Text 73: The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (i)

Now schall seye зou seweyngly of contrees and yles þat ben beзonde the contrees þat I haue spoken of. Wherefore I seye зou, in passynge be the lond of Cathaye toward the high Ynde, and toward Bachayre, men passen be a kyngdom þat men cleppen Caldilhe, þat is a full fair contre. And þere growthe a maner of fruyt, as þough it weren gowrdes; and whan þei ben rype, men kutten hem ato and men fynden withinne a lytyll best, in flesch, in bon, and blode as þough it were a lytill lomb, withouten wolle. And men eten bothe the frut and the best: and þat is a gret mervueylle. Of þat frute I haue eten, allþough it were wondirfull: but þat I knowe wel, þat god is merueyllous in his werkes.

Now I tell you in what follows of countries and isles that are beyond the countries I have spoken of. Therefore, I tell you that in passing by the land of Cathaye toward the high India, and toward Bachayre, men pass by a kingdom that they call Caldilhe, which is a full fair country (a beautiful, wonderful). And there grows a kind of fruit, as though it were pumpkins/gourds; and when they are ripe, men cut them in two parts and they find within a little beast, in flesh, in bone, in blood as if it was a little lamb, without wool. And men eat both the fruit and the beast and that is a great marvel. Of that fruit I have eaten, although it was wonderful: but that I know well that God is marvellous in his works.