IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| Cathay and the Way Thither : vol.2 |
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Citation Information
360 RECOLLECTIONS OF TRAVEL IN THE EAST,
they put their dreams in opposition to Holy Scripture and the traditions of the saints ; but indeed they have some plausible arguments to urge on their side. For they say that they are not descended either from Cain or from Seth, but from other sons of Adam, who [as they allege] begot other sons and daughters. But as this is contrary to Holy Scripture I will say no more about it.
I mist remark, however, that these monks never eat flesh, because Adam and his successors till the flood did not do so. They go naked from the loins upwards, and unquestionably they are very well conducted. They have houses of palm-leaves, which you can break through with your finger,' and these are scattered up and down in the woods, and full of property, and yet they live without the slightest fear of thieves, unless perchance there come vagabonds from foreign parts.
On the same mountain, in the direction of Paradise, is a great fountain, the waters of which are clearly visible at a distance of good ten Italian miles. And though it breaks out there, they say that its water is derived from the Fountain of Paradise. And they allege this in proof : that there sometimes turn up from the bottom leaves of unknown species in great quantities, and also lign-aloes, and precious stones, such as the carbuncle and sapphire, and also certain fruitswith healing virtues. They tell also that those gems are formed from Adam's tears, but this seems to be a mere figments Many other matters I think it best to pass over at present.
CONCERNING ADAM'S GARDEN AND THE FRUITS THEREOF.
The garden of Adam in Seyllan contains in the first place plantain trees which the natives call figs.4 But the plantain
1 "Pansala, ' a dwelling of leaves,' describes the house of a Buddhist priest to the present day." (Hardy's Eastern Monachism, p. 129.)
2 A cascade, I suppose, perhaps the Seetlagunga torrent noticed below.
3 See Odoric, p. 98. The Chinese also had this story (Tennent, ii, 610).
4 See note at p. 352. We find from Pridham that " Adam's Garden"
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