that the two brethren and M. Paulus found to returne to Venice Cap. 2. How they sayled to Iaua Cap. 3. How the saide Nâ—cholas and Mapheo and Marcus Paulus returned to Venice after that they had seen many things Cap. 4. Of Armenia the lesser and many things that be ther made Cap. 5. Of the Turchomanos in Armenia the lesse Cap. 6. Of Armenia the greater and of the Arcke of Noe. Cap. 7. Of Georgiania Cap. 8. Of the parties of Armenia which lye towardes the South and of the kingdome Mosul Cap. 9. Of Baldach and of many things that be there Cap. 10. Of the Citie Totis Cap. 11. Of a great miracle which happened in Mosul Cap. 12. Of Persia and of the countries of the Magos and of other good things Cap. 13. Of eight kingdomes of Persia and of things that be founde there Cap. 14. Of the Citie Iasor Cap. 15. Of the Citie of Cormoe Cap. 16. Of the Citie of Crerina and of the death of the olde man of the Mountaine Cap. 17. Of that which is founde in the same countrey Cap. 18. Of the Citie of Baldach and of many other things Cap. 19. Of the manner of the same countrey Cap. 20. Of the Citie of Hechasem Cap. 21. â—f the manners of the same land Cap. 22. Of the prouince of Bâ—llasia and of their things Cap. 23. Of the prouince Abassia whereof the people be blacke Cap. 24. Of the prouince Chassimuru and of many things Cap. 25. Of the saide prouince Cap. 26. Of the prouince named Vochanu Cap. 27. Of the nouelties of this countrey Cap. 28. Of the desert Bosor and of many nouelties Cap. 29. Of the prouince Caschar Cap. 30. Of Sumartha and of a miracle Cap. 31. Of the prouince Cartham Cap. 32. Of the prouince Chota and of their customes Cap. 33. Of the prouince Poyn Cap. 34. Of the prouince Ciâ—rtham being in the great Turkey Ca. 35. Of a great desert and of the Citie named Iob. Cap. 36. Of the prouince named Tanguith and of the Citie Sanguethia Cap. 37. Of the prouince named Chamul and of their noughtie customes Cap. 38. Of the prouince Hinguitalas and of the Salamandra that is found there Cap. 39. Of the citie which is called Campion and of manye beastlye customes that they vse Cap. 40. Of the citie called Eâ—cinâ— and of many noble things of Tartaria Cap. 41. Of the beginning of the seigniorie of the Tartarians and of many things Cap. 42. Of the customes ordinances honouring of the gret Cane and how he goeth vnto the warre Cap. 43 Of the playne of Berga and of the customes of the people there Cap. 44. Of the great Sea which is called Occean Cap. 45. Of the kingdome Erguil and of many other kingdomes of the muske which is there found and many nouelties Ca. 46 Of the citie Callacia and of many things that be made there Cap. 47 â–ª Of the prouince called Taâ—guith which is subiect to Prester Iohn and of the stone Lagulus whiche is founde there and of Goâ—h and Magot cap. 48. Of the Citie Sindatoy in Cataya where there is founde siluer Cap. 49 â–ª Of the Citie Gianorum cap. 50. Of the Citie Liander cap. 51. Of the sacrifice and other manners of the liuing of the greate Cane cap. 52. Of a victorie that the great Cane gote cap. 53. Of the great things belonging to the great Cane cap. 54. Of the great citie named Cambalu and of all the faire and maruellous things that bee in the seigniorie of the greate Cane cap. 55. Of the manner that the great Cane vseth in hunting cap. 56. Of the manner of their hauking cap. 57. Of the manner that the greate Cane vseth in riding through his countries and being in the fielde in pauillions cap. 58. Of the money that is vsed in that land cap. 59. Of the order and gouernement which the greate Cane vseth in his dominions cap. 60. Of the same order cap. 61. Of the sayde Citie Cambalu cap. 62. Of many maruellous things which are found in that countrey cap. 63. Of the Citie Gâ—igu and of many maruellous things cap. 64. Of the way leading to the prouince of the Magos cap. 65. Of the Citie of Tarasu cap. 66. Of the Citie named Paymphu cap. 67. Of a king named Bor. cap. 68. Of the Citie called Caciomphur cap. 69. Of the Citie Gengomphu cap. 70. Of the prouince of Chinchy cap. 71. Of the prouince and Citie callâ—d Cinilith Mangi and of manye other things that be there founde cap. 72. Of the prouince and Citie called Sindariffa cap. 73. Of the prouince Chelethi cap. 74. Of the prouince Thebeth cap. 75. Of the prouince Mangi cap. 76. Of the prouince Chandu cap. 77. Of another prouince cap. 78. Of the prouince Caraya cap. 79. Of the prouince Ioci and of their beastly customes cap. 80. Of the prouince Cheriaâ— and of many Serpentes that be there cap. 81. Of the prouince Cingui of the Citie called Canchasu ca. 82 Of the prouince Machay where there be found Vnicornes Elephants and many other nouelties cap. 83. Of the prouince called Cingui and of the Citie named Canchasu cap. 84. Of the Citie named Cianglu cap. 85. Of the Citie Candrafra and of the Citie Singuimat cap. 86. Of the riuer Coromoran and of the Citie Coygangui and of another Citie called Cayni cap. 87. Of the noble prouince of Mangi cap. 88. Of the Citie Coygangui cap. 89. Of the Citie Pangay of another which is called Cayni ca. 90. Of the Citie called Thingui cap. 91. Of the Citie Nangni which hath seauen and twentie Cities vnder it and of an othâ—r named Saymphu which hath vnder it twelue Cities cap. 92. How this prouince was made subiect to the great Cane cap. 93. Of the Citie called Cingus and of many other things cap. 94. Of the Citie called Ciangui cap. 95. Of the Citie Pingranphu and of other things which be in that countrey cap. 96. Of the Citie Singui and of a bridge of Marble stone vnder the whiche Citie be eighteene great Cities and of Rubarbe and other spices that grow there cap. 97. Of the Citie Gynusay which in compasse 100. myles cap. 98. Of the Citie Gansu cap. 99. Of the diuision which the great Cane made of the prouince of Mangi cap. 100. Of the rents which the great Cane hath of the prouince of Gynâ—say cap. 101. Of the Ciâ—ie Thampinguy cap. 102. Of the Citie Cinanguari and of the crueltie of the men that dwel there and of other things cap. 103. Of the Citie Frigui and of many other things cap. 104. Of the Citie which they call Iaython and of many other things cap. 105. Of the Isle which they cal Ciampagu and the maruellous things which be founde there and how the great Cane would haue conquered it cap. 106. Of the prouince called Ciabam and of the Lord that hath 325. sonnes and daughters and there bee manye Elephants and much spice cap. 107. Of the I le called Iaua
very good for â—ll trauellers What is found in that Countrey CHAP. 18. DEparting from the foresayd Castell you shall come into â— very faire playne full of grâ—sse with all things in it fitte for mans sustenance And this playne dothe last â—ixe dayes iourney in the whiche there is manâ— fayre Cities and Townes The â—â—â—ple of that Countrey â—peake the Persian language and haue greate lacke of water and sometimes they shall fortune to go .40 miles and not finde water Therfore it shall be needefull for those that do trauell that way to carrie wâ—ter with them from placâ—â—o place And being past these sixe dayes iournâ—y there is a Citie called Sempergayme faire and pleasaunte with abundance of victuals There be excellenâ—e good Mellones and the best Hunters for wilde beastes and tâ—king of wilde Fowle that be in the world Of the Citie of Baldach and of many other things CHAP. 19. TRauelling forward in this Countrey you shall come to a Citie called Baldach in the whiche King Alexander married with the daughter of Darius king of the Persians This Citie is of the Kingdome of Persia they do tâ—â—re speake the Persian tong and be all of the sect of Mahomet And this Countrey dothe ioyne with the Tartar of the East betwéene the Northeast and the East And departing from this Citie towardes the Countreys of the said Tartar you shall goe two dayes iourney withoute finding any Towne bycause the people of that Countrey do couet to the strong Mountaynes bycause of the ill people that be there In that Countrey be many waters by reason whereof is greate plenty of wild Fowle and of wylde Beasts and there be manâ— Lions It is néedefull for the trauellers that way to carrie prouision with them that shall be néedefull for themselues and for their Horses those two dayes iourney And being past that you shall come to a Towne called Thaychan a pleasaunt place and