w in
diuers of them. The breadth of the sayd prouince is fifty dayes iourney,
and the length aboue sixty. In it there is great plenty of all victuals,
and especially of chesnuts, and it is one of the twelue prouinces of the
great Can. Going on further, I came vnto a certaine kingdome called Tebek,
[Marginal note: Or Thebet.] which is in subiection vnto the great Can also,
wherein I thinke there is more plenty of bread and wine then in any other
part of the whole world besides. The people of the sayd countrey do, for
the most part, inhabit in tents made of blacke felt. Their principall city
is inuironed with faire and beautifull walles, being built of most white
and blacke stones, which are disposed chekerwise one by another, and
curiously compiled together: likewise all the high wayes in this countrey
are exceedingly well paued. In the sayd countrey none dare shed the bloud
of a man, or of any beast, for the reuerence of a certaine idole. In the
foresayd city their Abassi, that is to say, their Pope is resident, being
the head and prince of all idolaters (vpon whom he bestoweth and
distributeth gifts after his maner) euen as our pope of Rome accounts
himselfe to be the head of all Christians. The women of this countrey weare
aboue an hundreth tricks and trifles about them, and they haue two teeth in
their mouthes as long as the tushes of a boare. When any mans father
deceaseth among them, his sonne assembleth together all the priests and
musicians that he can get, saying that he is determined to honour his
father: then causeth he him to be caried into the field (all his kinsfolks,
friends, and neighbours, accompanying him in the sayd action) where the
priests with great solemnity cut off the father's head, giuing it vnto his
sonne, which being done, they diuide the whole body into morsels, and so
leaue it behinde them, returning home with prayers in the company of the
sayd sonne. So soone as they are departed, certaine vultures, which are
accustomed to such bankets, come flying from the mountaines, and cary away
all the sayd morsels of flesh: and from thenceforth a fame is spread
abroad, that the sayd party deceased was holy, because the angels of God
carried him into paradise. And this is the greatest and highest honour,
that the sonne can deuise to performe vnto his deceased father. [Sidenote:
The same story concerning the very same people is in William de Rubricis.]
Then the sayd sonne taketh his fathers head, seething