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

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

MArco Polo learned well not onely the vsed language and conditions of those people, but also other thrée languages, and coulde write and reade them, and by that meanes came in great fauour with the great Cane, whose pleasure was to proue what he could do, to be sent Embassage,* 1.1 and made hym ••is Embassadour in one of his Countreys, sixe Monethes ••ourney. And he perceyuing the great Cane had greate plea∣••ure to heare newes, and oftentimes would find fault with his Embassadoures and messengers, when they coulde not make ••iscourse, and tell him newes of the Countreys and places ••hey trauelled into, he determined with himselfe to note and ••nderstand in that iourney all that could be spoken, as well of ••he Townes, Cities, and places, as also the conditions and ••ualities of the people, noting it in writing, to be the more ••eadie to make his aunswere, if any thing should be demaun∣••ed of him: and at his returne declared to the great Cane the ••unswere of the people of that Countrey to his Embassage: ••nd withall declared vnto hym the nature of Countreys, ••nd the conditions of the people where he had bin, and also ••hat he had heard of other Countreys, which pleased well the ••reat Cane, and was in great fauoure with him, and set great ••ore by him, for which cause, all the noble men of his Courte ••ad him in great estimation, calling him Senior or Lorde. He ••as in the greate Canes Court .xvij. yeares,* 1.2 and when anye ••reate Embassage or businesse shoulde be done in any of hys Countreys or Prouinces, he was alwayes sente, wherefore, ••iuers great men of the Court did enuie him, but he alwayes

kepte thys order, that whatsoeuer he sawe or heard, were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good or euill, hée alwayes wrote it, and had it in minde to de∣clare to the great Cane in order.

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

THe sayd Nicholas and Mapheo, and Marcus Paulus, hauyng bin in y^e greate Canes Court of a long time, demaunded licence for to re∣turne to Venice, but he louing and fauouring them so well, would not giue them leaue. And it fortuned in that time, that a Quéene in In∣dia dyed, whose name was Balgonia, and hyr Husbande wa•• called Kyng Argon. This Quéene ordeyned in hir Testa∣mente, that hyr Husbande shoulde not marrie, but with one of hyr bloud and kynred, and for that cause the sayde Kyng Ar∣gon sente hys Embassadors with great honor and companye to the Greate Cane, desiring hym to sende hym for to bée hys Wife, a Mayde of the lignage of Balgonia his firste Wi••••. The names of these Embassadors were called Onlora, A∣pusca, and Edilla. When these Embassadors arriued at th•• Courte, they were very well receyued by the Great Ca••••▪ And after they hadde done theyr message, the Greate Ca•••• caused to bée called before him a Mayden, whiche was called Cozotine, of the kindred of Balgonia, the whyche was very•• fayre, and of the age of seauentéene yeares. And as she was come before the Great Cane, and the Embassadors, the great Cane sayde to the Embassadors, thys is the Mayden that you demaunde, take hyr, and carrie hir in a good houre: an•• wyth thys the Embassadors were very ioyfull and merrie. And these Embassadors vnderstandyng of Nicholas and Ma∣pheo, and Marcus Paulus, Italians, which before that tyme ha••••

••one for Embassadors vnto the Indians, and were desirous to ••epart from the greate Cane, desired hym to gyue them li∣••ence to goe, and accompanye that Lady: and the Greate ••ane, although not wyth good will, but for manners sake, and ••lso for honour of the Ladye, and for hyr more safegarde, in ••assing the Seas, bycause they were wise and skilfull menne, ••as content they should goe.

Hovv they sayled to Iaua. CHAP. 3.

HAuing licence of the Great Cane, the sayde Nicholas & Mapheo,* 1.3 and Marcus Paulus, as aforesayde, as his custome was, gaue them two Tables of golde, by the whiche he did signifie that they should passe fréelie through all his pro∣uinces and dominions, and that theyr charges should be borne, and to be ho∣••ourably accompanyed. And besides this, the great Cane sent ••iuers Embassadors to the Pope, and to the Frenche King, ••nd to the King of Spayne; and to many other Prouinces in Christendome, and caused to be armed and sette forth foure∣••éene great Shippes, that euery one of them had four Mastes.* 1.4 To declare the reason wherefore he did this, it were too long, ••herefore I let it passe. In euery Shippe he put sixe hundreth men, and prouision for two yeares. In these Shippes wente ••he sayd Embassadors, with the Lady and Nicholas, and Ma∣••heo bréethrē, and Marcus Paulus aforesayd, and sayled thrée Monethes continually, and then arriued at an Ilande called ••aua, being in the South partes, in the which they found mar∣••ellous and strange things, as héereafter shall be declared. And departing from this Iland, sayling on the Indian Seas ••viij. Moneths before they came to the place they would come to, founde (by the w••y) many maruellous and strange things, ••s héereafter shall be declared.

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

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

* 1.5This we doe declare, for that all men shall knowe, that Nicholas and Mapheo bréethren, and Marco Polo, haue seene, hearde, and did knowe the maruellous things written in this Booke, the which declaring in the name of the Father, and the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, shall be declared as héere∣after followeth.

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

FIrst and formost, I will beginne to declare of the Prouince of Armenia, noting suche com∣modities as there is. You shall vnderstand, there be two Armenias, the greater, and the lesser. In the lesser, there is a King subiect to the Tartar, and he dothe maynteyne the Coun∣trey in peace and iustice. In this Countrey be many Cities and Townes, and greate abundance of all things. In thys Countrey they take great pleasure and pastime in Hawking and Hunting, as well of wilde beastes,* 1.6 as of Fowles of all sortes. In that Countrey be many infirmities, by reason the ayre is yll there, and for that cause, the men of that Coun∣trey, that were wonte to be valiant and strong in armes, bée turned nowe to be vile, and giuen to ydlenesse and druncken∣nesse. In this Prouince vpon the Sea side, there is a Citie called Gloza, wherevnto is greate trade of Merchandise, and all Merchantes that doe traffique thither,* 1.7 haue their Cellers and Warehouses in that Citie, as well Venetians, and Iano∣ueys, and all other that do occupye into Leuant.

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

I Haue declared vnto you of Armenia the lesser, and now I will shewe you of Torchomania, whiche is a part of Armenia, in the which ther be thrée maner of people, the one called Torchomanos, and those bée Mahomets, and speake the Persian language, and they liue in the Mountaynes and fieldes, whereas they may

find pasture for their Cattell, for those people liue by y^e gaines of their Cattell.* 1.8 There be very good Horses called Torchoma∣ni, and good Mayles of great value. The other, or second ma∣ner of people be Armenians and Greekes, and those dwell and liue togither, and liue by occupations and trade of Merchan∣dises. There they doe make very goodly and rich Carpettes, large and fayre, as you shall finde in any place. Also, they worke there, cloth of Crymson Silke, and other goodly cou∣loures. The chiefest Cities in that Countrey be Chemo, Isiree, and Sebasto, whereas Saint Blase was martired. There be also many Townes, of which I make no mention, and they bée subiecte to the Tartar of the East, and he setteth gouernoures there.

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

ARmenia the greater is a greate Prouince or Countrey. In the beginning thereof is a greate Citie called Armenia, where they doe make excellente Bochachims or Buckrams. In this Citie be very good Bathes natural∣lye. And this Countrey is subiect to the Tar∣tar, & there is in it many Cities & Townes, and the most noble Citie is called Archinia, which hath ioyning to it two prouin∣ces, the one called Archeten, the other Arzire. In this Citie is a Bishop. The people of this Countrey in y^e sommer time bée in the pastures & meddowes, but in y^e winter they can not, by reason of y^e great cold, snow, & waters, for then it is so colde, y^e scant the cattell and beastes can liue there,* 1.9 and for this cause they do driue their cattel into warmer places, wher they haue grasse plēty. In this gret Armenia is y^e Arke of Noe on a high Mountain towards y^e South, which doth ioyne to a Prouince towardes the East called Mausill. And in that Prouince diuell

Christians, which be called Iacobites, and Nestorians Heretikes, of the which hereafter shall be spoken.* 1.10 This Countrey to∣wards the North doth ioyne vpon the Georgians, of the whych shall be spoken in the next Chapter. In this part towards the Georgians there is a well, the water wherof is like oyle, and is of great abundance & quantitie, that sometimes they lade .100. Ships with it. And this oyle is not good to eate, but for Lamps and Candles, and to annoint Camels, Horses, and other beastes that be galled, scabbie, and haue other infirmities, and for this cause it is fetched into diuers places.

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

IN Georgiania is a king called Nand Maliche, which is as much to say as Dawnid, and is subiect to the Tartar. The saying is that in the olde time, the Kings of that Prouince were borne with a token or signe vnder their right shoulder. In this Coun∣trey y^e men be faire of body, venterous & valiant in armes, and good archers, and are Christians & Gréekes mingled togither, & they go all with their heare like Priestes. This is the Pro∣uince y^t King Alexander could not passe,* 1.11 whē he woulde haue come towards the West parts, bycause y^t wayes were dange∣rous & narrow, & compassed on y^e one side with y^t Sea, & on the other side with high Mountaines, that no Horse can passe, or go for y^e space of four leagues, for y^e way is so narrow & strōg, y^t a few mē be able to kéepe it against al the hostes of y^e world. And K. Alexander perceiuing y^t by no meanes he coulde passe,* 1.12 would likewise make prouision, that the people of that Coun∣trey might not passe to him. And made there a greate & strong Tower, which is called the Tower and gate of yron. In this Prouince of the Georgians be many Cities and townes, & there they do make great plēty of cloth of gold, & of silke in great a∣bundance, for they haue greate plentie of silke. And there doe

bréede the goodlyest and best Hawkes in the world.* 1.13 And the Countrey is plentifull of all things néedefull. They liue there by the trade of Merchandise, and by labour of the Countrey. Through all this Countrey is greate Mountaynes, and the way narrow and strong, and many welles, and for this cause the Tartars can neuer haue the vpper hand of them. There is a Monast••rie of Monckes of the order of Saint Bernarde,* 1.14 and hard by the Monasterie there is a water that descendeth from the Mountayne, in the which they find no fishe, but in Lent, and then they do take it in greate plentie from the firste day of Lent, till Easter euen. The place is called Geluchelan, and hath sixe hundred Miles compasse, and it is from the Sea twelue dayes iourney, and this water entreth into Euphrates, whyche is one of the foure principall Riuers whiche come from Para∣dice terrenall, and commeth out of India, and is deuided into many branches, and doth compasse those hilles. From thence they bring a silke called Gella. Now I haue declared vnto you the partes of Armenia which be towards the North, and now I wil declare vnto you of others their neyboures which be to∣wards the South and West.

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

MOsull is a great Kingdome, in the which dwell many generations of people called Arabies, and all be of the secte of Mahomet, although there be some Christians, called Iacobites, and Nestorians, and these haue by themselues a Patriarke, called Iacobia, and he dothe insti∣tute Bishops, Archbishops, Abbots, Priestes, and other Reli∣gious men.* 1.15 There is made cloth of gold, and of silke, which be called by the name of the Kingdome Mosulinus, and there is greate plentie and abundance of it, and also greate plentie of

spices and good cheape, and of other Merchandise. In the Mountaynes of this prouince dwell people cal••ed Cordos, and others called Iacobinos. The rest be Moores of the sect of Maho∣met, and be good men of warre, and be all rouers and robbers of Merchants.

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

BAldache is a very great Citie,* 1.16 in the whych is resident one that is called Calipho, whiche is among y^t Moores, as it were chiefe gouernour & head. Through the middest of the Citie run∣neth a great Riuer, and goeth into the Indian Sea. And there is from this Citie to the place where it en∣treth into the Sea. xviij. dayes iourney. From this Citie to the Sea, and from the Sea to this Citie, there dothe passe dayly by this Riuer, in many and diuers vessels, diuers kinds of Merchandise, and they haue to their neyboure the India. And in this Countrey is a Citie called Chisi. By thi•• ••iuer they goe to the Indian Sea. Betwéene Baldach and Chisi vppon the Riuer is a Citie called Barsera, compassed with greate Mountaynes of Palmes and Date trées perfect good. In Bal∣dach they doe make cloth of golde of diuers sortes, and cloth of silke, called cloth of Nasich, of Chrimson, and of diu••rs other coloures and fashions. There is great plentie of foure footed Beastes, and of Fowles. This Citie is one of the best and the noblest in the worlde. There was in this Citie a Calipho of the Moores, wonderfull and maruellous rich of gold and pre∣tious stones. And in the yeare of our Lorde God .1230. the King of the Tartars called Alan, ioyned a greate company, and went and sette vpon this Citie, and toke it by force, being in the C••tie one hundred thousande Horsemen, besides infinite number of footemen. And there he founde a great Tower full

of golde, siluer, and pretious stones. And King Alan séeing this great treasure, maruelled much, and sent for the Calipho, and sayd vnto him: I do much maruell of thy auarice, that ha∣uing so great treasure, didst not giue parte of it to mainteyne valiant men, that might defend me from thée, knowing that I was thy mortall enimie. And perceyuing the Calipho knewe not how to make him an answere, said vnto him, bycause thou louest this treasure so well, I will thou shalte haue thy fill of it, and caused him to be shut fast in the same Tower, where he liued foure dayes, and died miserably for hunger, and from that time forwards the Moores woulde haue no more Caliphos in that Citie.

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

TOtis is a greate Citie of the Prouince or Countrey of Baldach,* 1.17 in the whiche Prouince there be manye Cities and Townes, but the most noblest is Totis. The people of thys Citie bée Merchantes, and h••ndycraftes men. There they do make cloth of golde, and of silke, very riche, and of greate value. And this Citie is sette in so good a place, that they doe bryng thyther all Merchandi∣ses of India, and of Baldach, and of Osmaseilli, and of Cremes, and of many other Cities and Countreys, and also of the Latines. There is greate plenty of pretious stones, and for that cause the Merchants gette muche. Thyther trade the Armenians, Iacobite••, Nestorians, Persians, and these in a manner bée all Ma∣homets. Rounde aboute this Citie be many fayre Gardens full of singular good frutes, although the Moores that there doe dwell be very ill people, robbers and killers.

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

IN Mosull, a Citie in the Prouince of Baldach was a Calipho, a great enimie of the Christi∣ans, whose studie daye and night was how he might destroy them, and to make them forsake their faith in Iesus Christ, and vpon this, ioy∣ned in councell diuers times with hys wise men, and in the ende one of them said, I will tell you a way how you shal haue good cause to kill, or force them to renounce their Faith. Iesus Christ sayth in hys Gospell, If you haue so much Faith as the grayne of Mustard seede, and saye to thys Mountayne passe from this place to another place, it woulde do, therefore cause to be called togither all the Christians, and commaund them by their beléefe, that such a hill doe passe from that place to suche a place: truly it is not possible for them to doe it, and not doing it, you may iustly saye to them, that eyther theyr Gospell dothe not saye truth, and by that meanes they follow lyes, or else they haue not so much Fayth as a grayne of Mustarde séede. And thus as well for the one, as for the other, you maye iustly putte them to death, or else force them to forsake theyr Fayth they holde. This coun∣cell pleased well the Calipho, and those of hys sect, beléeuing, that nowe they hadde good occasion to performe their euill purpose, and incontinent he commaunded all the Chrystians that were in hys Countrey, to come togither, whiche was a great number, and they being come before hym, he cause thē to reade those Scriptures of Iesus Christ. And after that e∣uery one of them had hearde it, he asked them if they beléeued that these sayings were true, and they answered yea. Incōti∣nent said the Calipho to them, I wil giue you fiftéene days re∣spite, to make either yōder hil to passe to such a place, or else to

renounce youre fayth in Iesus Christe as false, and to turne Moores, and if you will not doe this, you shall all die. And the Christians hearing this cruell sentence, were sore troubled, yet on the other part they comforted themselues, with hope in the faith they had in the truth they beléeued. And incontinent the Bishops, and Prelates, and Ministers that were among the Christians, commaunded all the Christians, men, wo∣men, and children, to fall to continuall Prayer to oure Lorde Iesus Christ, that he would helpe and councell them howe to rule and gouerne themselues in that greate trouble and néede.

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

You sh••ll vnderstande, that thys Shomaker dyd pull out his eye by this meanes: He hadde hearde manye tim••s this saying in the Gospell, If thy eye offende thee pull it out, and cast it from thee. He being a simple man, thought, that so corporally and m••terially the Scriptures shoulde be vn••erstanded. For it chanced on a time, there came a M••yde into his Shoppe to bespeake a payre of Shoes, and to take the measure of his foote, put off hir hose, and he with∣all was tempted to lye with hir, remembring himselfe, and

••hinking vpon his sinne and yll intent, sent hir away, without discouering any thing of his yll thoughte and intente, and re∣membring the saying of the holy Gospell, being ouercome with zeale, and yet not hauing the true knowledge, plucked out his eye. And so this Shomaker being so desired by the Bi∣shop, and other Christians, did graunt, and promised to praye vnto our Lord God for the sayd cause. And the time of the .xv. dayes being come, that the Calipho had appoynted, he caused to come togither all the Christians, whiche came in Processi∣on with their Crosse, into a faire playne, hard by the hill and Mountayne. And to that place came the Calipho, with muche people armed, with intention, that streight way, if the Moun∣tayne did not remoue, to kill them all. Incontinente the Shomaker knéeled downe vppon the earth vpon his bare knées, and very deuoutely prayed to oure Lorde, lifting vp his hearte and handes to Heauen, praying to Iesus Christe to succour and helpe them his Christians, that they shoulde not perishe: and for that his faith was cléere, makyng an end of his Prayer, the power of the Almightie God Iesus did cause the Mountayne to remoue and goe from the place it stoode,* 1.18 into the place the Calipho and his Councell hadde commaunded.

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

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

PErsia is a noble Prouince or Countrey, al∣though it was much more in the old time, than it is at this present, for it was destroyed by the Tartars. In Persia is a Citie called Sabba, from the which the saying is, the thrée Kings depar∣ted,* 1.19 that went to Iesus Christ, that was newly borne in Beth∣leem. In this citie there are Sepulchres, very faire and beauti∣full, and I Marcus Paulus was in that Citie, and asked of the people of that Countrey what they could say or knewe of the thrée Kings, to the which they could say nothing, but that they were buried in those thrée Sepulchres. But y^e other people out of the Citie thrée dayes iourney, talked of this matter in thys maner following, for the which you shal vnderstād, that thrée days iourney frō the Citie Sabba is a Towne, which is called Calassa Tapeziston, which in our language is as much as to say the Towne of them that worship the fire for their God. And these people say, that whē the thrée Kings departed frō y^e pro∣uince, for to go to the land of the Iewes, which was Bethleem, to worship the great Prophet there newly borne, they carried with thē Golde,* 1.20 Incense, and Myrre, and when they came to Bethleem in Iudea, found a child lately borne, and did worshippe him for God, and presented to him the foresaide thrée things: and that the said child did giue thē a little Boxe, closed, or shut fast, commanding thē they should not open it. But they, after they had trauelled a long iourney, it came in their mindes to sée what they carried in the said Boxe, and opened it, and foūd nothing in it but only a stone: and they taking it in ill parte, that they sawe nothing else, did cast it into a well, and by and by descended fire from Heauen, and burnt all the Well wyth the stone.* 1.21 And the Kings séeing this, each of them toke of the

same fire, and carried it into their Countreys: and for thys cause they do worship the fire as God. And when it chanceth in any place in that Countrey that they lacke fire, they goe to séeke it in another place where they cā get of it, and so do light their Lampes. And sometimes they goe and séeke it eyght or tenne dayes iourney, and not finding of it, they goe ofttymes to the Well aforesayd, to haue of the same fire. Of all this be∣fore written, you shall take y^t which doth agrée with the holy Gospell, in saying the thrée Kings went to worship our Lord Iesu, and did offer those giftes aforesaide. All that is declared besides that, be erroures, and reacheth not to the truth, but augmēted with lyes vpon lyes, as the vulgar people without knowledge are accustomed to do.