well prouided of all vittayles néedefull and the hilles be towâ—rdes the South faire and large That prouince is .xxx. dayes iourney And there is great pleÌ„tie of salt that all the Cities and Townes thereaboutes haue their salt from thence Of that Countrey CHAâ— â–ª 20. DEparting from that towne and trauelling Northeast and to the East for the space of thrée dayes iourney you shall come to faire Cities and Townes well prouided and victuals and frutes in great abundance and these people do speake the Persian language and be Mahomets There be singular good wines and great drinkers and yll people They go bareheaded hauing a Towell knit aboutâ— their browes They weare nothing but skinnes that they do dresse Of the Citie Echasen CHAP. 12. AFter that you haue trauelled forwarde foure dayes iourney you shall come to a Citie called Echasen on a playne and there is not farre from it manie Cities and townes and great plentie of woods about it There goeth through the middest of this Citie a gret riuer There is in that countrie many wilde beastes and when they be disposed to take anye of them they will cast dartes and shootâ— them into the flancks and into the sides The people of that countrey doe speake the Persian tong and the husbandmen with their cattayle do liue in the fieldes and in the woods Of the manner of the Countrie CHAP. 22. DEparting from this Citie you shall trauayle thrée dayes iourney without comming to any towne or finding any victuals eyther to eate or drinke and for thys cause the trauellers do prouide themselues for the time at the end of these thrée days iourney you shal come to a prouince called Ballasia Of the prouince called Ballasia and of the commodities there CHAP. 23. BAllasia is a great prouince they do speake the Persian tong be Mahomets and it is a great kingdome and auncient There did raygne the successours of king Alexander and of Darius king of Persia. And their king is called Culturi which is as much to say as Alexander and is for remembraunce of the great king AlexaÌ„der In this countrey grow the precious stones called Ballasses of greate value And these stones you can not carrie out of the countrey without speciall licence of the king on pain of léesing life and goods And those that he doth let passe be eyther he doth forgiue tribute of some king or else that he doth sell and if they were not so straightlye kept they would be little worth there is such great plentie of them This countrie is very colde and there is found greate plenty of siluer there be very good coursers or horses that be neuer shod bycause they bréede in the mountaines and woods There is great plentie of wilde foule and greate plentie of corne and Mylâ— and Loliâ— In this kingdome be great woods narrow ways strong men and good Archers and for this cause they feare no bodie There is no cloth they apparell themselues with skinnes of beastes that they kil The women do weare wrapped aboute their bâ—dies likâ— the neather part of garments some an hundreth fathom some fourescore of linnen very fine and thinne mâ—de of flaxe and Cotton wool for to séeme great and fayre and they doe weare bréeches very fine of silke with Muske put in them Of the Prouince of Abassia vvhere the people be blacke CHAP. 24. AFter you be departed fâ—oÌ„ Ballasia eyght dayes iourney towards the South you haue a prouince calâ—ed Abassia whose people be blacke and do speake the Persian tong and doe worship Idolles There they do vse Negromancie The men do weare at their heares iewels of golde siluer and pretious stones They be malicious people and leacherous by reason of the great heate of that Countrey and they eate nothing but flesh and Rice Of the Prouince called Thassimur and of many things there CHAP. 25. WIthin the iurisdiction of this Countrey betwéene the East and the South there is a Prouince called Thassymur and the people do speake the Persian tong They be Idolaters and great Negromancers and do call to the Spirits and make them to speake in the Idols and do make their Temples séeme to moue They doe trouble the ayre and doe many other diuelish things From hence they may go to the Indian Sea. The people of that Countrey be blacke and leane and do eate nothing but flesh and Rice The Countrey is temperate In this Countrey be many Cities and Townes and rounde about many hilles and strong wayes to passe And for this cause they feare no body and their King dothe mainteyne them in peace and iustice There be also Hermitâ—s that do kéepe great abstinence in eating drinking And there be Monasteries and many Abbeys with Monkes very deuout in their Idolatrie and naughtinesse Of the saide prouince of Thassymur CHAP. 26. I Minde not now to passe further in this prouince for in passing of it I shâ—uld enter into the Indeas wherof for this time I wil not declare any thing but at the returne I wil
of the meruailous things that I saw with mine own eies aswel at my going outwards as at my commyng homewardes as that at my going froÌ„ Cambalu and taking my iourney towards the Occident or Westwarde And after that I had gone tenne dayes iorney I founde a very great riuer which is called Poluisanguis and runneth his course into the Occean sea Vppon this riuer there is a bridge the fayrest in the worlde it hath thrée hundred paces of length and eighte paces of breadth so that there may goe tenne menne in a rancke on horsebacke This Bridge hathe foure and twentie arches of Marble very artificially wroughte at the heade of this Bridge at the one side standeth a Piller being verye greate of Marble hauing a Lion standing on the toppe and an other Lion at the neather ende being very liuely made and a pace and a halfe distant from that standeth an other like vnto it and so orderly standeth one by another til you come vnto the further ende of the bridge so there is on eche side of the bridge two hundred pillers and in the middes of euery piller there is made Images of men very artificially Of the Citie named Goygu and of many meruellous things CHAP. 64. FRom this Bridge you shall goe tenne miles throughe fields full of Vines very faire palaces at the ten miles end there is a Citie named Goygu it is very great faire in it there straÌ„deth a gret Abby of Idolatry The people of this Country liue vppon merchaundize and be artificers for they do make great plentie of cloth of golde and silke Also there is plentie of lodgings for those that do trauaile and come thither out of other places Of the vvay that goeth vnto the Countrey of the Magos CHAP. 65. GOyng from this Citie almoste a myle there parteth twoo wayes the one goeth vnto the Occident or Weast and the other goeth towardes the Siroco The waye whiche goeth vnto the Occident or Weaste leadeth vnto the Occean Sea towards the high Countrey of the Magos and you may trauaile throughe the prouince of Cataâ—a tenne dayes iourney in the whiche waye there is many Cities and Townes Of the Citie named Tarasu CHAP. 66. AFter you do goe from the Citie of Goygu trauailing ten dayes iourney you come vnto a Citie named Tarasu whiche is the heade Citie of that countrie or prouince where there is plentie of vines muche wine and there they doe make all kinde of armoure for the greate Canes Court. In the Countrie of Cataya there is no wine for they prouide themselues of wine out of this region Of the Citie named Paimphu CHAP. 67. TRaueling from theÌ„ce towards the Occident or Weast eighte dayes iourney throughe fayre Cities and Townes wherein they doe traffike Merchandizes at the eyght dayes iorney you shal come vnto a very gret and fayre Citie whiche is named Paymphu and going twoo dayes iorney beyonde it you shall come vnto a fayre Towne named Caychin whiche was made by their King. Of a King named Bur. CHAP. 68. THis Bur warred a long time with Prester Iohn he coulde neuer haue anye vauntage of him but at laste Prester Iohn gotte him by a traine after this sorte Seauen yong Gentlemen of Prester Iohns Courte went from him with his liceÌ„ce and came to the Court of this king Bur shewing as though they had departed from Prester Iohn in great displeasure so offered themselues to serue the said King Bur who retayned them as squires and pages in his Courte and after they had bin with hym two yeares hauing greate confidence and truste in them thys King Bur on a tyme roade abroade for his pleasure and taking with