eth
meale. Then they steepe it first in sea water, washing it afterward with
fresh water, and so it is made very good and sauorie paste, whereof they
make either meat or bread, as they thinke good. Of which bread I my selfe
did eate, and it is fayrer without and somewhat browne within. [Sidenote: A
sea running still Southward.] By this countrey is the sea called Mare
mortuum, which runneth continually Southward, into the which whoseuer
falleth is neuer seene after. In this countrey also are found canes of an
incredible length, namely 60 paces high or more, and they are as bigge as
trees. Other canes there be also called Cassan, which overspread the earth
like grasse, and out of euery knot of them spring foorth certaine branches,
which are continued vpon the ground almost for the space of a mile. In the
sayd canes there are found certaine stones, one of which stones, whoseuer
carryeth about with him, cannot be wounded with any yron: and therefore the
men of that countrey for most part, carry such stones with them,
whithersoeuer they goe. Many also cause one of the armes of their children,
while they are yong, to be launced, putting one of the said stones in the
wound, healing also, and closing vp the said wound with the powder of a
certaine fish (the name whereof I do not know) which powder doth immediatly
consolidate and cure the said wound. And by the vertue of these stones, the
people aforesaid doe for the most part triumph both on sea and land.
Howbeit there is one kind of stratageme, which the enemies of this nation,
knowing the vertue of the sayd stones, doe practise against them: namely,
they prouide themselues armour of yron or steele against their arrowes, and
weapons also poisoned with the poyson of trees, and they carry in their
hands wooden stakes most sharpe and hard-pointed, as if they were yron:
likewise they shoot arrowes without yron heads, and so they confound and
slay some of their vnarmed foes trusting too securely vnto the vertue of
their stones. [Sidenote: Sayles made of reedes.] Also Of the foresayd canes
called Cassan they make sayles for their ships, and litle houses, and many
other necessaries. [Sidenote: Campa.] From thence after many dayes trauell,
I arrived at another kingdome called Campa, a most beautiful and rich
countrey, and abounding with all kind of victuals: the king whereof, at my
being there, had so many wiues and concubines, that he had 300 sonnes and
daughters by them. This king hath