De XIII. Gemmis, etc., Romae, 1743; Jaubert,
Edrisi, I. 500; J.A.S.B. XIII. 657; Lane's Ar. Nights, ed. 1859,
III. 88; Rem. Nouv. Mel. Asiat. I. 183; Raineri, Fior di Pensieri di
Ahmed Teifascite, pp. 13 and 30; Tzetzes, Chil. XI. 376; India in XVth
Cent. pp. 29-30; J. C. Scal. de Subtilitate, CXIII. No. 3; An. des
Voyages, VIII. 195; Garcias, p. 71; Transcaucasia, p. 360; J.A.S.B.
I. 354.)
The story has a considerable resemblance to that which Herodotus tells of
the way in which cinnamon was got by the Arabs (III. 111). No doubt the
two are ramifications of the same legend.
NOTE 3. - Here buckram is clearly applied to fine cotton stuffs. The
districts about Masulipatam were long famous both for muslins and for
coloured chintzes. The fine muslins of Masalia are mentioned in the
Periplus. Indeed even in the time of Sakya Muni Kalinga was already famous
for diaphanous muslins, as may be seen in a story related in the Buddhist
Annals. (J.A.S.B. VI. 1086.)
CHAPTER XX.
CONCERNING THE PROVINCE OF LAR WHENCE THE BRAHMINS COME.
Lar is a Province lying towards the west when you quit the place where the
Body of St. Thomas lies; and all the Abraiaman in the world come
from that province.[NOTE 1]
You must know that these Abraiaman are the best merchants in the world,
and the most truthful, for they would not tell a lie for anything on
earth. [If a foreign merchant who does not know the ways of the country
applies to them and entrusts his goods to them, they will take charge of
these, and sell them in the most loyal manner, seeking zealously the
profit of the foreigner and asking no commission except what he pleases to
bestow.] They eat no flesh, and drink no wine, and live a life of great
chastity, having intercourse with no women except with their wives; nor
would they on any account take what belongs to another; so their law
commands. And they are all distinguished by wearing a thread of cotton
over one shoulder and tied under the other arm, so that it crosses the
breast and the back.
They have a rich and powerful King who is eager to purchase precious
stones and large pearls; and he sends these Abraiaman merchants into the
kingdom of Maabar called Soli, which is the best and noblest Province of
India, and where the best pearls are found, to fetch him as many of these
as they can get, and he pays them double the cost price for all. So in
this way he has a vast treasure of such valuables.[NOTE 2]
These Abraiaman are Idolaters; and they pay greater heed to signs and
omens than any people that exists. I will mention as an example one of
their customs. To every day of the week they assign an augury of this
sort.
