Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- PREFACE
- CHAPTER I [THE MEDITERRANEAN.]
- CHAPTER II CONCERNING ARMENIA
- CHAPTER III CONCERNING THE REALM OF PERSIA
- CHAPTER IV CONCERNING INDIA THE LESS
- CHAPTER V CONCERNING INDIA THE GREATER
- CHAPTER VI CONCERNING INDIA TERTIA (S. E. AFRICA)
- CHAPTER VII CONCERNING THE GREATER ARABIA
- CHAPTER VIII CONCERNING THE GREAT TARTAR
- CHAPTER IX CONCERNING CALDEA
- CHAPTER X CONCERNING THE LAND OF ARAN
- CHAPTER XI CONCERNING THE LAND OF MOGAN
- CHAPTER XII CONCERNING THE CASPIAN HILLS
- CHAPTER XIII CONCERNING GEORGIANA
- CHAPTER XIV CONCERNING THE DISTANCES OF COUNTRIES
- CHAPTER XV CONCERNING THE ISLAND OF CHIOS
- CHAPTER XVI CONCERNING TURKEY
- INDEX TO THE MIRABILIA OF JORDANUS AND THE COMMENTARY THEREON
CHAPTER V - CONCERNING INDIA THE GREATER
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 June 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- PREFACE
- CHAPTER I [THE MEDITERRANEAN.]
- CHAPTER II CONCERNING ARMENIA
- CHAPTER III CONCERNING THE REALM OF PERSIA
- CHAPTER IV CONCERNING INDIA THE LESS
- CHAPTER V CONCERNING INDIA THE GREATER
- CHAPTER VI CONCERNING INDIA TERTIA (S. E. AFRICA)
- CHAPTER VII CONCERNING THE GREATER ARABIA
- CHAPTER VIII CONCERNING THE GREAT TARTAR
- CHAPTER IX CONCERNING CALDEA
- CHAPTER X CONCERNING THE LAND OF ARAN
- CHAPTER XI CONCERNING THE LAND OF MOGAN
- CHAPTER XII CONCERNING THE CASPIAN HILLS
- CHAPTER XIII CONCERNING GEORGIANA
- CHAPTER XIV CONCERNING THE DISTANCES OF COUNTRIES
- CHAPTER XV CONCERNING THE ISLAND OF CHIOS
- CHAPTER XVI CONCERNING TURKEY
- INDEX TO THE MIRABILIA OF JORDANUS AND THE COMMENTARY THEREON
Summary
1. Of India the Greater I say this; that it is like unto Lesser India as regards all the folk being black. The animals also are all similar, neither more nor less [in number], except elephants, which they have [in the former] in very great plenty. These animals are marvellous; for they exceed in size and bulk and strength, and also in understanding, all the animals of the world. This animal hath a big head; small eyes, smaller than a horse's; ears like the wings of owls or bats; a nose reaching quite to the ground, extending right down from the top of his head; and two tusks standing out of remarkable magnitude [both in] bulk and length, which are [in fact] teeth rooted in the upper jaw. This animal doth everything by word of command; so that his driver hath nothing to do but say once, “Do this,” and he doeth it; nor doth he seem in other respects a brute, but rather a rational creature. They have very big feet, with six hoofs like those of an ox, or rather of a camel. This animal carrieth easily upon him, with a certain structure of timber, more than thirty men; and he is a most gentle beast, and trained for war, so that a single animal counteth by himself equal in war to 1,500 men and more; for they bind to his tusks blades or maces of iron wherewith he smiteth.
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- Mirabilia DescriptaThe Wonders of the East, pp. 26 - 41Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010