JOHN DE PLANO CARPINI 



Of their superstitious traditions. Chap. 7. 



BUt by reason of certain traditions, which either they 

 or their predecessors have devised, they accompt 

 some things indifferent to be faults. One is to thrust 

 a knife into the fire, or any way to touch the fire with a 

 knife, or with their knife to take flesh out of the cauldron, 

 or to hewe with an hatchet neare unto the fire. For they 

 think by that means to take away the head or force from 

 the fire. Another is to leane upon the whip, wherewith 

 they beate their horses : for they ride not with spurs. 

 Also, to touch arrowes with a whip, to take or kill yong 

 birds, to strike an horse with ye raine of their bridle, and 

 to breake one bone against another. Also, to powre out 

 milke, meate, or any kinde of drinke upon the ground 

 or to make water within their tabernacle : which whoso- 

 ever doth willingly, he is slaine, but otherwise he must 

 pay a great summe of money to the inchanter to be 

 purified. Who likewise must cause the tabernacle with 

 all things therein, to passe betweene two fiers. Before it 

 be on this wise purified, no man dare once enter into it, 

 nor conveigh any thing thereout. Besides, if any man 

 hath a morsell given him, which he is not able to swallow, 

 and for that cause casteth it out of his mouth, there is an 

 hole made under his tabernacle, by which hee is drawen 

 forth and slaine without all compassion. Likewise, who- 

 soever treads upon the threshold of any of their dukes 

 tabernacles, he is put to death. Many other things there 

 be, like unto these, which they take for heinous offences. 

 But to slay men, to invade the dominions of other people, 

 and to rifle their goods, to transgresse the commaundements 

 and prohibitions of God, are with them no offences at all. 

 They know nothing concerning eternall life, and ever- 

 lasting damnation, and yet they thinke, that after death 

 they shall live in another world, that they shall multiply 

 their cattell, that they shal eate and drinke and doe other 

 things which living men performe here upon earth. At 

 a new moone, or a full moone, they begin all enterprises 



141 



A.D. 



1246. 



Ridiculous 

 traditions. 



The Tartars 

 zvorship the 