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

IN the Prouince of Persia be eyght Kingdomes, the first is called Casun, the second which is towardes the South is Curdistan, the third Lore, the fourth Ci∣estan, the fifth Iustanth, the sixth Iciagi, the seauenth Corchara, the eyght Tunchay. All these Kingdomes be in Persia, in the partes towards the South, sauing Tunchay. In these Kingdomes be very faire Horses and Moyles, & cour∣sers of great value, and Asses the greatest in the worlde,* 1.22 & of great price, that wil go and runne very swiftely, and these the Merchants of India do commonly buy in the Cities of Atris••, & of Arcones, which do ioyne by Sea vpon the India, and do sel thē as Merchandise. In this Kingdome Tunchay be very cruell mē, y^t wil kill one another. If it were not for feare of y^e Tartar of the East, which is their Lord and King, neyther Merchant nor other could passe, but should be eyther robbed or taken pri∣soner. They be strong people, and be of the sect of Mahomet. There they do worke, and make greate plentie of cloth of gold

and silke in great abundance and rich. In that Countrey gr••∣weth greate plentie of Cotten wooll.* 1.23 Also, there is gr••ate a∣bundance of Wheate, Barly, Dates, and ••ther grayne, and Wine, and Oyles, and frutes.

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

IAsoy is a goodly Citie and bigge, full of Mer∣chants.* 1.24 There they do make great abundance of cloth of gold, and silke. They be called accordyng to the Citie Iasoy. The people of this Countrey be of the sect of Martin Pinol, that is, Mahomet, and do speake another language than the Persians. And going for∣ward eyght dayes iourney from this Citie, through a playne Countrey, but not peopled, or anye Towne, sauing Moun∣taynes, where is great plentie of Partriches, and wild Asses, at the ende of this, is the Kingdome of the Crerina, that is, a Kingdome of the Persians, of a great and long inheritance.

In this Countrey they doe finde greate plentie of pretious stones,* 1.25 and of Turkies great store in the Mountaynes, in the whiche Mountaynes, is greate plentie of Vayne, or Ore of Stéele, and of Calamita. In this Citie, they do make greate plentie of costly saddles, bridles, and harnesses for Horses, and for noble men Swords,* 1.26 bowes, and other riche furniture for Horse and Man. The Women of this Countrey doe no∣thing, but commaunde their Seruauntes. They make also there very riche cloth of gold and silke. And in those Moun∣taynes be excéeding good Hawkes, valiaunte, and swifte of wings, that no fewle can scape them. And departing from Crerina, you shall goe eyght dayes iourney in playne way, full of Cities and Townes, very faire, and there is pleasaunte Hawking by the way, & great plentie of Partriches. And be∣ing past the sayd eyght dayes iourney, there is a going downe

the hil of two dayes iourney, whereas there is great plenty of frutes. In the olde time there was manye Townes and houses, and now there be none but heardmen, that kéepe the Cattell in the field. From the Citie of Crerina, so this going down, al the winter is so great cold, that although they go very wel clothed, they haue ynough to do to liue. And being past this going downe two dayes iourney forwarde, you shall come into a faire playne way, the beginning whereof is a great faire Citie, called Camath, the whiche was in the old time noble and greate, and nowe is not so, for that the Tartars haue destroyed it. That playne is very hote, and that Prouince is called Reobarle. There be apples of Para∣dise, and Festucas, and Medlars, and diuers other goodly frutes in great abundance. There be Oxen maruellous great, the heare short and soft, and the hornes short, bigge, and sharp, and haue a greate rounde bunche betwéene the shoulders, of two spannes long. And when they will lade these Oxen, they do knéele downe on theyr knées like Ca∣mels, and being ladē, do rise, and they carrie great weight. There the Shéepe be as greate as Asses, hauing a greate tayle, and thicke, that will weigh .32. pound,* 1.27 and be maruel∣lous good to eate. In that playne be many Cities & townes with walles, and Towers of a great heigth for the defence of the enimies, called Caraones, which be certaine Villages. The people of that Countrey their Mothers be Indians, and their fathers Tartars. When that people will go a rob∣bing, they worke by enchantment by the Deuill,* 1.28 to darken the aire, as it were midnight, bycause they woulde not bée séene a farre off, and this darkenesse endureth seauen dayes. And the Théeues that know well all the wayes, goe togi∣ther, withoute making anye noyse, and as many as they can take, they robbe. The olde men they kill, and the yong men they sell for slaues. Their King is called Hegodar, and of a truth I Marcus Paulus do tell you, that I escaped very hardly from taking of these 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and that I was

not slaine in that darkenesse, but it pleased God, I escaped to a towne called Ganassalim, yet of my companie they tok•• and slewe many. This playne is towardes the South, and is of seauen dayes iourney, and at the end of them is a moū∣tayne, called Detustlyno, that is eightéene miles long & more, and is also very daungerous with théeues, that do rob Mer∣chauntes and all trauellers. At the ende of this mountaine is a faire playne, called the goodly playne, which is seauen dayes iourney, in the which there be many wels, and date trées, very good, and this playne bordereth vpon the Ocean Sea, and on the riuer of the sea, is a Citie called Carmoe.

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

Carmoe is a greate Citie, and is a good porte of the Ocean sea, Thither do occupie Merchāts of the Indeas with spices, cloth of gold & silke, and with precious stones, and Elephantes téeth,* 1.29 and is a Citie of great trade, with mer∣chaundize, and is heade of that kingdome, and the king is called M••nedanocomoyth. It is very hote there, and y^e ayre infectious. When there doth dye any Merchaunt, they doe make hauocke of all his goods. In this Citie they do drinke wine made of Dates, putting good spices to it, yet at the be∣ginning of dinner it is daungerous, for those that be not v∣sed to it, for it will make them very soluble, streight waye, but it is good to purge the body. The people of that Coun∣trey do not vse of our victuals, for when they eate bread of wheate and fleshe, by and by they fall sicke. Their victuals is Dates & salte, Tonny, Garlike & Onyons. The peopl•• of that Countrey be blacke, and be of the sect of Mahomet. And for the great heate in the Sommer, they dwell not in the town, but in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and in gardens, and Orchyards.

There be many riuers and Wels, that euery one hath faire water for his garden: and there be manye that dwell in a desart, wheras is al sande, that ioyneth to that playne. And those people assoone as they féele the great heate, they goe into the waters, and there tarrie till the beate of the daye be past. In that countrey, they do sowe their wheate and corne in Nouember, and gather it in Marche. And in thys time the fruites be greater than in any place. And after March is passe, the grasse, hearbes,* 1.30 and leaues of trées doe drie, sauing of Date trées, which continue till Maye. And in that countrey they haue this custome, ••hat when the hus∣band doth dye, the wife and hir friendes doe wéepe once a day, for the space of foure yeares.

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

LEauing hers this Citie, and not declaring any more, of the Indi∣ans, I retourne to the North∣war••••••, declaring of those pro∣uinc••s 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••nother way, to the Citie Crerima, aforesayde, for bycause that way, that I would tell of, could not be trauelled to Crerima for the crueltie of the king of that c••••untrie, wh••••••e is called Ren 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ela vacomare, from whome fewe coulde scape, bu•• eyther were rob∣bed or slayne. And for this cause manye kings did paye him tribute, and hys name is as muche to saye, as the olde man of the mountayne. But I wyll nowe

declare vnto you howe this cruell King was taken priso∣ner in the yeare of our Lord .1272. Alan King of the Tartars of the East, hearing of the greate crueltie of this olde m••n of the Mountayne, that he did sent a great host of men, and besette his Castell rounde about, and thus continued three yeares, and coulde neuer take it, till that victuals did sayle them: for it was very strong, and vnpossible to be gotten. At the length Alan toke the Caste••••, and the old man of the Mountayne: and of al his Souldioures and men be caused the heads to be stricken off, and from that time forwarde that way was very good for ••ll trauellers.

What is found in that Countrey. CHAP. 18.

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

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

TRauelling forward in this Countrey, you shall come to a Citie called Baldach, in the whiche King Alexander married with the daughter of Darius king of y^e Persians. This Citie is of the Kingdome of Persia, & they do t••••re speake the Persian tong, and be all of the sect of Ma∣homet. And this Countrey dothe ioyne with the Tartar of the East, betwéene the Northeast, and the East. And de∣parting from this Citie towardes the Countreys of the said Tartar, you shall goe two dayes iourney, withoute fin∣ding any Towne, bycause the people of that Countrey do couet to the strong Mountaynes, bycause of the ill people that be there. In that Countrey be many waters, by rea∣son whereof is greate plenty of wild Fowle, and of wylde Beasts, and there be man•• Lions. It is néedefull for the trauellers that way, to carrie prouision with them that shall be néedefull for themselues, and for their Horses those two dayes iourney. And being past that, you shall come to a Towne called Thaychan, a pleasaunt place, and well pro∣uided of all vittayles néedefull, and the hilles be tow••rdes the South faire and large. That prouince is .xxx. dayes iourney. And there is great plētie of salt, that all the Cities and Townes thereaboutes haue their salt from thence.* 1.31

Of that Countrey. CHA••▪ 20.

DEparting from that towne, and trauelling Northeast, and to the East for the space of thrée dayes iourney, you shall come to faire Cities and Townes well prouided and victu∣als and frutes in great abundance, and these

people do speake the Persian language, and be Mahomets. There be singular good wines,* 1.32 and great drinkers, and yll people. They go bareheaded, hauing a Towell knit about•• their browes. They weare nothing but skinnes that they do dresse.

Of the Citie Echasen. CHAP. 12.

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

Of the manner of the Countrie. CHAP. 22.

DEparting from this Citie, you shall tra∣uayle thrée dayes iourney, without com∣ming to any towne, or finding any victu∣als eyther to eate or drinke, and for thys cause the trauellers do prouide themsel∣ues for y^e time, & at the end of these thrée days iourney, you shal come to a prouince called Ballasia.

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

BAllasia is a great prouince, & they do speake the Persian tong, & be Mahomets, and it is a great kingdome, and auncient. There did raygne the successours of king Alex∣ander, and of Darius king of Persia. And their king is called Culturi, which is as much to say, as Alexan∣der, and is for remembraunce of the great king Alexāder. In this countrey grow the precious stones, called Ballasses of greate value. And these stones you can not carrie out of the countrey without speciall licence of the king, on pain of léesing life and goods. And those that he doth let passe be, eyther he doth forgiue tribute of some king, or else that he doth sell: and if they were not so straightlye kept, they would be little worth, there is such great plentie of them. This countrie is very colde, and there is found greate plen∣ty of siluer: there be very good coursers, or horses, that be ne∣uer shod, bycause they bréede in the mountaines and woods. There is great plentie of wilde foule, and greate plentie of corne, and Myl••, and Loli••.* 1.33 In this kingdome be great woods & narrow ways, strong men, and good Archers, and for this cause they feare no bodie. There is no cloth, they apparell themselues with skinnes of beastes that they kil. The wo∣men do weare wrapped aboute their b••dies lik•• y^e neather part of garments, some an hundreth fathom, & some foure∣score, of linnen very fine and thinne, m••de of flaxe and Cot∣ton wool, for to séeme great and fayre, and they doe weare bréeches very fine of silke, with Muske put in them.

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

AFter you be departed f••ō Ballasia eyght dayes iourney towards the South, you haue a pro∣uince cal••ed Abassia, whose people be blacke, and do speake the Persian tong, and doe wor∣ship Idolles. There they do vse Negroman∣cie. The men do weare at their heares iewels of golde, sil∣uer, and pretious stones. They be malicious people, and leacherous, by reason of the great heate of that Countrey, and they eate nothing but flesh and Rice.

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

WIthin the iurisdiction of this Countrey, be∣twéene the East and the South, there is a Prouince called Thassymur, and the people do speake the Persian tong. They be Idola∣ters, and great Negromancers, and do call to the Spirits,* 1.34 and make them to speake in the Idols, and do make their Temples séeme to moue. They doe trouble the ayre, and doe many other diuelish things. From hence they may go to the Indian Sea. The people of that Coun∣trey be blacke and leane, and do eate nothing but flesh and Rice. The Countrey is temperate. In this Countrey be many Cities and Townes, and rounde about many hilles and strong wayes to passe. And for this cause they feare no body, and their King dothe mainteyne them in peace and iustice. There be also Hermit••s, that do kéepe great absti∣nence in eating & drinking. And there be Monasteries, and many Abbeys, with Monkes, very deuout in their Idola∣trie and naughtinesse.

Of the saide prouince of Thassymur. CHAP. 26.

I Minde not now to passe further in this pro∣uince, for in passing of it I sh••uld enter in∣to the Indeas, wherof for this time I wil not declare any thing, but at the returne, I wil declare of it largely, as wel of the commo∣dities there, as also of their manner, and v∣sages.

Of a prouince called Vochaym. CHAP. 27.

DEparting from Balassia, you shall goe thrée dayes iourney betwéene the Northeast, and by a riuer that is neare to Balassia. In thys prouince be many Cities and townes. The men of this prouince be valiaunt in armes, and speake the Persian language, and be Mahomets. At the ende of this thrée dayes iourney is a Citie called Vochayn very long, of thrée dayes iourney on eyther side.* 1.35 The peo∣ple of this prouince, be subiecte to the king of Balassia, and there be greate hunters of wilde beastes, and taking of wilde foules in great number.

Of the nouelties of this Countrey. CHAP. 28.

THrée dayes iourney going fore¦warde, you shall goe vp an hill, vpon the whiche is a riuer, and goodly fruitefull pastures, that if you put in your cattell there, very leane, within tenne dayes they wil be fat. There be greate plentie of wylde beastes, and a∣mong them wilde shéepe, that some of them haue their hornes of foure and some of seuen,* 1.36 and some of tenne spannes long. And of these hornes th•• heardemen there doe make dishes, and spones. In the va∣ley of this mountaine called Plauor, you shall trauell tenne dayes iourney, without comming to anye towne, or anye grasse, therefore it shall be néedefull, for the trauey∣lours that waye, to carrie prouision with them, as wel for themselues, as for their horses. There is greate colde in that Countrey, that the fire hath not the strength to séethe th••ir victuals, as in other Countries.

Of the Desert Bosor, and of manye mar∣uellous things there. CHAP. 39.

AFter that you be departed from thence, within thré•• daies iourney you shal be faine to trauell fortie dayes iourney continually vpon Mountaines, Heathes, and Valleys, betwéene the Northeast and East, and pas∣sing ouer diuers riuers and deserts. And in

all this waye, you shall come to no towne nor habitation, nor grasse,* 1.37 and therefore it is néedefull for those that do tra∣uell that waye, to carrie with them prouision and victuals for themselues and their horses. And this Countrey is cal∣led Bosor. The people there liue on the high hils, & be called people of the Mountaines. They be Idolaters, and liue by their cattel, and be cruell people.

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

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

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

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

Of the prouince of Carcham. CHAP. 32.

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

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

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

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

POym is a small prouince of fiue dayes iour∣ney, it is betwéene the Northeaste and the East, and be subiect to the great Cane, and be Mahomets, and the principall Citie is called Poym.* 1.38 In this prouince there is a ri∣uer, in the whiche there is founde precious stones, called Iaspes and Calcedonies, there is great plentie of all kinde of victuals, and great trade of Merchandizes. In this pro∣uince there is this custome, that when the husband depar∣teth from his house for fiftéene or thirtie dayes, or more or lesse, if the wife can get another husbande for the time, she taketh him, and the husbande taketh another wife til he re∣turne home to his house.

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

AL the prouinces beforesayde, from Cas∣char, to this, be subiectes to the greate Cane, and were of greate Turkie, in y^e which there is a great Citie called Ciar∣chan in a prouince also called Ciarcham, set betwéene the Northeast & the East, and the people of that Countrey speake the Persian tong, and be Mahomets. In this prouince be ma∣ny Cities, townes, and riuers, wherein be found many pre∣tious stones, called Calcedonies, whiche Merchauntes carry

all the worlde ouer to sell, and get muche money by them. In this Countrey is aboundaunce of all things néedefull: And this prouince for the most part is sandie, and the wa∣ters there, for the most part, pleasaunt and swéete, yet in some places brackish. And the people of that Countrey, fe∣ring the ill people, do flie with their householde stuffe, and cattell, two or thrée dayes iourney, till they maye come to some good place, whereas is water and grasse for their cat∣tel, and by reason the way is sandie, their tracte is soone fil∣led, by reason whereof, the théeues knowe not howe to fol∣low in that Countrey.

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

DEparting from Ciarchan, you shal trauayle fiue dayes iourney in sande, and in the waye, fresh and swéete waters, and some saltish. Being paste these fiue dayes ior∣ney, you shal finde a great desert, and at the beginning of it a gret Citie called Iob,* 1.39 betwéene the Northeast and the Easte. They be vnder the obedience of the great Cane, & be Mahomets. And they that wil passe this desert, had néede to be in thys Citie a wéeke, for to prouide them victuals and other neces∣saries for them and theyr horses for a moneth, for in thys desert, you shall finde nothing to eate or drinke: and there be many sandie hils, and greate. After you be entred into it one dayes iourney, you shall finde good water, but

after that neyther good nor badde, nor beastes, nor foules, nor any thing to eate: and trauelling that waye by nighte, you shall heare in the ayre, the sound of Tabers and other instruments, to putte the trauellers in feare, and to make them lose their way, and to depart from their company, and loose themselues: and by that meanes many do•• die, being deceiued so, by euill spirites, that make these soundes, and also do call diuerse of the trauellers by their names, and make them to leaue their companye, so that you shall passe this desert with great daunger.

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

AFter you be passe the sayde thirtie dayes iourney by the deserte, you shall come to a Citie called Sangechian, subiect to the greate Cane. And this prouince is called Tanguith, in the whiche al be Idolaters, sauing some be Christians, Nestorians, and some Mahomets. The Ido∣laters speake the Persian tong, and doe liue by the fruites of that Countrey. There be among them manye Monaste∣ries of the Idolaters, wher with great deuotion they bring their children, and with euerie of them a shéepe, and do pre∣sent to their Idols: and euerie yeare they come with theyr children and make great reuerence to their Idols, & bryng with them their shéepe, and kill them, and séeth them, and present them there, before their Idols, saying to them, they must eate their meate, the which they can not doe, for they haue neyther mouth nor sense, and séeing their Idols do•• not eate it, they carrie it home to their houses with greate reuerence, and call theyr kyndered togyther, and do eate

of it, as meate sacrificed to their Gods, and put the bones in a basket. When anye man or woman dieth, they burne the body: and this they accustome to doe with al the Ido∣lators. And in the way that the deade bodies shall passe to be burnte,* 1.40 stande all their friendes and kinsfolkes to ac∣company the body to the sepulchre, all clothed in cloth of golde and silke: and after the burnte bodye is put into the grounde, they cause to be brought thither meate & drinke, and there they do eate and drinke with greate myrth, say∣ing: These bodies shall be receiued in the other worlde with like honour. When they burne the bodies, they do also burne with them diuers papers paynted, of men, wo∣men, and beastes, say••ng, that as many pictures of men, women, and beastes, as they do burne with them, so many seruaunts they shall haue in the other world to doe them seruice: and when they cary them to bury, there goeth be∣fore them diuers kinds of instruments playing. And whē one of these Idolators dieth, his friendes incontinentlye declare to the Astrologers, the day and the houre hée was borne in, and wil not bury him before the day & houre the Astrologers doe commaunde: by that meanes some they bury straightways, and somtimes, they tarry ten, twenty, and thirtie dayes, and sometime sixe moneths, according as the Astrologers doe commaunde: and in the meane time, they do sire the body with spices, and put it in a cof∣fin, and nayle it faste, and lay a cloth ouer it, and euerye day they set their table ouer the Coffin, and there do eate and drinke, and pray the dead body to eate with them. And when the day appointed is come for to bury him, the A∣strologers do say, that if he hath layne there one month, it is not good to take him oute of that place, by the iudge∣ment of the Constellations, and for that cause muste first remoue him to some other side of the house, & from thence carry him to bury.

