imperatore Catai.
Vnum mandatum dicunt gentes illius ciuitatis a domino se recepisse. Nam
quilibet ignis soluit vnum balis, i. 5. cartas bombicis, qui unum florenum
cum dimidio valent, et 10. vel 12. supellectiles facient vnum ignem, et sic
pro vno igne soluent. Isti ignes sunt benè 85. Thuman, eum alijs 4.
Saracenorum quæ faciunt 89. Thuma vero vnum decem milia ignium facit,
reliqui autem de populo ciuitatis sunt alij Christiani, alij mercatores, et
alij transeuntes per terram, vndè maximè fui miratus quo modo tot corpora
hominum poterant simul habitare: in ea est maxima copia victualium, scz.
panis et vini, et carnium de porco praecipué cum alijs necessarijs.
De monasterio vbi sunt multa animalia diuersa in quodam monte.
In illa ciuitate 4. fratres nostri conuerterant vnum potentem ad fidem
Christi, in cuius hospitio continué habitabam, dum fui ibi, qui semèl dixit
mihi, Ara, i. pater, vis tu venire et videre ciuitatem istam: et dixi quòd
sic, et ascendimus vnam barcham, et iuimus ad vnum monasterium maximum, de
quo vocauit vnum religiosum sibi notum, et dixit sibi de me. Iste Raban
Francus, i. religiosus venit de indé vbi sol occidit, et nunc vadit
Cambaleth, vt deprecetur vitam pro magno Cane, et ideò ostendas sibi
aliquid, quòd si reuertatur ad contratas suas possit referre quod tale quid
nouum vidi in Canasia ciuitate: tunc sumpsit ille religiosus duos mastellos
magnos repletos reliquijs quæ supererant de mensa, et duxit me ad vnam
perclusam paruam, quam aperuit cum claue, et aparuit, viridarium gratiosum
et magnum in quod intrauimus, et in illo viridario stat vnas monticulus
sicut vnum campanile, repletus amoenis herbis et arboribus, et dum staremus
ibi, ipse sumpsit cymbalum, et incoepit percutere ipsum sicut percutitur
quando monachi intrant refectorium, ad cuius sonitum multa animalia diuersa
descenderunt de monte illo, aliqua vt simiæ, aliqua vt Cati, Maymones, et
aliqua faciem hominis habentia, et dum sic starem congregauerunt se circa
ipsum, 4000. de illis animalibus, et se in ordinibus collocauerunt, coram
quibus posuit paropsidem et dabat eis comedere, et cum comedissent iterum
cymbalum percussit, et omnia ad loca propria redierunt. Tunc admiratus
inquisiui quæ essent animalia ista? Et respondit mihi quod sunt animæ
nobilium virorum, quas nos hic pascimus amore Dei, qui regit orbem, et
sicut vnus homo fuit nobilis, ita anima eius post mortem in corpus nobilis
animalis intrat. Animæ verò simplicium et rusticorum, corpora vilium
animalium intrant. Incoepi istam abusionem improbare, sed nihil valuit
sibi, non enim poterat credere, quòd aliqua anima posset sine corpore
manere. [Sidenote: Chilenso.] Indè transiui ad quandam ciuitatem nomine
Chilenso, cuius muri per 40. milliaria circuerunt. In ista ciuitate sunt
360. pontes lapidei pulchriores quàm vnquam viderim, et benè inhabitatur,
et nauigium maxinium habet, et copiam omnium victualium et aliorum bonorum.
[Sidenote: Thalay. Kakam.] Inde iui ad quoddam flumen dictum Thalay, quod
vbi est strictius habet in latitudine 7. milliaria, et illud flumen per
medium terræ Pygmæorum transit, quorum ciuitas vocatur Kakam, quæ de
pulchrioribus ciuitatibus mundi est. Isti Pigmaei habent longitudinem trium
spansarum mearum, et faciunt maiora et meliora goton, et bombicinam quàm
aliqui homines in mundo. Indè per illud flumen transiens, veni ad vnam
ciuitatem Ianzu, in qua est vnus locus fratrum nostrorum, et sunt in ea
tres ecclesiæ Nestorianorum: haec ciuitas nobilis est, et magna, habens in
se 48. Thuman ignium, et in ea omnia victualia, et animalia in magna copia,
de quo Christiani viuunt: Dominus istius ciuitatis solum de sale habet in
redditibus 50. Thuman Balisi, et valet balisus vnum florenum cum dimidio:
Ita quod vnum Thuman facit 15. millia florenorum, vnam tamen gratiam facit
dominus populo, quia dimittit ei, ne sit caristia in eo, 200. Thuman. Habet
haec ciuitas consuetudinem, quod quando vnus vult facere conuiuium amicis
suis, ad hoc sunt hospitia deputata, et vbi ille circuit per hospites,
dicens sibi tales amicos meos habebis, quos festabis nomine meo, et tantum
in festo volo expendere, et per illum modum meliùs conuiuant amici in
pluribus hospitijs quam facerent in vno. [Sidenote: Montu.] Per 10.
milliaria ab ista ciuitate in capite fluminis Thalay est vna ciuitas vocata
Montu, quæ maius nauigium habet, quàm viderim in toto mundo; Et omnes naues
ibi sunt albæ sicùt nix, et in ipsis sunt hospitia, et multa alia quæ
nullus homo crederet nisi viderentur.
De ciuitate Cambaleth.
[Sidenote: Caramoran.] Indè transiui per 8. dietas per multas terras et
ciuitates, et veni tandem per aquam dulcem ad quandam ciuitatem nomine
Leneyn, quæ est posita super flumen vocatum Caramoran, quod per medium
Catai transit, et magnum damnum sibi infert, quando erumpit. Indè transiens
per flumen versus Orientem per multas dietas et ciuitates, veni ad vnam
ciuitatem nomine Sumacoto, quæ maiorem copiam habet de serico, quàm aliqua
ciuitas in mundo: Quando enim est maior caristia Serici, ibi 40. libræ
habentur pro minori quàm pro 8. grossis. In ea est copia omnium
mercimoniorum et omnium victualium, panis, vini, carnium, piscium, et
omnium specierum electarum. [Sidenote: Cambalec.] Inde transiui versus
Orientem per multas ciuitates, et veni ad illam nobilem, et nominatam
Cambaleth quæ est ciuitas multum antiqua, et veni ad Catai, et eam ceperunt
Tartari: Et iuxta eam ad dimidium miliare aliam ciuitatem fecerunt, quæ
vocatur Caido et haec 12. portas habet, et semper inter vnam et aliam sunt
duo miliaria, et medium inter illas ciuitates benè inhabitatur, ita quòd
faciunt quasi vnam ciuitatem; Et ambitus istarum duarum ciuitatum est
plusquàm 40. milliaria. [Sidenote: Mandeuil cap. 33.] In hac ciuitate
magnus imperator Canis habet sedem suam principalem, et suum magnum
palatium, cuius muri bene 4. miliaria continent; et infra illud palatium
sunt multa alia palatia dominorum de familia sua. In palatio etiam illo est
vnus mons pulcherrimus consitus arboribus, propter quod mons viridis
nominatur, et in monte palatium amoenissimum in quo communitèr Canis
residet: A latere autem montis est vnus lacus magnus, supra quem pons
pulcherrimus est factus, et in illo lacu est magna copia anserum et anatum,
et omnium auium aquaticarum; et in silua montis copia omnium auium et
ferarum siluestrium, et ideo quando dominus Canis vult venari non oportet
eum exire palatium suum. Palatium vero principale, in quo sedes sua est,
est magnum valde, et habet interius 14. columnas aureas, et omnes muri eius
cooperti sunt pellibus rubeis quæ dicuntur nobiliores pelles de mundo: Et
in medio palatij est vna pigna altitudinis duorum passuum, quæ tota est de
vno lapide pretioso nomine merdochas; et est tota circumligata auro, et in
quolibet angulo eius est vnum serpens de auro qui verberatos fortissimé:
Habet etiam haec pignaretia de margaritis, et per istam pignam defertur
potus per meatus et conductus qui in curia regis habetur; et iuxta eam
pendent multa vasa aurea cum quibus volentes bibere possunt. In hoc autem
palatio sunt multi pauones de auro; et cùm aliquis Tartarus facit festum
domino suo, tunc quando conuiuantes collidunt manus suas præ gaudio et
læticia, pauones emittunt alas suas, et expandunt caudas, et videntur
tripudiare; Et hoc credo factura arte Magica, vel aliqua cautela
subterranea.
De gloria magni Canis.
