Pilgrimage, Book 4 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII.
Of the Nations which liued in, or neere, to those parts, now possessed by the Tartars: and their Religions and Customes.
FRom those Countries, inhabited by the Persians and Zagathayan Tartars Eastward, we cannot see with M. Paulus his eyes (the best guides we can get for this way) any Religion but the Saracen, till we come to Bascia, a Prouince somewhat bending to the South, the people whereof are Idolaters and Magicians, cruell and deceitfull, liuing on Flesh and Rice. Seuen daies iourney from hence is Chesmur, wickedly cunning in their deuillish art, by which they cause the dumbe Idols to speake, the day to grow darke, and other maruellous things, being the well-spring of Idols and Idolatrie in those parts. They hauehave Heremits after their Law, which abide in their Monasteries, are very abstinent in eating and drinking, containe their bodies in strait chastitie, and are very carefull to abstaine from such sinnes, wherewith they thinke their Idols offended, and liue long. There are of them many Monasteries: They are obserued of the people with great reuerence. The people of that Nation shed no bloud, nor kill any flesh: but if they will eate any, they get the Saracens, which liue amongst them, to kill it for them. North-Eastward from hence is Vochan, a Saracenicall Nation; and after many dayes iourney ouer Mountaines (so high, that no kinde of birds are seene thereon) is Beloro, inhabited with Idolaters. Cascar (the next Countrey) is Mahumetane, beyond which are many Nestorian Christians in Carchan. There are also Moores, or Mahumetanes, which hauehave defiled with like superstition the Countries of Cotam and Peym (where the women may marrie new husbands, if the former be absent aboue twentie dayes aThis Mariage admits no Non-residence, and the men likewise) and of Ciarcian, & Lop. From Lop they crosse a Desart, which asketh thirtie dayes, and must carrie their victuals with them. Here (they say) spirits call men by their names, and cause them to stray from their company, and perish with famine. When they are passed this Desart, they enter into Sachion, the first Citie of Tanguth, an idolatrous Prouince, subiect to the great Can: there are also some Nestorians and Saracens, where they hauehave had the Art of Printing these thousand yeares. They hauehave Monasteries replenished with Idols of diuers sorts, to which they sacrifice, and when they hauehave a male child borne, they commend it to some Idoll, in whose honour they nourish a Ramme in their house that yeare, and after on their Idols festiuall, they bring it, together with their sonne, before the Idoll, and sacrifice the Ramme, and dressing the flesh, let it stand till they hauehave finished their prayers for their childs health: in which space (they say) their Idoll hath sucked out the principall substance of the meat: which they then carrie home to their house, and assembling their kinsfolke, eat it with great reuerence & reioycing, sauing the bones in goodly vessels. The Priests hauehave for their Fee the Head, Feet, Inwards, Skinne, and some part of the Flesh.
When any of great place dieth, they bFunerall obseruances in Sachion.assemble the Astrologers, and tell the houre of his natiuitie, that they may by their Art finde a Planet fitting to the burning of the corpes, which sometime, in this respect, attendeth this fierie constellation a weeke, a monethmonth, or halfe a yeare: in all which time, they set before the corpes a Table furnished with Bread, Wine, and other Viands, leauing them there so long as one might conueniently eate them, the Spirit there present (in their opinion) refreshing himselfe with the odour of this prouision. If any euill happen to any of the house, the Astrologers ascribe it to the angrie soule for neglect of his due houre, agreeing to that of his Natiuitie: They make many stayes by the way, wherein they present this departed soule with such cates, to hearten it against the bodies burning. They paint many papers, made of the Barkes of Trees, with pictures of Men, Women, Horses, Camels, Money, and Rayment, which they burne together with the bodie, that the dead may hauehave to serue him in the next world. And all this while of burning is the Musicke of the Citie present, playing.
Chamul, the next Prouince, is idolatrous, or heathenish: for so we distinguish them from Saracens, Iewes, and Christians, which I would were not as guiltie of Idolatrie as the former, in so many their forbidden Rites, although these hauehave all, and the other, part of the Scriptures, whereof those Heathens and Idolaters are vtterly ignorant. Here they not onelyonly permit, but account it a great honour to hauehave their wiues and sisters at the pleasure of such strangers as they entertaine, themselues departing the while, and suffering all things to be at their guests will: for so are their Idols serued, who therefore for this hospitalitie (they thinke) will prosper all that they hauehave. And when as Mangu Can forbad them this beastly practise, they abstained three yeares; but then sent a pitifull Embassage to him, with request, That they might continue their former custome, for since they left it, they could not thriue: who, ouercome by their fond importunitie, graunted their request; which they with ioy accepted, and doe still obserue.
