After leaving this region and sailing south across the ocean, I arrived at many islands and lands. One of these islands is called Nicobar. It is quite large, with a perimeter of at least 10,000 miles. The inhabitants of this island, both men and women, have dog-like faces. These people worship an ox as their god, and as a symbol of their devotion, they all wear the figure of an ox, either in gold or silver, on their hats. The men and women of this region walk around naked, covering only their private parts with a simple cloth.
They are physically strong and very brave in combat: they go to war naked and armed only with a shield that protects them from head to toe. If they capture an enemy who cannot pay his ransom, they devour him, but if the captive can offer a price for his freedom, they release him.
The king of this region wears a necklace with at least 300 large pearls, and he recites 300 prayers daily in honor of his god. Additionally, he always carries a ruby stone nearly the size of a palm, which shines like a flame of fire. This stone is considered the most precious and valuable in the world. It is said that not even the emperor of the Cathay Tartars could acquire it?neither with money, force, nor cunning. The king of this island is known for his just and strict rule, which allows anyone to travel safely throughout his kingdom.
