"I was given a parrot as a gift, and it could speak Arabic."

"I was once given a parrot that could speak many languages. It was a very intelligent bird, and I enjoyed its company."

"The women here are not veiled, and they are not shy. They speak openly with men."

"The Chinese are skilled in crafts, but they are not a people of religion."

"The houses in this land are made of mud and straw, and they are very small. I had to bend over to enter them."