These
people have a strange custom of eating their kindred when they die. They
have no beard, for we saw some of them going about with certain iron
instruments in their hands, with which they pluck out any hairs they find
on their faces[2].
[1] It is surely unnecessary to remark on this ridiculous story of the
canine men, which no commentary could reduce to sense. - E.
[2] These people may possibly have been the Burats. The same practice of
eradicating the beard is still followed by the native tribes of
America. - E.
SECTION XII.
How the Mongals were repulsed at the Caspian Mountains, by Men dwelling in
Caves.
When Zingis sent the before-mentioned armies into the east, he marched
personally into the land of the Kergis[1], which, however, he did not now
conquer. In this expedition the Mongals are said to have penetrated to the
Caspian mountains, which being of adamant, attracted their arrows and other
weapons of iron[2].
[1] The Kirguses, inhabiting Western Turkestan, between Lake Balkash and
the Caspian. - E.
[2] The remainder of this short section is so ridiculously fabulous as not
to merit translation, and is therefore omitted. - E.
SECTION XIII.
Of the death of Zingis, and concerning his Sons, and the Tartar Dukes or
Princes.
