Of the great city Censcalan 4 .

The first city to which I came in this country was called Censcalan ⁵ , and ‘tis a city as big as three 180Venices ¹ . It is one day’s voyage from the sea ² , standing upon a certain river, the water whereof is derived from the sea, and extendeth twelve days’ journey into the land ³ . The whole population of this city, as well as of all Manzi and Upper India, worship idols. And this city hath shipping so great and vast in amount that to some it would seem well nigh incredible ⁴ . Indeed all Italy hath not the amount of craft that this one city hath ⁵ . And here you can buy three 181hundred pounds of fresh ginger for less than a groat ¹ ! The geese too are bigger and finer and cheaper ² than anywhere in the world ³ . For one of them is as big as two of ours ⁴ , and ‘tis all white as milk, but has a bone on the top of its head about the size of an egg, which is of a blood colour; whilst under its throat it has a skin hanging down for half a span ⁵ . And these geese are as fat as fat can be, 182yet one of them well dressed and seasoned you shall have there for less than a groat. And as it is with the geese, so also with the ducks ¹ and fowls; they are so big that you would think them perfectly marvellous.