SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS.


MARCO POLO AND HIS BOOK.

[INTRODUCTORY NOTICES.]

Page

[I.]

Obscurities in the History of his Life and Book. Ramusio’s Statements

1

§ 1. Obscurities, etc. 2. Ramusio his earliest Biographer; his Account of Polo. 3. He vindicates Polo’s Geography. 4. Compares him with Columbus. 5. Recounts a Tradition of the Traveller’s Return to Venice. 6. Recounts Marco’s Capture by the Genoese. 7. His statements about Marco’s liberation and marriage. 8. His account of the Family Polo and its termination.

[II.]

Sketch of the State of the East at the Time of the Journeys of the Polo Family

8

§ 9. State of the Levant. 10. The various Mongol Sovereignties in Asia and Eastern Europe. 11. China. 12. India and Indo-China.

[III.]

The Polo Family. Personal History of the Travellers till their final Return from the East

13

§ 13. Alleged origin of the Polos. 14. Claims to Nobility. 15. The Elder Marco Polo. 16. Nicolo and Maffeo Polo commence their Travels. 17. Their intercourse with Kúblái Kaan. 18. Their return home, and Marco’s appearance on the scene. 19. Second Journey of the Polo Brothers, accompanied by Marco. (See App. L. 1.) 20. Marco’s Employment by Kúblái Kaan; and his Journeys. 21. Circumstances of the departure of the Polos from the Kaan’s Court. 22. They pass by Persia to Venice. Their relations there.

[IV.]

Digression concerning the Mansion of the Polo Family at S. Giovanni Grisostomo

26

§ 23. Probable period of their establishment at S. Giovanni Grisostomo. 24. Relics of the Casa Polo in the Corte Sabbionera. 24a. Recent corroboration as to traditional site of the Casa Polo.

[V.]

Digression concerning the War-Galleys of the Mediterranean States in the Middle Ages

31

§ 25. Arrangement of the Rowers in Mediæval Galleys; a separate Oar to every Man. 26. Change of System in 16th Century. 27. Some details of 13th-Century Galleys. 28. Fighting Arrangements. 29. Crew of a Galley and Staff of a Fleet. 30. Music and miscellaneous particulars.

[VI.]

The Jealousies and Naval Wars of Venice and Genoa. Lamba Doria’s Expedition to the Adriatic; Battle of Curzola; and Imprisonment of Marco Polo by the Genoese

41

§ 31. Growing Jealousies and Outbreaks between the Republics. 32. Battle in Bay of Ayas in 1294. 33. Lamba Doria’s Expedition to the Adriatic. 34. The Fleets come in sight of each other at Curzola. 35. The Venetians defeated, and Marco Polo a Prisoner. 36. Marco Polo in Prison dictates his Book to Rusticiano of Pisa. Release of Venetian Prisoners. 37. Grounds on which the story of Marco Polo’s capture at Curzola rests.

[VII.]

Rusticiano or Rustichello of Pisa, Marco Polo’s Fellow-Prisoner at Genoa, the Scribe who wrote down the Travels

55

§ 38. Rusticiano, perhaps a Prisoner from Meloria. 39. A Person known from other sources. 40. Character of his Romance Compilations. 41. Identity of the Romance Compiler with Polo’s Fellow-Prisoner. 42. Further particulars regarding Rusticiano.

[VIII.]

Notices of Marco Polo’s History after the Termination of his Imprisonment at Genoa

64

§ 43. Death of Marco’s Father before 1300. Will of his Brother Maffeo. 44. Documentary Notices of Polo at this time. The Sobriquet of Milione. 45. Polo’s relations with Thibault de Cepoy. 46. His Marriage, and his Daughters. Marco as a Merchant. 47. His Last Will; and Death. 48. Place of Sepulture. Professed Portraits of Polo. 49. Further History of the Polo Family. 49 bis. Reliques of Marco Polo.

[IX.]

Marco Polo’s Book; and the Language in which it was first written

80

§ 50. General Statement of what the Book contains. 51. Language of the original Work. 52. Old French Text of the Société de Géographie. 53. Conclusive proof that the Old French Text is the source of all the others. 54. Greatly diffused employment of French in that age.

[X.]

Various Types of Text of Marco Polo’s Book

90

§ 55. Four Principal Types of Text. First, that of the Geographic or Oldest French. 56. Second, the Remodelled French Text; followed by Pauthier. 57. The Bern MS. and two others form a sub-class of this type. 58. Third, Friar Pipino’s Latin. 59. The Latin of Grynæus, a Translation at Fifth Hand. 60. Fourth, Ramusio’s Italian. 61. Injudicious Tamperings in Ramusio. 62. Genuine Statements peculiar to Ramusio. 63. Hypothesis of the Sources of the Ramusian Version. 64. Summary in regard to Text of Polo. 65. Notice of a curious Irish Version.

