Polumhrum. 



FRIAR BEATUS ODORICUS a.d. 



1330. 

 as we do our vines, and they bring forth pepper in 

 clusters, as our vines doe yeeld grapes, but being ripe, 

 they are of a greene colour, and are gathered as we gather 

 grapes, and then the graines are layed in the Sunne to be 

 dried, and being dried are put into earthen vessels : and 

 thus is pepper made and kept. Now, in the same wood 

 there be many rivers, wherein are great store of Croco- 

 diles, and of other serpents, which the inhabitants there- 

 about do burne up with straw and with other dry fewel, 

 and so they go to gather their pepper without danger. 

 At the South end of the said forrest stands the city of 

 Polumbrum, which aboundeth with marchandize of all 

 kinds. All the inhabitants of that countrey do worship a 

 living oxe, as their god, whom they put to labour for sixe 

 yeres, and in the seventh yere they cause him to rest 

 from al his worke, placing him in a solemne and publique 

 place, and calling him an holy beast. Moreover they use 

 this foolish ceremonie : Every morning they take two 

 basons, either of silver, or of gold, and with one they 

 receive the urine of the oxe, and with the other his dung. 

 With the urine they wash their face, their eyes, and all 

 their five senses. Of the dung they put into both their 

 eyes, then they annoint the bals of their cheeks therewith, 

 and thirdly their breast : and then they say that they are 

 sanctified for all that day ; And as the people doe, even 

 so doe their King and Queene. This people worshippeth 

 also a dead idole, which, from the navel upward, re- 

 sembleth a man, and from the navel downeward an oxe. 

 The very same Idol delivers oracles unto them, and 

 sometimes requireth the blood of fourtie virgins for his 

 hire. And therefore the men of that region do conse- 

 crate their daughters and their sonnes unto their idols, 

 even as Christians do their children unto some Religion 

 or Saint in heaven. Likewise they sacrifice their sonnes 

 and their daughters, and so, much people is put to death 

 before the said Idol by reason of that accursed ceremony. 

 Also, many other hainous and abominable villanies doeth 

 that brutish beastly people commit : and I sawe many 



413 