him the saide seauen Gentlemen and being the distaunce of a myle from his Castell perceyuyng they had him now at aduantage to execute their purpose tooke him and carryed him to Prester Iohn and Prester Iohn made him his shéepehearde and kept his shéepe two yeares and afterwardes gaue him horses and menne and sent him to his Castell as his shéepehearde Of the Citie named Casiomphur CHAP. 69. BEyond this castel twentie miles towardes the Occident there standeth a great Citie named Casiompâ—ur and the people of it worship Idolles The like doe all those of the Countrey of Cataya In this Citie there is made muche cloth of golde and of silke Of the Citie named Bengomphu and of many things that there is found in those parties CHAP. 70. GOing from Casiomphur eight dayes iourney towards the Occident you shal goe alwayes by greate Cities and faire Townes and excellente places with goodlie and faire Gardens with principal houses there is great plentie of wilde beasts and foules for hunting and hauking and at the ende of these eight dayes iourney there standeth a faire Citie whiche is called Bengomphu and is the head Citie of that realme There is in this Citie as king one of the great Canes sonnes who is called Magala The people of this Realme are Idolatours This Citie hath plentie of all things and without this Citie standeth the pallace royall of the king the which with the Wal of the Citie is tenne myle compasse In this Citie there is a lake made of many fountaines that runneth and serueth the Citie The Walles of this Citie haue very faire battlementes and on the inside of the Wall of the Pallace it is layde on with gold like playster and without this Pallace round about that lake there is very faire and delectable ground and fields Of the prouince named Chinchy CHAP. 71. GOing from thys pallace towards the Occident thrée dayes iourney you come vnto a playne full of faire Cities and townes and at this thrée dayes iourneys ende there bée greate mountaines and valleis belonging â—o the prouince of Chinchy in these mountaines and valleys there be many Cities and townes and all the people there are Idolaters husbandmen and hunters This iorney endureth twentie dayes there be in it manye Lions â—nd plentie of other wilde beastes and in all these twentie dayes iourney there is plentie of lodging for those that doe trauell Of the Countrey and Citie called Cineleth Mangi and many other things which be founde there CHAP. 72. AT the end of twentie dayes iourney standeth a Citie named Cyneleth a noble and a greate Citie and vnder the obedience of this Citie there be many Cities townes towaâ—d the Occident The people of thys Countrey are Idolatours they haue great trade of Merchandise In this countrey there is plentie of Ginger â–ª and from thence the Merchaunts do carrie it vnto Cataya Also there is aboundance of wheate and other graine Thys countrey is called Cyneleth Mangi and it hath two dayes iourney of plaine countrey Beyond this countrey there be great playnes and valleys mountaines being greatly inhabited with Cities and townes for the space of twentie days iourney where there be many Lions and beares besides other wilde beastes Also there is greate plentie
gette victuals by this meanes all are damned vnto Hell. To this banket there is conuited the maisters and ministers of the Idols the inchanters and women that serue in the temple of that Idoll And before they sitte downe to the Table they doe sprincle the broath aboute the house singing and daunsing in the honor of that Idoll And they doe aske the Idoll if he haue forgiuen the sicke man And sometimes the Féende aunswereth that there lacketh such or suche a thing whiche immediately they do prouide and when he answereth that he is pardoned then they do sitte downe to eate and to drinke that sacrifice which is drest with spices and this done they go vnto his house with great ioy If the paciente heale it is good for him but if he dye it is an euerlasting payne for him and if he recouer they do beléeue that the diuelishe Idol hath healed him and if he die they say that the cause of his deathe was for the greate offence that he had done vnto him and so they be lost as brute beasts in all that Countrey Of another Prouince named Machay where there be Vnicornes Elephants and wilde Beastes with many other strange things CHAP. 83. GOing from the Prouince of Charian you go downe a greate penet or hill whiche endureth two dayes iourney without any habitation sauing one towne where they doe kéepe holyday three dayes in the wéeke There they doe take a Sazo of golde for fyue of siluer And past these two dayes iourney you doe comâ— vnto the prouince named Machay whyche lyeth towardes the midde daye or South adioyning vnto the Indias and through this prouince you trauell fiftéene dayes iourney through deserte mountaines where there be many Elephants and other wilde beastes for that the countrey is not inhabited Also there is found Vnicornes When they wil take any Elephant the do compasse him with dogges and so they do hunt him that they make him wearie and so he is faine to rest for wearinesse and his resting is leaning vnto a great trée for that he hath no ioyntes in hys knées so that he can not lye downe nor rise vp The Masties dare not come neare him but barke at him aloofe the Elephante hath neuer his eye off those Masties and then those that be expert and hunt him hurle Dartes and to kil him In this countrey is much gold and silke Of a prouince named Cinguy and of the Citie named Cancasu CHAP. 84. BEyond this prouince Machay there is another prouince named Cinguy and trauelling foure dayes iourney in it you passe manye Cities and townes and at these four daies iournyes ende standeth a greate Citie named Cancasu being verye noble situated towards the mydday or South and this is of the streight of Cataya In thys Citie there is wroughte cloth of Golde and silke greate plentie Of the Citie named Cianglu CHAP. 85. FRom this Citie trauelling fiue dayes iourney you come vnto another Citie named Cianglu which is very noble and great situated towards the midday or south and it is of the streight of Cataya here is made greate plentie of salte and there runneth through this countrey a very great riuer that vp and down this riuer there trauell many ships with merchaundise Of the Citie named Candrafra and of the Citie named Singuymata CHAP. 86. SIxe dayes iourney beyonde the Citie named Cianglu towards the midday of south you come vnto a Citie named Candrafra the which had vnder it before the greate Cane did conquere it twelue Cities In the couÌ„tries aboute this Citie there be faire Gardens and good grounde for corne and silke and beyonde this Citie thrée dayes iourney towards the midday or south there standeth a fayre Citie named Singuymata which hath a great riuer that the Citizens made in two parts the one way runneth towards the east and the other towardes the Occident or Weast through Cataya and vppon this riuer there sayle shippes with Merchaundises in number incredible Of the Riuer Coromoran and of the Citie Choygamum and of another Citie named Cayni CHAP. 87. GOing from Singuymata seuentéen dayes iourney towards the midday or south you passe throughe manye Cities and townes in the whiche there is greate traffique of Merchaundise The people of this countrey are subiectes vnder the greate Cane Their language is Persian and they do honour Idols At the seauentéen dayes iourneys ende there is a greate riuer that commeth from the Countrey of Prester Iohn which is named Coromoran hauing a myle in bredth and it is so déepe that there may sayle any great vessel laden with Merchandise Vpon this riuer the great Cane hath fiftéene great ships for to passe his people vnto his Idols that are in the Occean seas euery shippe of these hath fiftéene horses and fiftéene mariners and al victuals necessarie Vpon this riuer there straÌ„deth two Cities one on the one side and the other one the other The biggest of them in named Choyganguy and the other Caycu and they be both a dayes iourney from the sea Of the noble prouince named Mangi and of many maruellous things that were there and how it was brought vnder the great Canes gouernaunce CHAP. 80. PAssing the saide riuer you enter into the prouince of Mangi where raigneth a king named Fucusur of more power and riches than any