These would appear to have been plants of the species of true cotton called by Royle Gossipium arboreum and sometimes termed G. religiosum, from its being often grown in South India near temples or abodes of devotees; though the latter name has been applied also to the nankeen cotton.  That of which we speak is, however, according to Dr. Cleghorn, termed in Mysore Deo kapas, of which G. religiosum would be a proper translation.  It is grown in various parts of India, but generally rather for ornament than use.  It is stated, however, to be specially used for the manufacture of turbans, and for the Brahmanical thread, and probably afforded the groundwork of the story told by Philostratus of the wild cotton which was used only for the sacred vestments of the Brahmans, and refused to lend itself to other uses.  One of Royle’s authorities (Mr. Vaupell) mentions that it was grown near large towns of Eastern Guzerat, and its wool regarded as the finest of any, and only used in delicate muslins.  Tod speaks of it in Bikanir, and this kind of cotton appears to be grown also in China, as we gather from a passage in Amyot’s Memoires (II. 606), which speaks of the “Cotonniers arbres, qui ne devoient etre fertiles qu’apres un bon nombre d’annees.”

The height appears to have been a difficulty with Marsden, who refers to the G. arboreum, but does not admit that it could be intended.  Yet I see in the English Cyclopaedia that to this species is assigned a height of 15 to 20 feet.  Polo’s six paces therefore, even if it means 30 feet as I think, is not a great exaggeration. (Royle, Cult. of Cotton, 144, 145, 152; Eng.  Cycl. art. Gossypium.)

NOTE 4.—­Embroidered and Inlaid leather-work for bed-covers, palankin mats and the like, is still a great manufacture in Rajkot and other places of Kattiawar in Peninsular Guzerat, as well as in the adjoining region of Sind. (Note from Sir Bartle Frere.) The embroidery of Guzerat is highly commended by Barbosa, Linschoten, and A. Hamilton.

The G.T. adds at the end of this passage:  “E qe voz en diroi?  Sachies tout voiremant qe en ceste reingne se labore roiaus dereusse de cuir et plus sotilment que ne fait en tout lo monde, e celz qe sunt de greingnors vailance.”

CHAPTER XXVII.

CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF TANA.

Tana is a great kingdom lying towards the west, a kingdom great both in size and worth.  The people are Idolaters, with a language of their own, and a king of their own, and tributary to nobody.[NOTE 1] No pepper grows there, nor other spices, but plenty of incense; not the white kind however, but brown.[NOTE 2]

There is much traffic here, and many ships and merchants frequent the place; for there is a great export of leather of various excellent kinds, and also of good buckram and cotton.  The merchants in their ships also import various articles, such as gold, silver, copper, and other things in demand.