In the same Prouince of Tanguth is Succuir, whose Mountaines are clothed with Rheubarbe, from whence it is by Marchants conueyed through the world. Campion is the mother Citie of the Countrey, inhabited by Idolaters, with some of the Arabian and Christian Nations. The Christians had there, in the time of M. Polo, three faire Churches. The Idolaters had many Monasteries, abounding with Idols of Wood, Earth, and Stone, couered with Gold, and artificially made, some great, tenne paces in length lying along, with other little ones about them, which seeme as their disciples, to doe them reuerence. Their religious persons liue, in their opinion, more honestly then other idolaters, although their honestie is such, as that they thinke it no sinne to lye with a woman, which shall seeke it at their hands; but if the man first make louelove, it is sinnefull. They hauehave also their Fasting-dayes, three, foure, or fiue in a monethmonth, in which they shedde no bloud, nor eate flesh. They hauehave many wiues; of which, the first-married hath the first place and preheminence. Here M. Paul liued about a yeare.
Touching the Religion and Customes in Tanguth, the reports cRamusius.of Caggi Memet in Ramusius (who of late yeares was in Campion) are not much different. He sayth, That their Temples are made like the Christians, capable of foure or fiue thousand persons. In them are two Images of a man and woman, lying in length fortie foot, all of one Piece, or Stone: For which vse they hauehave Carts with fortie wheeles, drawne of fiue or sixe hundred Horse and Mules, two or three moneths iourney. They hauehave also little Images, with sixe or seuen heads, and tenne hands, holding in each of them seuerall things, as a Serpent, Bird, Flower, &c. They hauehave Monasteries, wherein are men of holy life, neuer comming forth, but hauehave foode carried them thither dayly: Their gates are walled vp; and there are infinite of Frier-like companions passing to and fro in the Citie. When any of their kindred die, they mourne in white. They hauehave Printing, not much vnlike to that which is vsed in Europe; and Artillerie on their walls very thicke, as hauehave the Turkes. All the Catayans and Idolaters are forbidden to depart out of their natiue Countrey. They hauehave three Sciences, Chimia, Limia, and Simia: the first, Alchymie; the second, to make enamoured; the third, Iugling, or Magicke.
Succuir also is, according to his report, great and faire, beautified with many Temples. Their Rheubarbe they would not bestow the paines to gather, but for the Marchants, which from China, Persia, and other places, fetch it from them at a cheape price. Nor doe they in Tanguth vse it for Physicke, as we here, but with other ingredients make perfumes thereof for their Idols: and in some places they burne it in stead of other firing, and giuegive it their horses to eat. They set more price by an hearbe which they call Mambroni cini, medicinable for the eyes, and another called Chiai Catai, growing in Catay at Cacianfu, admirable against very many diseases, an ounce whereof they esteeme as good as a sacke of Rheubarbe; whose description you may see at large, according to the relation and picture of the said Chaggi, in Ramusius: for (to adde that also) they hauehave many Painters, and one Countrey inhabited onelyonly by them. These Tanguthians are bearded as men in these parts, especially some time of the yeare.
Northwards from Tanguth is the plaine dM. Paul.of Bargu, in customes and manners like to the first Tartars, confining with the Scythian Ocean, fourescore dayes iourney from Ezina, in the North parts of Tanguth, and situate vnderunder the North starre. Eastward of Tanguth (somewhat inclining to the South) is the Kingdome of Erginul, addicted likewise to Ethnike superstitions, wherein yet are some, both Nestorians and Mahumetans. Here are certaine wilde Bulls as bigge as Elephants, with manes of white and fine haire, like silke; of which, some they tame, and betwixt them and their tame Kine engender a race of strong and laborious Oxen. Here is found a beast also, as bigge as a Goat, of exquisit shape, which eueryevery full Moone hath an apostemation or swelling vnderunder the bellie, which the Hunters (at that time chasing the said beast) doe cut off, and drie against the Sunne, and it proueth the best Muske in the world.
