FRIAR BEATUS ODORICUS a.d. 



1330- 

 abouts are certaine mountaines having good pastures for 



cattell upon them. Here also Manna is found in great 



aboundance. Foure partriges are here solde for lesse 



then a groat. In this countrey there are most comely 



olde men. Here also the men spin and card, and not 



the women. This land bordereth upon the North part 



of Chaldasa. 



Of the maners of the Chaldeans, and of India. 



FRom thence I traveled into Chaldasa, which is a great 

 kingdome, and I passed by the tower of Babel. This ^^^ ^^"^^^ of 

 region hath a language peculiar unto it selfe, and there ^^^^^' 

 are beautifull men, and deformed women. The men of 

 the same countrey use to have their haire kempt, and 

 trimmed like unto our women : and they weare golden 

 turbants upon their heades richly set with pearle, and 

 pretious stones. The women are clad in a course smock 

 onely reaching to their knees, and having long sleeves 

 hanging downe to the ground. And they goe bare- 

 footed, wearing breeches which reach to the ground also. 

 They weare no attire upon their heads, but their haire 

 hangs disheaveled about their eares : and there be many [II. i. 55.] 

 other strange things also. From thence I came into the 

 lower India, which the Tartars overran and wasted. And 

 in this countrey the people eat dates for the most part, 

 whereof 42. li. are there sold for lesse then a groat. I 

 passed further also many dayes journey unto the Ocean 

 sea, and the first land where I arrived, is called * Ormes, Ormus. 

 being well fortified, and having great store of marchandize 

 and treasure therein. Such and so extreme is the heat in 

 that countrey, that the privities of men come out of their 

 bodies and hang downe even unto their mid-legs. And 

 therefore the inhabitants of the same place, to preserve 

 their owne lives, do make a certaine ointment, and 

 anointing their privie members therewith, do lap them 

 up in certaine bags fastened unto their bodies, for other- 

 wise they must needs die. Here also they use a kinde of 

 Bark or shippe called Jase being compact together onely 



411 