Qvando autem magnus ille Imperator Canis in sede sua imperiali residet,
tunc a sinistro latere sedet Regina, et per vnum gradum inferius duo
mulieres quas ipse tenet pro se; quando non potest ad Reginam accedere: In
infimo autem gradu resident omnes dominae de sua parentela. Omnes autem
mulieres nuptæ portant supra caput suum vnum pedem hominis, longitudinis
vnius brachij cum dimidio; et subter illum pedem sunt pennæ gruis, et totus
ille pes ornatur maximis margaritis. A latero verò dextro ipsius Canis
residet filius eius primogenitus, regnaturus post ipsum, et inferius ipso
omnes qui sunt de sanguine regio: Ibi etiam sunt 4. scriptores scribentes
omnia verba quæ dicit rex; Ante cuius conspectum sunt Barones sui, et multi
alij nobiles cum sua gente maxima, quorum nullus audet loqui nisi a domino
licentia petatur exceptis fatuis et histrionibus, qui suum dominum
consolari habent; Illi etiam nihil audent facere, nisi secundum quod
Dominus voluerit eis legem imponere. Ante portam palatij sunt Barones
custodientes, ne aliquis limen portæ tangat. Cùm autem ille Canis voluerit
facere conuiuium, habet secum 14000. Barones portantes circulos, et
coronulas in capite, et domino suo seruientes; Et quilibet portat vnam
vestem de auro et margaritis tot quot valent plus quam decies millies
florenorum. Curia eius optime ordinatur per denarios, centenarios, et
millenarios, et taliter quòd quilibet in suo ordine peragit officium sibi
deputatum, nec aliquis defectus reperitur. Ego frater Odoricus fui ibi per
tres annos, et multotiens in istis festis suis fui, quià nos fratres
minores in sua curia habemus locum nobis deputatum, et oportet nos semper
ire, et dare sibi nostram benedictionem: et inquisiui ab illis de curia, de
numero illorum qui sunt in curia domini, et responderunt mihi quod de
histrionibus sunt bene 18. Thuman; Custodes autem canum et bestiarum, et
auium sunt. 15. Thuman; Medici vero pro corpore Regis sunt 400. Christiani
autem 8. et vnus Saracenus. Et ego quando fui ibi, hij omnes omnia
necessaria tam ad victum, quam ad vestitum habebant de Curia domini Canis.
Quando autem vult equitare de vna terra ad aliam, habet 4. exercitus
equitum, et vnus per vnam dietam ipsum antecedit, secundus aliam, et
tertius similitèr, et quartus; ita quod semper ipse se tenet in medio in
modum crucis; et ita omnes exercitus habent omnes dietas suas ordinatas,
quod inueniunt omnia victualia parata sine defectu. Illémet autem dominus
Canis per illum modum vadit; Sedet in curru cum duabus rotis in quo facta
est pulcherrima sella tota de lignis Aloe, et auro ornata, et margaritis
maximis, et lapidibus pretiosis; et 4. Elephantes bene ordinati ducunt
istum currum, quos praecedunt 4. equi altissimi optime cooperti. Iuxta
currum à lateribus sunt 4. Barones tenentes currum, ne aliquis appropinquet
domino suo. Supra currum sedent duo Gerfalcones albissimi, et dùm videt
aues quos vult capere, dimittit Falcones volare, et capiunt eas; Et sic
habet solatium suum equitando, et per iactum vnius lapidis nullus audet
appropinquare currui nisi populus assignatus: vnde incredibile esset homini
qui non vidisset de numero gentis suæ, et reginæ, et primogeniei sui. Istæ
Dominus Canis imperium suum diuisit in 12. partes, et vna habet sub se 200.
magnarum ciuitatum: vnde ita latum et longum est suum imperium, quod ad
quamcunque partem iret, satis haberes facere in sex mensibus, exceptis
insulis, quæ sunt bene 5000.
De hospitijs paratis per totum imperium pro transeuntibus.
Iste Dominus, vt transeuntes habeant omnia necessaria sua per totum suum
imperium, fecit hospitia praeparari vbique per vias; in quibus sunt omnia
parata quæ ad victualia pertinent: Cum autem aliqua nouitas oritur in
imperio suo, tunc si distat, ambassiatores super equos vel dromedarios
festinant, et cùm lassantur in cursu, pulsant cornu, et proximum hospitium
parat vnum similitèr, equum, qui quando alius venit fessus accipit literam,
et currit ad hospitium, et sic per hospitia, et per diuersos cursores rumor
per 30. dietas, vno die naturali venit ad imperatorem; et ideò nihil
ponderis potest fieri in imperio suo, quin statim scitur ab eo. Cum autem
ipse Canis vult ire venatum; istum modum habet. Extra Cambaleth ad 20.
dietas, est vna foresta quæ 6. dietas continet in ambitu; in qua sunt tot
genera animalium et auium quòd mirabile est dicere: Ad illud nemus vadit in
fine trium annorum vel quatuor cum tota gente, cum qua ipsum circuit, et
canes intrare permittit, qui animalia, scilicet leones, ceruos, et alia
animalia reducunt ad vnam planitiem pulcherrimam in medio nemoris, quia ex
clamoribus canum maximè tremunt omnes bestiæ syluæ. Tunc accedit magnus
Canis super tres elephantes et 5. sagittas mittit in totam multitudinem
animalium, et post ipsum omnes Barones, et post ipsos alij de familia sua
emittunt sagittas suas; et omnes sagittæ sunt signatæ certis signis et
diuersis: Tunc vadit ad animalia interfecta, dimittens viua nemus reintrare
vt aliàs habeat ex eis venationem suam, et quilibet illud animal habebit in
cuius corpere inuenit sagittam suam quam iaciebat.
De quatuor festis quæ tenet in anno Canis in curia.
Quatuor magna festa in anno facit Dominus Canis, scilicet festum
natiuitatis, festum circumcisionis, coronationis, et desponsationis suæ; et
ad ista festa conuocat omnes Barones, et histriones, et omnes de parentela
sua. Tunc domino Cane in suo throno sedente, accedunt Barones cum circulis
et coronis in capite, vestiti vario modo, quia aliqui de viridi, scilicet
primi, secundi de sanguineo, et tertij de croceo, et tenent in manibus vnam
tabulam eburneam de dentibus Elephantum, et cinguntur cingulis aureis vno
semisse latis, et stant pedibus silentium tenentes. Circa illos stant
histriones cum suis instrumentis: In vno autem angulo cuiusdam magni
palatij resident Philosophi omnes ad certas horas, et puncta attendentes:
et cum deuenitur ad punctumn et horam petitam à philosopho, vnus praeco
clamat valentèr. Inclinetis vos omnes imperatori vestro: tunc omnes Barones
cadunt ad terram; et iterum clamat, Surgite omnes, et illi statim surgunt.
Iterum philosophi ad aliud punctum attendunt, et cùm peruentum fuerit,
iterum praeco clamat; ponite digitum in aurem, et statim dicit, extrahite
ipsum; iterùm ad aliud punctum clamat, Buratate farinam: et multa alia
faciunt, quæ omnia dicunt certam signifcationem habere, quæ scriberi nolui,
nec curaui, quia vana sunt et risu digna. Cùm autem peruentum fuerit ad
horam histrionum, time Philosophi dicunt, facite festum domino, et omnes
pulsant instrumenta sua, et faciunt maximum sonitum; et statim alius
clamat; Taceant omnes, et omnes tacent: Tunc accedunt histrionatrices ante
dominum dulcitèr modulantes, quod mihi plus placuit. Tunc veniunt leones,
et faciunt reuerentiam domino Cani; Et tunc histriones faciunt ciphos
aureos plenos vino volare per aerem, et ad ora hominum se applicare vt
bibant. Haec et multa alia mirabilia in curia illius Canis vidi, quæ nullus
crederet nisi videret; et ideò dimitto ea. De alio mirabili audiui à fide
dignis, quòd in vno regno istius Canis in quo sunt montes Kapsei (et
dicitur illud regnum Kalor) nascuntur pepones maximi, qui quando sunt
maturi aperiuntur, et intùs inuenitur vna bestiola similis vni agnello:
sicut audiui quòd in mari Hybernico stant arbores supra ripam maris et
portant fructum sicut essent cucurbitæ, quæ certo tempore cadunt in aquam
et fiunt aues vocatæ Bernakles, et illud est verum.
De diuersis Prouincijs et ciuitatibus.
De isto imperio Katay recessi post tres annos, et transiui 50. dietas
versus Occidentem; et tandem veni ad terram Pretegoani, cuius ciuitas
principalis Kosan vocatur, quæ multas habet sub se ciuitates. [Sidenote:
Casan.] Vltra per multas dietas iui, et perueni ad vnam prouinciam vocatam
Kasan; et haec est secunda melior prouincia mundi, vt dicitur, et est
optimè habitata: Sic quod quando exitur à porta vnius ciuitatis, videntur
portæ alterius ciuitatis, sicut egomet vidi de multis. Latitudo Prouinciæ
est 50. dietarum, et longitudo plusquam 60. In ea est maxima copia omnium
victualium, et maximè castaneorum; et haec est vna de 12. prouincijs magni
Canis. [Sidenote: Tibec regio aliàs Tebet Guillielmo de Rubricis.] Vltra
veni ad vnum regnum vocatum Tibek quod est subiectum Cani, in quo est maior
copia panis et vini, quam sit in toto mundo vt credo. Gens illius terræ
moratur communiter in tenorijs factis ex feltris nigris: Principalis
ciuitas sua murata est pulcherrimè ex lapidibus albissimis, et nigerrimis
interescalariter dispositis et curiosè compositis, et omnes viæ eius optimè
pouatæ. In ista contrata nullus audet effundere sanguinem hominis, nec
alicuius animalis, ob reuerentiam vnius Idoli. In ista ciuitate moratur
Abassi i. Papa eorum, qui est caput et princeps omnium Idolatrarum; quibus
dat et distribuit beneficia secundum morem eorum; sicut noster Papa Romanus
est caput omnium Christianorum. Foeminæ in hoc regno portant plusquam
centum tricas, et habent duos dentes in ore ita longos sicut apri. Quando
etiam pater alicuius moritur, tunc filius conuocat omnes sacerdotes et
histriones, et dicit se velle patrem suum honorare, et facit eum ad campum
duci sequentibus parentibus omnibus, amicis, et vicinis, vbi sacerdotes cum
magna solemnitate amputant caput suum, dantes illud filio suo, et tunc
totum corpus in frusta concidunt, et ibi dimittunt, cum orationibus cum eo
redeuntes; [Sidenote: Eadem historia de eodem populo apud Guilielmum de
Rubricis.] Tunc veniunt vultures, de monte assuefacti ad huiusmodi, et
carnes omnes asportant: Et ex tunc currit fama de eo quòd sanctus est, quia
angeli domini ipsum portant in paradisum: Et iste est maximus honor, quem
reputat filius posse fieri patri suo mortuo: Tunc filius sumit caput
patris, et coquit ipsum, et comedit, de testa eius faciens ciphum in quo
ipse cum omnibus de domo et cognatione eius bibunt cum solemnitate et
laetitia in memoriam patris comesti. Et multa vilia et abominabilia facit
gens illa quæ non scribo, quia non valent, nec homines crederent nisi
viderent.
