6 2,0 
The VOYAGES 
which were left unmanned, with the Streamers difplayed, 
and in them they failed to the chief City of Zipangu , 
where they were admitted without Sufpicion, and found 
few others but Women. The King of Zapangu befieged 
them fix Months, and they having no Relief, yielded 
themfelves, and their Lives were faved, This happened 
A. D. 1264 e . 
The Khan, for the ill Conduct of his two Commanders, 
cut off the Head of one, and fent the other to a defart 
Wand called Zerga , where he caufed Offenders to die, by 
fewingthem, their Hands,, bound in a new feed Hide of a 
Buffaloe, which drying, fhrinketh fo, as it puts them to 
vaft Tortures, which lead to a miferable Death. The Idols 
in this and the adjoining Wands are made with Heads of 
Kine, Swine, Dogs, and in other Fafhions more monftrous, 
as with Faces on their Shoulders, with four, ten, or even 
an hundred Hands and to thefe they afcribe moft Powef, 
and <jo moft Reverence, and fay,, that fo they learned of 
their Progenitors. They fometimes eat their Enemies which 
they take, with great Joy, and for great Dainties ; at leaft 
ib it is reported of them. The Sea, in which this Eland lies, 
is called the Sea of Cm, or Chin , that is,, the Sea againft 
Mangi , and in the Language of that Eland Mangi is called 
Chin, or Chint , which Sea is fo large,, that the Mariners 
and expert Pilots, who frequent it, fay, that there are feven 
thoufand four hundred and forty Iflands therein, the moft 
part of them inhabited, that there grows no Tree which 
yields not a good Smell, and that there grows many Spices 
of divers kinds, efpecially Lignum Aloes, and Pepper,, 
black and white. The Ships of Zaitum are a Year in their 
Voyage, for they go in Winter, and return in Summer, 
having Winds of two forts, which keep their Seafons, and 
this Country is far from India-', but I will leave them,, for 
I never was there, nor are they fubjeft to the Khan, and 
return to Zaitum ; from hence failing South-weftward one 
thoufand five hundred Miles, palling aGulph called Cheinan y , 
which continues two Months failing to the Northward, ftill 
confining on the South-eaft of Mangi , and elfewhere with 
Ania and Loloman , and other Provinces before named. 
Within it are infinite Iflands all in a manner inhabited : In 
them is found abundance of Gold, and they trade one with 
another. 
22. This Gulpli Teems like another World ; and after one 
thoufand and five hundred Miles, failing acrofs this Gulph, 
is the County Ziambar ,, rich and great, having a King and 
a Language of their own, Idolaters, and paying Tribute to 
the Grand Khan of twenty Elephants, and Lignum Aloes 
in great Quantities yearly. A. I). 1268, the Khan hearing 
of the Riches of this Eland, fent thither Sagatu with an 
Army to invade it. Acambate the King thereof was old, 
and made his Compofition by paying the Tribute, which has 
been mentioned. There are many Woods of black Ebony 
there, which are of infinite Value. Sailing thence betwixt 
the South and South-eaft one thoufand five hundred Miles 
is 'Java, at prefent fuppofed by Mariners the greateft Eland 
in the World, being above three thoufand Miles in Circuit, 
under a King who payeth Tribute to none, the Khan not 
offering to fubjecft it, becaufe of the Length and Danger of 
the Voyage. The Merchants of Zaitum and Mangi fetch 
thence abundance of Gold and Spices..South and South-weft- 
ward fix hundred Miles from Java,, are two Iflands, one 
Sondur , which is the greater, the other Condur, lefs, both 
defolate. 
Fifty Miles South-eaft from them is a Province, or .firm 
Land, very rich and great, named Lochae , the People Ido- 
laters, having a Language of their own, as well as a King. 
There grows Brafil Wood in great Plenty, much. Gold, 
Elephants, wild Beafts,, and Fowl, a Fruit called Bercias,. 
large as Lemons, very good ; the Place is mountainous and 
‘lavage, and the King permits not any to come thither,, left 
they fhould know his Country, and attempt to conquer it. 
There are abundance of Porcelain Shells for Money tran- 
sported to other Places. Five hundred Miles Southward 
from Lochae is the Ifle Pentan , a favage Place, which pro- 
duced! in all the Woods fweet Trees y fixty Miles in the 
way, the Sea is in many Places but four Fathom, after 
and TRA FE L S Book L 
which failing to the South-eaft thirty Miles further, is the' 
Ifland and Kingdom of Malaiur , which hath a peculiar 
King and Language to itfelf, and here a great Trade is 
carried on in Spices from Pentan, One hundred Miles 
South-eaft is Java the Lefs, in Compafs about two thotiilnd 
Miles, and hath in it eight Kingdoms, and the People as many 
Languages ; they are Idolaters, have abundance of Trea~ 
fure. Spices, Ebony, and Brafil, and are fo far to the South,' 
that the North Star cannot there be feen.. Mafter Marco 
was in fix of thofe Kingdoms, of which he gives the fol- 
lowing Account, leaving the other two which he faw not. 
