NOTE 6.—­In G.T. proques, which the Glossary to that edition absurdly renders porc; it is some form apparently of pidocchio.

NOTE 7.—­It would seem that there is no eccentricity of man in any part of the world for which a close parallel shall not be found in some other part.  Such strange probation as is here spoken of, appears to have had too close a parallel in the old Celtic Church, and perhaps even, at an earlier date, in the Churches of Africa. (See Todd’s Life of St. Patrick, p. 91, note and references, and Saturday Review of 13th July, 1867, p. 65.) The latter describes a system absolutely like that in the text, but does not quote authorities.

[1] From Sola was formed apparently Sola-mandala, or Cholatnandala,
    which the Portuguese made into Choromandel and the Dutch into
    Coromandel.

[2] I may add that possibly the real reading may have been thoiach.

CHAPTER XXI.

CONCERNING THE CITY OF CAIL.

Cail is a great and noble city, and belongs to ASHAR, the eldest of the five brother Kings.  It is at this city that all the ships touch that come from the west, as from Hormos and from Kis and from Aden, and all Arabia, laden with horses and with other things for sale.  And this brings a great concourse of people from the country round about, and so there is great business done in this city of Cail.[NOTE 1]

The King possesses vast treasures, and wears upon his person great store of rich jewels.  He maintains great state and administers his kingdom with great equity, and extends great favour to merchants and foreigners, so that they are very glad to visit his city.[NOTE 2]

This King has some 300 wives; for in those parts the man who has most wives is most thought of.

As I told you before, there are in this great province of Maabar five crowned Kings, who are all own brothers born of one father and of one mother, and this king is one of them.  Their mother is still living.  And when they disagree and go forth to war against one another, their mother throws herself between them to prevent their fighting.  And should they persist in desiring to fight, she will take a knife and threaten that if they will do so she will cut off the paps that suckled them and rip open the womb that bare them, and so perish before their eyes.  In this way hath she full many a time brought them to desist.  But when she dies it will most assuredly happen that they will fall out and destroy one another.[NOTE 3]