They have also lives of the fathers, and houses in which
they pray at stated times, built like churches; they are even said to have
saints, to worship one God, to venerate the Lord Jesus Christ, and to
believe eternal life; but they are not baptised[4]. They have no beards,
and they partly resemble the Mongals in their features. Their country is
exceeding fruitful in corn, and abounds in gold and silver, wine and silk,
and all manner of rich commodities, and the whole world has not more expert
artificers in all kinds of works and manufactures.
[1] The inhabitants of Northern China, then a separate kingdom from Mangi,
or Southern China. - E.
[2] The Huirs or Uigurs. - E.
[3] This probably alludes to the difficulty experienced by the Mongals in
forcing a passage across the great rivers Hoang-ho and Kian-ku - E.
[4] These absurd notions must have been picked up by the credulous papal
messengers, from ignorant or designing Nestorians in Mongolia. - E.
SECTION X.
Of the Wars of the Mongals against the Greater and Lesser India.
When Zingis and his people had rested some time after their conquest of
Cathay, he divided his army, and sent one of his sons, named Thosut-
khan[1], against the Comaniam, whom he vanquished in many battles, and then
returned into his own country. Another of his sons was sent with an army
against the Indians, who subdued the lesser India. These Indians are the
Black Saracens, who are also named Ethiopians. From thence the Mongal army
marched to fight against the Christians dwelling in the greater India, and
the king of that country, known by the name of Prester John, came forth
with his army against them. This prince caused a number of hollow copper
figures to be made, resembling men, which were stuffed with combustibles,
and set upon horses, each having a man behind on the horse, with a pair of
bellows to stir up the fire. When approaching to give battle, these mounted
images were first sent forwards against the enemy, and the men who rode
behind set fire by some means to the combustibles, and blew strongly with
their bellows; and the Mongal men and horses were burnt with wildfire, and
the air was darkened with smoke. Then the Indians charged the Mongals, many
of whom were wounded and slain, and they were expelled from the country in
great confusion, and we have not heard that they ever ventured to
return[2].
[1] Probably Tuschi-Khan. - E.
[2] It is needless to remark upon the confused and ignorant geography, and
the idle tale of a Christian empire in India in this section.
