Marco Polo — "They have a kind of tree that produces milk, and it is so sweet that it tastes l…"

"They have a kind of wine made from rice and spices which is very good, and makes a man drunk sooner than the wine from grapes."

"And in this country, they have a custom that when a man is sick, they do not give him any food or drink, but they put him in a hot bath, and then they cover him with blankets, and he sweats until he i…"

"The people here are very artful and deceitful, and they will cheat you in every way possible."

"Their customs are very strange and barbaric, and they have no regard for human life."

"They are a very backward people, and they have no knowledge of any useful arts or crafts."