[XI.]

Some Estimate of the Character of Polo and His Book

104

§ 66. Grounds of Polo’s Pre-eminence among Mediæval Travellers. 67. His true claims to glory. 68. His personal attributes seen but dimly. 69. Absence of scientific notions. 70. Map constructed on Polo’s data. 71. Singular omissions of Polo in regard to China; historical inaccuracies. 72. Was Polo’s Book materially affected by the Scribe Rusticiano? 73. Marco’s reading embraced the Alexandrian Romances. Examples. 74. Injustice long done to Polo. Singular Modern Example.

[XII.]

Contemporary Recognition of Polo and his Book

116

§ 75. How far was there diffusion of his Book in his own day? 76. Contemporary References to Polo. T. de Cepoy; Pipino; Jacopo d’Acqui; Giov. Villani. 77. Pietro d’Abano; Jean le Long of Ypres. 78. Curious borrowings from Polo in the Romance of Bauduin de Sebourc. 78 bis. Chaucer and Marco Polo.

[XIII.]

Nature of Polo’s Influence on Geographical Knowledge

129

§ 79. Tardy operation, and causes thereof. 80. General characteristics of Mediæval Cosmography. 81. Roger Bacon as a Geographer. 82. Arab Geography. 83. Marino Sanudo the Elder. 84. The Catalan Map of 1375, the most complete mediæval embodiment of Polo’s Geography. 85. Fra Mauro’s Map. Confusions in Cartography of the 16th Century from the endeavour to combine new and old information. 86. Gradual disappearance of Polo’s nomenclature. 87. Alleged introduction of Block-printed Books into Europe by Marco Polo in connexion with the fiction of the invention of Printing by Castaldi of Feltre. 88. Frequent opportunities for such introduction in the Age following Polo’s.

[XIV.]

Explanations regarding the Basis adopted for the Present Translation

141

§ 89. Texts followed by Marsden and by Pauthier. 90. Eclectic Formation of the English Text of this Translation. 91. Mode of rendering Proper Names.

THE BOOK OF MARCO POLO.

[PROLOGUE.]

Chap. Page
[Preliminary Address of Rusticiano of Pisa]1
[I.]—How the Two Brothers Polo set forth from Constantinople to traverse the World2
Notes.—1. Chronology. 2. “The Great Sea.The Port of Soldaia.
[II.]—How the Two Brothers went on beyond Soldaia4
Notes.—1. Site and Ruins of Sarai. 2. City of Bolghar. 3. Alau Lord of the Levant (i.e. Hulaku). 4. Ucaca on the Volga. 5. River Tigeri.
[III.]—How the Two Brothers, after crossing a Desert, came to the City of Bocara, and fell in with certain Envoys there9
Notes.—1. “Bocara a City of Persia.” 2. The Great Kaan’s Envoys.
[IV.]—How the Two Brothers took the Envoys’ counsel, and went to the Court of the Great Kaan11
[V.]—How the Two Brothers arrived at the Court of the Great Kaan11
[VI.]—How the Great Kaan asked all about the manners of the Christians, and particularly about the Pope of Rome12
Note.—Apostoille. The name Tartar.
[VII.]—How the Great Kaan sent the two Brothers as his Envoys to the Pope13
Notes.—1. The Great Kaan’s Letter. 2. The Seven Arts. 3. Religious Indifference of the Mongol Princes.
[VIII.]—How the Great Kaan gave them a Tablet of Gold, Bearing his Orders in their behalf15
Notes.—1. The Tablet. 2. The Port of Ayas.
[IX.]—How the Two Brothers came to the City of Acre; and thence to Venice17
Notes.—1. Names of the deceased Pope and of the Legate. 2. Negropont. 3. Mark’s age.
[X.]—How the Two Brothers again departed from Venice, on their Way back to the Great Kaan, and took with them Mark, the Son of Messer Nicolo19
Note.—Oil from the Holy Sepulchre.
[XI.]—How the Two Brothers set out from Acre, and Mark along with them20
Note.—Pope Gregory X. and his Election.
[XII.]—How the Two Brothers presented themselves before the new Pope22
Notes.—1. William of Tripoli. 2. Powers conceded to Missionary Friars. 3. Bundúḳdár and his Invasion of Armenia; his character. 4. The Templars in Cilician Armenia.
[XIII.]—How Messer Nicolo and Messer Maffeo Polo, accompanied by Mark, travelled to the Court of the Great Kaan25
Note.—The City of Kemenfu, Summer Residence of Kúblái.
[XIV.]—How Messer Nicolo and Messer Maffeo Polo and Marco presented themselves before the Great Kaan26
Notes.—1. Verbal. 2. “Vostre Homme.
[XV.]—How the Lord sent Mark on an Embassy of his27
Notes.—1. The four Characters learned by Marco, what? 2. Ramusio’s addition. 3. Nature of Marco’s employment.
[XVI.]—How Mark returned from the Mission whereon he had been sent30
[XVII.]—How Messer Nicolo, Messer Maffeo, and Messer Marco, asked Leave of the Great Kaan to go their way31
Notes.—1. Risks to Foreigners on a change of Sovereign. 2. The Lady Bolgana. 3. Passage from Ramusio.
[XVIII.]—How the Two Brothers and Messer Marco took Leave of the Great Kaan, and returned to their own Country34
Notes.—1. Mongol Royal Messengers. 2. Mongol communication with the King of England. 3. Mediæval Ships of China. 4. Passage from China to Sumatra. 5. Mortality among the party. 6. The Lady Cocachin in Persian History. 7. Death of the Kaan. 8. The Princess of Manzi.

