HOW MEN KNOW BY THE IDOL, IF THE SICK SHALL DIE OR NOT.
OF FOLK OF
DIVERSE SHAPE AND MARVELLOUSLY DISFIGURED. AND OF THE MONKS THAT
GAVE THEIR RELIEF TO BABOONS, APES, AND MARMOSETS, AND TO OTHER
BEASTS
FROM that isle, in going by sea toward the south, is another great
isle that is clept Dondun. In that isle be folk of diverse kinds,
so that the father eateth the son, the son the father, the husband
the wife, and the wife the husband. And if it so befall, that the
father or mother or any of their friends be sick, anon the son
goeth to the priest of their law and prayeth him to ask the idol if
his father or mother or friend shall die on that evil or not. And
then the priest and the son go together before the idol and kneel
full devoutly and ask of the idol their demand. And if the devil
that is within answer that he shall live, they keep him well; and
if he say that he shall die, then the priest goeth with the son,
with the wife of him that is sick, and they put their hands upon
his mouth and stop his breath, and so they slay him. And after
that, they chop all the body in small pieces, and pray all his
friends to come and eat of him that is dead. And they send for all
the minstrels of the country and make a solemn feast. And when
they have eaten the flesh, they take the bones and bury them, and
sing and make great melody. And all those that be of his kin or
pretend them to be his friends, an they come not to that feast,
they be reproved for evermore and shamed, and make great dole, for
never after shall they be holden as friends. And they say also,
that men eat their flesh for to deliver them out of pain; for if
the worms of the earth eat them the soul should suffer great pain,
as they say. And namely when the flesh is tender and meagre, then
say their friends, that they do great sin to let them have so long
languor to suffer so much pain without reason. And when they find
the flesh fat, then they say, that it is well done to send them
soon to Paradise, and that they have not suffered him too long to
endure in pain.
The king of this isle is a full great lord and a mighty, and hath
under him fifty-four great isles that give tribute to him. And in
everych of these isles is a king crowned; and all be obeissant to
that king. And he hath in those isles many diverse folk.
In one of these isles be folk of great stature, as giants. And
they be hideous for to look upon. And they have but one eye, and
that is in the middle of the front.
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