The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 / Page 400 (Color Image)

0400	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2

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BOOK III.

MARCO POLO

of meeting with any particular bird or beast ; for such

omens are regarded by them more than by any people

in the world. Thus if a man is going along the road

and hears some one sneeze, if he deems it (say) a good

token for himself he goes on, but if otherwise he stops

a bit, or peradventure turns back altogether from his

journey.16

As soon as a child is born they write down his

nativity, that is to say the day and hour, the month, and

the moon's age. This custom they observe because

every single thing they do is done with reference to

astrology, and by advice of diviners skilled in Sorcery

and Magic and Geomancy, and such like diabolical arts ;

and some of them are also acquainted with Astrology.

[All parents who have male children, as soon as

these have attained the age of 13, dismiss them from

their home, and do not allow them further maintenance

in the family. For they say that the boys are then of

an age to get their living by trade ; so off they pack

them with some twenty or four-and-twenty groats, or at

least with money equivalent to that. And these urchins

are running about all day from pillar to post, buying and

selling. At the time of the pearl-fishery they run

to the beach and purchase, from the fishers or others,

five or six pearls, according to their ability, and take

these to the merchants, who are keeping indoors for

fear of the sun, and say to them : " These cost me such

a price ; now give me what profit you please on them."

So the merchant gives something over the cost price for

their profit. They do in the same way with many other

articles, so that they become trained to be very dex-

terous and keen traders. And every day they take

their food to their mothers to be cooked and served, but

do not eat a scrap at the expense` of their fathers.]

In this kingdom and all over India the birds and

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