Haitho's Work, Comprehends The Geography Of The Principal States Of Asia;
His Information Was Derived From Mogul Writings, The Relation Of Haitho I.
King Of Armenia, Who Had Been At The Head Quarters Of Mangu Khan, And From
His Own Personal Knowledge.
Oderic is the first missionary upon record in India; the date of his
journey is 1334; among much that is marvellous, his relations contain some
extraordinary truths.
He went, in company with other monks, as far as
China. There is little new or valuable till he reaches the coast of
Malabar: of the pepper trade on this coast he gives a clear and rational
account. He next describes Sumatra and the adjacent islands, and mentions
the sago tree. Respecting China, he informs us, among other things which
are fabulous, that persons of high rank keep their nails extremely long,
and that the feet of the women are very small. He expresses great surprise
and admiration at the wealth of the cities through which he passed on his
return from Zartan to Pekin. Tartary and Thibet were visited by him, after
leaving China; he mentions the high price of the rhubarb of the former
country and the Dalai Lama of Thibet. In his voyages in India he sailed on
board a vessel which carried 700 people, - a confirmation, as Dr. Vincent
observes, of the account we have from the time of Agatharcides down to the
sixteenth century, - which sailed from Guzerat and traversed the Indian
Ocean.
Sir John Mandeville, an Englishman, in order to gratify his desire of
seeing distant and foreign countries, served as a volunteer under the
Sultan of Egypt and the Grand Khan of Cathai.
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