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

CHamul is a prouince in the whiche be manye Citties and Townes, whereof the chiefest is called Cha∣mul, and this prouince is towards the winde called Maistral, which is Northeast, and hath two Deserts: on the one side, the Deserte is of thrée dayes iorney, and on the o∣ther side as muche. The people of this Countrey worship Idols, and doe speake the Persian tongue. They liue by their labor in the Countrey, and haue plentie of al things néedefull. They be people giuen much to their owne plea∣sure, as playing on instrumentes, dauncing, and singing. And if any straunger doe goe to sée their pastime, they re∣ceiue him, and make very much of him, with feasting and cheare, and the goodman commaundeth his wife to make hym the beste cheare she can, and to obey him in al things he will commaunde or desire, and so the goodman goeth to his laboure into the fieldes, and leaueth the straunger with hys wife, willing hir to obey hym as to his owne person: and this custome the menne and the women vse there, & be not ashamed therof. The women be very faire there. In the time of the greate Cane that is passe, for the greate dishonestie hée heard of the people of that coun∣trie, and the greate hurte they susteined in their houses, commaunded them that they shoulde receiue no straun∣gers into their houses, wherewithall the people were

sore offended, and thinking themselues not well vsed, sent Embassadors to the greate Cane, requesting him, that he woulde not restraine them from their auntient liberties and customes, that their anticessors hadde euer vsed, and they for their partes woulde continue the same, otherwise they shoulde be vnthankefull to their Idolls. After the greate Cane hadde hearde their Embassage, aunswered them, séeyng they had pleasure in suche shamefull vsages, and woulde not leaue it, he also was contented with it.

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

HIngnitala is a prouince set betwéen the North and the Easte, and is a long prouince of sixetéene dayes iourney, and is subiect to the great Cane, and there is manye Cities and Townes. There is also in that prouince, thrée linages of people, to saye, Idolators that be Christians, Nestorians and Ia∣cobites, and the other Mahomets. At the ende of this pro∣uince towardes the North is a greate hill, on the whiche there is neither beastes nor Serpent, and from thence they doe gather that whiche is called Salamandra, which is a thréede they doe make cloth of. They gather it after this manner, they digge a certaine vayne that they doe there finde, and afterwardes they beate it in a

morter of a lofer, and afterwarde washe it, and there re∣maineth small fine théedes faire and cleane, and after they haue caste out that which they doe washe it withall, they spinne it, and weaue it, and make table clothes and napkins of it, then they caste them into the fire for a cer∣taine time, whereas it waxeth as white as snowe: and the great Cane once in thrée yeres doth send for some of them that be made of Salamandra. And they wer wont for to sēd of these napkins, for to hang before the vernacle of oure Lorde Iesus Christ, whome the people of Leuant do take for a great prophet. Departing from this prouince, and going betwéen the Northeast and East, you shal trauaile tenne dayes iourney and come to little habitation, and at the end of the tenne dayes iourny, you shall find a pro∣uince called Sanchur, in it be Christians and Idolators, sub∣iects to the great Cane. The two prouinces beforesaide, to say, Chamul, and Hingnitala be called Tanguth, with the prouince of Sachar. In all the hilles of this prouince is found greate plentie of Rewbarbe, and there the Mer∣chauntes do buy it, and carry it to all places to sel. There they doe not vse any occupation, but the moste parte doe liue by the laboure of the Countrey.

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

CAmpion is a greate Citie and fayre, & is the heade of the prouince of Tan∣guth. In this Citie be thrée sortes of people, that is to say, Christians, Ido∣lators, and Mahomets. The Christiās haue thrée great Churches and faire, and the Idolators haue also Monaste∣ries

Abbeys, and religious houses, more chaste and com∣ly than the other, and they do kil no beast nor fowle there till the fifth day of the Moone, and in those fiue days they liue more honest, deuout, and chast, than in any other time of the yeare. These Idolators may haue thirtie wiues a∣péece, or more, if they be able to maintaine them, but the firste wife is chiefe, and if anye of them doe not contente him, he may put hir away. They do mary in kinreds, and liue like beastes. In this Citie was Mapheo Nicholas and Marcus Paulus seauen yeres, vsing the trade of mer∣chaundize.

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

DEparting from the foresayde Cittie Campion, and trauailing twelue dayes iorney, you shall come to a Citie called Eusina, the whyche is in a fielde of the Desert called Sabon, toward the North, and is of the prouince Targuth. In this Citie they bée al Idolators, and haue great a∣bundaunce of Camels and other cattell withall: they gette their liuing by labouring the ground. In this Citie those that do trauaile, do prouide them of victualles, and other necessaries, for fortie dayes iourney, whyche they must passe through a great. Desert, wheras be no towns nor houses, nor grasse, but in the mountaines about dwel people, and also in the valleys beneath the Desert. There be many Asses and other wild beasts of the mountaines, and greate Pine apple trées. At the ende of this Deserte

there is a Citie called Catlogoria, whiche is towarde the North, and of this Citie was the first Prince or Lorde a∣mong the Tartars, and his name was Catlogoria. The Tar∣tars dwel towards the North, wheras is but few cities & Townes, but true it is, there be fayre playnes, pastures, riuers, and very good waters. There dwell Tartars that haue no King nor Lorde, they doe gouerne themselues in common, and do pay tribute to Prester Iohn. It formned, that these Tartars multiplyed to so greate a number, that Prester Iohn did feare, that they woulde rise against him, therefore he determined with himselfe to sende certaine Lordes of his that shoulde be among them to kéepe them asunder, and also to kéepe the countrey in good order, and to banishe or diminishe parte of them, bycause they should not be of so greate a power. And the Tartars perceyuyng thys, ioyned themselues togither, and tooke councell, de∣termined to leaue that countrey, and to goe and dwell vp∣on the mountaines and in the deserts, by meanes whereof from that time forwarde they stoode in no feare of Prester Iohn, nor woulde pay him tribute. And at the end of cer∣taine yeares, that they were not vnder the obedience of Prester Iohn, they did elect and choose among themselues a King whiche they called Chenchis, a valiaunt and wise man: and this was in the yeare of oure Lorde God .1187. and crowned him for King of the Tartars aforesaide. And all the Tartars that were in Persia, and other Countreys there••boutes, came to him, and put themselues vnder his gouernement, and obeyed him as their King, and he recei∣ued them very friendly, gouerning them iustely and dis∣créetely. And after that Chenchis was confirmed, and had the whole gouernment, within a short time he made war, and in shorte time conquered righte Kingdomes or Pro∣uinces, and when he hadde gotten anye Prouince or Ci∣tie, he did iniurie to no man, but lette them remaine wyth

their goods, sauing to those that were able and fitte menne for him, they he tooke with him into the warres, and by this meanes he was welbeloued, and all men were con∣tent to goe with him.

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

CHenchis perceyuyng himselfe to be of suche power, minding to ioyne himselfe in kindred or stocke with Prester Iohn, sente to him his Embassadoures, re∣quiring his daughter in marri∣age: and this was in the yeare of oure Lord God .1190. Prester Iohn disdained that Embassage and aunswered, that he maruai∣led muche that Chenchis being his Subiecte shoulde pre∣sume to demaunde his Lordes daughter to be his wife, saying he woulde rather kil hir: so the matter remayned thus. Chenchis hearing this aunswere of Prester Iohn, was sore troubled and vexed in minde againste hym, and incontinent sent him defiaunce, saying, he woulde warre vppon him, and of this Prester Iohn made small reckning saying, that the Tartars were but slaues, and not menne of warre, notwithstanding he made himselfe in a readi∣nesse, and came vpon Chenchis, who had also made him∣selfe in a readinesse, and came oute againste him and en∣countred togither in a great plaine called Tanguth, where it was appointed the battaile shoulde be of both parties, & thus ioyned togither in a fierce & lōg battel, for both parts

was strong, but in the end, Prester Iohn being slaine, and many of both parts,* 1.41 the field remayned to Chenchis, who conquered all the prouince, Cities, and townes of Prester Iohn, and raigned after his death sixe yeares, and at the end of sixe yeares, laying siege to a Castell, was hurte in the knée with an arrowe, and of that wounde dyed. After the death of this Chenchis, was made Lord of the Tartars one called Cane, and this was the firste that was called Emperoure and Greate Cane.* 1.42 And after hym raigned Bathe Cane, and the fourth was called Chenchis Cane, & the fifth was Cublay Cane, which raigneth nowe. This Cublay Cane is the greatest and of most power of anye of al his predessors, for among the Christians and Heathen, there is not a greater Prince than he is, nor of so great a power, and that shall you cléerely perceyue hereafter, by that which followeth. All the Canes, successors of the first Chenchis, where bu••yed in a mountaine called Alchay, and there dwelled the greate Cane.* 1.43 And when the greate Cane dyeth, they cary hym to be buryed there. Those that do cary him, or go with him, kill as manye as they méete withall in the waye or stréete, and when they kill them, they saye: Go, and serue our Lorde in the other worlde, & they beléeue certainely, that they go, and doe him seruice. And likewise by this reason, when the greate Cane dieth, they kill all his Camels, Horses, and Moyles, beléeuing that they sēd them to serue their Lord in the other worlde. When Monguy Cane Lorde of the Tartars dyed, there was slaine .300000. men that they encountred in the way, by those that wente wyth hym to hys buriall to the saide mountaine.

The habitation of the Tartars in the Winter, is in the plaine fieldes, where it is warme, and good grasse and pa∣sture for their Cattell, and in the Sommer in the moun∣taines and wooddes, where it is freshe and pleasaunt aire: and they make rounde houses of tymber, and couer them

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

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

THe Greate Cane Emperour of the Tar∣tars, doth worshippe for his God, and I∣doll called Nochygay, and they saye and beléeue, that he is the eternall God, that taketh care to preserue hym, hys wiues, children, familie, cattell, and corne, and

hathe him in great reuerence, and euery one hath the fi∣gure of that Idoll in his house. And this Idoll is made of feltes, or of other cloth, and of the same felte or cloth they doe make wiues and children for their Idols, and the women be sette on the lefte side of the Idols,* 1.44 and the children before them. When they thinke it dinner tyme, then they doe annoynte the mouthes and lippes of theyr Idols, and wiues and children, with the fatte of the sod∣den flesh, and do poure out the broath vpon the floore, say∣ing, that theyr Idols, their wiues, and children doe fill themselues with it, and they do eate the sodden flesh, and their drinke is the milke of Mares trimmed with spices, that it is like white wine, and it is very good, and is cal∣led with them Cheminis. The Lordes and men of power and riches, goe apparelled in cloth of golde, and cloth of silke,* 1.45 furred with riche furres. Their harnesse is the Hydes of Buffe, or other thicke and strong Skynnes. The Tartares be valiant men of armes, and strong to a∣byde any trauell or laboure, and can well suffer hunger and thirst, for in the warres they be many times one moneth, and eate nothing, but of wylde beastes they doe kill in the field, and drinke Mares Milke. When they be in the field day and night they be on Horsebacke, and the bridle in their hands they giue the Horses meate. When their King setteth forward with his host, before and on euery side of him they do set foure battels of the best and most valiant men, for bycause their King shoulde not bée put in feare. And when he goeth a warrefare a farre off, he caryeth nothing with hym but hys armoure, and a thing to couer him when it doth rayne, and two flaggons with Milke for to drinke, and a Potte to séeth his meate in when néede is. In a tyme of néede hée will ride tenne days iourney, without eating any sodden meate. For his drinke, they will carrie Milke made like dry paste, and when hée is disposed to drinke, he will take a little of that

paste, and dissolue it in fayre water, and so drinke it:* 1.46 and when thys shall fayle hym, and that he can gette no other drinke, hée letteth hys Horse bloud, and drinketh of it. When the Tartares wyll skyrmishe wyth theyr e∣n••mies, they hyde their Sallets secretely, and as they doe beginne to skyrmishe, streightway they shewe as though they woulde runne away, and that they were o∣uercome of theyr enimies, and thus fléeing, putte on theyr Sallets, and streyght way they returne valiantly vpon their enimies, and by this meanes commonly they doe breake the a ray of theyr enimies. The Tartares haue thys custome,* 1.47 that if one of theyr sonnes dye being yong, and also of another man his daughter, after they be dead, they marrie them, saying, they shall be maried in the other worlde. And of thys Matrimonie they doe make a publike writing, and this writing they burne, saying to the dead, that as the smoke thereof ascendeth on high, so doe they sende them that writing, declaring theyr mariage. And at suche mariages they make great feasting and solemnitie, and do séeth muche victuals, and poure out the broath vppon the floore, saying, that those which be dead in this world, and maried in the other, do eate of the victuals prepared for the wedding. And be∣sides all this, they cause to be painted the figure of the sonne and daughter, vppon the backside of the foresayde writing, and withall the pictures of manye Camels, and other diuers beasts, and apparell and money, and many other things, saying, that as that writing dothe burne, all those things therein goe straight way to their chyl∣dren, after the smoke as aforesayde, and the fathers and mothers of these children that dyed, doe take hands togi∣ther, and be alwayes after friendes, and Grandfathers and Grandmothers, and Cousens, euen as though they had bin maried aliue.

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

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

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

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

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

I Haue declared vnto you of the prouinces of the North, till you come to the moun∣taines, and the Occean Sea: and now I will compte to you of the other prouinces belonging to y^e great Cane, til you come to his country, returning to the country cal∣led Campion, where you shal passe .5. days iorny in length, in the which many times you shal hear the voices of euil spirits. At y^e end of these fiue days iorny towards y^e East,* 1.48 there is a kingdom called Erguil, of y^e prouince of Tanguth, subiect to the greate Cane, and in this prouince there liue thrée sorts of people, that is to say, Christians that be Ne∣storians, and Idolators and Mahomets: and there be ma∣ny Cities and Townes, but the principall Citie is called Erguyl. From this Citie trauelling East Southeast, you shall come to a Countrie whiche is a greate prouince, in the whiche there is a great Citie called Syrygay, that hath neare vnto it many Cities and Townes, all subiect to the greate Cane, and there be in it Christians, Idolators, and Mahomets. There be wild Oxen as bigge as Elephants, very faire beasts to sée, white and blacke,* 1.49 al couered with haire, sauing a spanne long vpon the necke, whyche is cal∣led Del Espinazo, whiche is bare, and hath no haire, and many of these Oxen they do make tame, and doe laboure and till the grounde with them. They will carrye greate waighte, by reason they be so great bodyed. There is the

best Muske in the worlde. The Beast that ••hey haue it off,* 1.50 is bodyed like a Catte, with foure téeth, two aboue, and two beneath, of thrée fingers long, they be slender of body, an haue heare like a redde Déere, and féete lyke a Catte, and they haue a thing like a poshe, or bagge of bloud, gathered togither néere to their nauell, betwéene the skinne and the fleshe, whiche they cutte and take a∣way, and that is the Muske: and there be many of those Beastes there. The people of that Countrey do liue by their occupations and trade of Merchandise, and haue good plenty of corne. This Countrey is long, of .25. days iourney.* 1.51 There be plenty of Feysants, and very greate, for one of them is as bigge as two of oures, with tayles of eyght, nine, and tenne spannes long. The people of that Countrey be fatte, and of lowe browes, and blacke heared, and haue no beardes, but a fewe heares about the mouth. The women be faire and white, and well bodyed. The p••ople fot that Countrey bée gyuen muche to the pleasure of the body, for a riche man to obteyne the fa∣uoure of a woman, wyll giue hir a ioynter. They bée all Idolaters▪

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

DEparting from Erguill, and trauelling towardes the East eyght dayes iourney, you shall come to a Prouince called Egre∣gia, that hathe vnder it many Cities, and is of the Prouince of Tanguthe, and the principall Citie of it is called Chalacia, and is subiecte to

the greate Cane, in the which be thrée Churches of Chri∣stians Nestorians, and all the rest be Idolaters.* 1.52 There they make excellent good Chamlets of Camels heare of white wooll, and from thence Merchantes carrie them to sell into other Countreys.

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

DEparting from Arguill, and entring into the Kingdomes of Prester Iohn, you shall come to a Prouince called Tanguthe, which is vnder a King of the lignage of Prester Iohn, whiche is cal∣led George by his proper name, and he holdeth that Countrey of the great Cane, especially those that were taken of Prester Iohn. And the greate Cane dothe alwayes take the chiefest daughters of this Kyng commonly, since that Chenchis the first King of the Tar∣tares slewe Prester Iohn in battell, as before is declared. In this Countrey is found Lapis laguli, whiche is a stone,* 1.53 that maketh a fine blew. The most part of this prouince be Christians, and they be gouernoures, and chiefe of the Countrey. There be also Mahomets, whiche doe liue by Cattell, and labouring of y^e ground. In this Prouince be another kind of people called Argarones, or Galmulos, this they do say, for bicause they do descēd of two seueral nati∣ons, y^t is to say, of y^e christiās of Tāguthe, & the Mahomets.* 1.54 They be faire mē, wise and discret more than the others of y^t countrey. In this prouince was y^e imperiall chayre or

seate of Prester Iohn, when he raygned ouer the Tartars: and yet there doe raygne in that prouince, of the stocke of Prester Iohn, of whome came this George King of thys prouince. Here is that place that the holye Scripture speaketh of, called Gog and Magog.

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

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

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

PArting from this Citie, and trauelling .iij dayes iorny, you shall come to a Citie cal∣led Gianorum, in the which there is a mer∣uellous goodly Pallace of the great Canes to lodge him and his Court when he com∣meth to that Citie, and in this Citie he is

desirous to be with good will, for bycause that neare vnto it is a good countrey,* 1.55 in the which be great plentie of wyld Géese, and Duckes, and of Cranes, of fiue sortes or man∣ners: the first be great and all blacke like Crowes: the se∣cond all whyte, sauing the heades that be all red: the thirde al black, sauing the heade is white and shyning: y^e fourth gréene, with blacke heads: they be farre bigger than ours: the fifth be little with all their feathers redde. Neare vnto this Citie is a great valley, where the great Cane hath many wilde beastes, great and smal, and among thē great plentie of Partridges, to serue for his prouision, when hée goeth into that Countrey.