De diuite qui pascitur à 50. Virginibus.
Dum fui in prouincia Manzi transiui iuxta palatium vnius hominis popularis,
qui habuit 50. domicellas virgines sibi continuè ministrantes, in omnibus
pascentes eum sicut auis auiculas, et habet semper 5. fercula triplicata;
et quando pascunt eum, continuè cantant dulcissimè: Iste habet in
redditibus Tagaris risi 30. Thuman, quorum quodlibet decies millies facit:
vnum autem Tagar pondus est asini. Palatium suum duo millaria tenet in
ambitu; cuius pauimentum semper vnum laterem habet aureum, alium argenteum:
Iuxta ambitum istius palatij est vnus monticulus artificialis de auro et
argento, super quo stant Monasteria, et campanilia, et alia delectabilia
pro solatio illius popularis; Et dictum fuit mihi, quòd quatuor tales
homines sunt in regno illo. [Sidenote: Mulierum parui pedes.] Nobilitas
virorum est longos habere vngues in digitis, praecipue pollicis quibus
circueunt sibi manus: Nobilitas autem et pulchritudo mulierem est pauos
habere pedes: Et ideò matres quando filiæ suæ sunt tenellæ ligant pedes
earum, et non dimittunt crescere. [Sidenote: Milestorite.] Vltra transiens
versus meridiem applicui ad quandam contratam, quæ vocatur Milestorite, quæ
pulchra est valdè et fertilis: Et in ista contrata erat vnus vocatus Senex
de monte, qui inter duos montes fecerat sibi vnum murum circumuentem istos
montes. Infra istum murum erant fontes pulcherrimi de mundo; Et iuxta
fontes erant pulcherrimæ virgines in maximo numero, et equi pulcherrimi, et
omni illud quod ad suauitatem, et delectationem corporis fieri poterit, et
ideo illum locum vocant homines illius contratæ Paradisum. Iste senex cùm
viderit aliquem iuuenem formosum et robustum, posuit eum in illo paradiso;
Per quosdam autem conductus descendere facit vinum et lac abundantèr. Iste
Senex cùm voluerit se vindicare, vel interficere regem aliquem vel Baronem,
dicit illi qui præerat illi paradiso vt aliquem de notis illius regis, vel
Baronis introduceret in paradisum illum, et illum delicijs frui
permitteret, et tunc daret sibi potionem vnam, quæ ipsum sopiebat in
tantum, quòd insensibilem redderet, et ipsum sic dormientem faceret extra
paradisum deportari: qui excitatus et se extra paradisum conspiciens, in
tanta tristitia positus foret, quòd nesciret quid faceret: Tunc ad illum
senem iret, rogans eum, vt interùm in paradisum introduceretur: qui sibi
dicit, tu illic introduci non poteris, nisi talem vel talem interficias; et
siue interfeceris, siue non, reponam te in paradiso, et ibidem poteris
semper manere; Tunc ille sic faceret, et omnes seni odiosos interficeret;
Et ideò omnes reges orientales illum senem timuerunt, et sibi tributum
magnum dederunt.
De morte Senis de monte.
Cum autem Tartari magnam partem mundi cepissent, venerunt ad istum Senem,
et dominium illius Paradisi ab eo abstulerunt, qui multos sicarios de
Paradiso illo emisit, et nobiliores Tartarorum interfici fecit. Tartari
autem hoc videntes ciuitatem, in qua erat senex obsederunt, eum ceperunt,
et pessima morte interfecerunt. Hanc gratiam habent fratres ibidem, quod
citissimè per virtutem nominis Christi Iesu, et in virtute illius sanguinis
pretiosi, quem effudit in cruce pro salute generis humani, daemonia ab
obsessis corporibus expellunt; et quia multi ibidem sum obsessi, ducuntur
per decem dietas ad fratres ligati, qui liberati statim credunt in
Christum, qui liberauit ebs habentes ipsum pro Deo suo, et baptizati sunt,
et idola sua, et pecorum suorum statim dant fratribus, quæ sunt communitèr
de feltro, et de crinibus mulierum et fratres ignem in communi loci faciunt
ad quem populus confluit, vt videat Deos vicinorum suorum comburi et
fratres coram populo Idola in ignem proijciunt; Et prima vice de igne
exierunt; Tunc fratres ignem cum aqua benedicta conspercerunt, et interùm
Idola in ignem proiecerunt, et daemones in effigie fumi nigerrimi fugerunt,
et Idola remanserunt, et combusta sunt. Posteà auditor clamor per aerem
talis, vide, vide, quo modo de habitatione mea expulsus sum. Et per istum
modum fratres maximam multitudinem baptizant, qui citò recidiuant ad idola
pecorum: qui fratres continuò quasi stent cum illis, et illos informent.
Aliud terribile fuit quod ego vidi ibi. Nam cùm irem per vnam vallem quæ
sita est iuxta fluuium deliciarum, multa corpora mortua vidi, et in illa
valle audiui sonos musicos dulces et diuersos, et maximè de cytharis, vndè
multum timui. Haec vallis habet longitudinem septem, vel octo milliarium ad
plus, in quam si quis intrat, moritur, et nunquam viuus potest transire per
medium illius vallis, et ideò omnes de contrata declinant à latere: Et
tentatus eram intrare, et videre, quid hoc esset. Tandem oratis et Deo me
recommendans, et cruce signans, in nomine Iesu intraui, et vidi tot corpora
mortua ibi, quòd nullus crederet nisi videret In hac valle ab vno eius
latere, in vno saxo vnam faciem hominis vidi, quæ ita terribilitèr me
respexit, quòd omnino credidi ibi fuisse mortuus: Sed semper hoc verbum
(verbum caro factum est et habitauit in nobis) protuli, et cruce me
signaui, nec propiùs quàm per 7. passus, vel 8. accedere capiti ausus fui:
Iui autem fugiens ad aliud caput vallis, et super vnum monticulum arenosum
ascendi, in quo vndique circumspiciens nihil vidi nisi cytharas illas, quas
per se (vt mihi videbatur) pulsari et resonare mirabiliter audiui. Cùm vero
fui in cacumine montis, inueni ibi argentum in maxima quantitate, quasi
fuissent squamæ piscium. Congregans autem inde in gremio meo pro mirabili
ostendendo, sed ductus conscientia, in terram proieci, nihil mecum
reseruans, et sic per gratiam Dei liber exiui. Cùm autem homines illius
contratæ sciuerunt me viuum exisse, reuerebantur me multum, dicentes me
baptizatum et sanctum: et corpora illa fuisse daemonum infernalium qui
pulsant cytharas vt homines alliciant intare, et interficiant. Haec de
visis certudinalitér ego frater Odoricus hic inscripsi; et multa mirabilia
omisi ponere, quia homines hon credidissent nisi vidissent.
De honore et reuerentia factis Domino Cani.
Vnum tantùm referam de magno Cane quod vidi. Consuetudo est in partibus
illis quòd quando praedictus dominus per aliquam contratam transit, homines
ante ostia sua accendunt ignem et apponunt aromata, ac faciunt fumum, vt
dominus transiens suauem sentiat adorem, et multi obuiam sibi vadunt. Dum
autem semel veniret in Cambeleth, et fama vndique diuulgaretur de suo
aduentu, vnus noster Episcopus, et aliqui nostri minores fratres et ego
iuimus obuiàm sibi benè per duas dietas: Et dum appropinquaremus ad eum,
posuimus crucem super lignum, et ego habebam mecum in manu thuribulum, et
incepimus cantare alta voce dicentes: Veni creator spiritus: Et dum sic
cantaremus audiuit voces, nostras, fecítque nos vocari, ac iussit nos ad
eum accedere; cùm vt suprà dictum est, nullus audeat appropinquare currui
suo ad iactum lapidis, nisi vocatus, exceptis illis qui currum custodiunt.
