_ 375 _ well as date palms. Some Persian Jews live in the city, poor people who were born there. They strike coins here, called the Larim, which is worth three vinteis. There are many muleteers, all of whom have seven, fourteen or twenty-one mules. Each group of seven is called a catar, which means a gang of mules. A man is spoken of as being the owner of a catar or two. They travel across all Persia to earn money, transporting the merchandise from city to city in great safety, since robbers do not dare attack them as they are very brave. They always travel provided with arms, which is with bows, arrows and steel shields as well as good scimitars. The inhabitants of the country say, and I have heard it on several occasions, that the great Tamerlaine, who became King of Persia, was from this city and that he began life leading gangs of mules. From a muleteer, he became King of all Persia and captured the great Turk, and he is well remembered in those parts because of his great cruelty. Everyone confirms this, although European historians who write of his life say that he was a shepherd. However, I would give more credence to what is said here, since they know it from proximity and because the muleteers here
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