The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 / Page 123 (Color Image)

0123	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2

CHAP. L. THE PROVINCE OF ZARDANDAN

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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