Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/545

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"In the utmost marshes of India, eastward, about the source and head of the river Ganges, there is a nation called the Astomes, for they have no mouths: all hairie over the whole bodie, yet clothed with the soft cotton and downe that come from the leaves of trees; they live only by the aire, and smelling to sweet odours, which they draw in at their nose thrills. No meat nor drink they take, onely pleasant savours from divers and sundrie roots, flowers, and wild fruits, growing in the woods they entertaine; and those they use to carry about with them when they take any farre journey, because they would not misse their smelling. And yet if the scent be any thing strong and stinking, they are soone therewith overcome, and die withal."—''P. Holland's Transl. of Pliny's Nat. Hist.''

To this account Sir John Mandevile adds, that they are not reasonable, but as wild as beasts."—p. 124. He calls the place of their residence.