WILLIAM DE RUBRUQUIS ad. 



1253. 



Of their foode and victuals. Chap. 5. 



Concerning their foode and victuals, be it knowen unto 

 your Highnesse that they do, without al difference or 

 exception, eat all their dead carrions. And amongst so 

 many droves it cannot be, but some cattell must needes 

 die. Howbeit in summer, so long as their Cosmos, that 

 is, their mares milke lasteth, they care not for any foode. 

 And if they chance to have an oxe or an horse dye, they 

 drie the flesh thereof: for cutting it into thin slices and 

 hanging it up against the Sunne and the wind, it is Drfingoffiesh 

 presently dried without salt, and also without stenche ^^ ^^^ ^^^'^^ 

 or corruption. They make better puddings of their [I. 97.] 

 horses then of their hogs, which they eate being new 

 made : the rest of the flesh they reserve untill winter. 

 They make of their oxe skins great bladders or bags, 

 which they doe wonderfully dry in the smoake. Of the 

 hinder part of their horse hides they make very fine 

 sandals & pantofles. They give unto 50. or an 100. 

 men the flesh of one ram to eat. For they mince it in a 

 bowle with salt and water (other sauce they have none) 

 and then with the point of a knife, or a litle forke which 

 they make for the same purpose (such as wee use to take 

 rosted peares or apples out of wine withal) they reach 

 unto every one of the company a morsel! or twaine, 

 according to the multitude of guestes. The master of 

 the house, before the rams flesh be distributed, first of all 

 himselfe taketh thereof, what he pleaseth. Also, if he 

 giveth unto any of the company a speciall part, the 

 receiver therof must eat it alone, and must not impart 

 ought therof unto any other. Not being able to eate it 

 up all, he caries it with him, or delivers it unto his 

 boy, if he be present, to keepe it : if not, he puts it 

 up into his Saptargat, that is to say, his foure square 

 buget, which they use to cary about with them for the 

 saving of all such provision, and wherein they lay up 

 their bones, when they have not time to gnaw them 

 throughly, that they may burnish them afterward, 



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