In passynge be the lond of CATHAYE toward the higℏ ynde & toward BACHARYE, men passen be a kyngdom þat men clepen CALDILHE, þat is a fuƚƚ fair contre. And þere growetℏ a maner of fruyt as þougℏ it weren GOWRDES, And whan þei ben rype men kutten hem a to & men fynden withjnne a lytyƚƚ best in flescℏ, in bon & blode, as þougℏ it were a lytiƚƚ lomb withouten wolle. And men eten botℏe the frut & the best, And þat is a gret merueylle. Of þat frute I haue eten aƚƚ þougℏ it were wonderfuƚƚ but þat I knowe wel þat god is merueyllous in his werkes.

In passing through the land of China toward upper India and toward Bactria, men pass through a kingdom called Chaldia, that is a full fair country. And there grows a kind of fruit that looks like a gourd. And when they are ripe, men cut them in two, and men find within a little beast, in flesh, in bone, and blood, that looks like 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 dreadful, but that I know well that God is marvelous in his works.

—The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (1357 – 1371)