IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 |
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Citation Information
CHAP. XX. TIZE BRAIIMANS
363
t
t
tale is quoted contemptuously by Garcias from one Francisco de Tamarra. And Haxthausen found it as a popular legend in Armenia. (S. Epiph. de XIII. Gemmis, ete., Romae, 1743 ; Jaubert, Edrisi, I. 500 ; J. A. S. B. XIII. 657 ; Lane's Ar. Nis hts, ed. 1859, III. 88 ; RJzu. 1~ ouv. 1lZZl. Asiat. L 183 ; Raineri, Fior di Pensieri di Ahnzed Tezfascite, pp. 13 and 30 ; Tzetzes, Chil. XI. 376 ; India in X lath Cent. pp. 29-30 ; J. C. Scal. de Subtilitate, CXIII. No. 3 ; An. des Voyages, VIII. 195 Garcias, p. 71 ; Transcaucasia, p. 360 ; J. A. S. B. I. 354.)
The story has a considerable resemblance to that which Herodotus tells of the way in which cinnamon was got by the Arabs (III. III ). No doubt the two are ramifications of the same legend.
NOTE 3.—Mere buckram is clearly applied to fine cotton stuffs. The districts about Masulipatam were long famous both for muslins and for coloured chintzes. The fine muslins of Masalia are mentioned in the Periplus. Indeed even in the time of Sakya Muni Kalinga was already famous for diaphanous muslins, as may be seen in a story related in the Buddhist Annals. (J. A. S. B. VI. Io86. )
CHAPTER XX.
CONCERNING THE PROVINCE OF LAR WHENCE THE BRAHMINS COME.
LAP. is a Province lying towards the west when you quit
the place where the Body of St. Thomas lies ; and all the
Abraiaman in the. world come from that province.'
You must know that these Abraiaman are the best
merchants in the world, and the most truthful, for they
would not tell a lie for anything on earth. [If a foreign
merchant who does not know the ways of the country
applies to them and entrusts his goods to them, they
will take charge of these, and sell them in the most loyal
manner, seeking zealously the profit of the foreigner and
asking no commission except what he pleases to bestów.]
They eat no flesh, and drink no wine, and live a life of
great chastity, having intercourse with no women except
with their wives ; nor would they on any account take
what belongs to another ; so their law commands. And
they are all distinguished by wearing a thread of cotton
over one shoulder and tied under the other arm, so that it
crosses the breast and the back.
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