King in the worlde sauing the great Cane In this realme there be no men of warre nor horses for the wars for it is situated strongly in a place compassed rounde about with many waters And rounde about his Cities and townes there be verye déepe ditches and caues being brode and full of water The people of this countrey are giuen to féeblenâ—sse they do liue delicately if they were giuen to warres and feats of armes all the worlde could not conquere the prouince of Mangi This king of Mangi was very leacherous but hée had in himselfe two good properties the one was that he maintayned his realme in great iustice and peace that euery one remayned in his place and both day and nighte you myght traffique and trauell surely the other propertie was that he was verye pitifull and did greate almes vnto the poore and euerie yeare he brought vppe twentye poore striplings and he gaue them as sonnes and heires vnto his Barrons and knightes In his Courte he hadde alwayes tenne thousande Squires that serued hym It fortuned that in the yeare of our Lord .1267 Cublay Cane got perforce the countrey of Mangi and the sayde king of this prouince fledde with .1000 shippes vnto his Ilandes that were in the Occean Sea â–ª He lefte the principall Citie of his prouince Mangi named Gaissay vnder the guiding of his Quéene and when she knew that there was entred into hir land Baylayncon Can a Tartarous name which is as much to say in Englishe as a hundreth eyes a Captaine belonging to the greate Cane with a greate hoste and so without any resistance she submitted hir selfe with all hir
The most noble and famous trauels of Marcus Paulus one of the nobilitie of the state of Venice into the East partes of the world as Armenia Persia Arabia Tartary with many other kingdoms and Prouinces No lesse pleasant than profitable as appeareth by the Table or Contents of this Booke Most necessary for all sortes of Persons and especially for Trauellers Translated into English. AT LONDON Printed by Ralph Nevvbery Anno. 1579. ¶ To the right worshipfull Mr. Edvvard Dyar Esquire Iohn Frampton wisheth prosperous health and felicitie HAVING lying by mee in my chamber righte Worshipful a translation of the great voiage loÌ„g trauels of Paulus Venetus the Venetian manye Merchauntes Pilots and Marriners and others of dyuers degrees much bent to Discoueries resorting to me vpon seuerall occasions toke so great delight with the reading of my Booke finding in the same such strange things such a world of varietie of matters that I coulde neuer bee in quiet for one or for an other for the committing the same to printe in the Englishe tongue perswading that it mighte giue greate lighte to our Seamen if euer this nation chaunced to find a passage out of the frozen Zone to the South Seas and otherwise delight many home dwellers furtherers of trauellers But finding in my selfe small abilitie for the finishing of it in suche perfection as the excellencie of the worke and as this learned time did require I stayed a long time in hope some learned man woulde haue translatâ—d the worke but finding none that would take it in hand to satisfie so many requests nowe at last I determined to sette it forth as I coulde referring the learned in tongues delighted in eloquence to the worke it selfe written in Latine Spanish and Italian and the reste that haue but the English tong that seeke onelye for substaunce of matter to my playne translation beseeching to take my trauell and good meaning in the beste parte And bethinking my selfe of some speciall Gentleman a louer of knowledge to whome I mighte dedicate the same I founde no man that I know in that respecte more worthy of the same than your worshippe nor yet any man to whome so many Schollers 〈◊〉 many trauellers and so manye men of valor suppressed or hindred with pouertie or distressed by lacke of friends in Courte are so muche bounde as to you and therefore to you I dedicate the same not bicause you your selfe waÌ„t the knowledge of tongues for I know you to haue the Latine the Italian the French and the Spanishe But bycause of youre worthinesse and for that I haue since my firste acquaintaunce founde my selfe without any greate deserte on my parte more bound vnto you than to anye man in England and therefore for your desert token of a thankefull minde I dedicate the same to youre worship moste humbly praying you to take it in good parte and to bee patrone of the same and so wishing you continuaunce of vertue with muche encrease of the same I take my leaue wishing you with many for the coÌ„mon wealths sake place with aucthoritie where you maye haue daylye exercise of the giftes that the Lorde hathe endowed you withall in plentifull sorte From my lodging this xxvj daye of Ianuarie 1579. Your vvorships to commaunde IOHN FRAMPTON ¶ Maister Rothorigo to the Reader ¶ An Introduction into Cosmographie BIcause many be desirous of the knowledge of the partes of the worlde what names they haue and in what places they be and that many and sundry times the holy scripture doth make mention and also it is profitable for suche as doe traffique and trade to haue knowledge I was moued to giue notice to all suche as are desirous or haue pleasure in reading You shall vnderstande that a man turning his face to the rising of the Sunne that parte that is before hys eies where the Sunne doth rise is called Orient or Easte and his contrarie where the Sunne setteth is Occident or Weast The course or waye of the Sunne is called Media die or South whiche is on youre righte hande his contrarie parte that is on the lefte hande is called Sâ—ptentrion or North. Furthermore you shall vnderstand that if a manne stande in the Ilande of Cales and looke towardes the rising of the Sunne he shall sée thrée principall parts of the worlde â–ª diuided by the Sea called Mediterraneum that coÌ„meth onâ—e of the greate Occean and Weaste Sea and runneth towardes the Easte and by two very great and principall riuers the one comming from the South called Nilus and the other from the North called Taenais Affrica YOu shall also vnderstande that from the entring of the straite called Iuberaltare vppon the right hande to the riuer Nilus bordering vppon Egipt is called Affrica thâ— Sea that is towardes vs is called Libya that whiche is towardes the South is called Ethiopia whiche is the Occean the Sea towardes the Weaste is called Atlantica and is also the greate Occean Sea. It hath these famous Cities and Prouinces Ouer againste Iuberaltar and the coaste of Mallaga is Mauritania whiche we call Barbarie It is named Barbaria bycause the people be barbarous not onely in language but in manners and customes Following towards the East is Numidia Getulia Tunes a citie in Affrica the name so giuen by Asu to all Syria and Aegipt On the South parte be the Ethiopians whiche hereafter shall be spoken of Europa EVropa is called al the prouinces against Affrica towards the North from the greate Occean Sea that entreth into the streits to the riuer Tanai and the greate lake called Meotis where this riuer entreth into In this there is compreheÌ„ded Portugale Britania Spaine France Almaine Italie Grecia Polonia Hungarie or Panonia Valachia Asia the lesser Phrygia Turkia Galatia Lydia Pamphilia Lauria Lycia Cilicia Scythia the lower Dacia Gocia and Thrasia Asia ASia the greater is thaâ— that is beyond Europa and Affrica that is to say on the other side oâ— Nilus Southward and the riuer Tanais Northward following the way Eastwarde and is as bigge as Europa and Affrica and compassed with thrée Seas Easterly or Orientall Indico to the Southwarde Scythia to the Northwarde hauing prouinces Soria Mesopotamia Parthia Sarmasia Asiatica Arabia Persia Armenia Medea Hircania Carmania the Indias on thys side and beyonde the riuer Ganges Also you shall vnderstande that the greate Sea called the Occean doth compasse aboute the foresaid thrée principall partes of the worlde and so doeth compasse all the whole worlde althoughe there be diuers regions and places whereas they be hauing diuers names Moreouer you shall vnderstande that in whatsoeuer parts of the Sea that doe answere to any parts of the foresaid Countries as there be many Ilands inhabited with diuers people aswel as the East parts whereas is Taprobane and Thyle and others infinite number on theyr sides aswel as on the other parts before declared and those that be betwéene them and al others are to be vnderstanded to pertain to one of these
