C.] Among the names of these were Sling,
Shirum, Gurun, and Khoza, said to be the names of the towns in China
where the goods were made. We have supposed Sling to be Sining (note 2,
ch. lvii.), but I can make nothing of the others. Cunningham also mentions
"camlets of camel's hair," under the name of Suklat, among imports from
the same quarter. The term Suklat is, however, applied in the Panjab
trade returns to broadcloth. Does not this point to the real nature of
the siclatoun of the Middle Ages? It is, indeed, often spoken of as used
for banners, which implies that it was not a heavy woollen:
"There was mony gonfanoun
Of gold, sendel, and siclatoun."
(King Alisaundre, in Weber, I. 85.)
But it was also a material for ladies' robes, for quilts, leggings,
housings, pavilions. Franc. Michel does not decide what it was, only that
it was generally red and wrought with gold. Dozy renders it "silk stuff
brocaded with gold"; but this seems conjectural. Dr. Rock says it was a
thin glossy silken stuff, often with a woof of gold thread, and seems to
derive it from the Arabic sakl, "polishing" (a sword), which is
improbable. Perhaps the name is connected with Sikiliyat, "Sicily."
(Marsh on Wedgwood, and on Webster in N. Y. Nation, 1867; Douet
D'Arcq, p. 355; Punjab Trade Rep., App. ccxix.-xx.; Ladak, 242;
Fr.-Michel Rech. I. 221 seqq.; Dozy, Dict. des Vetements, etc.;
Dr. Rock's Ken. Catal. xxxix.-xl.)
CHAPTER LIX.
CONCERNING THE PROVINCE OF TENDUC, AND THE DESCENDANTS OF PRESTER JOHN.
Tenduc is a province which lies towards the east, and contains numerous
towns and villages; among which is the chief city, also called TENDUC. The
king of the province is of the lineage of Prester John, George by name,
and he holds the land under the Great Kaan; not that he holds anything
like the whole of what Prester John possessed.[NOTE 1] It is a custom, I
may tell you, that these kings of the lineage of Prester John always
obtain to wife either daughters of the Great Kaan or other princesses of
his family.[NOTE 2]
In this province is found the stone from which Azure is made. It is
obtained from a kind of vein in the earth, and is of very fine
quality.[NOTE 3] There is also a great manufacture of fine camlets of
different colours from camel's hair. The people get their living by their
cattle and tillage, as well as by trade and handicraft.
The rule of the province is in the hands of the Christians, as I have told
you; but there are also plenty of Idolaters and worshippers of Mahommet.
And there is also here a class of people called Argons, which is as much
as to say in French Guasmul, or, in other words, sprung from two
different races:
