The Beauty, And Even The
Rank Of Their Women Is Supposed To Consist In The Smallness Of Their Feet;
For Which Reason, Mothers Bind Up The Feet Of Their Daughters When Young,
To Prevent Them From Growing Large.
[1] This seems an ill-digested account of a pagoda, or idol temple, of
great extent and magnificence, richly gilt, similar to those of which
we have splendid views in the relation of the embassy to Ava, by
Colonel Symes.
- E.
SECTION XIX.
Of the Old Man of the Mountain.
Proceeding on my travels towards the south, I arrived at a certain pleasant
and fertile country, called Melistorte[1], in which dwells a certain aged
person called the Old Man of the Mountain. This person had surrounded two
mountains by a high wall, within which he had the fairest gardens, and
finest fountains in the world, inhabited by great numbers of most beautiful
virgins. It was likewise supplied with fine horses, and every article that
could contribute to luxury and delightful solace; on which account it was
called by the people of the country the terrestrial paradise. Into this
delightful residence, the old man used to entice all the young and valiant
men he could procure, where they were initiated into all the delights of
the earthly paradise, in which milk and wine flowed in abundance, through
certain hidden conduits. When desirous of assassinating any prince or
nobleman, who had offended him, the old man would order the governor of his
paradise to entice into that place, some acquaintance or servant of the
prince or baron whom he wished to slay. Allowing this person to take a full
taste of the delights of the place, he was cast into a deep sleep by means
of a strong potion, in which state he was removed from paradise. On
recovering from his sleep, and finding himself excluded from the pleasures
of paradise, he was brought before the old man, whom he entreated to
restore him to the place from whence he had been taken. He was then told,
that, if he would slay such or such a person, he should not only be
permitted to return into paradise, but should remain there forever. By
these means the old man used to get all those murdered, against whom he had
conceived any displeasure; on which account all the kings and princes of
the east stood in awe of him, and paid him tribute.
When the Tartars had subdued a large portion of the earth, they came into
the country of the old man, and took from him his paradise. Being greatly
incensed at this, he sent out many of his resolute and desperate
dependents, by whom numbers of the Tartar nobles were slain. Upon this, the
Tartars besieged the city of the old man of the mountain; and, making him
prisoner, they put him to a cruel and ignominious death.
[1] It is impossible to explain this strange word, Melistorte. the
dominions of the old man of the mountain, and his earthly paradise, in
some other travels of the present volume, are said to have been
situated in the north of Persia. - E.
SECTION XX.
Of several wonderful things in those parts.
In that place[1], the friars have the special gift, that, through the power
of the name of Jesus Christ, and of his precious blood, which was shed on
the cross for the remission of our sins, they speedily expel devils from
those who are possessed. And as there are many possessed persons in those
parts, they are brought bound, from the distance of ten days journey all
around, to the friars; and being dispossessed of the unclean spirits, they
immediately believe in Christ, who hath delivered them, and are baptized in
his name, delivering up to the friars all their idols, and the idols of
their cattle, which are usually made of felt, or of womens hair. Then the
friars kindle a great fire in some public place, into which they cast the
idols before all the people. At the first, the idols used to come out of
the fire; but the friars, having sprinkled the fire with holy water, threw
in the idols again, where they were consumed to ashes; and the devils fled
away in the likeness of black smoke, when a noise was heard in the air,
crying out aloud, "Behold how I am expelled from my habitation!" By these
means, the friars have baptized great multitudes; but they mostly return
soon again to their idols, on which account, the friars have continually to
abide among them, to exhort and instruct them in the faith.
I saw another terrible thing in those parts. Passing by a certain valley,
near a pleasant river, I saw many dead bodies therein, and I heard issuing
therefrom many sweet and harmonious musical sounds, especially of lutes;
insomuch that I was much amazed. This valley is at least seven or eight
miles long, into which, whoever enters, is sure to die immediately; for
which cause, all who travel by that way pass by on one side, no one being
able to travel through that valley and live. But I was curious to go in,
that I might see what it contained. Making therefore my prayers, and
recommending myself to God, I entered in, and saw such vast quantities of
dead bodies, as no one would believe, unless he had seen them with his own
eyes. At one side of the valley, I saw the visage of a man upon a stone,
which stared at me with such a hideous aspect, that I thought to have died
on the spot. But I ceased not to sign myself with the sign of the cross,
continually saying "The Word became flesh, and dwelt with us." Yet I dared
not to approach nearer than seven or eight paces; and at length, I fled to
another part of the valley. I then ascended a little sand hill; from
whence, looking around, I saw on every side the before mentioned lutes,
which seemed to me to sound of themselves in a most miraculous manner,
without the aid of any musicians.
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