Et dum iuissemus ad eum, ipse deposuit galerum suum, sine capellum
inestimabilis quasi valoris, et fecit reuerentiam Cruci; et statim incensum
posui in thuribulo; Episcopus noster accepit thuribulum, et thurificauit
eum; ac sibi praedictus Episcopus dedit benedictionem suam. Accedentes verò
ad praedictum dominum, sempèr sibi aliquid offerendum deferunt; secum illam
antiquam legem obseruantes; Non apparebis in conspectu meo vacuus; Idcirco
portauimus nobiscum poma, et ea sibi super vnum incisorium reuerentèr
obtulimus; et ipse duo accepit, et de vno aliquantulum comedit: Et tunc
fecit nobis signum quod recederemus, ne equi venientes in aliquo nos
offenderent; statimque ab eo discessimus, atque diuertimus, et iuimus ad
aliquos Barones per fratres nostri ordinis ad fidem conuersos, qui in
exercitu eius erant, et eis obtulimus de pomis praedictis, qui cum maximo
gaudio ipsa accipientes ita videbantur laetari, ac si praebuissemus eis
familiaritèr magnum munus. Haec praedicta frater Guilelmus de Solangna in
scriptis redegit, sicùt praedictus frater Odoricus ore tenus exprimebat.
Anno Domini 1330, mense Maij in loco Sancti Antonij de Padua; Nec curauit
de latino difficili, et stilo ornato; Sed sicut ipse narrabat ad hoc vt
homines faciliùs intelligerent quæ dicuntur. Ego frater Odoricus de Foro
Iulij de quadam terra quæ dicitur Portus Vahonis de ordine minorum
testificor, et testimonium perhibeo reuerendo patri Guidoto ministro
prouinciæ Sancti Antonij in Marchia Triuisana, cùm ab eo fuerim per
obedientiam requisitus, quòd haec omnia quæ superiùs scripta sunt, aut
proprijs oculis ego vidi, aut a fide dignis audiui: Communis etiam loquutio
illarum terrarum illa quæ nec vidi testatur esse; Multa etiam alia ego
dimisissem, nisi illa proprijs oculis conspexissem. Ego autem de die in
diem me propono contratas seu terras accedere, in quibus mori, et viuere me
dispono, si placuerit Deo meo.
De morte fratris Odorici.
Anno igitur Domini 1331. disponente se praedicto fratre Odorico ad
perficiendum iter suæ peregrinationis, prout mente conceperat, et etiam vt
via et labor esset sibi magnis ad meritum, decreuit primò praesentiam adire
Domini et patris omnium summi Pontificis Domini Ioannis Papæ 22: cuius
benedictione obedientiaque recepta cum societate fratrum secum ire
volentium ad partes infidelium se transferret: Cùmque sic eundo versus
summum Pontificem, non multum distaret à ciuitate Pisana, in quadam via
occurrit sibi quidam senex in habitu peregrini eum salutans ex nomine, Aue
(inquiens) frater Odorice: Et cùm frater quaereret quo modo ipsius haberet
noticiam? Respondit, Dum eras in India noui te, tuùm qui noui sanctum
propositum; Sed et tu modò ad conuentum vndè venisti reuertere, quia die
sequenti decimo ex hoc mundo migrabis. Verbis igitur senis attonitus et
stupefactus, praesertim cùm Senex ille statim post dictum ab eius aspectu
disparuit; reuerti decreuit; Et reuersus est in bona prosperitate nullam
sentiens grauedinem corporis, seu aliquam infirmitatem; Cùmque esset in
conuentu suo Vtinensi. N. in prouincia Paduana decimo die, prout facti sibi
fuir reuelatio, accepta communione, ipsoque ad Deum disponente, etiam
corpore existens incolumis in Domino foeliciter requieuit: Cuius sacer
obitus Domino summo Pontifici praefato sub manu Notarij publici
transmittitur; qui sic scribet.
Anno Domini 1331. decima quarta die mensis Ianuarij obijt in Christo Beatus
Odoricus ordinis fratrum Minorum, cuius precibus omnipotens Deus multa, et
varia miracula demonstrauit; quæ ego Guetelus notarius communis Vtini,
filius domini Damiani de portu Gruario, de mandato et voluntate nobilis
viri Domini Conradi de Buardigio Castaldionis, et consilij Vtini, scripsi,
sicut potui, bona fide, et fratribus Minoribus exemplum dedi; sed non de
omnibus, quià sunt innumerabilia, et mihi difficilia ad scribendum.
The same in English.
Here beginneth the iournall of Frier Odoricus, one of the order of the
Minorites, concerning strange things which hee sawe among the Tarters of
the East.
Albeit many and sundry things are reported by diuers authors concerning the
fashions and conditions of this world: notwithstanding I frier Odoricus of
Friuli, de portu Vahonis being desirous to trauel vnto the foreign and
remote nations of infidels, sawe and heard great and miraculous things,
which I am able truely to auoch. [Sidenote: Pera. Trapesunda.] First of al
therefore sayling from Pera by Constantinople, I arrived at Trapesunda.
This place is right commodiously situate, as being an hauen for the
Persians and Medes, and other countreis beyonde the sea. In this lande I
behelde with great delight a very strange spectacle, namely a certaine man
leading about with him more then foure thousande partriges. The man
himselfe walked vpon the ground, and the partriges flew in the aire, which
he ledde vnto a certaine castle called Zauena, being three dayes iourney
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 vnto Trapesunda, and vnto the palace
of the Emperour, who tooke as many of them as he pleased, and the rest the
saide man carried vnto the place from whence he came. In this citie lyeth
the body of Athanasius, vpon the gate of the citie. [Sidenote: The citie of
Azaron in Armenia maior.] And then I passed on further vnto Armenia maior,
to a certaine citie called Azaron, which had bene very rich in olde time,
but nowe the Tarters haue almost layde it waste. In the saide citie there
was abundance of bread and flesh, and of all other victuals except wine and
fruites. 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 said waters seeme to spring
and flow from the mighty riuer of Euphrates, which is but a dayes iourney
from the saide city. Also, the said citie stands directly in the way to
Tauris. [Sidenote: Sobissacalo.] And I passed on vnto a certaine mountaine
called Sobissacalo. In the foresaide countrey there is the very same
mountalne whereupon the Arke of Noah rested: vnto 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 said
mountaine, because (say they) it pleaseth not the highest God. [Sidenote:
Tauris a citie of Persia.] And I trauailed on further vnto Tauris that
great and royal city, which was in old time called Susis. This city is
accompted for traffique of marchandize the chiefe city of the world: for
there is no kinde of victuals, nor anything else belonging vnto
marchandize, which is not to be had there in great abundance. This city
stands very commodiously: for vnto 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
receiues more tribute out of it, then the King of France out of all his
dominions. Neare vnto the said city there is a salt-hill yeelding salt vnto
the city: and of that salt ech man may take what pleaseth him, not paying
ought to any man therefore. In this city many Christians of all nations do
inhabite, ouer whom the Saracens beare rule in alle things. Then I
traueiled on further vnto a city called Soldania, [Marginal note: Or,
Sultania.] wherein the Persian Emperour lieth all Sommer time: but in
winter hee takes his progresse vnto another city standing upon the sea
called Baku. [Marginal note: The Caspian sea.] Also the foresaid city is
very great and colde, hauing good and holesome waters therein, vnto the
which also store of marchandize is brought. Moreouer I trauelled with a
certaine company of Carauans toward vpper India: and in the way, after many
days iourney, I came vnto the citie of the three wise men called Cassan
[Marginal Note: Or Cassibin.], which is a noble and renowmed city, sauing
that the Tartars haue destroyed a great part thereof, and it aboundeth with
bread, wine, and many other commodities. From this city vnto Ierusalem
(whither the three foresaid wise-men were miraculously led) it is fiftie
days iourney. There be many wonders in this citie also, which, for
breuities sake, I omit [Sidenote: Geste.] From thence I departed vnto a
certaine city called Geste, whence the Sea of Sand is distant, one dayes
iourney, which is a most wonderful and dangerous thing. In this city there
is abundance of all kinds of victuals, and especially of figs, reisins, and
grapes; more (as I suppose) then in any part of the whole world besides.
This is one of the three principall cities in all the Persian Empire. Of
this city the Saracens report, that no Christian can by any meanes liue
therein aboue a yeere. [Sidenote: Como.] Then passing many dayes ioumey on
forward, I came vnto a certaine citie called Comum, which was an huge and
mightie Citie in olde time, conteyning well nigh fiftie miles in circuite,
and hath done in times past great damage vnto the Romanes. In it there are
stately palaces altogether destitute of inhabitants, notwithstanding it
aboundeth with great store of victuals. From hence traueiling through many
countreys, at length I came vnto the land of Iob named Hus, which is fulle
of all kinde of victuals, and very pleasantly situated. Thereabouts are
certaine mountains hauing 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 vpon the North
part of Chalddæa.
Of the maners of the Chaldaeans, and of India.
[Sidenote: The Tower of Babel.] From thence I traueled into Chaldæa which
is a great kingdome, and I passed by the tower of Babel. This region hath a
language peculiar vnto it selfe, and there are beautifull men, and deformed
women. The men of the same countrey vse to haue their haire kempt, and
trimmed like vnto our women: and they weare golden turbants vpon their
heades richly set with pearle, and pretious stones. The women are clad in a
coarse smock onely reaching to their knees, and hauing long sleeues hanging
downe to the ground. And they goe bare-footed, wearing breeches which reach
to the ground also. Thei weare no attire vpon their heads, but their haire
hangs disheaueled about their eares: and there be many other strange things
also. From thence I came into the lower India, which the Tartars ouerran
and wasted. And in this countrey the people eat dates for the most part,
whereof 42. li. are there sold for lesse than a groat. [Sidenote: Ormus.] I
passed further also many dayes iourney vnto the Ocean sea, and the first
land where I arriued, is called Ormes, being well fortified, and hauing
great store of marchandize and treasure therein. Such and so extreme is the
heat in that countrey, that the priuities of men come out of their bodies
and hang down euen vnto their mid-legs. And therefore the inhabitants of
the same place, to preserue their own liues, do make a certaine ointment,
and anointing their priuie members therewith, do lap them up in certaine
bags fastened vnto their bodies, for otherwise they must needs die. Here
also they vse a kinde of Bark or shippe called Iase being compact together
onely with hempe. [Sidenote: Thana, whereof Frederick Cæsar maketh
mention.] And I went on bourd into one of them, wherein I could not finde
any yron at all, and in the space of 28 dayes I arriued at the city of
Thana, wherein foure of our friers were martyred for the faith of Christ.
