(From Fergusson.)]
They dress in this country great numbers of skins of various kinds,
goat-skins, ox-skins, buffalo and wild ox-skins, as well as those of
unicorns and other animals. In fact so many are dressed every year as to
load a number of ships for Arabia and other quarters. They also work here
beautiful mats in red and blue leather, exquisitely inlaid with figures of
birds and beasts, and skilfully embroidered with gold and silver wire.
These are marvellously beautiful things; they are used by the Saracens to
sleep upon, and capital they are for that purpose. They also work cushions
embroidered with gold, so fine that they are worth six marks of silver a
piece, whilst some of those sleeping-mats are worth ten marks.[NOTE 4]
NOTE 1. - Again we note the topographical confusion. Guzerat is mentioned
as if it were a province adjoining Malabar, and before arriving at Tana,
Cambay, and Somnath; though in fact it includes those three cities, and
Cambay was then its great mart. Wassaf, Polo's contemporary, perhaps
acquaintance, speaks of Gujarat which is commonly called Kambayat.
(Elliot, III. 31.)
NOTE 2. - ["The origin of the name [Tamarina] is curious. It is Ar.
tamar-u'l-Hind, 'date of India,' or perhaps rather, in Persian form,
tamar-i-Hindi.
