Chapter IV: Concerning India the Less

§ 1. Date-palms. 2. Absence of springs, and of rain for nine
months; heavy dews. 3. Marvels. Habits of the people. 4. Variation
of days and nights. 5, 6. Fruits of India; _Chaqui_ and _Bloqui_
(the jack-fruit). 7, 8, 9. The mango, lemons, vines, etc. 10. The
coco-nut and its products. 11. Other trees giving liquor; the Banyan
described. 12, 13, 14. Wild beasts—the Lynx, the Rhinoceros. 15.
Marvellous serpents. 16. The Crocodile. 17. Birds, and great Bats.
18. Other birds. 19. Wars in India contemptible. 20, 21. Precious
stones. 22. Widow burning. 23. The Parsis described. 24. The Dóms.
25. Ginger; Sugar-cane; Cassia fistula. 26. High character of the
people. 27. Heat. 28. Few metals; no spices but ginger. 29. Ravages
of the Saracens. 30. Pagan prophecies. 31. Christians of St. Thomas,
and their ignorance. 32. Conversions to the faith. 33. Tolerant
spirit of the idolaters. 34. Their manner of sacrifice. 35. Their
idols, etc.; their reverence for oxen. 36, 37. Blackness a beauty in
India.