This countrey is well situate, hauing abundance of bread and wine, and of
other victuals therein. This kingdome in olde time was very large and vnder
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 Saracen do beare rule, who tooke it
by maine force, and they themselues are in subjection unto King Daldilus.
There be diuers kinds of beasts, as namely blacke lyouns in great
abundance, and apes also, and monkeis, and battes as bigge as our doues.
Also there are mise as bigge as our countrey dogs, because cats are not
able to incounter them. Moreouer in the same countrey euery 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 nouelties and strange things, the
relation whereof would breed great delight.
How peper is had: and where it groweth.
[Sidenote: Malabar.] Moreouer, that it may be manifest how peper is had, it
is to be vnderstood that it groweth in a certaine kingdome whereat I my
selfe arriued, being called Minibar, 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 iourney. And in the said wood or forrest
there are two cities, one called Flandrina, and the other Cyncilim. In
Flandrina both Iewes and Christians doe inhabite, betweene whom there is
often contention and warre: howbeit the Christians ouercome the Iewes at
all times. In the foresaid wood pepper is had after this maner: first it
groweth in leaues like vnto pot-hearbs, which they plant neere vnto 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 greene colour, and
are gathered as we gather grapes, and then the graines are layed 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 riuers,
wherein are great store of Crocodiles, and of other serpents, which the
inhabitants thereabout do burne vp with straw and with other dry fewel, and
so they go to gather their pepper without danger. [Sidenote: Polumbrum.] At
the South end of the said forrest stands the city of Polumbrum, which
aboundeth with marchandize of all kinds. All the inhabitants of that
countrey do worship a liuing oxe, as their god, whom they put to labour for
sixe yeres, and in the seuenth 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 vse this foolish ceremonie: Euery morning they take two
basons, either of siluer, or of gold, and with one they receiue the vrine
of the oxe, and with the other his dung. With the vrine 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 the 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 nauel vpward, resembleth a
man, and from the nauel downeward an oxe. The very same Idol deliuers
oracles vnto 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 vnto their idols, euen as Christians do their
children vnto some Religion or Saint in heauen. 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 villanies doeth that brutish beastly people commit:
and I sawe many moe strange things among them which I meane not here to
insert. [Sidenote: The burning of their dead.] Another most vile custome
the foresaide nation doeth retaine: for when any man dieth they burne his
dead corps to ashes: and if his wife suruiueth him, her they burne quicke,
because (say they) she shall accompany her husband in his tilthe and
husbandry, when he is come into a new world. Howbeit the said wife hauing
children by her husband, may if she will, remain with them, without shame
or reproach; 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 inconuenience,
but he may mary another wife also. Likewise, the said nation hath another
strange custome, in that their women drink wine, but their men do not. Also
the Women haue the lids and brows of their eyes and beards shauen, but the
men haue not: with many other base and filthy fashions which the said women
do vse contrary to the nature of their sexe. [Sidenote: Mobar, or
Maliapor.] From that kingdom I traueiled 10. daies iourney vnto another
kingdome called Mobar, 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.
Of a strange and vncouth idole: and of certaine customes and ceremonies.
In the said 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, et [sic passim--KTH] consisting all of most pure and
glittering gold. And about the neck thereof hangeth a silke riband, ful of
most rich and precious stones, some one of which is of more value then a
whole kingdome. The house of this idol is all of beaten gold, namely the
roofe, the pauement, and the sieling of the wall within and without. Vnto
this idol the Indians go on pilgrimage, as we do vnto S. Peter. Some go
with halters about their necks, some with their hands bound behind them,
some others with kniues 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, and thinke that their God is wel
pleased with them. Neare vnto the temple of that idol is a lake made by the
hands of men in an open et common place, whereinto the pilgrimes cast gold,
siluer, and precious stones, for the honour of the idol and the repairing
of his temple. And therefore when any thing is to be adorned or mended,
they go vnto this lake taking vp 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, and all the pilgrimes
assemble themselues, and placing the said idol in a most stately and rich
chariot, they cary him out of their temple with songs, and with all kind of
musical harmonie, and a great company of virgins go procession-wise two and
two in a rank singing before him. Many pilgrims also put themselues vnder
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, and diuided
asunder in the midst, and slaine right out. Yea, and in doing this, they
think themselues to die most holily and securely, in the seruice of their
god. And by this meanes euery yere, there die vnder the said filthy idol,
mo then 500. persons, whose carkases are burned, and their ashes are kept
for reliques, because they died in that sort for their god. Moreouer they
haue another detestable ceremony. For when any man offers to die in the
seruice of his false god, his parents, and all his friends assemble
themselues together with a consort of musicians, making him a great and
solemne feast: which feast being ended, they hange 5. sharpe kniues about
his neck carying him before the idol, and so soone as he is come thither,
he taketh one of his kniues 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
the face of his idol: but at the very last wound wherewith he murthereth
himselfe, he vttereth these words: Now do I yeeld my self to death in the
behalfe of my god, and being dead, his body is burned, and is esteemed by
al men to be holy. The king of the said region is most rich in gold,
siluer, and precious stones, and there be the fairest vnions in al the
world. Traueling from thence by the Ocean sea 50. daies iourney southward,
I came vnto a certain land named Lammori, [Marginal note: Perhaps he
meaneth Comori.] 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 et Eue 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 vpon any one 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 and thine, or any propriety
of possession in the diuision of lands: howbeit euery man hath is owne
house peculiar vnto himselfe. Mans flesh, if it be fat, is eaten as
ordinarily there, as beefe in our country. And albeit the people are most
lewd, yet the country is exceedingly good, abounding with al commodities,
as flesh, corne, rise, siluer, gold, wood of aloes, Campheir, and many
other things. Marchants comming vnto this region for traffique do vsually
bring with them fat men, selling them vnto the inhabitants as we sel hogs,
who immediatly kil and eat them. [Sidenote: Sumatra.] In this island
towards south, there is the another kingdome called Simoltra, where both
men and women marke themselues 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. [Sidenote: Iaffa.] Then I traueled further vnto
another island called Iaua, the compasse whereof by sea is 3000. miles. The
king of this Iland hath 7. other crowned kings vnder his iurisdiction. The
said Island is throughly inhabited, and is thought to be one of the
principall Ilands of the whole world. In the same Iland there groweth great
plenty of cloues, cubibez, and nutmegs, and in a word all kinds of spices
are there to be had, and great abundance of all victuals except wine. The
king of the said land of Iaua hath a most braue and sumptuous pallace, the
most loftily built, that euer I saw any, and it hath most high greeses and
stayers to ascend vp to the roomes therein contained, one stayre being of
siluer, and another of gold, throughout the whole building. Also the lower
roomes were paued all ouer with one square plate of siluer, and another of
gold. All the wals vpon the inner side were seeled ouer with plates of
beaten gold, whereupon were engrauen the pictures of knights, hauing 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 Iaua the great
Can of Catay hath had many conflictes in war: whom notwithstanding the said
king hath alwayes ouercome and vanquished.
Of certaine trees yeelding meale, hony, and poyson.
Nere vnto the said Iland is another countrey called Panten, or
Tathalamasin. And the king of the same country hath many Ilands vnder his
dominion: In this land there are trees yeelding meale, hony, and wine, and
the most deadly poison in all the whole world: for against it there is but
one only remedy: and that is this: if any man hath taken of the poyson, and
would be deliuered from the danger thereof, let him temper the dung of a
man in water, and so drinke a good quantitie thereof, and it expels the
poyson immediatly, making it to auoid 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 stocke a
certain licour like vnto gumme, which they take and put into bags made of
leaues, laying them for 15 daies together abroad in the sun, and at the end
of those 15 dayes, when the said licour is throughly parched, it becommeth
meale. Then they steepe it first in sea water, washing it afterward with
fresh water, and so it is made very good and sauorie paste, whereof they
make either meat or bread, as they thinke good. Of which bread I my selfe
did eate, and it is fayrer without and somewhat browne within. [Sidenote: A
sea running still Southward.] By this countrey is the sea called Mare
mortuum, which runneth continually Southward, into the which whoseuer
falleth is neuer seene after. In this countrey also are found canes of an
incredible length, namely 60 paces high or more, and they are as bigge as
trees. Other canes there be also called Cassan, which overspread the earth
like grasse, and out of euery knot of them spring foorth certaine branches,
which are continued vpon the ground almost for the space of a mile. In the
sayd canes there are found certaine stones, one of which stones, whoseuer
carryeth about with him, cannot be wounded with any yron: and therefore the
men of that countrey for most part, carry such stones with them,
whithersoeuer 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 in the
wound, healing also, and closing vp 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 wound. And by the vertue of these stones, the
people aforesaid doe for the most part triumph both on sea and land.
