JOHN DE PLANO CARPINl a.d. 



1246. 



a tent. But in the middest of the toppes thereof, they 

 have a window open to convey the light in and the 

 smoake out. For their fire is alwayes in the middest. 

 Their walks bee covered with felt. Their doores are 

 made of felte also. Some of these Tabernacles may 

 quickely be taken asunder, and set together againe, and 

 are caried upon beastes backes. Other some cannot be 

 taken insunder, but are stowed upon carts. And whither- 

 soever they goe, be it either to warre, or to any other 

 place, they transport their tabernacles with them. They 

 are very rich in cattel, as in camels, oxen, sheep, and Their cattell. 

 goats. And I thinke they have more horses and mares 

 then all the world besides. But they have no kine nor 

 other beasts. Their Emperors, Dukes, & other of their 

 nobles doe abound with silk, gold, silver, and precious 

 stones. Their victuals are al things that may be eaten : Their 

 for we saw some of them eat lice. They drinke milke in ^'-^'^^^^-f- 

 great quantitie, but especially mares milke, if they have I- • 55-J 

 it : They seeth Mill also in water, making it so thinne, 

 that they may drinke thereof. Every one of them 

 drinkes off a cup full or two in a morning, and sometime 

 they eate nought else all the day long. But in the 

 evening each man hath a little flesh given him to eate, and 

 they drinke the broath thereof. Howbeit in summer 

 time, when they have mares milke enough, they seldome 

 eate flesh, unles perhaps it be given them, or they take 

 some beast or bird in hunting. 



Of their manners both good and bad. Chap. 5. 



THeir manners are partly prayse-worthie, and partly Their 

 detestable : For they are more obedient unto their ^^^^i^^^<^^' 

 lords and masters, then any other either clergie or 

 laie-people in the whole world. For they doe highly 

 reverence them, and will deceive them, neither in wordes 

 nor deedes. They seldome or never fall out among 

 themselves, and, as for fightings or brawlings, wounds or 

 manslaughters, they never happen among them. There Their 

 are neither theeves nor robbers of great riches to be ^^■^^^^^»^^- 



137 



