In Camsai, four Friars Minor successfully converted an influential man to our faith, in whose house I was lodging. He would often say to me, "Ata," which means "Father, would you like to see the land?" I always answered yes. One day, we boarded a boat and set off for one of the great monasteries in the region. As we sailed, this man called out to one of the monks and said, "Do you see this outspoken rabbi (which means religious man)? He has come from where the sun sets and is on his way to Cambalech to pray for the life of the Great Khan. Show him something miraculous, something he can recount as an amazing sight he witnessed in Camsai". The monk replied that he would be happy to show me something new.
Without delay, the monk took two large buckets filled with food scraps and opened the door to a garden, which we entered. Inside, I saw a small hill covered with lush trees. While we were in the garden, the monk began to strike a cymbal. At the sound, a large number of animals resembling monkeys, along with others that had human-like faces, descended from the hill. As we watched, about three thousand animals gathered around us in an orderly fashion. The monk then placed the food in front of them, and they ate in a well-organized manner. After they had finished, the monk played the cymbal again, and all the animals returned to their places.
Upon seeing this, I couldn't help but laugh and ask the monk, "Tell me, what does all of this mean?" He replied, "These animals are the souls of noble men that we feed out of love for God." I responded, "These are not souls; they are merely beasts." But he insisted, "No, they are not just animals. They are the souls of noble men. When a noble man dies, his soul enters one of these noble creatures, while the souls of common men inhabit lesser beings." Although I could have continued to debate with him, I knew he would not change his belief.
If anyone were to attempt to describe the greatness of this city and the wonders it holds, a commercial ledger would not be enough to contain all the information, for this land is the most prosperous, grand, and noble for commerce in the entire world.
In Camsai, four Friars Minor successfully converted an influential man to our faith, in whose house I was lodging. He would often say to me, "Ata," which means "Father, would you like to see the land?" I always answered yes. One day, we boarded a boat and set off for one of the great monasteries in the region. As we sailed, this man called out to one of the monks and said, "Do you see this outspoken rabbi (which means religious man)? He has come from where the sun sets and is on his way to Cambalech to pray for the life of the Great Khan. Show him something miraculous, something he can recount as an amazing sight he witnessed in Camsai". The monk replied that he would be happy to show me something new.
Without delay, the monk took two large buckets filled with food scraps and opened the door to a garden, which we entered. Inside, I saw a small hill covered with lush trees. While we were in the garden, the monk began to strike a cymbal. At the sound, a large number of animals resembling monkeys, along with others that had human-like faces, descended from the hill. As we watched, about three thousand animals gathered around us in an orderly fashion. The monk then placed the food in front of them, and they ate in a well-organized manner. After they had finished, the monk played the cymbal again, and all the animals returned to their places.
Upon seeing this, I couldn't help but laugh and ask the monk, "Tell me, what does all of this mean?" He replied, "These animals are the souls of noble men that we feed out of love for God." I responded, "These are not souls; they are merely beasts." But he insisted, "No, they are not just animals. They are the souls of noble men. When a noble man dies, his soul enters one of these noble creatures, while the souls of common men inhabit lesser beings." Although I could have continued to debate with him, I knew he would not change his belief.
If anyone were to attempt to describe the greatness of this city and the wonders it holds, a commercial ledger would not be enough to contain all the information, for this land is the most prosperous, grand, and noble for commerce in the entire world.