[BOOK FIRST.]

Account of Regions Visited or heard of on the Journey from the Lesser Armenia to the Court of the Great Kaan at Chandu.

Chap. Page
[I.]—Here the Book begins; and first it speaks of the Lesser Hermenia41
Notes.—1. Little Armenia. 2. Meaning of Chasteaux. 3. Sickliness of Cilician Coast. 4. The phrase “fra terre.”
[II.]—Concerning the Province of Turcomania43
Notes.—1. Brutality of the people. 2. Application of name Turcomania. Turcoman Hordes.
[III.]—Description of the Greater Hermenia45
Notes.—1. Erzingan. Buckrams, what were they? 2. Erzrum. 3. Baiburt. 4. Ararat. 5. Oil wells of Baku.
[IV.]—Of Georgiania and the Kings thereof50
Notes.—1. Georgian Kings. 2. The Georgians. 3. The Iron Gates and Wall of Alexander. 4. Box forests. 5. Goshawks. 6. Fish Miracle. 7. Sea of Ghel or Ghelan. Names ending in -án. 8. Names of the Caspian, and navigation thereon. 9. Fish in the Caspian.
[V.]—Of the Kingdom of Mausul60
Notes.—1. Atabeks of Mosul. 2. Nestorian and Jacobite Christians. 3. Mosolins. 4. The Kurds. 5. Mush and Mardin.
[VI.]—Of the Great City of Baudas, and how it was taken63
Notes.—1. Baudas, or Baghdad. 2. Island of Kish. 3. Basra. 4. Baldachins and other silk textures; Animal patterns. 5, 6. Hulákú’s Expedition. 7. The Death of the Khalíf Mosta’sim. 8. Froissart.
[VII.]—How the Calif of Baudas took counsel to slay all the Christians in his Land68
Notes.—1. Chronology. 2. “Ses Regisles et ses Casses.”
[VIII.]—How the Christians were in great dismay because of what the Calif had said70
Note.—The word “cralantur.”
[IX.]—How the One-eyed Cobler was desired to pray for the Christians71
[X.]—How the Prayer of the One-eyed Cobler caused the Mountain to move72
Note.—The Mountain Miracle.
[XI.]—Of the Noble City of Tauris74
Notes.—1. Tabriz. 2. Cremesor. 3. Traffic at Tabriz. 4. The Torizi. 5. Character of City and People.
[XII.]—Of the Monastery of Saint Barsamo on the Borders of Tauris77
Note.—The Monastery of Barsauma.
[XIII.]—Of the Great Country of Persia; with some account of the Three Kings78
Notes.—1. Kala’ Atishparastán. 2. The Three Kings.
[XIV.]—How the Three Kings returned to their own Country79
Notes.—1. The three mystic Gifts. 2. The Worshipped Fire. 3. Sávah and Ávah. The Legend in Mas’udi. Embellishments of the Story of the Magi.
[XV.]—Of the Eight Kingdoms of Persia, and how they are named83
Notes.—1. The Eight Kingdoms. 2. Export of Horses, and Prices. 3. Persian Brigands. 4. Persian wine.
[XVI.]—Concerning the Great City of Yasdi88
Notes.—1. Yezd. 2. Yezd to Kerman. The Woods spoken of.
[XVII.]—Concerning the Kingdom of Kerman90
Notes.—1. City and Province of Kerman. 2. Turquoises. 3. Ondanique or Indian Steel. 4. Manufactures of Kerman. 5. Falcons.
[XVIII.]—Of the City of Camadi and its Ruins; also touching the Carauna Robbers97
Notes.—1. Products of the warmer plains. 2. Humped oxen and fat-tailed sheep. 3. Scarani. 4. The Karaunahs and Nigudarian Bands. 5. Canosalmi.
[XIX.]—Of the Descent to the City of Hormos107
Notes.—1. Site of Old Hormuz and Geography of the route from Kerman to Hormuz. 2. Dates and Fish Diet. 3. Stitched Vessels. “One rudder,” why noticed as peculiar. 4. Great heat at Hormuz. 5. The Simúm. 6. History of Hormuz, and Polo’s Ruomedan Acomat. 7. Second Route between Hormuz and Kerman.
