National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 |
CHAP. L. THE PROVINCE OF ZARDANDAN
85
41,
they prick the flesh till the blood comes, and then they
rub in a certain black colouring stuff, and this is perfectly
indelible. It is considered a piece of elegance and
the sign of gentility to have this black band.] The
men are all gentlemen in their fashion, and do nothing
but go to the wars, or go hunting and hawking. The
ladies do all the business, aided by the slaves who have
been taken in war.3
And when one of their wives has been delivered of a
child, the infant is washed and swathed, and then the
woman gets up and goes about her household affairs,
whilst the husband takes to bed with the child by his
side, and so keeps his bed for 40 days ; and all the kith
and kin come to visit him and keep up a great festivity.
They do this because, say they, the woman has had a
hard bout of it, and 'tis but fair the man should have his
share of suffering.4
They eat all kinds of meat, both raw and cooked, and
they eat rice with their cooked meat as their fashion is.
Their drink is wine made of rice and spices, and excel-
lent it is. Their money is gold, and for small change
they use pig-shells. And I can tell you they give one
weight of gold for only five of silver ; for there is no
silver-mine within five months' journey. And this in-
duces merchants to go thither carrying a large supply of
silver to change among that people. And as they have
only five weights of silver to give for one of fine gold,
they make immense profits by their exchange business in
that country.'
These people have neither idols nor churches, but
worship the progenitor of their family, " for 'tis he," say
they, " from whom we have all sprung." 6 They have no
letters or writing ; and 'tis no wonder, for the country is
wild and hard of access, full of great woods and
mountains which 'tis impossible to pass, the air in
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