- E.]

I went from Bengal into the country of _Couche_[410], which is 25 days journey north from Tanda.

The king is a Gentile, named _Suckel Counse_. His country is very extensive, and reaches to within no great distance of Cauchin China, whence they are said to procure pepper. The port is called _Cacchegate_. All the country is set with bamboos or canes made sharp at both ends, and driven into the earth, and they can let in the water and drown the country above knee-deep, so that neither men nor horses can pass; and in case of any wars, they poison all the waters. The people are all Gentiles, who kill nothing, having their ears marvellously great and a span long, which they draw out by various devices when young. They have much silk and musk, and cloth made of cotton. They have hospitals for sheep, goats, dogs, cats, birds, and all kinds of living creatures, which they keep when old and lame until they die. If a man bring any living creature into this country, they will give money for it or other victuals, and either let it go at large or keep it in their hospitals. They even give food to the ants. Their small money is almonds[411], which they often eat.

[Footnote 410: This seemeth to be Quicheu, accounted by some among the provinces of China. - _Hakluyt_.

The name of this country is so excessively corrupt, and the description of the route so vague, that nothing can be made out of the text at this place with any certainty.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 785 of 842
Words from 215340 to 215604 of 230997