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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 |
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Citation Information
442
MARCO POLO BOOK III.
" I once" (says Joinville) " rehearsed to the Legate two cases of sin that a priest of mine had been telling me of, and he answered me thus : ` No man knows as much of the heinous sins that are done in Acre as I do ; and it cannot be but God will take vengeance on them, in such a way that the city of Acre shall be washed in the blood of its inhabitants, and that another people shall come to occupy after there.' The good man's prophecy hath come true in part, for of a truth the city hath been washed in the blood of its inhabitants, but those to replace them are not yet come : may God send them good when it pleases Him ! " (p. 192).
CHAPTER XXXVII.
CONCERNING THE CITY OF ESHER.
/rr
4
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ESHER is a great city lying in a north-westerly direction
from the last, and 400 miles distant from the Port of
Aden. It has a king, who is subject to the Soldan of
Aden. He has a number of towns and villages under
him, and administers his territory well and justly.
The people are Saracens. The place has a very good
haven, wherefore many ships from India come thither
with various cargoes ; and they export many good
chargers thence to India.'
A great deal of white incense grows in this country,
and brings in a great revenue to the Prince ; for no one
dares sell it to any one else ; and whilst he takes it from
the people at I o livres of gold for the hundredweight,
he sells it to the merchants at 6o livres, so his profit is
immense.'
Dates also grow very abundantly here. The people
have no corn but rice, and very little of that ; but plenty
is brought from abroad, for it sells here at a good profit.
They have fish in great profusion, and notably plenty of
tunny of large size ; so plentiful indeed that you may buy
two big ones for a Venice groat of silver. The natives
live on meat and rice and fish. They have no wine of
the vine, but they make good wine from sugar, from rice,
and from dates also.
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