thrée parts of the world beforesaid to whiche it may be moste properly iudged to be and lyeth nearest vnto Ethiopia MOreouer you muste note that Ethiopia is a common name to manye Prouinces and Countries inhabited with blacke people called Negros And to begin with the moste Weaste partes the firste is 〈◊〉 that is to saye from Cabâ— Verde or the gréene Cape and following the coâ—st of the Sea to the mouth or streite of the Redde Sea. Al those prouinces be called Ethiopians and of these Ethiopians from Ginney vnto Casâ— Mansa that is to saye the Kings pallace they be of the sect of Mahomet circumcised the most parte of them And the chiefest and most principall of these people be the Iolofos and Mandingos and be moste parte vnder the gouernement of a King called Mandimansa for Mansa is as muche to saye as Senior or Lord and Mandy Mandinga so by this his title he is Lord Mandinga This King is blacke and his abiding is in the prouince of Sertano four hundred leagues within the land in a Citie compassed about with a wall called Iaga which is riche of golde and siluer and of all suche merchaundize as is occupied in Adem and in Meca and from thence forwarde the Ethiopians be Idolators to the cape called Buona Esperanca and there turneth againe to the sect of Mahomet Beyonde these prouinces following vp into the land of Sartanâ— bée greate and highe mountaines or hilles called mountaines of the Moone the toppes of them be alwayes couered with Snow at the foote of theÌ„ springeth the riuer Nilus and this Countrie is called Ethiopia beside Egâ—pt and in Arabia it is called Abas and the inhabitants â—â—hâ—ssmâ—s and be Christians and doe vse to be marked with an yron in the face they be not baptized with fire as some doe saye but as we are but they be Heretikes Iacobites and Hebeyonites They do holde on the olde lawe with the newe and be circumcised and doe kéepe the Sabaoth daye and doe eate no Poâ—ke and some of them doe take manye wiues and be also baptized and doe saye that their King came and descended of King Salomon and of the Quéene Saba and this King hathe continuall warres with the Moores There is another Ethiopia called Asiatica interior which the Arabians call Zenium and these doe extende from the sayd hilles of the Moone and of Nilus to the borders of Barbarie And the saying is that among all Riuers onelie Nilus entereth into two Seas that is to saye one braunche into the East Sea and another braunche into the West Sea. All these Ethiopians bée Moores and theyr laboure and occupation is digging of golde out of the grounde where they doe fynde great plentie There is also another Ethiopia called Tragodytica and thys dothe reache or extende from the foresayde Ethiopia to the streyte or mouth of the redde Sea and these bée somewhat whyter and the King and people bée Moores and came out of Arabia foelix for the Arabians came ouer the streyte of the redde Sea and gotte that Countrey of the Iacobites by force and at this daye there is robbing and stealing among them secretely for the King of the Iacobites is of so greate power that the Souldan of Babilon doth giue him tribute Arabia THat whiche wée doe call Arabia the Arabians doe call Arab and is called Gesyrdelaab That whyche is betwéene the redde Sea and Sinus Perficus is called the Iland of Arabia and thys is called Arabia Foelix by reason of the Incense that groweth there There bée other two Arabias besyde thys the one of them extendyng from the Mount Sinay to the dead Sea where the Children of Israell wente fortye yeares and thys is called Arabia petrea takyng that name of a Citie that is there The other dothe extende betwéene Syria and Euphrates towardes the Citie of Lepâ— and thys they doe call Arabia desan which is as muche to say as of Siria and our Latines doe call it Arabia deserta And wheras the vulgar people and men for the most part do thinke that Antilla or those Ilandes lately found out by commaundemente of the Catholike King Don Fernando and Lady Isabell Quéene be in the Indias they be deceyued therein to call it by the name of the Indias And for bycause that in Spaniola or newe Spayne they do find gold some doe not let to say it is Tharsis and Ophin and Sethin from whence in the time of Salomon they brought gold to Hierusalem And thus augmenting erroures vpon erroures let not to saye that the Prophetes when they sayde that the name of oure Lorde God should be pronounced to people that haue not hearde of it and in places and Countreys very farre off and aparted which is sayd to be vnderstanded by those that be called Indians and by these Ilandes and furthermore doe not let to say to this day that it is to be vnderstanded by the places mentioned in the holy Scripture and the Catholike doctors and that this secret God hath kept hidden all this time and by finding out these Ilands did reueale it I séeing how they are deceyued in their vayne inuentions and greate simplicitie for zeale and good will of the truth and to kill this canker that it créepe no more nor ingender greater erroures will giue light to this errour answering to the said muttering talkers according as to euery of them doth require And first you shall vnderstande that this name India according to all Cosmographers as well Christians as Infidels of old time and of later yeares the name dothe come of a Riuer named Hynde or Hyndo that going towards the East is the beginning of the Indias whiche bée thrée in number that is to say the first is called the lower or nether India the seconde is called the middle India and the third is called the high or vpper India The first or lower India is renamed Caysar and these do extend towards the East from the Riuer India vnto a Porte or Hauen on the Sea side of great traffike and trade called Cambaya And the King of this India and also the most part of the people be Moores and the rest Idolaters The second or middle India is surnamed Mynbar and dothe reache to the borders of Colchico and this hath very faire Hauens and Portes of greate traffike where they doe lade Pepper Ginger and other Spices and Drugges The Portes or Hauens be called Colocud Coulen Hely Fatenâ—r Colnugur and héere be many Christians Heretikes Nestorians and many Indians although towards the North they be Idolaters The thirde India whiche is the hygh India is surnamed Mahabar and dothe extend vnto Cauch whiche is the Riuer Gange Héere groweth plentye of Sinamon and Pearle The King and people of thys Countrey worship the Oxe Besides these thrée Indias whiche lye towardes the rising of the Sunne there can not be found neyther Author nor Man that hathe trauelled the firme land neyther
the Seas adioyning there vnto that can say there is anye other Prouince or Ilande named India sauing that if anye woulde giue to vnderstand that going towarde the West he wente towardes the East and that although he came vnto the terrenall Paradise and that these Ilands shoulde lye in the greate Weast Occean Seas it appeareth playnely for that those that sayle thither steame their Shippe towards the Occident and his direct wind whiche he sayleth withall is out of the Orient or the East So it appeareth that they sayle not vnto the India but that they flye and depart from the India And thus it appeareth that he would say that the firste name that euer it hadde or was sette naming it Antillya seeming that by the corruption of the vulgar naming it Ante India as to say against India euen as Antechrist is contrary or against Christ or Antenorth againste the North. And thus it appeareth that it can not be named India but to vnderstande it as an antephrase cleane contrary as a Negro or a blacke Moore shoulde be named white Iohn or a Negresse or blacke woman to be named a Pearle or a Margarita that for finding gold in the Iland named Hâ—spaniola it should haue the name set Tharsia or Ophin or Sethin nor beléeue it standeth in Asia as some woulde saye although the thyng is so cléere that it séemeth a mockerie to proue it but reason dothe leade that wée shoulde gyue Mylke vnto Children and Infantes Saincte Austine declareth that the circumstance of the letter dothe illuminate the sentence And it appeareth in the thyrde Booke of Kings in the tenth Chapter and the