And Therefore, I Am Siker That This May Not Be, Without A
Great Token.
There be also in that country a kind of snails that be so great,
that many persons may lodge them in their shells, as men would do
in a little house.
And other snails there be that be full great
but not so huge as the other. And of these snails, and of great
white worms that have black heads that be as great as a man's
thigh, and some less as great worms that men find there in woods,
men make viand royal for the king and for other great lords. And
if a man that is married die in that country, men bury his wife
with him all quick; for men say there, that it is reason that she
make him company in that other world as she did in this.
From that country men go by the sea ocean by an isle that is clept
Caffolos. Men of that country when their friends be sick they hang
them upon trees, and say that it is better that birds, that be
angels of God, eat them, than the foul worms of the earth.
From that isle men go to another isle, where the folk be of full
cursed kind. For they nourish great dogs and teach them to
strangle their friends when they be sick. For they will not that
they die of kindly death. For they say, that they should suffer
too great pain if they abide to die by themselves, as nature would.
And, when they be thus enstrangled, they eat their flesh instead of
venison.
Afterward men go by many isles by sea unto an isle that men clepe
Milke. And there is a full cursed people. For they delight in
nothing more than for to fight and to slay men. And they drink
gladliest man's blood, the which they clepe Dieu. And the more men
that a man may slay, the more worship he hath amongst them. And if
two persons be at debate and, peradventure, be accorded by their
friends or by some of their alliance, it behoveth that every of
them that shall be accorded drink of other's blood: and else the
accord ne the alliance is nought worth: ne it shall not be no
reproof to him to break the alliance and the accord, but if every
of them drink of others' blood.
And from that isle men go by sea, from isle to isle, unto an isle
that is clept Tracoda, where the folk of that country be as beasts,
and unreasonable, and dwell in caves that they make in the earth;
for they have no wit to make them houses. And when they see any
man passing through their countries they hide them in their caves.
And they eat flesh of serpents, and they eat but little. And they
speak nought, but they hiss as serpents do. And they set no price
by no avoir ne riches, but only of a precious stone, that is
amongst them, that is of sixty colours. And for the name of the
isle, they clepe it Tracodon. And they love more that stone than
anything else; and yet they know not the virtue thereof, but they
covet it and love it only for the beauty.
After that isle men go by the sea ocean, by many isles, unto an
isle that is clept Nacumera, that is a great isle and good and
fair. And it is in compass about, more than a thousand mile. And
all the men and women of that isle have hounds' heads, and they be
clept Cynocephales. And they be full reasonable and of good
understanding, save that they worship an ox for their God. And
also every one of them beareth an ox of gold or of silver in his
forehead, in token that they love well their God. And they go all
naked save a little clout, that they cover with their knees and
their members. They be great folk and well-fighting. And they
have a great targe that covereth all the body, and a spear in their
hand to fight with. And if they take any man in battle, anon they
eat him.
The king of that isle is full rich and full mighty and right devout
after his law. And he hath about his neck 300 pearls orient, good
and great and knotted, as paternosters here of amber. And in
manner as we say our PATER NOSTER and our AVE MARIA, counting the
PATER NOSTERS, right so this king saith every day devoutly 300
prayers to his God, or that he eat. And he beareth also about his
neck a ruby orient, noble and fine, that is a foot of length and
five fingers large. And, when they choose their king, they take
him that ruby to bear in his hand; and so they lead him, riding all
about the city. And from thence-fromward they be all obeissant to
him. And that ruby he shall bear always about his neck, for if he
had not that ruby upon him men would not hold him for king. The
great Chan of Cathay hath greatly coveted that ruby, but he might
never have it for war, ne for no manner of goods. This king is so
rightful and of equity in his dooms, that men may go sikerly
throughout all his country and bear with them what them list; that
no man shall be hardy to rob them, and if he were, the king would
justified anon.
From this land men go to another isle that is clept Silha. And it
is well a 800 miles about. In that land is full much waste, for it
is full of serpents, of dragons and of cockodrills, that no man
dare dwell there. These cockodrills be serpents, yellow and rayed
above, and have four feet and short thighs, and great nails as
claws or talons.
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