Chapter XXV.

OF THE KINGDOM OF MURFILI, THE DIAMOND MINES THERE, AND OTHER COUNTRIES ADJACENT.

Murfili, or Monsul, is northward from Malabar five hundred miles; the inhabitants are idolaters. They have diamonds in their hills, which they search for after great rains. Westward from St. Thomas is Lac, whence the Brahmins have their original, who are the honestest merchants in the world, and will not lie for anything, and faithfully keep anything committed to their custody, or as brokers sell or barter merchandise for others. They are known by a cotton thread, which they wear over the shoulders, tied under the arm crossing the breast. They have but one wife, are great astrologers, of great abstinence, and long life; observe their own shadow in the sun, when they are to buy, and thence conjecture according to the rules of their art. They constantly chew a certain herb, which makes their teeth good, and helps digestion. There are some religious among them called Tangui, who go altogether naked, live austerely, worship cows, of which they have little brass images on their foreheads, and of the ox-bones ashes make an ointment, wherewith they anoint their bodies in divers places with great reverence. They neither kill or eat any live creature, nor herb green, or root before it is dried, esteeming everything to have a soul. They use no dishes, but lay their victuals on dry leaves of apples of paradise. They ease themselves in the sands, and then disperse it hither and thither, lest it should breed worms, which must die for want of food. Some of them live to one hundred and fifty years, and their bodies, after death, are burnt.

In Zeilan I had forgot to mention a high mountain, which none can ascend but by iron chains, as I was told, in the top whereof the Saracens say is Adam’s sepulchre; the idolaters say it is the body of Sogoman Barchan, the first idol founder, son to the king of that island, who betook himself to a solitary life on the top of this hill, from whence no pleasures nor persuasions could draw him; his father made an image after his death to represent him, all of gold, adorned with garments, and commanded all the islanders to worship it; and hence, as they say, began idolatry. Hither they come from remote places in pilgrimage, and there his fore-teeth, and a dish of his, are reserved, and as holy relics solemnly showed. The Saracens say they are of Adam, which report caused the Khan, A.D. 1281, to send ambassadors thither, who obtained two teeth and a dish, and some of his hairs, by grant, from the King of Zeilan, which he caused to be received by the whole people of Cambalu without the city, and brought to his presence with great honour.

Gael is a great city, governed by Aster, one of the four brethren, who is very rich, also very kind to merchants; he hath three hundred concubines. All the people have a custom to be continually chewing in their mouths a leaf called tembul, with spices and lime. Coulain is five hundred miles south-west from Malabar; they are idolaters. There are also Christians and Jews, who have a speech by themselves. They have pepper, brazil, indigo, lions all black, parrots of divers sorts, all white as snow, others azure, others red, and some small peacocks and peahens, very different from ours, and larger, as are their fruits; they are lecherous, and marry their sisters and near kindred: there are many astrologers and physicians. In Camari are apes so large, that they seem to be men: and here we had a sight of the north-star. Delai hath a king, and the inhabitants have their own language: the people are idolaters, and have plenty of spices; the ships of Mangi come thither. Malabar is a kingdom in the west, in which, and in Guzerat, are many pirates, who sometimes put to sea with above a hundred sail, and rob merchants. They bring with them their wives and children, and there remain all summer. In Guzerat is abundance of cotton, the trees six fathoms high, and last twenty years; the cotton of these trees is not fit to spin after they are above twelve years old, but for quilts: there are many rhinoceroses. In Canhau is stores of frankincense. It is a great city, where is great trade for horses. In Cambaia is much indigo, buckram, and cotton. Semenath is a kingdom of a peculiar language; they are idolaters, merchants, and a good people. Resmacoran is a great kingdom of idolaters and Saracens. The last province of the Greater India, towards the north-west, is five hundred miles, near which are said to be two islands, one of men and the other of women, those coming to these, and there stay in March, April, and May. The women keep their sons till twelve years, and then send them to their fathers. It seems the air of that country admits of no other course: they are Christians, and have their bishop, subject to the bishop of Socotora; they are good fishermen, and have store of amber. Socotora hath an archbishop, not subject to the Pope, but to one Zatuli, who resides at Baldach, who chooseth him. The Socotorans are enchanters, as great as any in the world, though excommunicated therefore by their prelate, and raise winds to bring back such ships as have wronged them till they obtain satisfaction.