One of thefe eight Kingdoms is Felech , where the Idola- 
ters, by frequent Trade with Saracens, are converted to the 
Law of Mohammed . In the Cities the Mountaineers are very 
beaftly, eating Man’s Flefti, and all kinds of impure Food, 
and worfhip all Day what they firft fee in the Morning ? 
Next to that is Bafma , which hath a Language by itfelf y 
they live without Law like Beafts, and fometimes fend 
Hawks to the Khan, who lays claim to all the Eland. For 
favage Beafts they have wild Elephants, and Unicorns much- 
lefs than Elephants, like the Buffaloe in Hair y their Fees: 
are like Elephant’s Feet, they have one Horn in the midft 
of the Forehead, and hurt none therewith, but with the 
Tongue and Knee j for on their Tongue are certain long. 
Prickles, and fharp, and when they hurt any, they trample 
on him, and prefs him down with their Knees, and then, 
tear him to Pieces with their Tongue. The Head is like 
a wild Boar’s, which he carries downwards to the Ground,, 
They love to ftand in the Mire,, and are filthy Beafts, and 
not fuch Unicorns are laid to be in our Parts, which, 
fuffer themfelves to be taken by Maids, but quite contrary. 
They have many Apes, and of feveral kinds ; they have 
Gof-hawks black as Ravens, great, and good for Prey.. 
There are certain fmall Apes, in their Faces like Men, which, 
they put in Boxes, and preferve with Spices, and fell them, 
to Merchants, who carry them through the World, Brewing, 
them for Pigmies, or little Men. 
Samare is the next Kingdom, where Mafter Marco ftaid 
five Months againft his Will, forced by ill Weather. - There 
none of the Stars of Charles Wain are feen. He once wene* 
on Shore with two thoufand People, and there fortified for 
thofe five Months, for fear of thofe brutilh Men -eaters, and 
traded mean while with them for Victuals. They have 
excellent Fifh, Wine of the Date-Tree, very wholefome 
for Phthifick, Dropfy, Difeafes of the Spleen ; fame white, 
fome red, and Indian Nuts as big as a Man’s Head, the 
middle whereof is full of a pleafant Liquor better than 
Wine 5 they eat on all forts of Flefh without any Difference. 
Dragoian is another of thefe Kingdoms claimed by the 
Khan, having a King, and Language of their own. I was 
told of ,an abominable Cuftom, that when one is fick, they 
fend to enquire of the Sorcerers, whether he fha -11 efeape ? 
If the Devils anfwer No, the Kindred fend for fome, whofe 
Office it is to ftrangle the fick Party ; after which they cut 
him in Pieces, and the Kindred eat him with great Jollity.,, 
even to the Marrow of the Bones y for, fay they, if any 
Subftance of him fhould remain. Worms would breed 
thereof, which would want Food, and fo die, to the great 
Torture of the Soul of the Deceafed. The Bones they 
afterwards take and carry into fome Caves in the Hills, that 
no Beaft may touch them. If they take any Stranger they 
eat him in the fame manner. 
Lambrai is the fifth Kingdom of Java, in which is great 
Plenty of Brafil, of the Seeds whereof Mafter Marco 
brought to Venice, and fowed them, but in vain, the Soil 
being too cold. They have Unicorns in great abundance., 
and Choice of Beafts and Fowls. Fan fur , the fixth King- 
dom,, hath the beft Camphire, which is fold Weight for 
Weight with Gold. In that Province they make Meal out 
of great and long Trees, as thick as two Men can fathom 
whence paring off the thin Bark and Wood about three 
Fingers thick, the Pith within is. Meal, which they put in 
Water,and ftir it very well, the lighteft Drofsfwimming, and 
the ftneft fettling to the Bottom, and then the Water being 
caft away, they make Pafte,of which Mafter Marco brought 
fome to Venice , tailing not much unlike Barley-Bread, The 
e This Attempt made by the Tartars to conquer Japan, is a very curious Circumftance, and of great Confequence to the Hiftory of this ^Country, 
jecaufe mentioned, by no other Author,, which is the Keaton that Father Martini refers us hither on that Head^in his moft accurate Work of the Em- 
?ire of China, 
¥V QOd 