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

DEparting thrée dayes iourney from this Citie, betwéen the Northeast and y^e North you shall come to a Citie called Liander, which Cublay Cane buylded. In this Citie is a maruellous goodlye Pallace made of M••rble and flint stones, called pedras viuas,* 1.56 al gilded wyth gold, and neare to this Pallace, is a wall which is in com∣passe fiftéene miles, and within this wall be faire riuers, Wels, and gréene Meadowes, where the great Cane hath plentie of all kinde of wilde foule and beastes,* 1.57 for to finde his Hawkes, called Faulcons, and Gerfaulcons, that bée there in mew, which he at sometimes more than 40000. y^t which many times he goeth thyther to sée. Whē he doth ride in these Meadowes, he carrieth behinde him on the buttockes of his horse, a russet or graye Lyon tame, and

setteth him to the stagges, or redde Déere, and to other wylde beastes, and vppon these beastes do the Gerfaul∣cons and Faulcons season. In the middest of these Med∣dowes is a great house, where the great Cane doth resort to dinner, and to banquet, and to take his reste and plea∣sure in, when he goeth that waye. And this house is com∣passed about with greate Canes, that be gilded and coue∣red with Canes that be varnished, and closed all in one, in such sort, that no water can passe throughteuerye Cane is at the least thrée spannes compasse, and from tenne to fif∣téen paces long. And this house is so made, that at al times they maye take it downe and set it vp againe, vpon a so∣dayne.* 1.58 It is tyed with aboue 200. cordes of silke, after the manner of tentes, or pauilions. And the greate Cane repayreth thither for his pleasure, in Iune, Iuly, and Au∣gust, and there by commaundement of his Prophets, Ido∣laters maketh sacrifice with milke to his Idols, for to preserue and kéepe his wiues, and sonnes, and daughters, and his subi••ctes, and seruauntes, and cattell, and foules, corne, vines, fruite, and all other things in his countries. All the Mares that the great Cane rideth on, be as white as milke. Among the which, he hath alwayes ten Mares that no body doth drinke of their milke,* 1.59 but onlye he and some greate men of his Courte, and some others that hée called honourable and noble, bycause of a victorie had a∣gainst the ••nemies of Chenchis the first king of the Tar∣tars.

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

WHen the great Cane will make sa∣crifice, he poureth out the Mares milke vpon the ground,* 1.60 and in the ayre, and the Prophets of his gods say, that milke poured out, is the holye Ghoste, of the which all the Idols be ful, and do beléeue, that this sacrifice is the cause of his confirmation, and of his subiects, & of al his other things. And this sacrifice he doth euery yere y^e 29. day of August. And to those white horses and Mares wheresoeuer they do go, they do great reuerence. This greate Cane hath in his Court certaine Negromanciers, whiche by arte of the Diuel, when it is foule & troubleseme weather, it shal be fayre and cleare weather in his Pallace. And do gyue to vnderstande to the people, that the clearnesse is ouer the Pallace where the great Cane is, only for his deserts and holy life, and by vertue of his Idols. When anye one is iudged to dye, as soone as he is deade they séeth him, and eate him, but those that dye by natural death, be meat for their Idols.

And besides thys, when the great Cane is at hys ta∣ble, these inchaunters doe worke by arte of the Diuel, that Cuppes doe rise from the table tenne Cubits into the ayre, and do set themselues down again,* 1.61 and whē they wyll doe this, they demaunde of the greate Cane a blacke shéepe, and the wood of Alloe and Incense, & other swéete spyces, wherof there is great plenty, bicause their sacrifice

séeme the more swéeter, and he commaundeth to be deli∣uered to them, what they will haue, for bycause they be∣léeue that their Idols doe preserue and kéepe him and all his companie. These Prophets and Priestes, do cause the flesh to be sodden with spices in presence of their Idols, & do put incense therin, and poure the broth into the ayre, & they say the Idol taketh of it what pleaseth him: and thys they do with gret singing. Euery Idol hath his name, and to euery one they do this worship on their dayes, as we do on our saints dayes. They haue many Monasteries de∣puted to the names of their Idols. There is in that coun∣trey one Monasterie as big as a good Citie,* 1.62 in the which there be 400. Monkes that goe honestly apparelled, and their beardes and heads shauen. Vpon their feaste dayes they kepe great solemnity, with singing, and praysing, and lights, and some of these religious men haue many wiues, and some of them liue chaste: the chast do eate the branne and the meale kneaded togither, with a little hote water, and do fast oftentimes in reuerence of their Idols, and do weare garments made of Canuas died blacke or blewe, & some white, and do lye in Almadraques, sharpe and harde beds, and the other religious that be maried, they go well apparelled, and do eate and drinke wel, and doe saye that those which liue the streight life be Heretickes and fooles, bycause they do punish their bodies, by meanes whereof they can not honor their Idols as they ought to do, and as reason is. All the Idols of these married religious men, they do name by the name of women, bycause they be such leacherous people.

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

HEre, for your better information, I wyll declare vnto you of a victory the gret Cane had, wherby you shal the better vnderstand and know of his strength and power. It was he that now raigneth, which was cal∣led Cublay Cane, whiche is as muche to saye, as Lorde of Lordes. You shall vnderstande that this Cublay Cane de∣scended lineally of the imperiall stocke, from Chenchis Cane, from whence he must descende, that shall be Lorde of the Tartares: and this Cublay Cane, beganne his raigne in the yere of our Lord God .1256. And as Chenchis Cane by his prouidence and wisedome, made himselfe the firste Lord of the Tartares, as is before declared, so likewise this for his wisdome and prouidence, contrarie to the good will of his kinred, that would haue put him out of it, did so cō∣serue and gouerne his Dominions and Countries, til the yeare of our Lord God .1298. so that he raigned two and fortie yeares, and was fiue and forty yeares old when he was made Emperor, and euerye yeare hadde warres, for he was valiant and expert in the warres, but he himselfe after he was made Emperour, neuer went to the warres but one time, but alwayes sent his sonnes, or some noble men, whom he thought best. And the cause wherefore hée went at that time in person, was this. In the yeare of our Lord God .1286. a nephew of his, of the age of thirtie yeares Lord of many prouinces, Cities, and townes, per∣ceyuing himselfe to be subiecte to the greate Cane, as his predecessors had ben, determined in himself not to be sub∣iect to anye, and concorded with another kinseman of the

great Canes, whyche was called Cardin, whyche mighte well make .100000. Horsemen, and was mortall enimie to the greate Cane hys vncle, and did moue warre both of them with theyr hostes agaynste the great Cane, and hée hauyng knowledge thereof, dyd not feare, for hée was a Prince of maruellous greate power: but incon∣tinent he called hys people togither for to go against hys enimies, and toke an oth, that the crowne shoulde neuer come on his head, till that he had cruelly reuenged hym∣selfe on them as Traytors and Rebels, so that within two and twenty days, he had ioyned particularly a great host of thrée hundred thousand fighting men,* 1.63 of horsemen and footemen, and woulde ioyne no greater an host, nor haue it published abrode, that his enimies shoulde haue knowledge of it, and also for that he had many of his men of warre abroade in other places on warfare, and coulde not bring them togither in so short a time. But you shall vnderstande that when the greate Cane will make his power, and take time to doe it, he may ioyne so greate a number, that it were a greate trouble to number them. These thrée hundred thousande of fighting men, be not all menne of experience, for there were aboue foure thousande Falconers, and Seruants, and Cour∣tiers that attended vppon the Kings person, and ser∣ued in his Courts. But thus hauing his hosts ioyned, he commanded to be called before him his Astrologers, and would know of them in what sort and time he shoulde set forward on this enterprise, and they answered him that the time was good, and that he shoulde haue victorie ouer his enimies, and so incontinent set forwarde on his way with his people, and came to a playne, where as was Na∣uia with .200000. men tarrying there the comming of Caydu with another hundred thousand of horsemen, for to set on the Countreys of the great Cane. The Lordes of

the great Cane had beset all the wayes, and taken all the streytes, that neither succoure shoulde come, nor his eni∣mies flée, bycause he would take them all prisoners. Na∣uia knowing nothing of this, or that the great Cane had prepared himselfe for any warre,* 1.64 for the greate Cane had before beset all the wayes and passages, that no mā could passe to carrie any newes to Nauia, and by this meanes, not thinking nor stāding in any doubt, thought he might well take his rest that nighte, and all his people: but the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cane was stirring in the morning betimes with all his ho••res, and did sette his Campe hard by the place where as Nauia had his, and founde them all vna••med, and vnprouided, not thinking any thing of it, and percey∣uing it, he was in greate feare. And the great Cane had made a great frame vpon an Elephant, wherin his stan∣derdes were caried, and before and behinde, and by the sides went his battels of Horsemen and footemen, that is to say .25000. in a battell. And with these battels be sette all the host of Nauia round, and when Nauia sawe thys, he lept on horsebacke, and caused his trumpets to blowe, and set his armie in as good order as he could, and so ioy∣ned battell, whereas was a great and strong fighte, and continued from morning till nighte, and greate number slayne on both parties, but at the end Nauia and his com∣pany were not able any longer to withstande the furie of the greate Canes armed men, and beganne to flée, in such sort, that Nauia was taken prisoner, and his people not being able to doe anye good, submitted themselues to the great Cane: and Nauia being presented aliue to the great Cane, he caused him to be bounde vp in a Carpet, and so long hée vsed him to bée caried, that hée dyed,* 1.65 and thys deathe hée gaue hym, for that hée woulde not haue the bloud of Nauia béeing of his kindred, fall to the grounde, nor that the ayre shoulde sée hym dye an euill deathe.

After that Nauia was deade, all his Lordes and other prisoners became sworne to the great Cane, to be obediēt to him. These foure prouinces were vnder the obedience of Nauia, that is to say, Furciorcia, Guli, Baston, Scincinguy.

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

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

THe great Cane that was called Cubla Cane, was a manne of a ••iddle stature, well fleshte, and of good complexion, and wel pro∣portioned in al his mēbers, well coloured of face, his eyes black, his nose well made: he hath four that be his Legitimate wiues, and his eldest sonne, that he hath by his first wife, doth kepe Court by himselfe, and euerye one of these foure Quéenes, haue in their Courtes 300. wayting women,* 1.66 and many maydens, with also many mē and women, that do seruice in the Courtes: for euery one of these foure Quéenes haue in their Courtes more than 4000. persons, of men, women, maydens, and seruaunts. Also the greate Cane hath many Concubines of Tartars, which be called Origiathe and be of a good and honest beha∣uiour,* 1.67 and of these the greate Cane hath a hundreth may∣dens chosen out for himselfe, which be in a pallace by thē∣selues, and haue auntient women to kéepe them. And of

these hundreth, euery thrée dayes sixe of them doe serue and attend vpon the great Cane in his Chamber, and the thrée dayes being past, they doe returne to their Pallace agayne, and other sixe come for to kéepe the great Canes Chamber.* 1.68 And thus they do remoue from thrée dayes to thrée dayes. The sayd great Cane had by his sayd wiues two and twentie Sonnes, the eldest of them is called Chinchis, in remembrance of the first King of Tartares, and also to renue that name, this firste sonne is called Chinchis Cane, and shoulde haue succéeded his father in the Kingdome, but bycause he dyed before his father, his eldest sonne called Themur Cane, and this his sonnes sonne, bycause he should raigne after him, kepte a greate Court by himselfe.

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

NOw I will declare vnto you of the worthy and noble Citie called Cambalu,* 1.69 the whiche is in the prouince of Cathaya. This Citie is foure and twenty myles compasse, and is fouresquare, that is, to euery quarter sixe miles compasse. The wall is very strong, of twenty pa∣ces high, and battlements of thrée paces high. The wall is fiue paces thicke, This Citie hathe twelue gates, and at euery gate is a very faire pallace. And vpon the toppe of euery corner of the said wal is also a faire pallace, and in all these pallaces ioyning to the wall be many people appoynted for to watch and kéepe the Citie. And in those pallaces be all maner of armour and weapons for the de∣fence and strength of the Citie. The stréetes of this Citie be so faire and streight, that you may sée a Candle or fire

from the one ende to the other. In this Citie be manye fayre Pallaces and houses. And in the middest of it is a notable greate and faire Pallace, in the whiche there is a great Toure, wherein there is a greate Bell, and after that Bell is tolled thrée times, no body may goe abroade in the Citie, but the watchmen that be appoynted for to kéepe the Citie, and the nurses that doe kéepe children newly borne, and Phisitions that goe to visit the sicke, and these may not go without light. At euery gate night∣lye there is a thousand men to watch, not for feare of any enimies,* 1.70 but to auoyde théeues and robbers in the Citie, which many times do chance in the Citie. And this great watche the greate Cane doth cause, to conserue and kéepe h••s people and subiects, that no man should do them hurt, Without this Citie be twelue suburbes very greate, and euery one of thē answereth to his gate of y^e Citie. And in these be many Merchantes and men of occupations: and thyther do resort all people that come out of the Coun∣treys,* 1.71 and such Lordes as haue to do with the King or his Courtes. And in these suburbes be moe than twentye thousande single or common women, and neuer a one of them maye dwell within the Citie on payne of burning. Out of this Citie goeth euery daye aboue a thousande Cartes with silke. The great Cane is garded euery night with twentie thousande Gentlemen on Horsebacke, not for any feare, but for dignitie. They be called Chisitanos, which is as much to say, as Knightes for the body, or tru∣stie Knights. The manner of the great Cane for his din∣ner, is this: They make ready all the Tables rounde a∣bout the Hall, and in the middest of the Hall, is made ready the Table for the greate Cane, setting his backe towardes the North, and his face towardes the South. His firste wife sitteth next vnto him on hys lefte hande, and his other wiues following orderly. On his other side do sitte his sonnes, and his sonnes children, one after a∣nother,

according to his age. Those that be of the impe∣riall lignage, do sitte downe afterward at another table more lower. And the other Lords and their wiues do sitte at other Tables more lower, according to their degrées, dignities, offices, estates, and age. At the saide Tabl••s commonly do sitte foure thousand persons, or very néere,* 1.72 and euery one may sée the great Cane as he sitteth at his dinner. In the middest of the Hall is a very greate ves∣sell or cesterne of fine gold, that will holde tenne Hogges∣heads, which is alwayes kept full of perfect good drinke. And néere vnto that vessell be other foure vessels of siluer bigger than that, full of good wine, with many other ves∣sels and pottes by them, of gold, and of siluer, which may be of pottels a péece, or as muche as will serue foure men for a dinner. At dinner, out of the vessell of golde, wyth pottes of golde, they drawe wine for to serue the greate Cane his Table, for him, his wiues, children, and kin∣dred: and out of the vesselles of siluer,* 1.73 with Iars and Pottes of siluer, they drawe wine to serue the Lordes and the Ladies, and all others sitting at the Tables, as well wemen as men. And euery one that sitteth at the tables hathe a cuppe of golde before hym to drinke in. And euery one that bringeth anye seruice to the greate Canes Table, hathe a towell of golde and silke be∣fore his mouth, bycause his breath shall not come vppon the meate and drinke they bring. When the great Cane will drinke, all the Musitians that bée in the Hall doe play, and euery one that serueth, knéeleth downe tyll hée haue drunke. In the Hall be alwayes Iesters, Iuglers, and fooles, attending vpon the Tables, to make pastime all dynner tyme, and after Dinner is done, and the Tables taken vppe,* 1.74 euerie man goeth aboute his busi∣nesse. All the Tartares kéepe greate feasting and chéere euery yeare on the daye that Cublay Cane was borne, which was on the eight and twentith day of September,

and that is the greatest feast they make in all the yeare saue one, that héereafter shall be spoken of. The greate Cane doth apparell himselfe that day he was borne on in cloth of golde maruellous rich, and .12000. Barōs be ap∣parelled with him after the same sorte touching the cloth of gold,* 1.75 but not so rich and preciouse, and euery one of thē hath a great girdle of gold, and that apparell and girdles the great Cane giueth them.* 1.76 And there is neuer a one of those garments with the girdle, but it is worth .10000. Bisancios of golde, whiche may be a thousand Markes. By this you may perceyue, that he is of great power and riches. And on the sayde day, all the Tartares, and Mer∣chantes, and subiects, and those that dwell in his Coun∣treys, be bounde to presente vnto hym euery one some∣thyng, according to his degrée and abilitie, in knowled∣ging him to be their Lorde. And whatsoeuer he be that doth begge any office or gift of him, must giue him a pre∣sent, according to the gift he doth aske. And all his Sub∣iects and Merchantes, and trauellers, or anye other that be founde in his Countreys or Prouinces, be vsually bounde to pray for the greate Cane to hys Idols, to pre∣serue hym and hys Countreys, whether they be Tar∣tares or Christiane,* 1.77 or Iewes, or Moores. The Tartares begin their yeare the firste day of February, and do kéepe a great feast that day. And the greate Cane and hys Ba∣rons, with all the rest of the Citie, doe apparell them∣selues in white that daye, making greate pastymes, saying, the greate Cane is bl••ssed and fortunate, and so doe desire a ioyfull yeare. And on that daye there is pre∣sent••d to the great Cane more than .10000. Horses and Mares al white,* 1.78 and more than fiue thousand Elephāts, with two greate baskettes vpon them full of prouision necessarie for hys Courtes. And besides thys, there is presented to hym a great number of Camels, couered all with white cloth of silke, for seruice of their K. And when

they giue these presents, they doe all passe by, where the great Cane doeth stande and sée them. On the same daye that this feast is, in the morning b••times, before the Ta∣bles be couered, all the kings, Dukes, Marquesses, Lords, Captaynes, Gouernours, and Ius••ices of his countryes, & other officers, come into the Hal before y^• presence of the great Cane, and those that can not come in, be in another place, where as the great Cane may sée them all: and thus being altogither as though they woulde make some re∣quest, there goeth one vppe vpon a buylding or scaffolde that is made for the same purpose,* 1.79 in the middest of the hall, & with a loude or high voyce, biddeth them al knéele downe vpon their knées, and giue landes and thankes to their Lord, and streight wayes euery one doth honor him as if he were an Idoll: and this they doe foure times, and thys being done, euery one goeth and sitteth downe in his place, and afterwardes do rise one after an other, and goe to an aulter, whiche is set in the middest of the hall, and vpon it is a table set, written on with letters of gold, and garnished with pretious stones of greate value, and the writing is the proper name of the greate Cane, and wyth Sensors of fine golde full of incense and fire, they incense that table in honour of the great Cane. And after that, eue∣ry one in presence of the great Cane,* 1.80 doth offer great and precious giftes according to his state, condition, and abi∣litie, and this being done, they go all and sitte downe at the tables to dinner. And the great Cane thirtéene times in the yeare doeth giue apparell to his Barrons,* 1.81 in thirtéen great feastes he doeth make, and at euery time he doeth chaunge this apparel, and this apparel that he doth giue, is of greater and lesser value, according to the degrée of him that he giueth it vnto. And to euerye one he giueth a girdle, or a payre of hosen, or a hatte, garnished wyth golde, and set with pearles and pretious stones, according to the degrée of the parties: and of this apparell is euerye

yeare .1••6000. and this he doth for to honour and magnifie his feastes. And at euery such feast the gret Cane hath ly∣ing at his féete a tame Lyon, vpon a rich Carpet. And the great Cane is resident, during the sayde thrée moneths, in Camballo,* 1.82 that is to say, December, Ianuarie, and Febru∣arie And during the sayd three months, the whole country thereabout, to say thirtie dayes iourney, is kept for haw∣king, hunting, and fouling, only for to serue the Courtes, and what they do take and kil, is presented and broughte to the greate Canes Courte,* 1.83 and such as dwell further of in other prouinces that kill wilde beastes, not able to bée brought to the Court, they do trimme and dresse the skins thereof, and bring them to the Courte for to dresse, make, and trimme armour and munitions, for the wars, which he hath infinite number.

