I Have Been Informed By Several Credible Persons,
That This India Contains 4400 Islands, Most Of Which Are Well Inhabited,
Among Which There Are Sixty-Four Crowned Kings.
[1] Explained on the margin by Hakluyt, or Dadin, which is equally
inexplicable.
- E.
SECTION X.
Of Upper India, and the Province of Mancy[1].
After sailing for many days on the ocean towards the east, I arrived at the
great province of Mancy, or Mangi, which is called India by the Latins; and
I was informed by Christians, Saracens, and idolaters, and by many persons
in office under the great khan, that this country contains more than 2000
great cities, and that it abounds in all manner of provisions, as bread,
wine, rice, flesh, and fish. All the men of this country are artificers or
merchants, and so long as they are able to help themselves by the labour of
their hands, they never think to beg alms, however great may be their
poverty. The men of this country are fair and of a comely appearance, yet
somewhat pale, having a small part of their heads shaven; but their women
are the most beautiful of any under the sun. The first city that I came to
belonging to this country is called Ceuskalon[2], which is a days journey
from the sea, standing on a river, which at its mouth overflows the land,
to the extent of twelve days journey. This city has so prodigious a number
of ships and vessels, as would be quite incredible by any person who had
not been an eye-witness.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 655 of 810
Words from 179304 to 179568
of 222093
