The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 09: Asia, Part IIHakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 09: Asia, Part II
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
the idols into it the second time, and with that the deuils fled in the
likenesse of blacke smoake, and the idols still remained till they were
consumed vnto ashes. Afterward, this noise and outcry was heard in the
ayre: Beholde and see how I am expelled out of my habitation. And by these
meanes the friers doe baptize great multitudes, who presently reuolt againe
vnto their idols: insomuch that the sayd friers must eftsoones, as it were,
vnderprop them, and informe them anew. There was another terrible thing
which I saw there: for passing by a certaine valley, which is situate
beside a pleasant riuer, I saw many dead bodies, and in the sayd valley
also I heard diuers sweet sounds and harmonies of musike, especially the
noise of citherns, whereat I was greatly amazed. This valley conteineth in
length seuen or eight miles at the least; into the which whosoeuer entreth,
dieth presently, and can by no meanes passe aliue thorow the middest
thereof: for which cause all the inhabitants thereabout decline vnto the
one side. Moreouer, I was tempted to go in, and to see what it was. At
length, making my prayers, and recommending my selfe to God in the name of
Iesu, I entred, and saw such swarmes of dead bodies there, as no man would
beleeue vnlesse he were an eye witnesse thereof. At the one side of the
foresayd valley vpon a certaine stone, I saw the visage of a man, which
beheld me with such a terrible aspect, that I thought verily I should haue
died in the same place. But alwayes this sentence, the word became flesh,
and dwelt amongst vs, I ceased not to pronounce, signing my selfe with the
signe of the crosse, and neerer then seuen or eight pases I durst not
approach vnto the said head: but I departed and fled vnto another place in
the sayd valley, ascending vp into a little sand mountaine, where looking
round about, I saw nothing but the sayd citherns, which me thought I heard
miraculously sounding and playing by themselues without the help of
musicians. And being vpon the toppe of the mountaine, I found siluer there
like the scales of fishes in great abundance: and I gathered some part
thereof into my bosome to shew for a wonder, but my conscience rebuking me,
I cast it vpon the earth, reseruing no whit at all vnto my selfe, and so,
by Gods grace I departed without danger. And when the men of the countrey
knew that I was returned out of the valley aliue, they reuerenced me much,
saying that I was baptised and holy, and that the foresayd bodies were men
subiect vnto the deuils infernall, who vsed to play vpon citherns, to the
end they might allure people to enter, and so murther them. Thus much
concerning those things which I beheld most certainely with mine eyes, I
frier Odoricus haue heere written: many strange things also I haue of
purpose omitted, because men will not beleeue them vnlesse they should see
them.
Of the honour and reuerence done vnto the great Can.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account