second of Paralipomenon in the ninth Chapter do saye that the Seruantes of Salomon and of Diran doe fynde they broughte from Ophin and Sethin and Tharsis not onely golde but also Siluer and Timber called Thina and Elephantes téeth and Peacocks and Apes and Precious stones the whyche thyngs in infinite places of the very true Indians as well in Countreys farre within the lande as also in Countreys vppon the Sea syde and also in Ilandes wythout number that bée in the Oriente or East Seas shall be founde as by experience of the Merchantes traffiking into the East conforming to the holy Scripture and to all those that doe write as well Catholikes as Prophanes is manyfest And in the Ilande called Spaniola there can bée found no suche Timber nor all the other thyngs before named sauyng Golde the whiche as by this worke wyll appeare is founde in a greate number of places of the Orientall partes What is hée that in bringing gold from Antilla will proue it is from Ophin or Sethin or Tharsis from whence it was brought to Salomon First hée must prooue that it was neuer founde but in one place and that at thys daye it is not to bée had but in the same place only from whence it was broughte to Salomon the which is a manifest vntruth or false And also they that vnderstande that the storie of the holy scripture and the holy prophets when they do now name countries from whence those things be brought and farre Ilandes of Idolatours wheeeas the name of God was not hâ—ard did not speak but of Spaniola and of the other West parts he must proue there is no other Idolatours in the worlde but those whom he falsely calleth Indians nor other IlaÌ„ds but the Spaniola and the other West Ilandes and thys is of a truth all false for Grecia is Ilandes Scicilia a noble Ilande and Malta and Lipari Yzcla Serdenya Corsica Mallorca Minorca Ybisa Canarias England and others infinite in the foure partes of the world before now hath bin founde Of the whiche in the Orient or east is Taprobano which is the most noble Iland in the world and the Ile which is sayde to be so happie and fortunate that of neuer trée there falleth a leafe of in the whole yeare as also by thys Booke of Marcus Paulus is to be séene in the 106. Chapter of one Ilande that is in the Orientall seas .1500 myles in the which there is found gold in so great abundaunce that it is sayde the Kinges Pallace is couered or tyied wyth gold And furthermore it is sayd that the fame is that in those seas be seauen thousand four hundred fortie eight Ilandes in the whiche there is not founde one trée but that is swéete pleasaunt and fruiteful and of great profit wherby we may wel conclud that in many other Ilands there is gold to be found therfore it is not necessarie that the holye Scriptures shoulde be so vnderstanded by Antilla when it is sayde they went for gold to Tharsis Ophyn and Sechyn yea and although they wyll not beléeue the â—ther truthes they can not denye the saying of the holye Scripture in the Seconde Chapter of Genesis where it is sayde that the first riuer that goeth out of Paradise is â—hyson which doth compasse the whole countrey of Eiulath where golde doth growe and that the golde of that countrey is very good and pure nor it was not néedefull to haue thrée yeres from Ierusalem to Antilla as it is for the Ilands of the Indians whiche is more further off by a great deale and with much more difficultnesse to prouyde the precious stones and all other things they brought froÌ„ thence and also the wayes be more difficulte and strange by reason of contrarye windes and manye other incumbraunces And that this was not vnderstanded that the people a farre of are these Ilandes now founde it appeareth by Saint Paule in the fiftéenth Chapter to the Romaynes where is expounded the saying of Esay in the 52. Chapter wher it is sayde That those to whom it was not pronounced vnto shoulde sée and those that did not heare of him should vnderstande And this as a lyttle aboue is sayde is vnderstanded that from Ierusalem to the Iles of Grecia to the sea Illyrico which is the end of Grecia and the beginning of Italy by Slauonia or Dalmatia and Venice where before they had not hearde the name of Christ declared And bycause the holye ghost hath interpreted thys sentence by Saint Paul applying that prophecie with other like of his workes there remayneth no licence for other to apply it to Antilla But now let vs come to the summe of this reckning and say that if for the golde that is founde in Antilla wée should beléeue that it is Tharsis and Ophyn and Sethyn by the other things that be founde in Ophyn c and not in Antilla we must beléeue that it is not those nor those it And moreouer it appeareth that Asia and Tharsis Ophyn and Sethyn be in the East and Antilla the Spanyola in the west in place and condition much different FINIS ¶ Here foloweth a Table of the Chapters conteyned in this Booke THe Prologue of the Authour vpon this present Booke How Miser Marcus Paulus vsed himselfe in the Court of the great Cane Cap. 1. Of the meanes
spannes in compasse and fiftéene in length At two iourneys ende strandeth the Citie named Greguy verye noble and greate hauing aboundance of all things néedeful The people are Idolatours and vnder the greate Cane And going from this Citie thrée dayes iourney towarde Solano you shall finde many Cities and townes and many Lyons The people do kill them in this manner the man doth put of his hosen and apparell and putteth on a wéede of Canuas carriyng a certaine thing pitched vpon his shoulders and carrieth a sharpe knife in his handes with a pointe and in this manner he goeth vnto the Lions denne and as the Lion séeth him come he maketh towards him and the man when he is neare casteth vnto him the pitched thyng whyche hée hath vpon his shoulders The Lyon taketh it in hys mouthe thinking that he hath the manne and then the man doth wounde him with the sharpe poynted knife and as soone as the Lyon féeleth hymselfe hurt he runneth away and as soone as the colde entereth into the wounde he dyeth In this maner they do kill many Lyons in that countrey whych is of the prouince of Mangi Of the Citie named Cinaugnary and of many other noble Cities and of the cruelty of the people that inhabit there and of other things CHAP. 101. TRauelling forward foure dayes iourney you come vnto a citie named Cinaugnary a great and a famous Citie standing vppon a Mountayne which parteth a riuer into two partes and trauelling foure dayes iourney forwarde you come vnto a Citie named Signy whiche is vnder the segniorie of Quinsay And after you enter into the Realme of Fuguy and trauelling forward sixe dayes iourney towardes Solano or East and by South through mountaynes and valleys you shall finde many Cities and Townes hauing plenty of all victuals and singular for Hunting and Hawking and plenty of spices and suger so plenty that you may buy forty pound of Suger for a Venice groate There groweth a certayne swéete fruite like vnto Saffron and they vse it instead of Saffron The people of this Countrey eate mans flesh so that he dye not of naturall death When the people of this Countrey go vnto the warres they doe make certayne signes in their forheads to be the better knowen and they go all on foote except their Lorde who rideth on Horsebacke They are very cruell people and vse the speare and sword They do eate the fleshe of those men that they kill and drinke their bloud In the middes of these sixe dayes iourney standeth the Citie named Belimpha whiche hath foure bridges of marble with very fayre pillers of marble Euery bridge of these is a mile in length nine paces in breadth Vnto this Citie there commeth great plenty of Spices Also there is in thys Citie very faire men and more fayre women and there be blacke Hennes and fatte without feathers and verye perfect to eate In this countrey there be Lions and other wilde perillous beasts so that they trauel in this cuntrey in great feare At these sixe dayes iourneys ende standeth the Citie named Vguca where there is made great plentye of suger which is all carried vnto the great Canes court Of the Citie named Friguy and of manie other maruellous things which be there CHAP. 104. PAssing out of the Citie of Vgucu and trauelling fiftéene miles you come vnto the Citie named Friguy which is the head of the Realme of Tonca