The next Easterly Countrey is Egrigaia, idolatrous, and hauing some Christians of the Sect of Nestorius. But Tenduc, next adioyning, was at that time gouerned by King George, a Christian and a Priest of the posteritie of Presbyter Iohn, subiect to the Grand Can. And the Grand Cans giuegive commonly their daughters in marriage to this generation and stocke of Presbyter Iohn. The most part of the inhabitants are Christians, some Idolaters and Mahumetans being there also. There be also that are called Argon, descended of Ethnikes and Moores, the wisest and properest men in those parts. All the people, from hence to Cathay, are Christian, Mahumetan, and Gentile, as themselues like best. In Thebet, the next Countrey, the people in times past (saith eW.de Rubr.c.28. Odoricus saith the same.Will. de Rubruquis) bestowed on their parents no other Sepulchre then their owne bowels, and yet in part retaine it, making fine cuppes of their deceased parents skuls, that drinking out of them in the middest of their iolitie, they may not forget their progenitors. They hauehave much gold, but hold it an high offence to imprison it, as some doe with vsus, in Chests or Treasuries: and therefore hauing satisfied his necessitie, they lay vp the rest in the earth, fearing otherwise to offend GOD. Cambalu is in the Northeast parts of Cathay: and fortie miles Westward from hence (all which way is enriched with Palaces, Vineyards, and fruitfull Fields) is Gouza, a faire Citie, & great, with many Idoll-Monasteries. Here the way parteth, leading Westward into Cathay, and South-Eastward vntounto Mangi, or China. Tanifu and Cacianfu are Prouinces, which trend Westward from hence, inhabited with idolatrous Nations, and here and there some of the Arabian and Christian profession, full of Cities. Cunchin and Sindinfu are Ethnikes; as is Thebeth: where they hauehave a brutish custome, flivert. reporteth the like custome in Calicut.not to take a wife that is a virgin; and therefore, when Marchants passe that way, the mothers offer vntounto them their daughters, much striuing which of them may be the most effectuall bawd to her child. They taking to their pleasure such as they like, gratifie them with some Iewell, or other Present, which on her marriage-day she weareth, and she which hath most of such presents, bringeth the most accepted dowrie to her husband, as testimonies of the great fauour of their Idols. This Thebeth contained sometimes eight Kingdomes, with many Cities, but was now desolated by the Tartarians. There are great Necromancers, which by their infernall skill cause Thunders and Tempests. They hauehave Dogges as bigge as Asses, with which they catch wilde Oxen and all sorts of Beasts.
Caindu is an Heathenish Nation, where, in honour of their Idols, they prostitute their wiues, sisters, and daughters to the lust of trauellers; which being entertained in the house, the good man departeth, and the woman setteth some token ouer the dore, which there remaineth as long as this stallion-stranger, for a signe to her husband, not to returne till the guest be as well gone from her house, as honestie from her heart, and wit from his head. They make money of Salt, as in Cathay of Paper. In Caraian also (a large Prouince adioyning) there are some Christians and Saracens, but the most Ethnikes, which are not discontented, that other men should lye with their wiues, if the women be willing.
Carazan is of like ir-religion; their soules captiuated to the Old Serpent, and their bodies endangered to mightie huge bodies of gThe serpents of Carazan.Serpents, tenne paces long and tenne spannes thicke, which that Countrey yeeldeth. They keepe in their dennes in the day, and in the night prey vponupon Lions, Wolues, and other Beasts, which when they hauehave deuoured, they resort to some water to drinke, and by their weight leaue so deepe impression in the sand, that hereby men knowing their haunt, doe vnderset this their Tract with sharpe stakes, headed with yron, couering the same againe with sand; by this meanes preying on the spoyler, and deuouring the deuourer; esteeming nothing more sauourie then the flesh, nor more medicinable then the gall of this Serpent. More Serpentine then this diet, was that custome which they vsed, when any proper and personable Gentleman, of valorous spirit, and goodly presence, lodged in any house amongst them: in the night they killed him, not for the spoyle, but that his soule, furnished with such parts of bodie and minde, might remaine in that house. Much hope of future happinesse to that house did they repose in so vnhappie attempts. But the great Can killed this Serpent also, ouerthrowing this custome in the conquest of that Prouince.
