The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 / Page 353 (Color Image)

0353	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2

CHAP. XI. LAMBRI AND FANSUIZ 299

CHAPTER XL

OF THE KINGDOMS OF LAMBRI AND FANSUR.

WHEN you leave that kingdom you come to another

which is called LAMBRI.1 The people are Idolaters, and

call themselves the subjects of the Great Kaan. They

have plenty of Camphor and of all sorts of other spices.

They also have brazil in great quantities. This they

sow, and when it is grown to the size of a small shoot

they take it up and transplant it ; then they let it grow

for three years, after which they tear it up by the root.

You must know that Messer Marco Polo aforesaid

brought some seed of the brazil, such as they sow, to

Venice with him, and had it sown there ; but never a

thing came up. And I fancy it was because the climate

was too cold.

Now you must know that in this kingdom of Lambri

there are men with tails ; these tails are of a palm in

length, and have no hair on them. These people live in

the mountains and are a kind of wild men. Their tails

are about the thickness of a dog's.2 There are also plenty

of unicorns in that country, and abundance of game in birds

and beasts.

Now then I have told you about the kingdom of

Lambri.

You then come to another kingdom which is called

FANSUR. The people are Idolaters, and also call them-

selves subjects of the Great Kaan ; and understand, they

are still on the same Island that I have been telling you

of. In this kingdom of Fansur grows the best Camphor

in the world called Canfora Fansuti. It is so fine that it

sells for its weight in fine gold.3

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