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

THis Cublay Cane, or great Cane, hath wyth him two noble men, that be his brethren, the one called Baian, and the other Mytigan, and they be called Cini∣cil,* 1.84 whych is as muche to say, as mai∣sters or gouernours of the dogs or Ma∣sties of theyr Lordes, eyther of these two noble menne, hath tenne thou∣sande menne all apparelled in one liuerye of whyte and redde, and euerye one of these twentie thousande menne hath charge and gouernemente of two Mastyes, or at the le••st one, and when the great Cane wyll go on hun∣ting, these two noble men go wyth him with theyr twen∣tye thousande men, or with the moste parte of them, and

so beginne their hunting with those men and dogges, who be well vsed to it, and the great Cane goeth into the mid∣dest of the fields, hauing his two Lordes with their men and dogges on eche side of him, and diuideth them into companies, in such sorte, that there shal no game rise, that shall scape them, what kynde of beaste so euer it bée.

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

THe first day of March, the great Cane de∣parteth from Cambalu and goeth with his Court and Barons,* 1.85 towards the South seas, named the Occean, that lyeth two dayes iourney from Cambalu, and he car∣rieth with him ten thousande Faulcons, fiue thousand Gerfaulcons, and other kinde of Haukes a great number, which are very singular and good, aboue all other, and are bred in his Seniories, and al those that they take in his countries are presented to the great Cane, for his own vse, Court, and Barrons, that alwayes kepe his companie, which are neuer lesse than 15000. and they bée called T••stores, which is as much to say, as the Lords gard, & all these do practise hauking, and euery one of them doth carry his reclayme or lewer, and haukes hood, that when he hath néede he may take vp his Hauke.* 1.86 They doe neuer léese one of these Faulcons, for euery one of them hath fast∣ned vnto hys Belles a Scutchion of gold, wherin is writ∣ten the name of hys Mayster, and when soeuer one of thē is loste, he that findeth him streyghte wayes doeth

present him vnto the great Cane, or to one of those barrōs his brethren, and he causeth hym to be deliuered agayne, to him that before had charge of him, for he is knowen by the Scutchion that the Hauke hath vpon his belles.

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

WHen the greate Cane maketh any iourney in his countrey, he goeth in a fayre lodge or edification, hauing a verye faire cham∣ber made vpon foure Elephants, which is couered with the skinnes of Lions, and in this chamber he hath twelue Gerfaulcons,* 1.87 and certain of the Barrons in his company to giue him pleasure and pa∣stime: and round about these Elephants there be on horse∣backe very many barrons, and as soone as they sée anye foule, or Crane fly, they declare it vnto their Lord, and he immediately, letteth these Gerfaulcons flye: ••nd after this sort he goeth through his countrey: and when the greate Cane commeth to any broade and faire fields, which they do call Caziam••n, which he doth finde ready set with tents and pauilions for him and his wiues, and for his children and barrons, and these tentes and pauilions, are at the least .10000. and the tentes of the great Cane are so large,* 1.88 that when they are set vp, there may be vnder and walke at theyr ease .2000. knights, and the entring into them o∣peneth towardes the South, and one of the tentes is for the Barrons and Knightes that are of the Lordes garde, and in a smaller tente that standeth by it, opening to∣wardes the Septentrion, edified wyth faire chambers,

wrought all with golde, ordayned for y^e great Cane where he kéepeth Courtes, and audience to all them that come: and in this tent there be two chambers with faire Halles, and the feelings is susteined vppon thrée pillers of a mar∣uellous worke, and are couered with Lions skinnes, and of other beasts, wroughte and painted of diuers coloures, so that neyther wind nor raine can enter or passe through, for they are made onely for that purpose: and these cham∣bers and halles, are furred with Ermines and Iebelines or Sables, whiche Sabels is so pretious, that one furre for a Knighte are or is worth .2000. Bysancios of gold.* 1.89 All the cordes of these tents are of silke, and these twoo tentes are of suche value, that a meane King thoughe he do sell all his lande, is not able to buy them▪ And rounde aboute these two tentes stande manye other tentes being verye faire, for the Barons, and for the other people, so wel set and ordayned, that it séemeth to be a greate Citie: & from euery place there commeth people to sée the mightinesse & pleasure of the greate Cane. There goeth with the greate Cane all his Courte that he kéepeth in Cambalu, and in the place he remayneth hunting and hawking vntil al the mo∣neth of Aprill, for there they finde greate plentie of wilde∣foule, for that there be great lakes and riuers. When the greate Cane goeth on hawking for wilde foule, there may no man hawk néere him, not within twentie dayes iorny, vppon a great penaltie. And from the beginning of March vntill October, there is no Baron nor subiecte vnto the great Cane, that dare take any wild beast or foule▪ though there be very greate plentie in that countrie, vppon great penaltie, and when the time of his hawking is ended, hée returneth vnto the Citie of Cambal••, hawking by the way, and néere vnto the Citie he doth kéepe solemne cheare .iij. dayes. Within the saide Citie they lodge no straungers,* 1.90 nor bury any dead corps. There commeth vnto this Ci∣tie merchandize from all parts of the world, cloth of gold

and of silke, pretious stones and pearles, and great plentie of other notable thinges to maintaine the magnificence of the greate Canes Courte that he hathe, and for the greate resorte of people that come thither: and this Citie is sci∣tuated in the middest of his prouinces and countries.

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

THe greate Cane causeth his money to be made in this manner, causing the rine of a Mulberry trée to be cut very thinne, whiche is between the vtter rine and the trée, and of this he maketh mony both small and great, whiche some of them is worth halfe an ounce, some an ounce,* 1.91 some ten groats, some twentie, some thirtie, and same worth a Bisanco of golde, and some of twoo Bisan∣coes, and so they rise vntil tenne Bisancios of gold. This money is stāped with the signe of the Lord, & it is currant in al his Country, and in al the prouinces which are sub∣iect vnto him, & no man may refuse this mony, for if he do he must léese his head,* 1.92 & he that doth counterfet hys coine shall be destroyed vnto the third generation There com∣meth sometimes vnto the Courte of Cambalu, Merchants that bring golde and pretious stones for to buy the cloth of golde and silke, and other Merchaundizes in quantitie of thrée thousand Bisancios of golde, and many times the greate Cane commaundeth, that all the golde, siluer, and pretious stones, that may be founde in the Merchauntes handes, and subiectes of his dominions, shoulde be deliue∣red to his treasurers, and so they doe, and they be paid for it in this saide money, which is made of the rine of a Mul∣bery

trée, that they may sée how al the gold, siluer, pearle & pretious stones is closed vp in his treasury being boughte for this vile money of no value, so that little golde, si••uer, pearles and pretious stones commeth out of his country: and after this sorte he maketh himselfe the richest Prince of the worlde.

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

THe great Cane hathe sette tenne Barons or noble men of greate estimation to go∣uerne .64. prouinces and countries subiects vnto him,* 1.93 and they euer remaine in hys Citie imperial of Cambalu, and these tenne Barons doe appoynt Iudges, and Nota∣ries ouer the Countries that are vnder their guiding, of the which euery one of them doth exercise his office in the country that he hath charge of, and these Iudges remaine also in the Citie of Cambalu, vnder the obedience of those Barons. These tenne Barons do constitute gouernours and officers throughe all the Countries, and doe chaunge them when they liste, and when they haue putte them in the roome, they doe present them before the greate Cane, and hée doeth accepte them, and giueth them Tables of Golde, and by writing the order howe to vse themselues: and these gouernoures and officers doe gyue them knowledge by letters and messengers vnto the Iudges which are deputies ouer them, and those Iud∣ges doe notifie all things vnto those ten Barons, and they

do make declaration of it vnto the great Cane, so that af∣ter this manner, he knoweth what is done in hys Coun∣tries, and prouideth for all things necessarie.

Of the saide order. CHAP. 61.

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

Of the Citie Cambalu. CHAP. 62.

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

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

THe great Cane sent me Marcus Paulus as his Embassador towards the Occident or Westwarde,* 1.94 in the which message I was fourtéene moneths, from the time that I went from Cambalu. And héere I will de∣clare to you of the meruailous things that I saw with mine own eies, aswel at my going outwards, as at my commyng homewardes, as that at my going frō Cambalu, and taking my iourney towards the Occident or Westwarde. And after that I had gone tenne dayes ior∣ney,* 1.95 I founde a very great riuer which is called Poluisan∣guis, and runneth his course into the Occean sea. Vppon this riuer there is a bridge, the fayrest in the worlde, it hath thrée hundred paces of length,* 1.96 and eighte paces of breadth, so that there may goe tenne menne in a rancke on horsebacke. This Bridge hathe foure and twentie ar∣ches of Marble, very artificially wroughte, at the heade of this Bridge at the one side standeth a Piller being verye greate of Marble, hauing a Lion standing on the toppe, and an other Lion at the neather ende, being very liuely made, and a pace and a halfe distant, from that standeth an other like vnto it, and so orderly standeth one by ano∣ther, til you come vnto the further ende of the bridge, so there is on eche side of the bridge two hundred pillers, and in the middes of euery piller, there is made Images of men very artificially.

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

FRom this Bridge you shall goe tenne miles throughe fields full of Vines, & ve∣ry faire palaces: at y^e ten miles end, there is a Citie named Goygu, it is very great & faire, in it there strādeth a gret Abby of I¦dolatry. The people of this Country liue vppon merchaundize,* 1.97 and be artificers, for they do make great plentie of cloth of golde and silke. Also there is plen∣tie of lodgings for those that do trauaile, and come thi∣ther out of other places.

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

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

Of the Citie named Tarasu. CHAP. 66.

AFter you do goe from the Citie of Goygu trauailing ten dayes iourney, you come vnto a Citie named Tarasu, whiche is the heade Citie of that countrie or prouince, where there is plentie of vines & muche wine, and there they doe make all kinde of armoure for the greate Canes Court.* 1.98 In the Countrie of Cataya, there is no wine, for they prouide themselues of wine out of this region.

Of the Citie named Paimphu. CHAP. 67.

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

Of a King named Bur. CHAP. 68.

THis Bur warred a long time with Prester Iohn, & he coulde neuer haue anye vauntage of him, but at laste Prester Iohn gotte him by a traine after this sorte: Seauen yong Gentlemen of Prester Iohns Courte went from him with his licēce, and came to the Court of this king Bur, shewing as though they had departed from Prester Iohn in great displeasure, & so offered themselues to serue the said King Bur, who retayned them as squires and pages in his Courte, and after they had bin with hym two yeares, hauing greate confidence and truste in them, thys King Bur on a tyme roade abroade for his pleasure, and taking with him the saide seauen Gentlemen, and be∣ing the distaunce of a myle from his Castell, perceyuyng they had him now at aduantage to execute their purpose, tooke him, and carryed him to Prester Iohn, and Prester Iohn made him his shéepehearde, and kept his shéepe two yeares,* 1.99 and afterwardes gaue him horses and menne, and sent him to his Castell as his shéepehearde.

Of the Citie named Casiomphur. CHAP. 69.

BEyond this castel twentie miles towardes the Occident, there standeth a great Citie named Casiomp••ur, and the people of it wor∣ship Idolles.* 1.100 The like doe all those of the Countrey of Cataya. In this Citie there is made muche cloth of golde and of silke.

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

GOing from Casiomphur eight dayes iourney towards the Occident, you shal goe alwayes by greate Cities and faire Townes, and excellente places, with goodlie and faire Gar∣dens, with principal houses: there is great plentie of wilde beasts and foules, for hunting and hauking, and at the ende of these eight dayes iourney, there stan∣deth a faire Citie whiche is called Bengomphu, and is the head Citie of that realme. There is in this Citie as king, one of the great Canes sonnes, who is called Magala. The people of this Realme are Idolatours. This Citie hath plentie of all things, and without this Citie standeth the pallace royall of the king, the which with the Wal of the Citie is tenne myle compasse. In this Citie there is a lake made of many fountaines, that runneth and serueth the Citie.* 1.101 The Walles of this Citie haue very faire bat∣tlementes, and on the inside of the Wall of the Pallace it is layde on with gold, like playster, and without this Pal∣lace, round about that lake, there is very faire and delecta∣ble ground and fields.

Of the prouince named Chinchy. CHAP. 71.

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

* 1.102Of the Countrey and Citie called Cineleth Mangi, and many other things which be founde there. CHAP. 72.

AT the end of twentie dayes iourney stan∣deth a Citie named Cyneleth, a noble and a greate Citie, and vnder the obedience of this Citie there be many Cities & townes towa••d the Occident. The people of thys Countrey are Idolatours, they haue great trade of Mer∣chandise. In this countrey there is plentie of Ginger▪ and from thence the Merchaunts do carrie it vnto Cataya. Also there is aboundance of wheate and other graine.* 1.103 Thys countrey is called Cyneleth Mangi, and it hath two dayes iourney of plaine countrey. Beyond this countrey, there

be great playnes and valleys & mountaines, being greatly inhabited, with Cities and townes, for the space of twen∣tie days iourney, where there be many Lions and beares, besides other wilde beastes.* 1.104 Also there is greate plentie of Muskcats, and other noble and faire beastes.

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

AFter you haue gone these twentye dayes iourney, you come vnto a great plain, being of the countrey named Cindarifa, whiche is twenty miles compasse, and the great Cane before he died, diuided it into thrée partes, & al thrée parts be strongly walled rounde about. Through the middest of this countrey runneth a great riuer, which is called Champhu, half a mile brode. There is in this riuer plentie of fish, and there is scituated vpon this riuer many Cities and townes: also by shipping vpon this riuer they sayle from Citie to Citie, with all kind of Merchaundises· From the beginning and heade of this riuer, vntill the en∣tring into the maine sea, there is thirtie days iourney, and the chiefe Citie of this countrey is named Sindarifa. From this citie ouer the riuer, there is a bridge of a mile long, and eight paces brode, made of marble stone,* 1.105 and couered with timber of Pineaple trée, verye fayre. On the sides of this bridge, there be houses and shops for Merchauntes, and of diuerse occupations, and at the foote of this bridge there standeth a custome house, verye faire made, where they do gather their Lords customes, and euery daye they receiue tenne thousande Bisancios of God. The people of this countrey are Idolatours.

Of the prouince named Cheleth. CHAP. 74.

GOing from this countrey, you shal trauell through a faire plaine country, ful of many townes and Cities, it indureth fiue dayes iourney, and then you shal come vnto a pro∣uince, whiche is called Cheleth, which was destroyed by the great Cane. In this prouince there bée Canes which are called Berganegas of fiftéene paces long, and tenne spannes in compasse euerye one of them, and they haue from the one knot to the other thrée spans.* 1.106 The trauellours make fire with these Canes, for they haue this propertie, that as soone as they féele the heate of the fire, they giue such a great cracke, that the sound is harde many miles off, and the Lyons and wilde beastes that are thereabou••s, be so fearefull of that noyse, that they do run away, and do no hurt vnto those that trauell, and the hor∣ses that the trauellours doe ride on, haue so much feare of that noyse, being not vsed vnto it, that they breake theyr brydles and haulters, and runne away, so that sometimes they cannot finde them againe, theref••re those that tra∣uell, doe tye their horses and Asses in certaine holes or Caues that they finde in the Mountaines. This countrey is twentie dayes iourney long, where they finde nothing to eate, nor yet to drinke, nor no habitation, therfore those that trauell that way do carrie prouision for those twenty daies iourney, whiche they do passe with great feare and trauell.

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

AT these twenty dayes iourneys end, you come vnto a Prouince or Countrey, that is full of Cities and Townes. And the custome in this Countrey is, that none dothe marrie with maydes nor virgins, but that first she must be knowen carnally of many men,* 1.107 and specially of strangers. And for this occasion, when the mothers meane to marrie anye of their damsels, the mother dothe carrie them néere the high way side, and with mirth and chéere procureth those that do trauell, to sléepe with hir, and sometimes there lyeth with hir ten, and with some other twenty. And when the stranger or traueller goeth his wayes from any suche Damsell, hée must leaue vnto hir some iewell, the whiche iewell, the saide damsels or wenches do hang at their neckes, in to∣ken and signe that they haue lost their virginitie wyth strangers. And she that hathe vsed hir selfe with moste strangers, it shall be knowen by the most quantitie of iewels that she weareth aboute hir necke, and she most soonest shall finde a mariage, and shall be most praysed and loued of hir husband. And those of this prouince are Idolaters, euill men, cruell, and robbers. In this Coun∣trey there be manye wilde beastes,* 1.108 and specially of Mus∣kettes. All those of this Countrey doe weare Canuas, and Cowhydes, and the skinnes of wilde beastes, whych they do take in hunting. This Countrey is named The∣bethe, and is adioyning vnto the Prouince of Maugy.

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

* 1.109MAugi is a great prouince and Countrey, and it hathe vnder it eyghte Kingdomes and Riuers, and in the same there is found much gold of Payulsa. And they doe vse money made of Currall,* 1.110 and the Cur∣rall is there very déere, for that the wo∣men do vse to weare it about their neckes, and doe decke their Idols with it. In this Countrey they doe worke cloth of gold and silke, and of Chamlet great plenty. Also, there groweth much spice. Also, there be manye Negro∣mancers, Astronomers, Inchanters, and euill disposed men. Also, there be in this Countrey Masties as bigge as Asses, and the people be subiects to the great Cane.

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

CAndrew is a Countrey that lyeth towards the Occident, and it hathe vnder it seauen Kingdomes of Idolaters, subiectes vnder the greate Cane. In this Countrey there be many Cities, Townes, and Villages. And in one place of this Countrey, there is greate plenty of Pearles and precious stones,* 1.111 but the great Cane dothe not suffer them to be had out. And in the Mountaynes in this Countrey there be foūd many Turquesses, and they may not be had out of the Countrey, without expresse li∣cence

of the greate Cane. Also, the custome of the people in this Countrey is,* 1.112 that as soone as there commeth a stranger to lodge in his house, the good man goeth out, commaunding his wife, children, and seruantes to obey that Stranger, as his owne proper person, and hée neuer commeth home vnto his owne house, vntill he know that the Stranger is gone from his house, and he knoweth it by a signe and a token that the Stranger dothe leaue at his going at the dore. And when the good man spyeth the signe or token, he entreth into hys house. This vse they doe kéepe thorough all that Countrey, and take it for no shame, although the Strangers do vse their wiues. But rather they doe take it in greate honor and estimation, that they do so well enterteyne the Strangers. And theyr Idols tell them, for that they doe honoure the Strangers, their Gods do encrease their substance. The people of this Coūtrey do vse money made of gold,* 1.113 that euery pée••e is worth .7. Duckets. In this prouince and Countrey there is great plenty of all kinds of spice and muske, and great plentye of fishe, by reason of the greate lakes and pooles that be there.

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

GOing out of the foresaid prouince, and trauelling tenne dayes iour∣ney through a Countrey full of Cities and Townes, and verye much people, seming much in their vse and custome, vnto those of the last rehearsed Countrey. And at the tenne dayes iourneys end, you come vnto a greate Riuer, whiche is named Bru••, at the which endeth the Countrey and prouince named Candew.