[XX.]—Of the Wearisome and Desert Road that has now to be Travelled123
Notes.—1. Kerman to Kúbenán. 2. Desert of Lút. 3. Subterraneous Canals.
[XXI.]—Concerning the City of Cobinan and the things that are made there125
Notes.—1. Kuh-Banán. 2. Production of Tútíá.
[XXII.]—Of a certain Desert that continues for eight days’ Journey127
Notes.—1. Deserts of Khorasan. 2. The Arbre Sol or Arbre Sec.
[XXIII.]—Concerning the Old Man of the Mountain139
Note.—The Assassins, Hashíshîn, or Muláhidah.
[XXIV.]—How the Old Man used to train his Assassins142
Notes.—1. The story widely spread. Notable murders by the Sectaries. 2. Their different branches.
[XXV.]—How the Old Man came by His End145
Note.—History of the apparent Destruction of the Sect by Hulákú; its survival to the present time. Castles of Alamut and Girdkuh.
[XXVI.]—Concerning the City of Sapurgan149
Note.—Shibrgân, and the route followed. Dried Melons.
[XXVII.]—Of the City of Balc151
Notes.—1. Balkh. 2. Country meant by Dogana. 3. Lions in the Oxus Valley.
[XXVIII.]—Of Taican, and the Mountains of Salt. Also of the Province of Casem153
Notes.—1. Talikan. 2. Mines of Rock-salt. 3. Ethnological characteristics. 4. Kishm. 5. Porcupines. 6. Cave dwellings. 7. Old and New Capitals of Badakhshan.
[XXIX.]—Of the Province of Badashan157
Notes.—1. Dialects of Badakhshan. Alexandrian lineage of the Princes. 2. Badakhshan and the Balas Ruby. 3. Azure Mines. 4. Horses of Badakhshan. 5. Naked Barley. 6. Wild sheep. 7. Scenery of Badakhshan. 8. Repeated devastation of the Country from War. 9. Amplitude of feminine garments.
[XXX.]—Of the Province of Pashai.164
Note.—On the country intended by this name.
[XXXI.]—Of the Province of Keshimur166
Notes.—1. Kashmir language. 2. Kashmir Conjurers. (See App. L. 2.) 3. Importance of Kashmir in History of Buddhism. 4. Character of the People. 5. Vicissitudes of Buddhism in Kashmir. 6. Buddhist practice as to slaughter of animals. 7. Coral.
[XXXII.]—Of the Great River of Badashan; and Plain of Pamier170
Notes.—1. The Upper Oxus and Wakhan. The title Nono. (See App. L. 3.) 2. The Plateau of Pamir. (See App. L. 4 and 5.) The Great Wild Sheep. Fire at great altitudes. 3. Bolor.
[XXXIII.]—Of the Kingdom of Cascar180
Note.—Kashgar.
[XXXIV.]—Of the Great City of Samarcan183
Notes.—1. Christians in Samarkand. 2. Chagatai’s relation to Kúblái mis-stated. 3. The Miracle of the Stone.
[XXXV.]—Of the Province of Yarcan187
Note.—Yarkand. Goître prevalent there.
[XXXVI.]—Of a Province called Cotan188
Notes.—1. Government. 2. “Adoration of Mahommet.” 3. Khotan.
[XXXVII.]—Of the Province of Pein191
Notes.—1. Position of Pein (App. L. 6.) 2. The Yu or Jade. 3. Temporary marriages.
[XXXVIII.]—Of the Province of Charchan194
Note.—Position of Charchan and Lop.
[XXXIX.]—Of the City of Lop, and the Great Desert196
Notes.—1. Geographical discrepancy. 2. Superstitions as to Deserts: their wide diffusion. The Sound of Drums on certain sandy acclivities. 3. Sha-chau to Lob-nor.
[XL.]—Concerning the Great Province of Tangut203
