_ 164 _ These are neither Moors, nor Jews, nor Christians. They submit to no one, but for a morsel of bread, they would destroy the House of Mecca, if need be. These people have an enormous number of cattle. There are so many that on the island of Canacani a sheep is only worth a vintem. Item 34: The said island of Canacani has strong trading ties with the mainland. Caravans travel to the land of a King called Hajaya. He buys all the merchandise that the Moors bring but he will not allow anyone to enter his country so that no one will know where his gold comes from. They say that eight days inland there is an abundance of gold. The gold of that country is finer than tibar [Central African gold dust], which comes from Dakar and is transported in the form of cubes. It is gold of twenty-three carats. The aforementioned Hajaya is not a Moor but a Negro. There is a lot of ivory and there are many horses in his country. He lives…. his power is very great. Item 35: The said island of Canacani trades with Prester John on the mainland. The Abyssinian pilgrims who go on pilgrimages to the Holy City of Jerusalem all come to make a profit. They bring from Prester four or five kinds of gold of varying value. The least valuable sort is worth four cruzados an ounce among the Moors. There is another that is worth seven.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy