FRIAR MARCO ,DE NIQA a.d. 



^539- 

 also, that the apparel which they weare in Cevola is after 

 the same maner as they before had certified me, and that 

 all the inhabitants of the Citie lie upon beddes raysed a 

 good height from the ground, with quilts and canopies 

 over them, which cover the sayde Beds : and hee tolde 

 mee that he would goe with me to Cevola and farther 

 also, if I would take him with me. The like relation was 

 given unto me in this towne by many others, but not so 

 particularly. I travelled three dayes journey through this 

 valley : the inhabitants whereof made mee exceeding great 

 cheere and intertainement. In this valley I saw above a 

 thousand Oxe-hides most excellently trimmed and dressed. 

 And here also I saw farre greater store of Turqueses and 

 chaines made thereof, then in all places which I had 

 passed ; and they say, that all commeth from the city of 

 Cevola, whereof they have great knowledge, as also of 

 the kingdome of Marata, and of the kingdomes of Acus 

 and Totonteac. 



Chap. 4. 



Of a very great beast with one home upon his fore- 

 head ; and of the courtesies which the Indians 

 shewed Frier Marcus of Ni^a, in his Voyage. 

 Also how cruelly Stephan Dorantez and his com- 

 panions were used upon their arrivall at Cevola, by 

 the Lorde thereof. 



HEre they shewed me an hide halfe as bigge againe A mlghtje 

 as the hide of a great oxe, and tolde me that it ^^^^^^^^^ 

 was the skin of a beast which had but one home upon 

 his forehead, & that this home bendeth toward his [III. 371.] 

 breast, and that out of the same goeth a point right 

 forward, wherein he hath so great strength, that it will 

 breake any thing how strong so ever it be, if he runne 

 against it, and that there are great store of these beasts 

 in that Countrey. The colour of the hide is of the 

 colour of a great Goat-skin, and the haire is a finger 

 thicke. Here I had messengers from Stephan which 

 brought me word, that by this time he was come to 



137 



