Classics Retold

After departing from Calatu, sailing three hundred miles between northwest and north you find the city of Cormos; but if you take a the same direction, and sail five hundred miles you come to Quis.  However, we shall pass over this last place, and speak of Cormos, a large and noble capital subject to a Melik (king), who commands many towns and castles.  The people are Saracens, and adore Mohammed.  The heat is very great, on which account, every house is provided with ventilators, place on the side when wind blows, which being thus admitted, renders the mansion really cool.  We gave an account of this place formerly, as well as of Quis and Creman, but have since made a circuit which brought us back to it. However, we will say no more,but proceed now to the description of great Turkey  Note:- 1. Cormos, Creman, Quis: By Cormos it may mean Hormuz island, or the surrounding places including the port of Bander Abbas or the strait of Hormuz  End of the Section...

Calatu is a large city within the Gulf of the same name six hundred miles northwest from Dufar. [1] It is a noble sea port inhabited by Saracens who are subject to Cormos. When the Melik (king) of that city is at war with a more powerful prince he retires to this place, which is strong by nature and art, and finds himself safe.  The people have no grains but what they import.  Many ships bring the goods and spices of India, which are distributed throughout the interior, and many fine horses sent in return. But I must observe that this city is at the mouth of the Gulf of Calatu (Gulf of Oman) so that the Melik can prevent vessels from sailing in or out of without his consent.  The power he often uses against the Sultan of  Creman (Makran), for when that prince (Sultan) demands any exorbitant tribute from him or other vassals he removes from Cormos to Calatu and not allow ships to pass, when the Sultan of Creman suffers heavily and is obliged to abate his demands. The ...

This is a beautiful, large, and noble city, 500 miles southeast of Escier, the people are Saracens adoring Mohammed and ruled by a count, who is subject to Aden, to which indeed this city belongs.  The port is very good, and the merchants convey from there very fine Arabian horses.  Numerous cities and castles depend upon it, and the country yields much incense.  The trees are about the size of a small fir, and incisions are made with small knives in various places, from where flows incense, which, indeed through the great heat, often runs out of itself. I shall now proceed to relate the Gulf of Calatu. Notes:-  Dufar: - Modern day Dhofar, a  region in southern Oman, known for its rich history, cultural heritage and natural beauty. End of the Section 

Escier is a very large town to the northwest four hundred miles from Aden.  Here rules a count with justice, but subject to the Sultan of Aden; and the people are Saracens adoring Mohammed.  The port is good, frequented by many ships and merchants from India, who bring various commodities, and carry away others, particularly horses of great value, but yielding large profit.  In this province grows a great quantity of fine incense, also dates.  They have no grains except rice, and that too little, so that corn is imported from other countries.  Fish is caught in plenty, that for a Venetian gros you can  purchase two large tunnies.  The people live on rice, flesh, and milk. They have no wine. They make liquor from rice, sugar and dates. Their sheep are without ears or any openings for them, but where the ears should be is a little horn.  Very small, but beautiful creatures;  another wonder is that all animals eat fish. There is no grass. It is ...

Aden is subject to a lord called Sultan. The people are Saracens, adoring Mohammed, and wishing the greatest mischief to Christians. There are many cities and castles; for Aden is the port to which the Indian ships bring all their merchandise.  It is then placed on board other small vessels, which ascend a river about seven days, at the end of which it is disembarked, laden on camels, and conveyed thirty days farther. It then comes to the river of Alexandria and is conveyed down to that city.  By this route alone its inhabitants receive their pepper, spices and costly goods.  From Aden too ships sail for India with various goods, specifically very fine and valuable horses, which as you know are sold there for full a hundred marks of silver.  The Sultan draws a great revenue from the duties of these cargoes; and is thus one of the richest princes in the world.  But, I assure you, he did great injury to the Christians; for when the governor of Babylonian attacked...

Abascia is a very great province, called Middle India.  Supreme monarch is a Christian.  The other six kings are subject to him, three believers and three Saracens.  The Christian people of this province have three marks upon their face, one from the forehead to the middle of the nose, and one on each cheek, and Saracens only one on the forehead and nose.  The great king lives in the middle of the province, the Saracens towards Aden.  In this district Messer St Thomas the apostle preached, and after converting the inhabitants went to Maabar, where he died and his body remains as formerly mentioned. This country has many men-at-arms and well mounted cavelry, who are much needed; for wars are frequent with Sultans of Adens and Nubia and with other powers.  But I will tell you a memorable story of what happened in the year 1288. This king who is lord of over all Abascia wished to go in pilgrimage to adore sepulchre of Christ in Jerusalem. The barons represente...

You must know, I have described only its noblest kingdoms and islands; those that make the flower of the region, and to which rest are mostly subject.  No man can enumerate the whole islands; thy are estimated around 12700, inhabited and uninhabited according to the writing of the most skilful mariners. In the Greater India, which extends from Maabar (former Madras) to Kesmacoran (Karachi and beyond), there are thirteen very great kingdoms, of which I have described ten.  The lesser India, stretching Zinaba to Motifi contains eight, and this is exclusive of numerous others that are in the islands. Notes:- Zinaba to Montifi:- It is quite natural that Marco Polo did not have a clear cut view of India. World maps began to be accurate only after the 15th century.  By Zinaba to Montifi Marco Polo meant Zanzibar to Maldives. Medieval concept of India consisted of Greater India that is Indian subcontinent and Lesser India that consisted of regions east of Indian subcontinent in ...