Marco Polo — "They are a very ignorant people, and they have no knowledge of letters or of any…"

"They are a very quarrelsome people, and they are always fighting among themselves, and they kill each other for trifles."

"The Tartars are the most arrogant people in the world, and they look upon other nations with contempt."

"And you must know that in this kingdom of Bengal, there are many eunuchs. For the king is a great connoisseur of these, and has them in great numbers."

"They are a very cunning people, and they use many stratagems in war to defeat their enemies."

"The people of this country are all idolaters, and they offer sacrifices to their idols, and they believe in many false gods."