In this Riuer there is founde great plentie of gold.* 1.114 And fast by this riuer groweth very much Ginger. And thys Riuer falleth into the Occean Sea.

Of the Prouince named Caraya. CHAP. 79.

BEyonde this Riuer you come vnto a Pro∣uince named Caraia towards the occident. In this Countrey there be seauen King∣domes, subiectes vnder the great Cane. Héere raigneth one of the greate Canes sonnes, named Esentemur, being rich, wise, and a valiant man, and gou••rneth his subiects with great prudence and iustice. These people be Idolaters. And after that you haue passed the saide Riuer, and trauelling fiue dayes iourney,* 1.115 there be many Cities and Townes, and there is brought vp and bredde great plentie of Horses.

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

AT fiue dayes iourneys end, you come vnto a Citie which is named Ioci, and is verye great and full of people Idolaters, sauing that there be some Christian people He∣retikes Nestorians. They do vse for their money fine shelles white, whiche are founde in the Sea, and fourescore of them are worth a Sazo of gold, whyche is worth two grotes of golde.* 1.116 And eyght Sazos of siluer, which is an ounce, and is worth a Sazo of golde. There they do make Sault of the water of Welles great plēty. And in this Countrey no man careth though another

man haue to do with his wife. There is a Lake in thys Prouince, hauing in compasse a hundred miles. Therein is plentie of excellent good fish. The people of this Coun∣trey do eate rawe fleshe after this manner. They cut it in small péeces, and sauce it with Garlike and spices, which giueth them a good tast vnto the flesh.

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

GOing from this Prouince Ioci, and trauel∣ling tenne dayes iourney, you come vnto a∣nother Prouince named Chariar, subiect vn∣to the greate Cane, and it is full of people of Idolaters, and one of y^e great Canes sonnes named Chocayo, ruleth and gouerneth them. And in this Countrey there is found great plenty of gold.* 1.117 And a Sa∣zo of gold goeth there for sixe of siluer. And they doe vse in this Countrey little white shelles of the Sea, in stead of money, which is broughte from India. In this Prouince there be certayne Serpents of tenne paces in length, and their gaule is solde very déere, for they do vse it in m••nye medicines: for if a man shoulde be bitte with a madde Dogge, laying vppon the sore so muche quantitie of that gaule as will lye vpon a farthing, it healeth it immedi∣ately. Also, it easeth a woman of hir pangs, that is in tra∣uell. The men of this Countrey are peruerse people, and cruell, for if they do sée anye trauellers that are prudente and faire, they do marke where the night doth take them, and thither they come and kill them, saying, that the fairenesse and prudence of the dead, doth passe vnto them, and therefore they do kill them, and not for to rob them. This peruerse custome was among them before they be∣came

vnder the great Cane. But .95. yeares hitherto that they were vnder the greate Cane, they dare not doe anye such thing, and therefore become a greate deale better people, and of a better disposition.

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

AFter that a man departeth from Chariar, he goeth fiue dayes iourney towards the Occident, and commeth to another Pro∣uince named Nocteam, and also the Citie named Nociam, whiche is the head of thys Prouince, and it is vnder the great Cane. All the men of this Prouince haue their téeth couered with golde. And the women do dresse their Horses.* 1.118 The men doe no other thing, but goe on Hunting, passing the time in the fields, and goe vnto the warre. The women doe buy and sell, and do all things necessarie belonging to the house, and gouerne all the goodes, and their men and women Ser∣uantes. Ouer and aboue this, the women of this Coun∣trey haue this custome, that as she is deliuered of childe, she riseth and wrappeth the childe,* 1.119 and dothe all things belonging to the house, and receyueth no more payne, than though she had not bin deliuered of childe, but in gi∣uing the childe sucke, and as soone as she is deliuered, the husband lyeth in the bedde, laying the childe by hym, as though he had borne it himselfe, for the space of fortye dayes, and the woman dothe serue him. He is visited of the kinsmen and friends & neyghbours, as though he had bin deliuered himselfe, making great feastes for the space of thirtie dayes. In this Countrey they doe giue a Sazo

of golde, which is an ounce, for fyue Sazos of siluer,* 1.120 be∣ing fyue ounces. Also, they doe vse Persiuolas, béeyng little shelles of the Sea, whiche come from In••i••, in stead of money. These people haue no Idols, but euery house∣holde worshippeth theyr Superiour and Mayster. None of them can write nor reade, for that they dwell among the moyst Mountaynes, corrupted with euill ayres. In thys Prouince, and in the other two afore specifyed, there be no Phisitions, but when they doe fall sicke, they cause to come vnto their houses certayne Ministers, which vse inchantmentes by the power of the Diuell, and declare the sicknesse that the diseased hathe, and these Ministers sounde their instrumentes in honor of theyr Idols,* 1.121 in so muche that the Deuill entereth into one of those Mini∣sters, Inchanters, or Idols, and falleth downe as though hée were dead, and those Ministers, or Maysters of the Idols, demaunde of hym that lyeth inchanted, or in a trance, wherefore that man fell sicke, and hée aunswe∣reth, for that he hathe angered suche or suche an Idoll, and then those Maysters or Ministers of the Idols saye vnto him that is inchanted, we request thée to pray vnto that Idoll that is angrie wyth the sicke bodye, to pardon hym, and wyll make hym Sacrifice with hys owne bloud. And if hée that is in thys trance, doe be∣léeue that the disease is mortall, hée aunswereth, thys sicke man hathe so displeased the Idoll, that I knowe not whether he will pardon hym or not, for that hée hathe determined that hée shoulde dye, and if he thyn∣keth that hée shall escape hée sayeth, if hée wyll lyue, it behoueth hym to gyue vnto the Idoll so manye Shéepe that haue blacke neckes, and to dresse so many sortes of meates dressed with spices, sufficient to make the sacrifi∣ces vnto the Idoll that is angry with him, and for the mi∣nisters that serue him, and for the women that serue in

his temple, whiche is all fraude and guile of the inchan∣ters for to gette victuals, by this meanes all are damned vnto Hell. To this banket there is conuited the maisters and ministers of the Idols, the inchanters and women that serue in y^e temple of that Idoll. And before they sitte downe to the Table, they doe sprincle the broath aboute the house, singing and daunsing in the honor of that I∣doll. And they doe aske the Idoll, if he haue forgiuen the sicke man. And sometimes the Féende aunswereth, that there lacketh such or suche a thing, whiche immediately they do prouide: and when he answereth that he is par∣doned, then they do sitte downe to eate and to drinke that sacrifice which is drest with spices, and this done, they go vnto his house with great ioy. If the paciente heale, it is good for him, but if he dye, it is an euerlasting payne for him, and if he recouer, they do beléeue that the diuelishe Idol hath healed him, and if he die, they say that the cause of his deathe was for the greate offence that he had done vnto him, and so they be lost as brute beasts in all that Countrey.

* 1.122Of another Prouince named Machay where there be Vnicornes, Elephants, and wilde Beastes, with many other strange things. CHAP. 83.

GOing from the Prouince of Chari∣an, you go downe a greate penet or hill, whiche endureth two dayes iourney, without any habitation, sauing one towne, where they doe kéepe holyday three dayes in the wéeke. There they doe take a Sazo of golde for fyue of siluer. And past these two dayes iourney, you doe com••

vnto the prouince named Machay whyche lyeth towardes the midde daye or South, adioyning vnto the Indias, and through this prouince you trauell fiftéene dayes iourney, through deserte mountaines, where there be many Ele∣phants, and other wilde beastes, for that the countrey is not inhabited. Also there is found Vnicornes. When they wil take any Elephant, the do compasse him with dogges, and so they do hunt him, that they make him wearie, and so he is faine to rest for wearinesse, and his resting is, lea∣ning vnto a great trée, for that he hath no ioyntes in hys knées, so that he can not lye downe nor rise vp. The Ma∣sties dare not come neare him, but barke at him aloofe, & the Elephante hath neuer his eye off those Masties, and then those that be expert and hunt him, hurle Dartes, and to kil him. In this countrey is much gold and silke.

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

BEyond this prouince Machay, there is ano∣ther prouince named Cinguy, and trauelling foure dayes iourney in it, you passe manye Cities and townes, and at these four daies iournyes ende, standeth a greate Citie na∣med Cancasu, being verye noble,* 1.123 situated towards the myd∣day or South, and this is of the streight of Cataya. In thys Citie there is wroughte cloth of Golde, and silke greate plentie.

Of the Citie named Cianglu. CHAP. 85.

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

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

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

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

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

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

PAssing the saide riuer, you enter into y^e prouince of Mangi, where raigneth a king named Fucusur,* 1.124 of more power and riches than any King in y^e worlde sauing the great Cane. In this realme there be no men of warre, nor horses for the wars, for it is situated strong∣ly, in a place compassed rounde about with many waters. And rounde about his Cities and townes, there be verye déepe ditches and caues, being brode and full of water. The people of this countrey are giuen to féeblen••sse, they do liue delicately: if they were giuen to warres, and feats of armes, all the worlde could not conquere the prouince of Mangi. This king of Mangi was very leacherous, but hée had in himselfe two good properties, the one was, that he maintayned his realme in great iustice and peace, that euery one remayned in his place, and both day and nighte you myght traffique and trauell surely: the other proper∣tie was, that he was verye pitifull, and did greate almes vnto the poore, and euerie yeare he brought vppe twentye poore striplings, and he gaue them as sonnes and heires vnto his Barrons and knightes. In his Courte he hadde alwayes tenne thousande Squires that serued hym. It fortuned that in the yeare of our Lord .1267. Cublay Cane got perforce the countrey of Mangi,* 1.125 and the sayde king of

this prouince fledde with .1000. shippes vnto his Ilandes that were in the Occean Sea▪ He lefte the principall Ci∣tie of his prouince Mangi named Gaissay vnder the guiding of his Quéene,* 1.126 and when she knew that there was entred into hir land Baylayncon Can a Tartarous name, which is as much to say in Englishe, as a hundreth eyes, a Cap∣taine belonging to the greate Cane with a greate hoste, and so without any resistance, she submitted hir selfe with all hir country, and al the cities sauing one named Sinphu, whiche kepte it selfe thrée year••s before it yéelded. Thys Quéene was carryed vnto the greate Canes Courte and kepte like a Quéene, and the King Fucusur came not out of those Ilandes vntill he died, being out of his seigniorie.

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

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

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

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

Of the Citie named Tinguy. CHAP. 93.

A Dayes iorney beyond Cayn you shal find fayre villages, and eared grounde, and so you come vnto the grounde of Tinguy, plentiful of Wheate, and of al things ne∣cessary for shipping. The people of thys countrey doe honour the Idolles, and

thrée dayes iourney from this Citie you come vnto the Occean Sea: and at the sea side there is greate plentie of salte.

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

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

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

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

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

GOyng from Siamphu, and trauelling fiftéene dayes iourney towardes Syroco, or to the Easte southeast, you come vnto the Citie named Singuy, where∣vnto belongeth a greate number of ships:* 1.127 and this Citie is scituated vpon the greatest riuer of the world named Tuognrou which is .17. miles in breadth, and one hundred dayes iorney in length, and there is neuer a riuer in the worlde,* 1.128 where there sayleth so manye shippes with Mer∣chaundizes, as there. And I Marcus Paulus was in this Citie, and did tell standing vpon a bridge at one time fiue thousande shippes or barkes that sailed vppon this riuer, and vppon this riuer there standeth two hundred Cities. being greater than this that we haue spoken of. Thys ri∣uer passeth throughe sixetéene prouinces.

Of the Citie named Cianguy. CHAP. 95.

CIanguy is a small Citie standing vpon the saide riuer, it hath nothing vnder it but good ground, where they do gather plentie of corne, and rice, which is ca∣ried vnto Cambalu, that the great Cane may haue greate plentie of victualles in his Courte. This Citie standeth to∣wardes the Siroco, and they doe carry this prouision vnto

Cambalu vpon this riuer, and not by sea. Therefore there commeth through this riuer greate profite vnto Cambalu, for it is better prouided with barkes than with cartes, or horses.

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

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

Of the Citie named Singuy, and of ma∣no other things there. CHAP. 99.

SInguy is a very great and a noble citie whi∣che is .40. miles in compasse. There is in this citie people innumerable, where you may beléeue, that if the people of Mangi were exercised in the feate of warre, all the worlde coulde not winne it, but they be all Philosophers, Phisitions, Merchaunts and Artificers,* 1.129 very cunning in all artes. There be in this Citie .7000. bridges of stone, very faire wroughte, and vnder any of these bridges there may rowe a Galley, and vnder some twoo Galleys maye rowe togither. In the mountaines of this Citie groweth Rewbarbe greate plentie, and so muche Ginger,* 1.130 that for sixe pence they doe giue more than fiue pound of Ginger. Vnder this Citie there be .17. Cities greate and fayre. In this Citie they do worke greate plentie of cloth of golde & silke, for that the Citizens there delighte muche to weare suche cloth, and of many coloures.

Of the Citie named Quinsay, that is to say, the Citie of Heauen, which is a hundred miles in compasse, hauing twelue thou∣sand Bridges, and fourteene Bathes, and many other thinges of wonder. CHAP. 97.* 1.131

GOing from Singuy, and traueling fiue dayes iorney,* 1.132 you come vnto a noble and famous Citie named Quinsay, that is to say, the citie of Heauen. This is the noblest Citie of the worlde, and the heade Citie of the

prouince of Mangi. And I Marcus Paulus was in this ci∣tie, and did learne the customes of it, and it was declared vnto me, that it was one hundred miles in compasse, and 12000. bridges of stone with vaultes and arches so highe,* 1.133 that a greate shippe mighte passe vnder, and this Citie standeth vppon the water as Ve••i••e doth, and the people of this citie euery one of them must vse the science of his fa∣thers, and of his predecessors. In this Cittie there stan∣deth a lake whiche is in compasse thyrtie myles, and in this lake there is builte the fairest Pallaces that euer I saw: And in the mids of this lake standeth two Pallac••s wherein they do celebrate all the weddings of that Citie, and euer there remayneth within them all the things ne∣cessary whiche belong vnto the weddings. Also there is rounde aboute this Citie other Cities, but they be small ones. In this Citie they doe vse money of Tartaria, to wit of a Mulbery trée, as it is vsed in the great Canes Court, and as it is afore mentioned. Vppon euerye one of these 12000. bridges of stone, continually there standeth watch and warde, bycause there shall be no euill done, and that the Citie doe not rebell. In this citie there is an highe mountaine, and vppon it there standeth a very highe To∣wer, and vppon it there is a thing to sounde vppon, and it is sounded when there is anye fyre or anye rumour in the Countrey. There is be this citie fourtéene Bathes: and the great Cane hath great watch and ward in this Citie.

Of the Citie named Gansu. CHAP. 99.

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

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

THe prouince Mangi was diuided into 8. kingdomes, by the greate Cane, and of e∣uery kingdome there is aboute .140. Ci∣ties vnder a king. There is in all the prouince of Mangi .1202. Cities al subiect vnto the great Cane, and al those whiche be borne in this prouince of Mangi, are written by dayes and houres, that the prouince may knowe the number of y^t people, and that they may not rebel. When they do goe on any iourney, they consult with the Astrologers, and when any dieth, the parents do cloth the deade in Canuas, and burne the bodies with papers, wherevpon is paynted, mo∣ny, horses, slaues, beastes for their houses, apparell, wyth all other things, for they doe saye that the deade vseth all this in the other worlde, and that with the smoke of the deade bodie, and of those papers, whereon there is payn∣ted

all those things rehearsed, beléeuing, that it goeth all with him, into the other world, and wh••n they burne those bodies, they sing and playe vpon al kinde of instrumentes and musicke that they can finde, and saye, that in that or∣der and pleasure, theyr Gods doe receyue them in the other worlde. In this Citie standeth the greate Pallace of Estn••fogi, which was Lorde and King of that prouince of Mangi.

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

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

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

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

GOing from Quinsay, trauelling towardes Solano a dayes iour∣ney, you do goe by Cities and townes, and manye Gardens, and at the ende you come vnto the Citie named Thampinguy, which is faire and gret hauing abundaunce of all things, and it is vnder the Seigniorie of y^e greate Cane: the people are Idolaters, and passing other 3. days iourney, you come vnto an other citie named Vguy, & going two days iourney beyond, towards Salano, or east and by South, there is so many Cities & townes y^t he that trauelleth, thinketh that he neuer goeth out of townes, &

there is great plentie of all prouision, there is Canes great and thicke of foure spannes in compasse, and fiftéene in length. At two iourneys ende strandeth the Citie named Greguy verye noble and greate, hauing aboundance of all things néedeful. The people are Idolatours, and vnder the greate Cane. And going from this Citie thrée dayes iourney towarde Solano, you shall finde many Cities and townes, and many Lyons. The people do kill them in this manner, the man doth put of his hosen, and apparell, and putteth on a wéede of Canuas, carriyng a certaine thing pitched, vpon his shoulders, and carrieth a sharpe knife in his handes with a pointe, and in this manner he goeth vnto the Lions denne, and as the Lion séeth him come, he maketh towards him,* 1.134 and the man when he is neare casteth vnto him the pitched thyng whyche hée hath vpon his shoulders. The Lyon taketh it in hys mouthe, thinking that he hath the manne, and then the man doth wounde him with the sharpe poynted knife, and as soone as the Lyon féeleth hymselfe hurt he runneth away, and as soone as the colde entereth into the wounde he dy∣eth. In this maner they do kill many Lyons in that coun∣trey, whych is of the prouince of Mangi.

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

TRauelling forward foure dayes iourney you come vnto a citie named Cinaugnary, a great and a famous Citie standing vp∣pon a Mountayne, which parteth a riuer into two partes, and trauelling foure

dayes iourney forwarde, you come vnto a Citie named Signy, whiche is vnder the segniorie of Quinsay. And after you enter into the Realme of Fuguy, and trauelling for∣ward sixe dayes iourney towardes Solano, or East, and by South, through mountaynes and valleys, you shall finde many Cities and Townes, hauing plenty of all victuals, and singular for Hunting and Hawking, and plenty of spices, and suger so plenty,* 1.135 that you may buy forty pound of Suger for a Venice groate. There groweth a cer∣tayne swéete fruite like vnto Saffron, and they vse it in¦stead of Saffron. The people of this Countrey eate mans flesh, so that he dye not of naturall death. When the people of this Countrey go vnto the warres, they doe make certayne signes in their forheads, to be the better knowen: and they go all on foote, except their Lorde, who rideth on Horsebacke. They are very cruell people, and vse the speare and sword. They do eate the fleshe of those men that they kill, and drinke their bloud. In the middes of these sixe dayes iourney, standeth the Citie named Be∣limpha, whiche hath foure bridges of marble, with very fayre pillers of marble. Euery bridge of these is a mile in length, & nine paces in breadth. Vnto this Citie there commeth great plenty of Spices. Also, there is in thys Citie very faire men, and more fayre women, and there be blacke Hennes, and fatte without feathers,* 1.136 and verye perfect to eate. In this countrey there be Lions, and other wilde & perillous beasts, so y^t they trauel in this cuntrey in great feare. At these sixe dayes iourneys ende, standeth the Citie named Vguca, where there is made great plentye of suger, which is all carried vnto the great Canes court.