which is one of the nyne Kingdomes of Mangi Through the middest of this Citie runneth a Riuer of seauen miles in breadth And in this Citie there be made manye Ships and is laden greate plentie of Spices and diuers other Merchandizes that is gathered néere to that Riuer and Precious stones whiche be broughte out of India maior This Citie standeth very néere vnto the Occean Seas and hath abundance of all kind of victuals or any thyng else néedefull Of the Citie named Iaython and of many other things CHAP. 105. GOing from Quinsay and passing the sayd Riuer trauelling fyue dayes iourney towardes Solano or East and by South you find many Cities and Townes hauing abundance of all victuals And at the ende of these fyue dayes iourney standeth a great and a faire City named Iaython whiche hath a good Hauen and thither come many Shippes from the Indyes with many Merchandises and this is one of the best Hauens that is in the world and there commeth Shippes vnto it in such quantitie that for one Shippe that commeth vnto Alexandria there commeth .100 vnto it The great Cane hathe great custome for Merchandises in and out of that Hauen for the Ship that commeth thither payeth tenne in the hundred for custome and of Precious stones and spices and of any other kind of fine wares they pay thirtie in the hundred and of Pepper .44 of the hundred so that the Merchants in freight tribute and customes pay the one halfe of their goodes In this Countrey and Citie there is great abundance of victuals Of the Ilande named Ciampagu and of things which be found there and how the great Cane would conquer it CHAP. 106. I Will passe from hence vnto the Countreys of India where I Marcus Paulus dwelte a â—ong time and although the things which I will declare séeme not to be beléeued of them that shall heare it but haue it in a certaynetie and of a truth for that I sawe it all with mine owne eyes And now I will beginne of the Iland named Ciampagu whiche standeth in the high Sea towardes the Orient and it is separated from the mayne land .1500 miles The people of this Countrey are fayre and of good maners although they be all Idolaters There is in thys Iland a King franke and frée for he payeth no tribute at all to any Prince The people of this Countrey speake the Persian tong And there is found in this Iland great plenty of golde and they neuer haue it forthe vnto anye place out of the Ilande for that there commeth thyther fewe Shyppes and little Merchandise The Kyng of thys Ilande hathe a maruellous fayre and great Pallace all couered with golde in pasâ—e of the thicknesse of a péece of two Ryals of plate And the windowes and pillers of this Pallace bée all of golde Also there is greate plenty of precious stones And the great Cane knowing of the greate fame and riches of this Iland determined to conquere it and caused to be made great prouision of munition and vittayles and a greate number of Shippes and in them he put many Horsemen and footemen and sent them vnder the gouernance of two of his Captaynes the one was named Abatan and the other Vonsaucin and these two went with this great armie from the Hauen of Iaython and of Glunsay and they went vnto the Iland Ciampagu where they went alande and hauing done great hurt in Mountaynes and valleys there entred suche enuie and hatred betwéene these two Captaynes and so
much discord that loke what the one would haue done the other did againe say it and through this meanes they toke neyther Citie nor Towne but only one and they killed all them that they founde therein for that they would not yéeld sauing eyght men whyche could not be killed with any iron for that eache of them had a precioâ—s stone enchanted in his righte arme betwéene the fleshe and the skynne and these stones did defend theÌ„ from death to be killed with yron and knowing of it these two Captaynes procured to kill these eyghte men with clubs of wodde and toke those stones for them selues and in that instant there arose suche a tempest of wind of Septentrion or North so terrible and doubting that their Shippes would breake they hoysed vp Sayle and went vnto another Iland tenne miles distant off froÌ„ this and the wind was so terrible that it opened many of their Ships and manye were forced to make backe towards their owne Countrey againe and about .30000 of them fledde by land of these they thought that they were all killed And as soone as it was caulme on the Sea the King of this Iland which had bin so spoyled wente with a great armie of Shippes vnto the other Ilande where as they were gone to haue taken them that were fledde and as soone as hée was on lande with his men the Tartares like wise and politike men retired backe by the Ilande and went vnto the Shyppes of this King whiche they had lefte without strength entred in hoysed vp the Sayles with the Auncientes and Flagges of that King whiche they left behinde in the Ilande and sayled vnto the first Iland where they were receyued and the gates opened thinking it had bin their owne king And in thys manner the Tartares tooke that Citie wherein the King had his habitation and ransacked it And as soone as the King of this Ilande knewe of it he caused many other Shippes to be prepared and with the men that hée had and many of her that hée tooke of new enuironed his proper Citie hauyng it beséeged seauen moneths And finallye the abouesayd Tartares hopyng for no succoure delyuered vp the Citie vnto the right King conditionally to let them go with their liues bagge and baggage Thys hapned in the yeare of our Lorde .1248 In this Ilande there bée Idols that some haue heads like Wolues some heads like Hogges some like Shéepe some like Dogs some haue one head and foure faces some thrée heads hauing one only necke and onely one right hande some haue onely one lefte hande some haue foure handes and some tenne and the Idoll that hath most handes is taken to be the most beautifull and to him that demaundeth of them wherefore they haue so many Idols they doe gyue no other reason sauing that so did their predecessors WheÌ„ the people of this Iland do take in battell any stranger if he doe not caunsome himselfe for money they kill him drinke his bloud and eate his flesh This Ilande is enuironed round about with the Occean sea The portes are frée for themselues The Marriners which vse that Sea say that there is in it .7448 Ilandes There is no trée there but he is of a swéete odoure frutefull and of greate profite In this Iland groweth the white Pepper From the Prouince of Mangi vnto the India and home is a yeares sayling the reason is for that there raygneth two stedfast windes the one in the winter and the other in the Sommer contrary the one vnto the other Of the Prouince named Ciabane and of that King who hath .325 sonnes and daughters of his owne There be many Elephants and much spices CHAP. 107. WHen you do go from Iaython whych is vnder the segniorie of the greate Cane towardes the Occidente and somewhat declining towarde the midday fiue dayes iourney you come vnto a Countrey named Cyaban wherein there is a Citie riche great and famous subiect vnto a King that he and his subiects speake the Persian tong And in the yeare of our Lord .1248 the greate Cane sente thither a great Baron named Sagato with a greate armie to conquere that Prouince and hée coulde do nothing but destroy muche of that Countrey and for that he should do no more hurt that King became tributarie vnto the greate Cane and euery yeare he sente him his tribute And I Marcus Paulus was in this countrey in the yeare of our Lord .1275 and I found this King very olde He had many wiues and amongst sonnes and daughters he had .325 Among his sonnes he hadde .25 of them that were very valiante men of armes In thys Countrey there be many Elephants and Lyons greate plenty and great Mountaynes of blacke Ebbante Of the great Iland named Iaua and of many Spices that grow there CHAP. 108. GOing from Ciaban sayling betwéene the midday and Solano or East and by South 1400. miles you come vnto a greaâ—e Ilande named Iaua whiche is in compasse thrée thousand miles In this Iland there be seauen crowned Kings frée paying no tribute at all In this Ilande there is great abundance of victuals and greate riches hauing very muche Pepper Cinamon Cloues and many other singular Spices in great quantitie The people do honour the