[1] It is surely unnecessary to remark on this ridiculous story of the canine men, which no commentary could reduce to sense.--E.
On their return home, the Mongals came into the country of Burithabeth, of which the inhabitants are pagans, and conquered the people in battle. These people have a strange custom of eating their kindred when they die. They have no beard, for we saw some of them going about with certain iron instruments in their hands, with which they pluck out any hairs they find on their faces[2].
[2] These people may possibly have been the Burats. The same practice of eradicating the beard is still followed by the native tribes of America.--E.
SECTION XII.
How the Mongals were repulsed at the Caspian Mountains, by Men dwelling in Caves.
When Zingis sent the before-mentioned armies into the east, he marched personally into the land of the Kergis[1], which, however, he did not now conquer. In this expedition the Mongals are said to have penetrated to the Caspian mountains, which being of adamant, attracted their arrows and other weapons of iron[2].
[1] The Kirguses, inhabiting Western Turkestan, between Lake Balkash and the Caspian.--E.
[2] The remainder of this short section is so ridiculously fabulous as not to merit translation, and is therefore omitted.--E.
SECTION XIII.
Of the death of Zingis, and concerning his Sons, and the Tartar Dukes or Princes.