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

PAssing out of the Citie of Vgucu, and tra∣uelling fiftéene miles, you come vnto the Citie named Friguy, which is the head of y^e Realme of Tonca, which is one of the nyne Kingdomes of Mangi. Through the mid∣dest of this Citie runneth a Riuer of seauen miles in breadth.* 1.137 And in this Citie there be made manye Ships, and is laden greate plentie of Spices, and diuers other Merchandizes that is gathered néere to that Riuer, and Precious stones whiche be broughte out of India maior. This Citie standeth very néere vnto the Occean Seas, and hath abundance of all kind of victuals, or any thyng else néedefull.

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

GOing from Quinsay, and passing the sayd Riuer, trauelling fyue dayes iourney towardes Solano, or East, and by South, you find many Cities and Townes, ha∣uing abundance of all victuals. And at the ende of these fyue dayes iourney, standeth a great and a faire City named Iaython,* 1.138 whiche hath a good Hauen, and thither come many Shippes from the Indyes, with many Merchandises, and this is one of the best Hauens that is

in the world, and there commeth Shippes vnto it in such quantitie, that for one Shippe that commeth vnto.* 1.139 Alex∣andria, there commeth .100. vnto it. The great Cane hathe great custome for Merchandises, in and out of that Ha∣uen, for the Ship that commeth thither, payeth tenne in the hundred for custome, and of Precious stones and spi∣ces, and of any other kind of fine wares, they pay thirtie in the hundred: and of Pepper .44. of the hundred, so that the Merchants in freight, tribute, and customes,* 1.140 pay the one halfe of their goodes. In this Countrey and Citie there is great abundance of victuals.

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

I Will passe from hence vnto the Countreys of India, where I Marcus Paulus dwelte a ••ong time: and although the things which I will declare, séeme not to be beléeued of them that shall heare it, but haue it in a certayne∣tie and of a truth, for that I sawe it all with mine owne eyes.* 1.141 And now I will beginne of the Iland named Ciam∣pagu, whiche standeth in the high Sea towardes the Ori∣ent, and it is separated from the mayne land .1500. miles. The people of this Countrey are fayre, and of good ma∣ners, although they be all Idolaters. There is in thys Iland a King franke and frée, for he payeth no tribute at all to any Prince. The people of this Countrey speake the Persian tong.* 1.142 And there is found in this Iland great plenty of golde, and they neuer haue it forthe vnto anye place out of the Ilande, for that there commeth thy∣ther fewe Shyppes, and little Merchandise. The Kyng of thys Ilande hathe a maruellous fayre

and great Pallace,* 1.143 all couered with golde in pas••e, of the thicknesse of a péece of two Ryals of plate. And the win∣dowes and pillers of this Pallace bée all of golde. Also there is greate plenty of precious stones. And the great Cane knowing of the greate fame and riches of this I∣land, determined to conquere it, and caused to be made great prouision of munition and vittayles, and a greate number of Shippes, and in them he put many Horsemen and footemen, and sent them vnder the gouernance of two of his Captaynes, the one was named Abatan, and the other Vonsaucin, and these two went with this great ar∣mie from the Hauen of Iaython and of Glunsay, and they went vnto the Iland Ciampagu, where they went alande, and hauing done great hurt in Mountaynes and valleys, there entred suche enuie and hatred betwéene these two Captaynes, and so much discord, that loke what the one would haue done, the other did againe say it, and through this meanes they toke neyther Citie nor Towne, but on∣ly one, and they killed all them that they founde therein, for that they would not yéeld, sauing eyght men, whyche could not be killed with any iron,* 1.144 for that eache of them had a precio••s stone enchanted in his righte arme, be∣twéene the fleshe and the skynne, and these stones did de∣fend thē from death to be killed with yron, and knowing of it, these two Captaynes procured to kill these eyghte men with clubs of wodde, and toke those stones for them selues, and in that instant there arose suche a tempest of wind of Septentrion or North so terrible, and doubting that their Shippes would breake, they hoysed vp Sayle, and went vnto another Iland, tenne miles distant off frō this, and the wind was so terrible, that it opened many of their Ships, and manye were forced to make backe to∣wards their owne Countrey againe, and about .30000. of them fledde by land, of these they thought that they were all killed. And as soone as it was caulme on the Sea, the

King of this Iland which had bin so spoyled, wente with a great armie of Shippes vnto the other Ilande, where as they were gone to haue taken them that were fledde, and as soone as hée was on lande with his men, the Tar∣tares like wise and politike men, retired backe by the I∣lande, and went vnto the Shyppes of this King whiche they had lefte without strength, entred in, hoysed vp the Sayles, with the Auncientes and Flagges of that King, whiche they left behinde in the Ilande, and sayled vnto the first Iland, where they were receyued,* 1.145 and the gates opened, thinking it had bin their owne King. And in thys manner the Tartares tooke that Citie, wherein the King had his habitation, and ransacked it. And as soone as the King of this Ilande knewe of it, he caused many other Shippes to be prepared, and with the men that hée had, and many of her that hée tooke of new, enuironed his pro∣per Citie, hauyng it beséeged seauen moneths. And final∣lye the abouesayd Tartares hopyng for no succoure, dely∣uered vp the Citie vnto the right King, conditionally to let them go with their liues, bagge and baggage. Thys hapned in the yeare of our Lorde .1248. In this Ilande there bée Idols, that some haue heads like Wolues, some heads like Hogges, some like Shéepe, some like Dogs, some haue one head and foure faces, some thrée heads, hauing one only necke, and onely one right hande, some haue onely one lefte hande, some haue foure handes, and some tenne, and the Idoll that hath most handes, is taken to be the most beautifull: and to him that demaundeth of them, wherefore they haue so many Idols, they doe gyue no other reason, sauing that so did their predecessors. Whē the people of this Iland do take in battell any stranger, if he doe not caunsome himselfe for money, they kill him, drinke his bloud, and eate his flesh. This Ilande is enui∣roned round about with the Occean sea. The portes are frée for themselues. The Marriners which vse that Sea,

say,* 1.146 that there is in it .7448: Ilandes. There is no trée there, but he is of a swéete odoure, frutefull, and of greate profite. In this Iland groweth the white Pepper. From the Prouince of Mangi vnto the India and home, is a yeares sayling, the reason is, for that there raygneth two stedfast windes, the one in the winter, and the other in the Sommer, contrary the one vnto the other.

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

WHen you do go from Iaython, whych is vn∣der the segniorie of the greate Cane to∣wardes the Occidente, and somewhat de∣clining towarde the midday fiue dayes iourney, you come vnto a Countrey na∣med Cyaban, wherein there is a Citie riche, great, and fa∣mous, subiect vnto a King that he and his subiects speake the Persian tong. And in the yeare of our Lord .1248. the greate Cane sente thither a great Baron, named Sagato, with a greate armie, to conquere that Prouince, and hée coulde do nothing, but destroy muche of that Countrey, and for that he should do no more hurt, that King became tributarie vnto the greate Cane, and euery yeare he sente him his tribute. And I Marcus Paulus was in this coun∣trey in the yeare of our Lord .1275. and I found this King very olde. He had many wiues, and amongst sonnes and daughters he had .325.* 1.147 Among his sonnes he hadde .25. of them that were very valiante men of armes. In thys Countrey there be many Elephants and Lyons greate plenty, and great Mountaynes of blacke Ebbante,

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

GOing from Ciaban, sayling betwéene the midday and Solano, or East and by South 1400. miles, you come vnto a grea••e Ilande named Iaua, whiche is in compasse thrée thousand miles. In this Iland, there be sea∣uen crowned Kings frée, paying no tribute at all. In this Ilande there is great abundance of victuals,* 1.148 and greate riches, hauing very muche Pepper, Cinamon, Cloues, and many other singular Spices in great quantitie. The people do honour the Idols. The great Cane could neuer make himselfe Lord of it.

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

SAyling seauentéene myles from Iaua, betwéene the midday and So∣lano, or East and by South, you come vnto two Ilands, the one is named Sondure, and the other Con∣dur. And beyond these two Ilands almost two hundreth miles, stan∣deth the Countrey name Iocathe, great and rich. They speake the Persian tong, and worship Idols. They pay no kinde of tribute to any man, for there is no man that can do them hurt. There is found greate plentye of gold, and a greate number of the small white shels of the Sea,* 1.149 whyche is v∣sed in some places in stead of money, as before it is re∣hearsed. Also, there be many Elephantes.

Vnto this Ilande there commeth very fewe Stran∣gers, for that it standeth out of the way.

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

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

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

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

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

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

the deade bodie shoulde iuffer greate penurie in the other world. They do hide this chest with the bones, in a caue of the mountaines, so that it maye not be founde. All the straungers that they doe finde, they kil and eate them, if they be not ransomed for money as soone as they take them.

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

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

Of tvvo Ilandes, and of the euill li∣uing and beastlynesse of the people. CHAP. 114.

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

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

AFter that you go from Nangana, you go towarde the Occident, and decly∣nyng against Arbyno about ten hun∣dred myles, you come vnto the Iland of Saylan, whiche is the beste and the greatest Iland in the world, being in compasse thirtie thousand myles. In this Iland there is a very rich king, the people are Idola∣tours, and they goe all naked in this Ilande, sauing that they do weare a linnen cloth before their secretes. There is great plentie of Rice and of cattel, and of the Wyne of trées. In this Iland are founde the best Rubies, that bée in the worlde, and they be founde in no other place than here. And here there be founde manye precious stones, as Topases, Amatistes, and of diuerse other kindes. Thys king hath the fairest Rubie in the world, the length of a spanne, and is as thicke as ones arme, as redde as fire, glistering without any blemmish. The men of this coun∣trey are wonderfull leacherous, and they are worth no∣thing for the warres.

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

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

This king hath fiue hundreth wiues, and one of them he toke from his brother. In this realme there be verye faire women of themselues: also they do vse paynting, s••t∣ting more beautie vnto their faces and on their bodies. Thys king ha••h alwayes a greate companie with him, to serue him: when the king dyeth they burne his bodye, and with him of their owne voluntarie willes, all those that accompanied and serued him in his life time, leape into the fire, and burne themselues with him, saying, that they do go to beare their king companie in y^e other world, and liue as they did here in this worlde. Yerely this King buyeth tenne thousande horses of the countrey named Cormos, at the price of fiue ounces of gold euery horse, some more, some lesse, according vnto the goodnesse and beau∣tie of the horse. The merchaunts of Quinsay, of Suffer, and of Beden, sell those horses vnto the merchauntes of this realme. These horses lyue not in this prouince aboue one yeare: by this meanes that king consumeth a greate part of his treasure in horses. In this countrey they doe vse this custome, that is, when a man is condemned to dy, he is begged of the Prince that he maye kill himselfe, and when they haue obtayned the kings good will, he killeth himselfe, in the loue and honour of his Idols. After thys wise, hauing obtayned the kings grace and fauour, the wife of this malefactour and kinred, taketh him, tying a∣bout his necke twelue kniues, and in this manner he is carried by them vnto a place of iustice, where he crieth as lowde as he may, saying, I doe kill my selfe in the honour and for the loue of suche an Idoll, and with one of these kniues striketh himselfe, and then with another, vntyll such time as he falleth downe deade: this done, hys pa∣rents with great ioye and gladnesse burne the dead body, thinking that he is happy. In this countrey euerye man hath as many wiues as he is able to maintain: whē y^e hus∣bande

dyeth, according vnto their custome, his bodie is burnt, and ••is wiues of their owne frée willes burne themselues with him, and shée that leapeth firste into the fire, the beholders take hir to be the best. They are all I∣dolaturs, and for the more part of them, worship the Oxe, saying, he is a Sainct, for that he laboureth and tilleth the grounde, where the corne growth, and so by no manner of meanes they will eate anye kinde of Oxe fleshe, nor yet for all the golde in the world, will they kill an Oxe, and when any Oxe dyeth, with his tallow they do rubbe al the insides of their houses.

These people descende of those that killed Saint Tho∣mas the Apostle, and none of them can enter into Sainct Thomas Churche, whiche he edified in that countrey: be∣sides this, if one will presume to enter into the Temple, he falleth streight deade. It hath bene proued oftentimes, that some of them would enter perforce into the Church, and it hath not bin possible for them doe it. The king and those of this prouince eate alwayes vpon the ground, and if it be demaunded of them by question why they doe so, they doe aunsweare, for that they doe come of the earth, and to the earth they muste, and they cannot doe so much honour vnto the Earth as is worthy. In thys prouince there groweth nothing else but Rice: these peo∣ple go naked vnto the warres, hauing no other weapon but speare and shield, and they kill no wilde beastes at all for their eating, but they cause some other that is not of their lawe to kill them. All the men and women do wash themselues twice aday, morning, and euening, for other∣wise they dare neyther eate nor drinke, and he that should not kepe this vse among them, shoulde be reputed to bée and Hereticke: and they do washe themselues in thys man∣ner, as we haue rehearsed: they goe all naked, and so they go vnto the riuer, and ••ake of the water, and powre it vp∣on their heads, and then one doth helpe to washe another.

They are good men of warre, and verye fewe of them drinke wine, and those that doe drinke it, are not taken to be as a witnesse, nor yet those that go vnto the Sea, say∣ing, that the Marriners are dronkards. They are despe∣rate men, and estéeme lecherie to be no sinne. This coun∣trey is intollerable hote, and the boyes go altogither na∣ked. It neuer rayneth in that Countrey, sauing in Iune, Iuly, and August. In this Region there be many Philo∣sophers, and many that vse Negromancie, and verye ma∣nie of them that tell fortunes. There be Hawkes as blacke as Rauens, bigger than ours, and good to kill the game. Also, there be Owles as bigge as Hennes, that flye in the ayre all night. Many of those men doe offer their children vnto those Idols that they haue most re∣spect vnto, and when they worship and feast those Idols, they do cause to come before them, all the yong men and maydes, whiche are offered vnto them, and they doe sing and daunce before the Idols, and this done, they do cause their meate to be broughte thither, and they doe eate the flesh, saying, that the smell of the flesh filleth the Idols.

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

MVsuly is a Region that standeth beyonde Moabar, trauelling towards Septentrion which is the North .1000. miles. The peo∣ple of this Realme worship Idols. And in the Mountaynes of this Countrey, there be found fine Adamants. And after they haue had muche rayne, the men goe to séeke them in

the streames that runne from the Mountaynes, and so they do find the Adamants, whiche are brought from the Mountaynes in Sommer when the dayes are long. Also, there be strong Serpents and great, very venemous, sée∣ming that they were serte there to kéepe the Adamantes that they might not be taken away, and in no parte of the world there is found fine Adamants but there. Th••re be in this Countrey the biggest Shéepe in the worlde. And in the Prouince of Moabar aforenamed, lyeth the body of the Apostle Sainct Thomas, buryed in a small Citie, whi∣ther there goeth but few Merchants, for that it standeth farre from the Sea. There dwell manye Christians and Moores, hauing great reuerence vnto the body of S••inct Thomas, for they doe beléeue and say, that he was a Moore, and a great Prophet, and they do call him Tho∣mas Dauana, which is to say, a holy man. The Christi∣ans that go on Pilgrimage to visit the body of Saincte Thomas, take of that earth where he was martired, and when any falleth sicke, they doe giue him of it to drinke, with wine and water. In the yeare of our Lorde .1297. it chanced there to be a miracle in this wise: A Knight ga∣thered so much Rice, that he had no place to put it in, but put it into a house of Sainct Thomas, and the Christian men desired him not to pester the holy Apostles house with his Rice, where the Pilgrims did lodge, yet the Knighte would not heare them, and the same night, the spirite of Sainct Thomas appeared with a Gallowes of iron in his hande, putting it aboute the Knightes necke, and sayde, If thou cause not thy Rice to be taken out of the house of Sainct Thomas, I will hang thée. This mi∣racle the Knight told with his owne mouth, vnto all the people of that Countrey, and forthwith the Christians rendred hartie thankes to the holy Apostle, who dothe many miracles on the Christians that committe them∣selues deuoutely vnto him: All the people of this Coun∣trey

be blacke, not bycause they be so borne, but for that they woulde be blacke, they annoynt themselues with a kind of oyle, called oyle of Ai••niolly, for the blackest are estéemed most fayre. Also, the people of this Countrey cause their Idols to be paynted blacke, and the Diuels to be painted white, saying, that God and his Sainctes are blacke, and the Diuels white. When they of this Coun∣trey go on warfare, they weare hattes vpon their heads, made of the hides of wild Oxen, and vpon their shieldes. And to the féete of their Horses, they fasten the heares of an Oxe, saying, that Oxen heares be holy, and haue thys vertue, that whosoeuer carieth of them aboute him, can receyue no hurt nor danger.

Of the Prouince Lahe, and of the ver∣tue that is in the people. CHAP. 118.

GOing from that Towne of Sainct Thomas towardes the Occidente, you come vnto a Prouince named Lahe, and there dwell the men named Bragmanos, which are the truest men in the world. They will not lye for all the worlde, nor yet consent vnto any falsehoode for all the world. They are very chast people, being contented only with one woman or wife. They neuer drinke wine, and by no manner of meanes they will take another mans goodes, nor will eate fleshe, nor kill any kinde of beast for all the world. They do honour the Idols, and haue much vnderstanding in the arte of Fortunes. Before they doe conclude anye greate bargayne, and before they doe anye thing of importance, firste they doe consider theyr shadowe agaynste the Sunne, whereby they iudge the thyng that they muste doe by certayne

rules which they haue deputed for it. They doe eate and drinke temperately. They are neuer let bloud, therefore they be very wise. In this Countrey there be many reli∣gious men, which are named Cingnos, and liue a hundred and fiftie yeares, for their greate abstinence and good li∣uing. In this Countrey there be also certayne religious men Idolaters, who goe altogither naked, couering no part of their body, saying, that of themselues they be pure and cleane from all sinne. These doe worship the Oxe. These religious men weare eache of them vppon his for∣head an Oxe made in mettall. They do oynt all their bo∣die with an oyntment, which they make with great reue∣rence of the marou of an Oxe. They do neyther eate in dishes, nor vppon trenchers, but vppon the leaues of the Apple trée of Paradise, and other drye leaues, and not gréene by no manner of meanes, for they saye, that the gréene leafe hath life and soule. They do sléepe naked vp∣pon the ground.

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

ORbay is a Kingdome that standeth towards the Orient, or the East, beyond Marbar fiue miles. In this Kingdome there be Christi∣ans, Iewes, and Moores. The King of Or∣bay payeth no tribute. Héere groweth more Pepper, than in any place of the world. There is a thyng in couloure redde, which they do call Indyaco, there is plē∣tie, and it is good to dye withall, and is made of hearbes. A man can scarce kéepe himselfe in health, for the greate heate that is there, whiche is so vehemente, that if you should put an Egge in the water of the riuer at such time

as the Sunne hathe his strength, it woulde séeth it as though it were put in séething or scalding water. There is greate trade of merchandise in this Countrey,* 1.150 by rea∣son of the greate gaynes. There is very muche Pepper, and very good cheape. In thys Countrey there be manye and strange Beastes to beholde. There groweth no o∣ther kynde of grayne for sustenance, but Rice. There bée many Phisitions and Astrologers. The men and women are blacke, and go naked, sauing that they do couer theyr priuities. Héere they do marrie the Cousen with the cou∣sen, and the sonne in lawe with the mother in lawe, and throughout all India they do kéepe this manner of wed∣ding

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

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

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

GOing from Comate agaynste the Occident, or the Weast thirtie miles, you shall playnely sée the North Starre, and come to the Region of Hely,

where they are all Idolaters. The King of this place is very rich of treasure, but he is weake of people. Thys Countrey is so strong, that no man can enter into it per∣force. And when any Shippe commeth thither by force of weather, or otherwise, those of the Countrey robbe hym, saying, that those Shyps come not thither, but to robbe them, and therefore they do earnestly beléeue that it is no sinne to robbe them. Héere be Lyons, and other wylde beastes a great number.