Howbeit there is one kind of stratageme, which the enemies of this nation,
knowing the vertue of the sayd stones, doe practise against them: namely,
they prouide themselues armour of yron or steele against their arrowes, and
weapons also poisoned with the poyson of trees, and they carry in their
hands wooden stakes most sharpe and hard-pointed, as if they were yron:
likewise they shoot arrowes without yron heads, and so they confound and
slay some of their vnarmed foes trusting too securely vnto the vertue of
their stones. [Sidenote: Sayles made of reedes.] Also Of the foresayd canes
called Cassan they make sayles for their ships, and litle houses, and many
other necessaries. [Sidenote: Campa.] From thence after many dayes trauell,
I arrived at another kingdome called Campa, a most beautiful and rich
countrey, and abounding with all kind of victuals: the king whereof, at my
being there, had so many wiues and concubines, that he had 300 sonnes and
daughters by them. This king hath 10004 tame Elephants, which are kept euen
as we keepe droues of oxen, or flocks of sheepe in pasture.
Of the abundance of fishes, which cast themselues vpon the shore.
In this countrey there is one strange thing to be obserued, that euery
seueral 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 backs of fishes: which, casting themselues
vpon the shore when they come neare vnto it, do suffer men, for the space
of 3. daies, to come and to take as many of them as they please, and then
they returne againe vnto the sea. After that kind of fishes comes another
kind, offering it selfe after the same maner, and so in like sort all other
kinds whatsoeuer: notwithstanding they do this but once in a yere. 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, euen
by nature, to come and to do homage vnto their Emperour. [Sidenote:
Tortoises.] There be Tortoises also as bigge as an ouen. Many other things
I saw which are incredible, vnlesse a man should see them with his own
eies. In this country also dead men are burned, and their wiues are burned
aliue with them, as in the city of Polumbrum above mentioned: for the men
of that country say that she goeth to accompany him in another world, that
he should take none other wife in marriage. [Sidenote: Moumoran.] Moreouer
I traueled on further by the ocean-sea towards the south, and passed
through many countries and islands, whereof one is called Moumoran, and it
containeth in compasse ii. M. miles, wherein men and women haue dog faces,
and worship an oxe for their god: and therefore euery one of them cary the
image of an oxe of gold or siluer vpon their foreheads. The men and the
women of this country go all naked, sauing that they hang a linen cloth
before their priuities. 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 couer and defend
their bodies from top to toe: and whomsoeuer of their foes they take in
battel not being able to ransom himselfe for money, they presently deuoure
him: but if he be able to redeeme himselfe for money, they let him go free.
Their king weareth about his necke 300. great and most beautifull vnions,
and saith euery day 300. prayers vnto his god. He weareth vpon 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 once approch vnto him: and they
say that there is not any stone in the whole world of more value then it.
Neither could at any time the great Tartarian Emperour of Katay either by
force, money, or policie obtaine it at his hands: notwithstanding that he
hath done the vtmost of his indeuour for this purpose.
Of the Island of Sylan: and of the mountaine where Adam mourned for his
sonne Abel.
I passed also by another island called Sylan, which conteineth in compasse
aboue ii. M. miles: wherein are an infinit number of serpents, and great
store of lions, beares, and al kinds of rauening and wild beasts, and
especially of elephants. In the said country there is an huge mountaine,
whereupon the inhabitants of that region do report that Adam mourned for
his son Abel the space of 500. yeres. In the midst of this mountain there
is a most beautiful plain, wherin is a litle lake conteining great plenty
of water, which water the inhabitants report to haue proceeded from the
teares of Adam and Eue: howbeit I proued that to be false, because I saw
the water flow in the lake. This water is ful of hors-leeches, and
blood-suckers, and of precious stones also: which precious stones the king
taketh not vnto his owne vse, but once or twise euery yere he permitteth
certaine poore people to diue vnder the water for the said stones, and al
that they can get he bestoweth vpon them, to the end they may pray for his
soule. But that they may with lesse danger diue vnder the water, they take
limons which they pil, anointing themselues throughly with the iuice
therof, and so they may diue naked vnder the water, the hors-leeches not
being able to hurt them. From this lake the water runneth euen vnto the
sea, and at a low ebbe the inhabitants dig rubies, diamonds, pearls, and
other pretious stones out of the shore: wherupon it is thought, that the
king of this island hath greater abundance of pretious stones, then any
other monarch in the whole earth besides. In the said country there be al
kinds of beasts and foules: and the people told me, that those beasts would
not inuade nor hurt any stranger, but only the natural inhabitants. I saw
in this island fouls as big as our countrey geese, hauing two heads, and
other miraculous things, which I will not here write off. Traueling on
further toward the south, I arriued at a certain island called Bodin,
[Marginal note: Or, Dadin.] which signifieth in our language vnclean. In
this island there do inhabit most wicked persons, who deuour and eat raw
flesh committing al kinds of vncleannes and abominations in such sort, as
it is incredible. For the father eateth his son, and the son his father,
the husbande his owne wife, and the wife her husband: and that after this
maner. If any mans father be sick, the son straight goes vnto the
soothsaying or prognosticating priest, requesting him to demand of his god,
whether his father shall recouer of that infirmity of no: Then both of them
go vnto an idol of gold or of siluer, making their praiers vnto it in maner
folowing: Lord, thou art our God, and thee we do adore, beseeching thee to
resolue vs, whether such a man must die, or recouer of such an infirmity or
no: Then the diuel answereth out of the foresaid idol: if he saith (he shal
liue) then returneth his son and ministreth things necessary vnto him, til
he hath attained vnto his former health: but if he saith (he shal die) then
goes the priest vnto him, and putting a cloth into his mouth doth strangle
him therewith: which being done, he cuts his dead body into morsels, and al
his friends and kinsfolks are inuited vnto the eating thereof, with musique
and 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 answer: this we doe, least the wormes should eat his flesh, for
then his soule should suffer great torments, neither could I by any meanes
remooue them from that errour. Many other nouelties and strange things
there bee in this countrey, which no man would credite, vnles he saw them
with his owne eyes. Howbeit, I (before almighty God) do here make relation
of nothing but of that only, whereof I am as sure, as a man may be sure.
Concerning the foresaid islands I inquired of diuers wel-experienced
persons, who al of them, as it were with one consent, answered me saying,
That this India contained 4400. islands vnder it, or within it: in which
islands there are sixtie 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.
Of the vpper India: and of the prouince of Mancy.
First of al therefore, hauing traueled many dayes iourney vpon the
Ocean-sea toward the East, at length I arriued at a certaine great prouince
called Mancy, being in Latine named India. Concerning this India I inquired
of Christians, of Saracens, and of Idolaters, and of al such as bare any
office vnder the great Can. Who all of them with one consent answered, that
this prouince of Mancy hath mo then 2000. great cities within the precincts
thereof, and that it aboundeth with all plenty of victuals, as namely with
bread, wine, rise, flesh, and fish. All the men of this prouince be
artificers and marchants, who, though they be in neuer so extreme penurie,
so long as they can helpe themselues by the labor of their hands, wil neuer
beg almes of any man. The men of this prouince are of a faire and comely
personage, but somewhat pale, hauing their heads shauen but a litle: but
the women are the most beautiful vnder the sunne. The first city of the
said India which I came vnto, is called Ceuskalon, [Marginal note: Or,
Ceuskala.] which being a daies iourney distant from the sea, stands vpon a
riuer, the water whereof, nere vnto the mouth, where it exonerateth it
selfe into the sea, doth ouerflow the land for the space of 12. daies
iourney. All the inhabitants of this India are worshippers of idols. The
foresaid city of Ceuskalon hath such an huge nauy belonging thereunto, that
no man would beleeue it vnlesse 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, and most plenty of them to be sold in al
the whole world, as I suppose: [Sidenote: He meaneth Pellicans, which the
Spaniards cal Alcatrarzi.] they are as white as milke, and haue a bone vpon
the crowne of their heads as bigge as an egge, being of the colour of
blood: vnder their throat they haue a skin or bag hanging downe halfe a
foot. They are exceeding fat and wel sold. Also they haue ducks and hens in
that country, one as big as two of ours. There be monstrous great serpents
likewise, which are taken by the inhabitants and 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, and at length I came vnto a city named Caitan,
[Marginal note: Or, Zaiton.] wherin the friers Minorites haue two places of
aboad, vnto the which I transported the bones of the dead friers, which
suffred martyrdom for the faith of Christ, as it is aboue mentioned. In
this city there is abundance of al kind of victuals very cheap. The said
city is as big as two of Bononia, and in it are many monasteries of
religious persons, al which do worship idols. I my selfe was in one of
those Monasteries, and it was told me, that there were in it iii. M.
religious men, hauing xi. M. idols: and one of the said idols which seemed
vnto 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
certeine time I went to behold the banquet: and indeed those things which
they brought vnto them were good to eat, and fuming hote, insomuch that the
steame of the smoke thereof ascended vp vnto their idols, and they said
that their gods were refreshed with the smoke: howbeit all the meat they
conueyed away, eating it vp their owne selues, and so they fed their dumb
gods with the smoke onely.
Of the citie Fuco.
