NICHOLAS AND ANTONIO ZENO ad. 



c. 1380-90. 

 valour, and renowned for his martiall exploits and 

 victories. Of which expedition of Zichmni there are 

 extant in Italian certaine collections or abridgements 

 gathered by Francisco Marcolino out of the letters of 

 M. Nicolo and Antonio Zeni two gentlemen of Venice 

 which lived in those partes. Out of which collections 

 I doe adde concerning the description of Estotiland afore- 

 said these particulars following. 



Estotiland (saith he) aboundeth with all things neces- 

 sary for mankinde. In the mids thereof standeth an 

 exceeding high mountaine, from which issue foure rivers 

 that moisten all the countrie. The inhabitants are wittie 

 and most expert in all Mechanicall arts. They have a 

 kinde of peculiar language and letters. Howbeit in this 

 Kings Librarie are preserved certaine Latine bookes, 

 which they understand not, being perhaps left there not 

 many yeeres before by some Europeans, which traffiqued 

 thither. They have all kinde of mettals ; but especially 

 golde, wherewith they mightily abound. They trafficke 

 with the people of Groneland : from whence they fetch 

 skinnes, pitch and brimstone. The inhabitants report 

 that towardes the South, there are regions abounding 

 with gold, and very populous : they have many and huge 

 woods, from whence they take timber for the building of 

 ships and cities, whereof and of castles there are great 

 store. The use of the loadstone for Navigation is 

 unknowen unto them. They make relation also of a 

 certaine region toward the South, called Drogio, which Drogio. 

 is inhabited by Canibals, unto whom mans flesh is delicate 

 meat : wherof being destitute they live by fishing, which 

 they use very much. Beyond this are large regions, and 

 as it were a newe world : but the people are barbarous 

 and goe naked : howbeit against the colde they cloth 

 themselves in beastes skinnes. These have no kinde of 

 metall : and they live by hunting. Their weapons are 

 certaine long staves with sharpe points, and bowes. 

 They wage warres one against another. They have 

 governours, and obey certaine lawes. But from hence 



VII 465 2G 



