The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 / Page 427 (Color Image)

0427	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2

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CHAP. XXI. TIF, CITY OF CAIL

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371

equity, and extends great favour to merchants and

foreigners, so that they are very glad to visit his

city.'

This King has some Soo wives ; for in those parts ..

the man who has most wives is most thought of.

As I told you before, there are in this great province

of Maabar five crowned Kings, who are all own brothers

born of one father and of one mother, and this king is

one of them. Their mother is still living. And when

they disagree and go forth to war against one another,

their mother throws herself between them to prevent

their fighting. And should they persist in desiring to

fight, she will take a knife and threaten that if they will

do so she will cut off the paps that suckled them and rip

open the womb that bare them, and so perish before their

eyes. In this way bath she full many a time brought

them to desist. But when she dies it will most assuredly

happen that they will fall out and destroy one another.3

[All the people of this city, as well as of the rest of

India, have a custom of perpetually keeping in the mouth

a certain leaf called Tembul, to gratify a certain habit

and desire they have, continually chewing it and spitting

out the saliva that it excites. The Lords and gentle-

folks and the King have these leaves prepared with

camphor and other aromatic spices, and also mixt with

quicklime. And this practice was said to be very good

for the health.4 If any one desires to offer a gross

insult to another, when he meets him he spits this leaf or

its juice in his face. The other immediately runs before

the King, relates the insult that has been offered him,

and demands leave to fight the offender. The King

supplies the arms, which are sword and target, and all

the people flock to see, and there the two fight till one

of them is killed. They must not use the point of the

sword, for this the King forbids.] 5

VOL. II. 2 A 2

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