A Momentous Journey

100 about them, as they are far inland, only that there are very few Mouros and they are excellent warriors. The Kingdom of Delhi Heading further inland, one comes to the great kingdom of Delhi, with much land and rich cities, where principal merchants live: its population is Mouros and the king is likewise Mouros and a very great lord. In times gone by, this was a gentile kingdom and there are still some gentiles living with great trials among them, and many of them are noble and honourable men; others have left in order not to live under the Mouros. Most of them leave the country and adopt pauper’s habits, as they have decided to roam the world and not settle anywhere. And this is what they do, until they die on this pilgrimage. They have no possessions, because they lost all their property. They wander naked and barefoot and do not cover their heads, only their pudenda with a truss made of Mouros brass. They wear cylindrical belts made of it, which are four fingers wide and have many pieces hanging down on both sides. There are many figures carved on these belts, which are worn so tightly that they push their stomachs right up. Their trusses are attached to the corners of the belt and are locked so tightly as to cause great suffering, and in addition, they wear great iron chains around their necks and waist; they cover their bodies and faces in ash and they also carry a small cornet or horn with them, which they blow whenever they arrive somewhere, in order to beg for food, especially in temples or the king’s or lords’ houses. They mostly travel together, like the Egyptians in our lands, and they tend not to stay very long anywhere, just a few days; they are called yogis, or Çoamergue, which means servant of God; these gentiles are brown skinned, good-humoured andfinefigures, with handsome faces. They never comb their hair and wear it in plaits. I have often asked them why they go about like this, and they tell

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