Travels Of Marco Polo: Sixty Two: Of the Province of Bangala.

This is a province south of Kublai Khan's empire. Bangla was not conquered till the year1290.  But the army was ready to march for that purpose.  It has its own languages.  The people are most wicked idolaters. They are on the confines of India [1]  The barons and lords of that country have oxen as tall as the elephants, but not so weighty and live on flesh and rice.  They have great abundance of silk, with which they carry on extensive manufactures.  They grow ginger, sugar, and many other costly spices. This place is visited by numerous merchants, who purchase slaves, make them eunuchs, and then either sell or convey them to other places. [2] 

____'________________________________1. Bengal is not considered here as a part of India.
2. Slavery was widely practiced in Indian subcontinent as well as in other places.

End of the Section 

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