Idols The great Cane could neuer make himselfe Lord of it Of the Iland named Iocath and of other two Ilands their conditions and properties CHAP. 109. SAyling seauentéene myles from Iaua betwéene the midday and Solano or East and by South you come vnto two Ilands the one is named Sondure and the other Condur And beyond these two Ilands almost two hundreth miles standeth the Countrey name Iocathe great and rich They speake the Persian tong and worship Idols They pay no kinde of tribute to any man for there is no man that can do them hurt There is found greate plentye of gold and a greate number of the small white shels of the Sea whyche is vsed in some places in stead of money as before it is rehearsed Also there be many Elephantes Vnto this Ilande there commeth very fewe Strangers for that it standeth out of the way Of the Kingdome named Malenir and of the Ilande named Pentera and of Iaua the lesse and of their customes CHAP 110. SAyling beyond Iocath fiue miles towardes the midday you come vnto the Iland named Penthera full of Mountaynes And in the middes of this Iland about forty miles there is but foure passes of water therefore the great Shippes do take off their Rudders and being paste these fiue miles towards the midday you come vnto a Realme named Malenir The Citie and the Iland is named Pepethan where there is plentie of Spices And going forwarde sayling by Solano or East and by South a hundred miles you come vnto the Ilande named Iaua the lesse which is in compasse two hundred miles In this Iland there is eyghte Kings euery one hauing his Kyngdome by himselfe They doe all
haue séene India bothe the greate and the lesse Tartaria wyth other prouinces Ilands which are so many that the age of one man yea peraduenture of ij men would not suffice to them all And now I will declare vnto you of India the great Of Abashya CHAP. 131. IN India the greate there is a greate prouince named Abashia whych is to say the middle India for it standeth betwéene India the greate and India the lesse The king of the prouince is a Christian and the Christians that be vnder hym carrye two tokens made with a burning yron from the forheade vnto the pointe of their nose The great King dwelleth in the middest of the prouince the Moores dwel towardes the prouince of Cadamy The holye Apostle Saint Thomas did conuerte muche people vnto the Christian faith in this prouince and afterwards went from thence vnto the prouince of Moaber where he was martyred In this prouince there be many valiant knights and meÌ„ of armes and they do euer make war against the Souldan of Aden The people of thys countrey liue vpon fleshe milke and Rice and of no other thing There they vse muche vsurie and in this prouince there be many Cities and townes Of the prouince of Adem or Ades and of the things found there CHAP. 132. THe prouince of Adem hathe a King and he is named the Sowdan of Adâ—m There be in this prouince many Cities and Townes and the people are Moores and haue greate strife with the Christians There be in this prouince Ports and Hauens whither many shippes come with merchaundize and the moste of this prouince liue vppon Rice for that they haue little fleshe and lesse milke This country is very dry and without fruite and there groweth no grasse and therefore the beastes of this prouince liue vppon drie fishe salte and rawe which they doe eate in steade of strawe and barley Of a mightie King of the Orient parties CHAP. 133. NOwe I haue tolde you of India the greate India the lesse and of middle India and nowe I haue remayning to tell you of the Countries whiche are towards Septentrion or the North where there raygneth a King of the imperiall house of the greate Cane These people do worshippe the same Idoll that the Tartarians doe worshippe whiche they name Nazigay This prouince hathe plaines and mountaines There groweth no kinde of sustenaunce neiâ—her corne nor Rice and the people liue onelye vppon fleshe and milke of Mares and no man maketh warre againste them nor they againste no manne Here bée manye Camelles and other beastes but they are deade Vppon the Seigniorie of this Kyng there is a Countrey so strong that no manne maye enter into it nor yet beaste being bigge by reason of the straites lakes and fountaynes whyche bée there and for that alwayes there is suche feruent colde that it is alwayes frozen and vnto them there can come no shipping This Countrey is in compasse twelue dayes iorney Hovve Armines are boughte and of other beastes CHAP. 134. I Will declare vnto you howe in these twelue dayes iourney they doe buy the wilde beasts for to haue theyr skinnes In euerye place of these twelue dayes iourney there is plentie of habitations and there be masties or dogges little lesse than Asses These masties doe drawe after them a certaine thing made of Woodde whiche is called Slioiala whiche is a sleade as the Oxen or Horses doe drawe a Carte sauing it hathe no whéeles as oure Cartes haue and these Slyoialas or sleddes are as bigge as twoo menne maye be in it that is to saye the Mayster of the maysties or carte and the Merchaunt that goeth to buy the skinnes And these masties cease not drawing excepte it be in some myry place they sette foure or sixe masties to drawe as among vs wée doe sette Oxen or Horses when they do come to their iourneys end the Merchaunt hyreth an other carter with his slead and masties for that the firste coulde not endure so muche labor and so he maketh his twelue dayes iourney till he come to the mountains where the Armins and skinnes are sold where they buy them and afterwaâ—des they retourne as they came At the ende of this Countrey there standeth a Kingdome whiche is named the Barkland for it is there euer darke as wee call the Twylight for the Sunne shyneth not there and is not séene The people of this Countrey haue no King but liue as beastes without lawe In this Countrie the men and women are well made of their bodies although they be somewhat yellowe of coloure The Tartarians that border vppon them doe spoyle them very muche and when the Tartarians doe goe to robbe in that darke valley they ride vppon mares that haue horse or mare coltes following them for they doubte to come oute that wayes that they were in by reason of the darknesse and wooddes and when they come neare vnto the place where they meane to robbe they doe tye their horse or mare coltes vnto the trées and ride vppon the mare and doe their feate and as they haue done it they lette their mares goe whither they liste and the mares goe straighte vnto their horse or mare coltes where they lefte them tyed vnto the trées Those in that Countrie wyth certaine deuises doe take many Armines and diuers other wilde beasts and take the skinnes and dresse them make merchaundize This obscure and darke Counâ—rey ioyneth one parte with Ronselande Of Rouseland and of other thinges whiche be founde there CHAP. 135. ROuselande is a greate Prouince towardes Trasmontana whiche is the North. The people of Russia are Christians according to the vse of the Gréekes Touching the things â—f the holy Church they are verye simple Rouseland is a strong Countrey and hathe very strong passages There be very fayre menne and women and vnto no man they giue tribute sauing vnto the King of Tartarie of the Occident There is made greate merchaundize of noble furres for apparell In Rouseland there be founde many mines of siluer also there is such feruent colde that the people can scarce liue This prouince reacheth vnto the Occean Seas towardes the Septentrion in which Seas there be many Ilandes wherein bréedeth many Gerfaulcons and singular Hawkes FINIS Nâ—lus The redde Sea. Souldan Arabia Felix Alepo Erronious iudgements of the voyages of Salomon Three Indias the first is the lower India The second or middle India Lading of Spices The third India called the higher India An Oxe worshipped 1298 1250 1272. Marco Polo was sent as Embassador from the great Cane Maâ—co Polo was in the great Canes Court seaueÌ„teene yeares Marco Polo and his Father Vncle had leaue to depart and went without Embassadors Foureteene great Ships with foure Mastes in a Shippe and sixe hundred men in eueâ—y Shippe and vittayled for two yeares Within three Monethes sayling they arriued at Iaua The returne of the two breethreÌ„ and Marco Polo to Venice in Anno. 1295. They take great