Cardandan confineth on the Westerne limits of Carazan. They make blacke lifts in their flesh, rasing the skinne, and put therein some blacke tincture, which euer remayneth, hNaked pride.accounting it a great ornament. When a woman is deliuered of a child, the man lieth in, and keepeth his bed, with visitation of Gossips, the space of fortie dayes. They worship the ancientest person of the house, ascribing to him all their good. In this Prouince, and in Caindu, Vocian, and Iaci, they hauehave no Physicians, but when any be sicke, they send for their Witches or Sorcerers, and acquaint them with their maladie. They cause Minstrells to play, while they daunce and sing, in honour of their Idoles, not ceasing till the Deuill entreth into one of them, of whome those Sorcerers demand the cause iInfernall Physicke.of the parties sickenesse and meanes of recouerie. The 'Demoniake answereth, for some offence to such or such a God. They pray that God of pardon, vowing that when hee is whole, hee shall offer him a sacrifice of his owne bloud. If the Deuill see him vnlikely to recouer, he answereth, that his offences are so grieuous, that no sacrifice can expiate: but if there be likelyhood of recouerie, he enioyneth them a sacrifice of so many Rammes with blacke heads, to be offered by these Sorcerers, assembled together with their wiues, and then will that god be reconciled. This is presently done by the kinsmen of the sicke, the sheepe killed, their bloud hurled vp towards Heauen. The Sorcerers and Sorceresses make great lights, and incense all this visited house, making a smoake of Lignum Aloes, and casting into the aire the water wherein the sacrificed flesh was sodden, with some spiced drinkes, laughing, singing, dauncing in honour of that God. After all this reuel-rout, they demaund againe of the Demoniake, if the God be appeased: if so, they fall to those spiced drinkes, and sacrificed flesh with great mirth, and being well apayed, returne home; if not, they (at his bidding) renue their superstition, ascribing the recouerie (if it happen) to that Idoll: and if he dieth notwithstanding, they shift it off to the want of their full due, fleecing, or tasting the same before, to the Idols defrauding. Thus they doe in all Catay and Mangi. Thus much out of the large Reports of Paulus.
Rubruquius telleth the like of Cailar and Caracoram, where he had been in these Catayan Prouinces, concerning their Christopher or Giant-like Idols, and Idoll Temples: in one of which he saw a man, with a crosse drawne with inke on his hand, who seemed by his answeres to be a Christian, with Images like to that of Saint Michael and other Saints. They hauehave a Sect called Iugures, whose kHypocritical shauclings.Priests are shauen, and cladde in saffron-coloured garments, vnmarried, an hundred or two hundred in a cloister. On their holy-dayes they place in their Temples two long formes, one ouer against another, whereon they sit with bookes in their hands, reading softly to themselues. Nor could our Author (entering amongst them) by any meanes breake this their silence: They hauehave, wheresoeuer they goe, a string about them full of nut-shells, like the Popish bead-rolls; alway they are vttering these words, Ou mam hactani, GOD thou knowest, expecting so many rewards, as they make such memorialls of GOD. They hauehave a Church-yard, and a Church-porch, with a long pole on it (as it were a steeple) adioyning to their Temples. In those porches they vse to sit and conferre. They weare certaine ornaments of paper on their heads. Their writing is downwards, and so from the left hand to the right; which the Tartars receiued from them. They vse Magicall characters, hanging their Temples full of them. They burne their dead, and lay vp the ashes in the top of a Pyramis. They beleeue there is one GOD, that he is a Spirit: and their Images they make not to represent GOD, but in memoriall of the rich after their death, as they professed to Rubruquius. The Priests (besides their saffron-iackets buttoned close before) weare on their left shoulder a cloake, descending before & behind vnderunder their right arme, like to a Deacon carrying the Houselboxe in Lent. They worship towards the North, clapping their hands together, and prostrating themselues on their knees vponupon the earth, holding also their foreheads in their hands. They extend their Temples East and West in length; vponupon the North-side they build (as it were) a vestrie; on the South a Porch. The doores of their Temples are alwayes opened to the South. A certaine Nestorian Priest told him of so huge an Idoll, that might be seene two dayes before a man came at it. Within the Quier, which is on the North side of the Temple, they place a chest long and broad, like a table, and behind that chest stands their principall Idoll, towards the South: round about which, they place the other lesse Idols: and vponupon that chest they set candles, and oblations. They hauehave great Bells, like vntounto ours. The Nestorians of those parts, pray with hands displayed before their breasts, so to differ from that Iugurian Rite of ioyning hands in prayer. Thus farre W. de Rubruquis, who was there An. 1253. In Thebet (saith Odoricus) resideth the Abassi, or Pope of the Idolaters, distributing religious preferments to those Easterne Idolaters, as the Roman Pope doth in the West.