Traueling more eastward, I came vnto a city named Fuco, which conteineth
30. miles in circuit, wherin be exceeding great and faire cocks, and al
their hens are as white as the very snow, hauing wol in stead of feathers,
like vnto sheep. It is a most stately and beautiful city, and standeth vpon
the sea. Then I went 18. dates iourney on further, and passed by many
prouinces and cities, and in the way I went ouer a certain great mountaine,
vpon the one side whereof I beheld al liuing creatures to be as black as a
cole, and the men and women on that side differed somwhat in maner of
liuing from others: howbeit, on the other side of the said hil euery liuing
thing was snow-white, and the inhabitants in their maner of liuing, were
altogether vnlike vnto others. There, all maried women cary in token that
they haue husbands, a great trunke of horne vpon their heads. [Sidenote: A
great riuer.] From thence I trauelled 18. dayes journey further, and came
vnto a certaine great riuer, and entered also into a city, whereunto
belongeth a mighty bridge, to passe the said riuer. And mine hoste, with
whom I soiourned, being desirous to shew me some sport, said vnto me: Sir,
if you will see any fish taken, goe with me. [Sidenote: Foules catching
fish.] Then he led me vnto the foresaid bridge, carying in his armes with
him certaine diue-doppers or water-foules, bound vnto a company of poles,
and about euery one of their necks he tied a threed, lest they should eat
the fish as fast as they tooke them: and he carried 3. great baskets with
him also: then loosed he the diue doppers from the poles, which presently
went into the water, and within lesse then the space of one houre, caught
as many fishes as filled the 3. baskets: which being full, mine hoste
vntyed the threeds from about their neckes, and entering the second time
into the riuer they fed themselues with fish, and being satisfied they
returned and suffered themselues to be bound vnto the saide poles as they
were before. And when I did eate of those fishes, me thought they were
exceeding good. Trauailing thence many dayes iourneys, at length I arriued
at another city called Canasia, [Marginal note: Or Cansai, or Quinzai.]
which signifieth in our language, the city of heauen. Neuer in all my life
did I see so great a citie; for it conteineth in circuit an hundreth miles:
neither sawe I any plot thereof, which was not throughly inhabited: yea, I
sawe many houses of tenne or twelue stories high, one aboue another. It
hath mightie large suburbs containing more people than the city it selfe.
Also it hath twelue principall gates: and about the distance of eight
miles, in the high way vnto euery one of the saide gates standeth a city as
big by estimation as Venice, and Padua. The foresaid city of Canasia is
situated in waters or marshes, which alwayes stand still, neither ebbing
nor flowing: howbeit it hath a defence for the winde like vnto Venice. In
this city there are mo than 10002. bridges, many whereof I numbred and
passed ouer them: [Sidenote: The Italian copy in Ramusius, hath 11000.
bridges.] and vpon euery of those bridges stand certaine watchmen of the
citie, keeping continuall watch and ward about the said city, for the great
Can the Emperour of Catay. The people of this countrey say, that they haue
one duetie inioyned vnto them by their lord: for euery fire payeth one
Balis in regard of tribute: and a Balis is fiue papers or pieces of silke,
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
onely. Al those tributary fires amount vnto 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 traueilers through the
countrey: whereupon I marueiled much howe such an infinite number of
persons could inhabite and liue together. There is great aboundance of
victuals in this citie, as namely of bread and wine, and especially of
hogs-flesh, with other necessaries.
Of a Monastery where many strange beastes of diuers kindes doe liue vpon an
hill.
In the foresaide citie foure of our friers had conuerted a mighty and riche
man vnto the faith of Christ, at whose house I continually abode, for so
long time as I remained in the citie. Who vpon a certaine time saide vnto
me: Ara, that is to say, Father, will you goe and beholde the citie? And I
said, yea. Then embarqued we our selues, and directed our course vnto a
certaine great Monastery: where being arrived, he called a religious person
with whom he was acquainted, saying vnto him concerning me: this Raban
Francus, that is to say, this religious Frenchman commeth from the Westerne
parts of the world, and is now going to the city of Cambaleth to pray for
the life of the great Can, and therefore you must shew him some rare thing,
that when hee returnes into his owne countrey, he may say, this strange
sight or nouelty haue I seene in the city of Canasia. Then the said
religious man tooke two great baskets full of broken reliques which
remained of the table, and led me vnto a little walled parke, the doore
whereof he vnlocked with his key, and there appeared vnto vs 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 cymball or bell, and
rang therewith, as they vse to ring to dinner or beuoir in cloisters, at
the sound whereof many creatures of diuers kinds came downe from the mount,
some like apes, some like cats, some like monkeys and some hauing faces
like men. And while I stood beholding of them, they gathered themselues
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
said fragments to eate. And when they had eaten he rang vpon his cymbal the
second time, and they al returned vnto 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
loue of God who gouerneth 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 speach did nothing at all preuaile with
him: for he could not be perswaded that any soule might remaine without a
body. [Sidenote: Chilenso.] From thence I departed vhto a certaine citie
named Chilenso, the walls whereof conteined 40. miles in circuit. In this
city there are 360. bridges of stone, the fairest that euer I saw: and it
is wel inhabited, hauing a great nauie belonging thereunto, and abounding
with all kinds of victuals and other commodities. [Sidenote: Thalay.] And
thence I went vnto a certaine riuer called Thalay, which where it is most
narrow, is 7. miles broad: [Sidenote: Cakam.] and it runneth through the
midst of the land of Pygmæi, whose chiefe city is called Cakam, and is one
of the goodliest cities in the world. These Pigmæans are three of my spans
high, and they make larger and better cloth of cotten and silke, then any
other nation vnder the sunne. [Sidenote: Ianzu.] And coasting along by the
saide riuer, I came vnto a certaine citie named Ianzu, in which citie there
is one receptacle for the Friers of our order, and there be also three
Churches of the Nestorians. This Ianzu is a noble and great citie,
containing 48 Thuman of tributarie fiers, and in it are all kindes of
victuals, and great plenty of such beastes, foules and fishes, as
Christians doe vsually liue vpon. The lord of the same citie hath in
yeerely reuenues for salt onely, fiftie Thuman of balis, and one balis is
worth a floren and a halfe of our coyne: insomuch that one Thuman of balis
amounteth vnto the value of fifteene thousand florens. Howbeit the sayd
lord fauoureth his people in one respect, for sometimes he forgiueth them
freely two hundred Thuman, least 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 vnto certaine tauernes or
cookes houses appointed for the same purpose, he sayth vnto euery
particular hoste, you shall haue such, and such of my friendes, whom you
must intertaine in my name, and so much I will bestowe vpon the banquet.
And by that means his friendes are better feasted at diuerse places, then
they should haue beene at one. Tenne miles from the sayde citie, about the
head of the foresayd riuer of Thalay, there is a certaine other citie
called Montu, which hath the greatest nauy that I saw in the whole world.
All their ships are as white as snow, and they haue banqueting houses in
them, and many other rare things also, which no man would beleeue, vnlesse
he had seene them with his owne eyes.
Of the citie of Cambaleth.
[Sidenote: Karamoron.] Traueiling eight dayes iourney further by diuers
territories and cities, at length I came by fresh water vnto a certaine
citie named Lencyn, standing vpon the riuer of Karauoran, which runneth
through the midst of Cataie, and doeth great harme in the countrey when it
ouerfloweth the bankes, or breaketh foorth of the chanell. [Sidenote:
Sumacoto.] From thence passing along the riuer Eastward, after many dayes
trauell, and the sight of the diuers cities, I arriued at a citie called
Sumakoto, which aboundeth more with silke then any other citie in the
world: for when there is great scarcitie of silke, fortie pound is sold for
lesse then eight groates. In this citie there is abundance of all
merchandize, and all kindes of victuals also, as of bread, wine, flesh,
fish, with all choise and delicate spices. Then traueiling on still towards
the East by many cities, I came vnto the noble and renowmed citie of
Cambaleth, which is of great antiquitie being situate in the prouince of
Cataie. This citie the Tartars tooke, and neare vnto it within the space of
halfe a mile, they built another citie called Caido. The citie of Caido
hath twelue gates, being each of them two miles distant from another. Also
the space lying in the midst betweene the two foresayd cities is very well
and throughly 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 vnto this his palace are many other palaces and
houses, of his nobles which belong vnto his court. Within the precincts of
the sayd palace Imperiall, there is a most beautiful mount, set and
replenished with trees, for which cause it is called the Greene mount,
hauing a most royall and sumptuous palace standing thereupon, in which, for
the most part, the great Can is resident. Vpon the one side of the sayd
mount there is a great lake, whereupon a most stately bridge is built, in
which lake is great abundance of geese, ducks, and all kindes of water
foules: and in the wood growing vpon the mount there is great store of all
birds, and wilde beasts. 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. Moreouer, the principall palace, wherein he maketh his
abode, is very large, hauing within it 14 pillers of golde, and all the
walles thereof are hanged with red skinnes, which are sayd to be the most
costly skinnes in all the world. In the midst of the palace standes a
cisterne of two yards high, which consisteth of a precious stone called
Merdochas, and is wreathed about with golde, and 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 kind of networke of pearle
wrought about it. Likewise by the sayd cisterne there is drinke conueyed
thorow certeine pipes and conducts, such as vseth to be drunke in the
emperors court, vpon the which also there hang many vessels of golde,
wherein, whosoeuer will may drinke of the sayd licour. In the foresayd
palace there are many peacocks of golde: and when any Tartar maketh a
banquet vnto his lord, if the guests chance to clap their hands for ioy and
mirth, the sayd golden peacocks also will spread abroad their wings, and
lift vp their traines, seeming as if they danced: and this I suppose to be
done by arte magike or by some secret engine vnder the ground.
