They ease themselves in the sands,
and they disperse it, lest it should breed worms, which might die for want
of food. Some of these people are said to live to 150 years of age, and
when they die their bodies are burned.
Cael is a great city governed by Aster, one of the four brethren[3], who is
very rich and kind to merchants. He is said to have three hundred
concubines. All the people this country are continually chewing a leaf
called Tembul[4], with lime and spices. Coulam[5] is 500 miles south-west
from Moabar, being chiefly inhabited by idolaters, who are very much
addicted to venery, and marry their near kindred, and even their own
sisters. It also contains Jews and Christians, who have a peculiar
language. They have pepper, Brazil, indigo, black lions, parrots of many
kinds, some white as snow, some azure, and others red, peacocks very
different from ours, and much larger, and their fruits are very large. In
this country there are many astrologers and physicians. In Camari, there
are apes so large, that they seem like men, and here we again came in sight
of the north star. Delai has a king, and its inhabitants have a peculiar
language[6] and are idolaters. Ships from Mangi come here for trade.
Malabar is a kingdom in the west, in which, and in Guzerat[7], there are
many pirates, who sometimes put to sea with an hundred sail of vessels, and
rob merchants. In these expeditions they take their wives and children to
sea along with them, where they remain all summer. In Guzerat there is
great abundance of cotton, which grows on trees six fathoms high, that last
for twenty years; but after twelve years old, the cotton of these trees is
not good for spinning; and is only fit for making quilts.
Canhau is a great city, having plenty of frankincense, and carrying on a
great trade in horses. In Cambaia is much indigo, buckram, and cotton.
Semenath or Sebeleth, is a kingdom of idolaters, who are very good people,
and greatly occupied in trade. Resmacoran is a great kingdom of idolaters
and Saracens, and is the last province towards the north in the Greater
India. Near this there are said to be two islands, one inhabited by men and
the other by women; the men visiting their wives only during the months of
March, April, and May, and then returning to their own island; and it is
reported, that the air of that country, admits of no other procedure. The
women keep their sons till twelve years old, and then send them to their
fathers. These people are Christians, having a bishop, who is subject to
the archbishop of Socotora; they are good fishermen, and have great store
of amber. The archbishop of Socotora[8] is not subject to the Pope, but to
a prelate called Zatulia, who resides at Bagdat. The people of Socotora are
said to be great enchanters, though excommunicated for the practice by
their prelate, and are reported to raise contrary winds to bring back the
ships of those who have wronged them, that they may obtain satisfaction.
[1] Muis in the Trevigi edition, according to Pinkerton, and which, he
says, is 10OO miles, instead of the 500 in the text. This certainly
refers to Golconda. The districts of India have been continually
changing their names with changes of dominion; and one or other of
these names given by Marco to the diamond country, may at one time
have been the designation of some town or district at the mines - E.
[2] One would suppose we were here reading a fragment of the adventures of
Sinbad the sailor, from the Arabian Nights. But on this and a few
other similar occasions in the narrative of Marco, it is always proper
to notice carefully what he says on his own knowledge, and what he
only gives on the report of others. - E.
[3] This obscure expression seems to imply, that Aster was one of the four
kings in Moabar, or the Carnatic. - E.
[4] Now called Betel, and still universally used in India in the same
manner. - E
[5] Coulam may possibly be Cochin or Calicut, on the Malabar coast as being
south-west from Moabar or Coromandel, and having Jews and Christians;
as the original trade from the Red Sea to India was on this coast. - E.
[6] Camari or Comati, and Delai or Orbai, are obviously the names of towns
and districts on the Malabar coast going north from Coulain. Yet
Comari may refer to the country about Cape Comorin. - E.
[7] According to Pinkerton, these are called Melibar and Gesurach in the
Trevigi edition, and he is disposed to consider the last as indicating
Geriach, because of the pirates. But there seems no necessity for that
nicety, as all the north-western coast of India has always been
addicted to maritime plunder or piracy. - E.
[8] Socotora is called Scorsia or Scoria in the Trevigi edition. - E.
SECTION XXI.
Of Madagascar, Ethiopia, Abyssinia, and several other Countries[1].
A thousand miles south from Socotora is Magaster[2] or Madagascar, one of
the largest and richest islands in the world[3], 3000 miles in
circumference, which is inhabited by Saracens, and governed by four old
men. The currents of the sea in those parts are of prodigious force. The
people live by merchandize, and sell vast quantifies of elephants teeth
[4]. Mariners report strange stories of a prodigiously large bird like an
eagle, called Ruch, said to be found in this country.
Zensibar or Zanguebar, is also said to be of great extent, and inhabited by
a very deformed people; and the country abounds in elephants and antelopes,
and a species of sheep very unlike to ours.