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

MElibar is a greate Kingdome in India, to∣wards the Occidente,* 1.151 and the King pay∣eth no tribute. All the people of this Countrey be Idolaters. Out of thys Realme and the nexte, there goe manye Shippes vnto the Sea a rouing, whiche robbe all kind of people. They do carrie with them their wiues and chyldren, and they sayle in all the Sommer a hundred Shippes togither, and when they doe come to the shore, they roue into the Countrey a hundred miles, taking all that they can finde, doyng no hurte vnto the people, saying vnto them, Go, and gette more, for per∣aduenture you shall come againe into our hands. In this Countrey there is plentye of Pepper,* 1.152 of Ginger, and of Turbit, which is certayne rootes for medicines. Of thys Countrey, and their conditions, I will not rehearse, for it would be very tedious, therefore I will passe vnto the Realme of Giesurath.

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

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

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

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

Of the things already declared CHAP. 125.

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

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

WHen you go from Besmaceian, sayling tho∣rough the meane sea towards the midday or South .25. miles, you come vnto two Ilandes of Christians, the one thirtie miles distant from the other. The Iland where there is all men, is named Masculine, and the other where there is all women, is named Feminine. The people of those Ilands are as one. The men go not vnto the wo∣men, nor the women vnto the men, but thrée monethes in the yeare, as to witte, August, September, and Octo∣ber, and these thrée moneths, the men and women are to∣gither, and at the third moneths end, they returne vnto their owne houses, doing the rest of their businesse by thēselues. The children Males tarrie with their mo∣thers vntill they be seauen yeares of age, and then they goe vnto their fathers. In this Ilande there is greate plentye of Amber, by reason of the greate number of Whales that they do take. In thys Iland they are good

fishers, and take greate plentie of fishe, and dr••e it at the sunne, hauing great trade with it. Here they liue wyth fleshe, milke, fishe, and rice, and there increaseth no other sustenaunce. Here ruleth, and gouerneth a Bishop suffra∣gane of the Archbishop of Discorsia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Of the things rehearsed. CHAP. 130.

YOu shall vnderstande that all whyche I haue declared of India, is only of the noble and great prouinces bordering vppon the sea coastes, and I doe beléeue that there was neuer man, Christian, nor Iew, nor Paynim, that hath séene so much of the le∣uaunt parties as I Marcus paulus haue séene, for I haue séene India bothe the greate and the lesse, & Tartaria, wyth other prouinces & Ilands, which are so many, y^t the age of one man, yea peraduenture of ij. men, would not suffice to 〈1 page missing〉〈1 page missing〉

them all. And now I will declare vnto you of India the great.

Of Abashya. CHAP. 131.

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

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

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

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

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

NOwe I haue tolde you of India the greate, India the lesse, and of middle India, and nowe I haue remayning to tell you of the Coun∣tries whiche are towards Septentrion or the North, where there raygneth a King of the imperiall house of the greate Cane. These people do wor∣shippe the same Idoll that the Tartarians doe worshippe, whiche they name Nazigay. This prouince hathe plaines

and mountaines. There groweth no kinde of sustenaunce nei••her corne nor Rice, and the people liue onelye vppon fleshe and milke of Mares, and no man maketh warre a∣gainste them, nor they againste no manne. Here bée manye Camelles and other beastes, but they are deade. Vppon the Seigniorie of this Kyng there is a Coun∣trey so strong, that no manne maye enter into it, nor yet beaste being bigge, by reason of the straites, lakes, and fountaynes whyche bée there, and for that alwayes there is suche feruent colde, that it is alwayes frozen, and vnto them there can come no shipping. This Countrey is in compasse twelue dayes iorney.

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

I Will declare vnto you howe in these twelue dayes iourney they doe buy the wilde beasts for to haue theyr skinnes. In euerye place of these twelue dayes iourney there is plentie of habitati∣ons, and there be masties or dogges little lesse than Asses. These masties doe drawe after them a certaine thing made of Woodde, whiche is called Slioiala, whiche is a sleade, as the Oxen or Horses doe drawe a Carte, sauing it hathe no whéeles as oure Cartes haue, and these Slyoialas or sleddes, are as bigge as twoo menne maye be in it, that is to saye, the Mayster of the maysties or carte, and the Merchaunt that goeth to buy the skinnes. And these masties cease not dra∣wing, excepte it be in some myry place, they sette foure

or sixe masties to drawe, as among vs wée doe sette Oxen or Horses, & when they do come to their iourneys end, the Merchaunt hyreth an other carter with his slead and ma∣sties, for that the firste coulde not endure so muche labor, and so he maketh his twelue dayes iourney, till he come to the mountains where the Armins and skinnes are sold, where they buy them, and afterwa••des they retourne as they came. At the ende of this Countrey there standeth a Kingdome whiche is named the Barkland, for it is there e∣uer darke, as wee call the Twylight,* 1.153 for the Sunne shy∣neth not there, and is not séene. The people of this Coun∣trey haue no King, but liue as beastes without lawe. In this Countrie the men and women are well made of their bodies, although they be somewhat yellowe of coloure. The Tartarians that border vppon them, doe spoyle them very muche, and when the Tartarians doe goe to robbe in that darke valley, they ride vppon mares that haue horse or mare coltes following them, for they doubte to come oute that wayes that they were in, by reason of the dark∣nesse and wooddes, and when they come neare vnto the place where they meane to robbe, they doe tye their horse or mare coltes vnto the trées, and ride vppon the mare, and doe their feate, and as they haue done it, they lette their mares goe whither they liste, and the mares goe straighte vnto their horse or mare coltes, where they lefte them tyed vnto the trées. Those in that Countrie, wyth certaine deuises doe take many Armines, and diuers o∣ther wilde beasts, and take the skinnes and dresse them, & make merchaundize. This obscure and darke Coun••rey, ioyneth one parte with Ronselande.

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

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

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Marco Polo was sent as Embassa∣dor from the great Cane.
• * 1.2

  Ma••co Polo was in the great Canes Court seauē∣teene yeares.
• * 1.3

  Marco Polo and his Fa∣ther & Vncle had leaue to depart, and went without Embassadors
• * 1.4

  Foureteene great Ships with foure Mastes in a Shippe, and sixe hundred men in eue••y Shippe, and vittayled for two yeares. Within three Monethes sayling, they arriued at Iaua.
• * 1.5

  The returne of the two breethrē and Marco Polo to Venice in Anno. 1295.
• * 1.6

  They take great plesure in Hawking and hunting.
• * 1.7

  a Citie vpon the Sea side, called Gloza.
• * 1.8

  Good Horses ••alled accor∣••ing to the Countrey Torch••manos and good Moyles.

  Goodly rich and faire car∣pets made heere.

  Cloth of silke of Crimson, and other couloures made heere. Heere was Brio•• Blase martyred.
• * 1.9

  Heere on a high Moun∣ta••ne rested the Arke of Noe after the ••ound.
• * 1.10

  Heere be Chris••ians of the sect of the Nestorians and Iacobites.

  Here is a wel that the wa∣ter is like to Oyle, and is occupyed for diuers pur∣poses.
• * 1.11

  Heere was King Alexan∣der put backe and could not be suffered to passe.
• * 1.12

  In this coun∣trey be many fayre Cities and Townes wher is made great plenty of cloth of gold, and of silke.
• * 1.13

  Excellente good hawkes Great trade of Merchan∣dise.
• * 1.14

  A Monastery of Monckes of the order of S. Bernard. A water or lake of syxe hundred miles com∣passe, wherein is no fish, but only in the Lent.

  Euphrates.
• * 1.15

  Here is made cloth of golde and silke, cal∣led Mosulinus
• * 1.16

  Thorough this Citie B••l••••ch goeth a Riuer, and entreth into Sinos P••r••icus. Great trade vp and down this Riuer, to and from the Indians.

  Here is made cloth of golde and of silke, called cloth of Nafi••h. C••l••pho is a∣mong the Moo••es, as the Pop•• is in Christ••dome. T••is Citie was wonne in Anno. 1230. by Al••n King of the Ta••tars, and he put the Calipho into a To∣wer among his treasure, and so was famished.
• * 1.17

  This Citie Totis is a noble Citie, and of great trade of mer∣chandise.

  There is made cloth of gold and of silke very rich.

  To this City there com∣me••h Mer∣chants from diuers coun∣treys.
• * 1.18

  A great mi∣racle.

  A Mountain remoued frō one place to another.

  The Calipho became chri∣stned, and a great nūber of his Moores
• * 1.19

  In this Citie Sabba the three Kings met that wēt to worship Christ, and heere they were buried.
• * 1.20

  The three Kings offe∣red Gold, Incense, and Myrre.
• * 1.21

  A miracle if it be true.
• * 1.22

  Heere is great plenty of fayre Hor∣ses, Moyles, and Asses.
• * 1.23

  Heere is made great plentie of rich cloth of gold & silke.
• * 1.24

  Heere they do make gret plentie of cloth of golde and silke.
• * 1.25

  Pretious stones, as Turkises and others.
• * 1.26

  Sadles and bridles, and other costly furniture for Horses.

  Cloth of gold and silke.

  Excellent good hawkes.
• * 1.27

  Sheepe as great as asses.
• * 1.28

  Enchantmēt.
• * 1.29

  Great trade of Merchāts
• * 1.30

  When the husband dy∣eth the wife & the friends do ••eep once a day for the space of four yeares.
• * 1.31

  Great plenty of salte.
• * 1.32

  Good wines and great drinkers.
• * 1.33

  For lacke of cloth the peo∣ple weare skinnes of such beastes a•• they kil.
• * 1.34

  N••groman∣cers.
• * 1.35

  A Citie of 3. days iourney long.
• * 1.36

  Sheep that haue hornes of foure or fiue and ten spans long.
• * 1.37

  Fortie daye•• iourney and haue no habi∣tation.
• * 1.38

  Iaspes and Calcedonies.
• * 1.39

  The Citie Iob.
• * 1.40

  A rich moue∣ning & good cheare.
• * 1.41

  Prester Iohn slaine in bat∣te•• by Chen∣chis King of the Ta••tars.
• * 1.42

  The first Em¦perour of the Tartars called Great Cane.
• * 1.43

  In this moū∣taine Alchay, be al the gret Canes bury∣ed.
• * 1.44

  The Tar∣tares doe make them Idols of feltes, and other bag∣gage.
• * 1.45

  The Nobili∣tie & Gentle∣men go in cloth of gold and silke, fur∣red with rich furres.
• * 1.46

  The Tar∣ta••es going a warfare, carrie with them a thing made in paste of Mares milke and other com∣pounds, and do serue for his drinke.
• * 1.47

  When any of the Tartares sonnes dye, and also a daughter of another, then they do mar∣rie these two togither, say∣ing, they shall be so in the other worlde.
• * 1.48

  The voice of euil spirites heard.
• * 1.49

  Mons••rous greate O••en a•• bi••ge as El••p••ants.
• * 1.50

  Heere is the best Muske in the world.
• * 1.51

  I think these be Peacocks
• * 1.52

  Heere be Chamlets made.
• * 1.53

  Heere is founde the stone called Lap••s ••••gu••i, wherewith th••y do make a syne bl••we.
• * 1.54

  Heere was the imperiall seate of P••ester Iohn.
• * 1.55

  Here be Cra∣nes of fiue sorts or colours.
• * 1.56

  The wall of this house is gilded.
• * 1.57

  Her•• y^• Em∣peror hath great store of Haukes of all sortes.
• * 1.58

  Here y^• Cane doth make sacrifice with milke ro his Idols.
• * 1.59

  Al y^• Mares the great Cane do ride on, be white.
• * 1.60

  A superstiti∣ous beliefe y^• great Cane hath.
• * 1.61

  Here his en∣chaunters do worke by the Diuel.
• * 1.62

  A great Mo∣nas••erie of Monkes.
• * 1.63

  Three hun∣dred thou∣sand fighting men.
• * 1.64

  The pollicie of the great Cane.
• * 1.65

  A strange kind of death to his cousin.
• * 1.66

  The great Cane ha••h foure wiues and they kepe great Courts
• * 1.67

  The great Cane hath many Concu∣bines.
• * 1.68

  The greate Cane had by his foure wiues two and twenty sonnes, after his eldest son dyed, who should haue bin King. His sonne was heyre, and kept a great Cou••t.
• * 1.69

  Cambalu. This is a goodly Citie, and well or∣dered.
• * 1.70

  At euery gate is a thousand m••n that do watch.
• * 1.71

  No common woman may dwell within the Citie.

  Aboue a thousande Cartes with silke goeth euery daye out of this Line.

  The greate Cane is gar∣ded nightly, with twentie thousande Horsemen.

  The manner of the greate Cane at hys ••inner with his wiues and children.
• * 1.72

  Commonly foure thousand persons do sitte in that Hall at a dinner. A vessell of fine gold tha•• will holde tenne Hogs∣heads of Wine, and four of siluer bigger than that.
• * 1.73

  Euery one that sitteth at the tables, hath a cuppe of gold before him.

  Euery one that bringeth meate or drinke to the Table, hath a towell of golde and silke before his mouth.
• * 1.74

  Great feast is made eue∣rie yeare, the day when the great Cane was borne.
• * 1.75

  He giueth a rich Liuerie.
• * 1.76

  Euery Liue∣rie is worth a thousande Markes.
• * 1.77

  The Tar∣tares begin their yeare the first day of February.
• * 1.78

  Tenne thou∣sand white Horses and Mares pre∣sented to the great Cane.
• * 1.79

  Al his nobili∣tie do ••ncle and worshi•• the Cane as if he were an Idol.
• * 1.80

  A great and rich offering.
• * 1.81

  The great Cane doth giue liueri••s 13. times in a yeare, and e∣uery time he changes his colours.
• * 1.82

  Four months he doth con∣tinue in Cam∣ballo.
• * 1.83

  No man may hunt no haul•• nor foule within thirtie days iourney of his Citie
• * 1.84

  Two noble men be mai∣sters of his dogs, and they haue ten thousand mē apeece.
• * 1.85

  The grea•• Cane hath with him ten thousand Faulcons & fiue thousand Gerfaulcons.
• * 1.86

  They do ne∣uer leese Faulcon nor Gerfaulcon.
• * 1.87

  A straunge going a hau∣king.
• * 1.88

  There be at the least ten thousand tēts and pauilions set vp in the fielde.
• * 1.89

  These two tents bee of a good valure.
• * 1.90

  Three dayes he doth make great cheare after his hun¦ting is ended
• * 1.91

  The money t••at is vsed in those coun¦tries.
• * 1.92

  He ••hat doth counter••a••e hys co••ne s••••ll ••e de∣stroyed to the t••••r••e gene∣r••tion.
• * 1.93

  The noble men that doe set order for all the greate Canes affaires
• * 1.94

  Marcus Pau∣lus was made the Empe∣roures Em∣bassador.
• * 1.95

  The riuer Poluisanguis.
• * 1.96

  A goodly Bridge and long.
• * 1.97

  Here is plen∣tie of cloth of Golde.
• * 1.98

  Here is much armor ••••••de.
• * 1.99

  A King was made a sheep¦hearde by Prester Iohn.
• * 1.100

  Cloth of gold and cloth of silke made.
• * 1.101

  The inside of the pallace wall is layde on with gold.
• * 1.102

  M••ngi a citie.
• * 1.103

  Great trade o•• Merchan∣d••se.

  M••ng••
• * 1.104

  Here be ma∣ny Muske cuttes.
• * 1.105

  A bridge of a myle long, and eight paces brode of marble and housen on it.
• * 1.106

  Here be Canes of fifteen paces long and ten spans about.
• * 1.107

  No maydens may marrie in this Coun∣trey.
• * 1.108

  For lacke of wollen cloth, they do wear Canuas, and wilde beastes Skynnes.

  Maugy.
• * 1.109

  Maugy.
• * 1.110

  Heere is found plenty of golde.

  Their money is made of Corrall.

  Here is cloth of gold, cloth of silke, and Chamlets made.

  Heere gro∣weth spices. Masties as bigge as Asses.
• * 1.111

  Plenty of Pearles and precious stones.
• * 1.112

  Heere they haue an ill custome.
• * 1.113

  Heere is mo∣ne•• of golde.

  Here is great plenty of Spices.
• * 1.114

  Heere is found greate plentye of gold.

  A Riuer into the Seas.
• * 1.115

  Heere be ma∣ny Horses bredde.
• * 1.116

  A Sazo of gold is worth eyght of siluer, which is an ounce.
• * 1.117

  Heere is great plent•• of golde.
• * 1.118

  The men of this countrey haue theyr teeth couered with gold.
• * 1.119

  Heere is a custome, that the good man is much made of, after hys wife is brou∣ghte a bed.
• * 1.120

  A Sazo of gold is an ounce, and is worth fyue of Si••••er.
• * 1.121

  A strange kind of Phi∣sicke.
• * 1.122

  Vnicornes.
• * 1.123

  Great plen•••• of cloth of Gold and Silke.
• * 1.124

  Mangi.
• * 1.125

  Mangi.
• * 1.126

  Mangi.
• * 1.127

  The riuer Tnoguron the greatest riuer in the world,
• * 1.128

  Fiue thousan̄d vessels on this riuer.
• * 1.129

  Seauen thou¦sand bridges of stone.
• * 1.130

  Plentie of Rewbarbe. Fiue pounde of Ginger for sixe pence.
• * 1.131

  Quinsay.
• * 1.132

  The nobles•• Citie of the worlde, it is an hundred miles cōpasse
• * 1.133

  Twelue thou¦sand bridges of stone.
• * 1.134

  The manner how they do kil the Lions
• * 1.135

  Good cheape Suger.
• * 1.136

  Faire men and women heere.

  Blacke Hen•• and fatie without fea∣thers.
• * 1.137

  A Riuer of seauen mile broad.

  There be many Ships made.
• * 1.138

  This Citie hath the best Hauen in the world.
• * 1.139

  For one Shippe that commeth to Al••xan••ria, there com∣meth in ther a hundreth.
• * 1.140

  Great cu∣stome is payd heere.
• * 1.141

  The Iland of Ciampagu is fifteene hundred miles from the mayne lande.
• * 1.142

  In this I∣land is great plent•• of golde.
• * 1.143

  The Kings Pallace is couered wyth cleane golde.

  The win∣dowes and pillers there∣of is golde.

  Great ••lenty of Precious stones.
• * 1.144

  Men hauing stones that were inchan∣ted, could not be slaine with weapons of iron, but with clubbes.
• * 1.145

  The Citie taken by a prettie meanes.
• * 1.146

  In this Sea is .7448. I∣lands, whiche be verye frutefull and pleasant.

  Heere gro∣weth whyte Pepper.
• * 1.147

  This King had .325. chil∣dren.
• * 1.148

  A very riche Iland of spi∣ces and golde in great plen∣tye.
• * 1.149

  Heere is found plentie of golde.
• * 1.150

  Great trade for Pepper by reason of the quantity.
• * 1.151

  Melibar.
• * 1.152

  Plenty of Pepper and Ginger, and Turbit.
• * 1.153

  A darke land