Of the glory and magnificence of the great Can.
Moreouer, when the great emperor Can sitteth in his imperiall throne of
estate, on his left hand sitteth his queene or empresse, and vpon another
inferior seate there sit two other women, which are to accompany the
emperor, when his spouse is absent, but in the lowest place of all, there
sit all the ladies of his kindred. All the maried women weare vpon their
heads a kind of ornament in shape like vnto a mans foote, of a cubite and a
halfe in length, and the lower part of the sayd foote is adorned with
cranes feathers, and is all ouer thicke set with great and orient pearles.
Vpon the right hand of the great Can sitteth his first begotten sonne and
heire apparent vnto his empire, and vnder him sit all the nobles of the
blood royall. There bee also foure Secretaries, which put all things in
writing that the emperor speaketh. In whose presence likewise stand his
Barons and diuers others of his nobilitie, with great traines of folowers
after them, of whom none dare speake so much as one word, vnlease they haue
obtained licence of the emperor so to doe, except his iesters 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 inioineth them by lawe. About the palace gate
stand certaine Barons to keepe all men from treading vpon the threshold of
the sayd gate. When it pleassth the great Can to solemnize a feast, he hath
about him 14000. Barons, carying wreathes and litle crownes vpon their
heads, and giuing attendance vpon their lord, and euery one of them weareth
a garment of gold and precious stones, which is woorth ten thousand
Florens. His court is kept in very good order, by gouernours of tens,
gouernours of hundreds, and gouernours of thousands, insomuch that euery
one in his place performeth his duetie committed vnto him, neither is there
any defect to bee found. I Frier Odoricus was there present in person for
the space of three yeeres, and was often at the sayd banquets; for we
friers Minorites haue a place of aboad appointed out for vs in the emperors
court, and are enioined to goe and to bestow our blessing vpon him. And I
enquired of certaine Courtiers concerning the number of persons pertaining
to the emperors court? And they answered mee that of stage-players,
musicians, and such like, there were eighteene Thuman at the least, and
that the keepers of dogs, beasts and foules were fifteene Thuman, and the
physicians for the emperours body were foure hundred; the Christians also
were eight in number, together with one Saracen. At my being there, all the
foresayd number of persons had all kind of necessaries both for apparell
and victuals out of 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 iourney before, and another to come a
dayes iourney after him, the third to march on his right hand, and the
fourth on his left, in the manner of a crosse, he himselfe being in the
midst, and so euery particular troupe haue their daily iourneys limited
vnto them, to the ende they may prouide sufficient victuals without defect.
Nowe the great Can himselfe is caried in maner following; hee rideth in a
chariot with two wheeles, vpon which a maiesticall throne is built of the
wood of Aloe, being adorned with gold and great pearles, and precious
stones, and foure elephants brauely furnished doe drawe the sayd chariot,
before which elephants, foure great horses richly trapped and couered 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 approaching
neere vnto their emperour. Vpon the chariot also two milke-white
Ier-falcons doe sit, and seeing any game which hee would take, hee letteth
them flie, and so they take it, and after this maner doeth hee solace
himselfe as hee rideth. Moreover, no man dare come within a stones cast of
the chariot, but such as are appointed. The number of his owne followers,
of his wiues attendants, and of the traine of his first begotten sonne and
heire apparent, would seeme incredible vnto any man, vnlesse hee had seene
it with his owne eyes. The foresayd great Can hath diuided his Empire into
twelue partes or Prouinces, and one of the sayd prouinces hath two thousand
great cities within the precincts thereof. Whereupon his empire is of that
length and breadth, that vnto whatsoeuer part thereof he intendeth his
iourny, he hath space enough for six moneths continual progresse, except
his Islands which are at the least 5000.
Of certaine Innes or hospitals appointed for trauailers throughout the
whole empire.
The foresayd Emperor (to the end that trauailers may haue all things
necessary throughout his whole empire) hath caused certaine Innes to be
prouided in sundry places vpon the high wayes, where all things pertaining
vnto 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 vpon horses or dromedaries ride post vnto
him, and when themselues and their beasts are weary, they blow their horne,
at the noise whereof, the next Inne likewise prouideth a horse and a man,
who takes the letter of him that is weary and runneth vnto another Inne:
and so by diuers Innes, and diuers postes, the report, which ordinarily
could skarce come in 30. dayes, is in one naturall day brought vnto the
emperor: and therefore no matter of any moment can be done in his empire,
but straightway he hath intelligence thereof. Moreouer, when the great Can
himselfe will go on hunting, he vseth this custome. Some twenty dayes
iourney from the citie of Kambaleth there is a forrest containing sixe
dayes iourney in circuit, in which forrest there are so many kinds of
beasts and birds, as it is incredible to report. Vnto this forrest, at the
ende of euery third or fourth yere, himselfe with his whole traine
resorteth, and they all of them together enuiron the sayd forrest, sending
dogs into the same, which by hunting do bring foorth the beasts: namely,
lions and stags, and other creatures, vnto 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 commeth the great Can himselfe, being
caried vpon three elephants, and shooteth fine 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 vnto the beasts
which are slaine (suffering the liuing 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 vnto these feasts he inuiteth
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 themselues
before him, with wreaths and crownes vpon their heads, being diuersly
attired, for some of them are in greene, namely the principall: the second
are in red, and the third in yellow, and they hold each man in his hand a
little Iuorie table of elephants tooth, and they are girt with golden
girdles of halfe a foote broad, and they stand vpon 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 doe attend vpon
points or characters: and when the point and hower which the sayd
Philosophers expected for, is come, a certaine crier crieth out with a loud
voyce, saying, Incline or bowe your selues before your Emperour: with that
all the Barons fall flat vpon the earth. Then hee crieth out againe; Arise
all, and immediately they all arise. Likewise the Philosophers attend vpon
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 vnto them, because they are vaine and ridiculous. And when
the musicians hower is come, then the Philosophers say, Solemnize a feast
vnto your Lord: with that all of them sound their instruments, making a
great and a melodious noyse. 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 vnto me. After them
come in the lions and doe their obeisance vnto the great Can. Then the
iuglers cause golden cups full of wine to flie vp and downe in the ayre,
and to apply themselues vnto mens mouthes that they may drinke of them.
These and many other strange things I sawe in the court of the great Can,
which no man would beleeue vnlesse he had seen with his owne eies, and
therefore I omit to speake of them. [Sidenote: A lambe in a gourd.] 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 grewe great
Gourds or Pompions, which being ripe, doe open at the tops, and within them
is found a little beast like vnto a yong lambe, euen as I my selfe haue
heard reported, that there stand certaine trees vpon the shore of the Irish
sea, bearing fruit like vnto 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: This report is first found in the writings of
Giraldus Cambreusis, tutor to King John.]
Of diuers prouinces and cities.
And after three yeeres I departed out of the empire of Cataie, trauailing
fiftie dayes iourney towards the West. [Sidenote: His returne Westward.]
And at length I came vnto the empire of Pretegoani, whose principall citie
is Kosan, which hath many other cities vnder it. [Sidenote: Casan] From
thence passing many dayes trauell, I came vnto a prouince called Casan,
which is for good commodities, one of the onely prouinces vnder the Sunne,
and 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 my selfe saw in
diuers of them. The breadth of the sayd prouince is fifty dayes iourney,
and the length aboue sixty. In it there is great plenty of all victuals,
and especially of chesnuts, and it is one of the twelue prouinces of the
great Can. Going on further, I came vnto a certaine kingdome called Tebek,
[Marginal note: Or Thebet.] which is in subiection vnto the great Can also,
wherein I thinke there is more plenty of bread and wine then in any other
part of the whole world besides. The people of the sayd countrey do, for
the most part, inhabit in tents made of blacke felt. Their principall city
is inuironed with faire and beautifull walles, being built of most white
and blacke stones, which are disposed chekerwise one by another, and
curiously compiled together: likewise all the high wayes in this countrey
are exceedingly well paued. In the sayd countrey none dare shed the bloud
of a man, or of any beast, for the reuerence of a certaine idole. In the
foresayd city their Abassi, that is to say, their Pope is resident, being
the head and prince of all idolaters (vpon 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 and trifles about them, and they haue two teeth in
their mouthes as long as the tushes 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 father's head, giuing it vnto his
sonne, which being done, they diuide the whole body into morsels, and so
leaue it behinde them, returning home with prayers in the company of the
sayd sonne. So soone as they are departed, certaine vultures, which are
accustomed to such bankets, come flying from the mountaines, 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 deuise to performe vnto his deceased father. [Sidenote:
The same story concerning the very same people is in William de Rubricis.]
Then the sayd sonne taketh his fathers head, seething it and eating the
flesh thereof, but of the skull he makes a drinking cup, wherein himselfe
with all his family and kindred do drinke with great solemnity and mirth,
in the remembrance of his dead and deuoured father. Many other vile and
abominable things doth the said nation commit, which I meane not to write,
because men neither can nor will beleeue, except they should haue the sight
of them.
Of a certaine rich man, who is fed and nourished by fiftie virgins.