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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 |
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Citation Information
CHAP. XXXV. THE KINGDOM OF ABASH
427
(Såmána, N.W. of Delhi ?), (6) Siwastán (Sehwán), (7) Ujah (Uchh), (8) Hási (Hansi), (9) Sarsati (Sirsa), (io) Ma' bar, (II) Tiling, (12) Gujerat, (is) Badáún, 04) Audh, (15) Kanauj, (i6) Laknaoti (Upper Bengal), (i7) Bahár, (i8) Karrák (in the Doab), (19) iIialáwa, (Málwa), (2o) Laliaur, (21) Kálánúr (in the Bári Doáb, above Lahore), (22) jdjnagar (according to Elphinstone, Tipura in Bengal), (23) Tilinj (a repetition or error), (24) Dursannand (Dwara Samudra, the kingdom of the Belláls in Mysore). Neither Malabar nor Orissa is accounted for. (See Not. et Ext. XIII. 170). Another list, given by the historian Zíá-uddín Barni some years later, embraces again only twelve provinces. These are (I) Delhi, (2) Gujerat, (3) Málwah, (4) Deogír, (5) Tiling, (6) Kampilah (in the Doáb, between Koil and Farakhábád), (7) Dur Samandar, (8) Ma'bar, (9) Tirhut, (io) Lakhnaoti, (II) Satgánw, (12) Sunárgálzw (these two last forming the Western and Eastern portions of Lower Bengal).*
CHAPTER XXXV.
TREATING OF THE GREAT PROVINCE OF ABASH WHICH IS MIDDLE INDIA, AND IS ON THE MAINLAND.
ABASH is a very great Province, and you must know
that it constitutes the MIDDLE INDIA ; and it is on the
mainland. There are in it six great Kings with six
great Kingdoms ; and of these six Kings there are three
that are Christians and three that are Saracens ; but the
greatest of all the six is a Christian, and all the others
are subject to him.1
The Christians in this country bear three marks on
the face ; 2 one from the forehead to the middle of the
nose, and one on either cheek. These marks are made
with a hot iron, and form part of their baptism ; for after
that they have been baptised with water, these three
marks are made, partly as a token of gentility, and
partly as the completion of their baptism. There are
also Jews in the country, and these bear two marks, one
on either cheek ; and the Saracens have but one, to wit,
on the forehead extending halfway down the nose.
The Great King lives in the middle of the country- ;
the Saracens towards Aden. St. Thomas the Apostle
* E. Thomas, Chronicles of the Pathán Kings of Delhi, p. 203.
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