infirmity." Then the devil returns an
answer from the idol, and if he says the man is to recover, the son returns
to the house of his father, and ministers to him in all things necessary,
until he regain his former health; but if the response is that the man is
to die, the priest then goes to him, and putting a cloth into his mouth,
immediately strangles him. After this the dead body is cut in pieces, and
all the friends and relations are invited to feast upon this horrible
banquet, which is accompanied with music and all manner of mirth; but the
bones are solemnly buried. On my blaming this abominable practice, they
alleged, as its reason and excuse, that it was done to prevent the worms
from devouring the flesh, which would occasion great torments to his soul;
and all I could say was quite insufficient to convince them of their error.
There are many other novel and strange things in this country, to which no
one would give credit, who had not seen them with his own eyes; yet, I
declare before God, that I assert nothing of which I am not as sure as a
man may be of any thing. I have been informed by several credible persons,
that this India contains 4400 islands, most of which are well inhabited,
among which there are sixty-four crowned kings.

[1] Explained on the margin by Hakluyt, _or Dadin_, which is equally
inexplicable.--E.

SECTION X.

_Of Upper India, and the Province of Mancy_[1].

After sailing for many days on the ocean towards the east, I arrived at the
great province of Mancy, or Mangi, which is called India by the Latins; and
I was informed by Christians, Saracens, and idolaters, and by many persons
in office under the great khan, that this country contains more than 2000
great cities, and that it abounds in all manner of provisions, as bread,
wine, rice, flesh, and fish. All the men of this country are artificers or
merchants, and so long as they are able to help themselves by the labour of
their hands, they never think to beg alms, however great may be their
poverty. The men of this country are fair and of a comely appearance, yet
somewhat pale, having a small part of their heads shaven; but their women
are the most beautiful of any under the sun. The first city that I came to
belonging to this country is called Ceuskalon[2], which is a days journey
from the sea, standing on a river, which at its mouth overflows the land,
to the extent of twelve days journey. This city has so prodigious a num