With regard to the donkeys, according to Tavernier, the fine ones used by
merchants in Persia were imported from Arabia. The mark of silver was
equivalent to about 44s. of our silver money, and allowing as before for
the lower relative value of gold, 30 marks would be equivalent to 88l.
sterling.
Kisi or Kish we have already heard of. Curmosa is Hormuz, of which we
shall hear more. With a Pisan, as Rusticiano was, the sound of c is
purely and strongly aspirate. Giovanni d'Empoli, in the beginning of the
16th century, another Tuscan, also calls it Cormus. (See Archiv. Stor.
Ital. Append. III. 81.)
NOTE 3. - The character of the nomad and semi-nomad tribes of Persia in
those days - Kurds, Lurs, Shuls, Karaunahs, etc. - probably deserved all
that Polo says, and it is not changed now. Take as an example Rawlinson's
account of the Bakhtyaris of Luristan: "I believe them to be individually
brave, but of a cruel and savage character; they pursue their blood feuds
with the most inveterate and exterminating spirit.... It is proverbial in
Persia that the Bakhtiyaris have been compelled to forego altogether the
reading of the Fatihah or prayer for the dead, for otherwise they would
have no other occupation. They are also most dextrous and notorious
thieves." (J. R. G. S. IX.