Notes.—1. Tangut. 2. Buddhism encountered here. 3. Kalmak superstition, the “Heaven’s Ram.” 4. Chinese customs described here. 5. Mongol disposal of the Dead. 6. Superstitious practice of avoiding to carry out the dead by the house-door; its wide diffusion.
[XLI.]—Of the Province of Camul209
Notes.—1. Kamul. 2. Character of the people. 3. Shameless custom. 4. Parallel.
[XLII.]—Of the Province of Chingintalas212
Notes.—1. The Country intended. 2. Ondanique. 3. Asbestos Mountain. 4. The four elements. 5 and 6. The Story of the Salamander. Asbestos fabrics.
[XLIII.]—Of the Province of Sukchur217
Notes.—1. Explanatory. 2. The City of Suhchau. 3. Rhubarb country. 4. Poisonous pasture.
[XLIV.]—Of the City of Campichu219
Notes.—1. The City of Kanchau. 2. Recumbent Buddhas. 3. Buddhist Days of Special Worship. 4. Matrimonial Customs. 5. Textual.
[XLV.]—Of the City of Etzina223
Notes.—1. Position of Yetsina. 2. Textual. 3. The Wild Ass of Mongolia.
[XLVI.]—Of the City of Caracoron226
Notes.—1. Karakorum. 2. Tartar. 3. Chorcha. 4. Prester John.
[XLVII.]—Of Chinghis, and how he became the First Kaan of the Tartars238
Notes.—1. Chronology. 2. Relations between Chinghiz and Aung Khan, the Prester John of Polo.
[XLVIII.]—How Chinghis mustered his People to march against Prester John240
[XLIX.]—How Prester John marched to meet Chinghis241
Notes.—1. Plain of Tanduc. 2. Divination by Twigs and Arrows.
[L.]—The Battle between Chinghis Kaan and Prester John. Death of Chinghis244
Note.—Real circumstances and date of the Death of Chinghiz.
[LI.]—Of Those who did Reign after Chinghis Kaan, and of the Customs of the Tartars245
Notes.—1. Origin of the Cambuscan of Chaucer. 2. Historical Errors. 3. The Place of Sepulture of Chinghiz. 4. Barbarous Funeral Superstition.
[LII.]—Concerning the Customs of the Tartars251
Notes.—1. Tartar Huts. 2. Tartar Waggons. 3. Pharaoh’s Rat. 4. Chastity of the Women. 5. Polygamy and Marriage Customs.
[LIII.]—Concerning the God of the Tartars256
Notes.—1. The old Tartar idols. 2. Kumiz.
[LIV.]—Concerning the Tartar Customs of War260
Notes.—1. Tartar Arms. 2. The Decimal Division of their Troops. 3. Textual. 4. Blood-drinking. 5. Kurút, or Tartar Curd. 6. The Mongol military rapidity and terrorism. 7. Corruption of their Nomade simplicity.
[LV.]—Concerning the Administering of Justice among the Tartars266
Notes.—1. The Cudgel. 2. Punishment of Theft. 3. Marriage of the Dead. 4. Textual.
[LVI.]—Sundry Particulars on the Plain beyond Caracoron269
Notes.—1. Textual. 2. Bargu, the Mecrit, the Reindeer, and Chase of Water-fowl. 3. The bird Barguerlac, the Syrrhaptes. 4. Gerfalcons.
[LVII.]—Of the Kingdom of Erguiul, and Province of Sinju274
Notes.—1. Erguiul. 2. Siningfu. 3. The Yak. 4. The Musk Deer. 5. Reeves’s Pheasant.
[LVIII.]—Of the Kingdom of Egrigaia281
Notes.—1. Egrigaia. 2. Calachan. 3. White Camels, and Camlets: Siclatoun.
[LIX.]—Concerning the Province of Tenduc, and the Descendants of Prester John284
Notes.—1. The name and place Tenduc. King George. 2. Standing Marriage Compact. The title Gurgán. 3. Azure. 4. The terms Argon and Guasmul. The Dungens. 5. The Rampart of Gog and Magog. 6. Tartary cloths. 7. Siuen-hwa fu.
[LX.]—Concerning the Kaan’s Palace of Chagannor296
Notes.—1. Palace. 2. The word Sesnes. 3. Chagan-nor. 4. The five species of Crane described by Polo. 5. The word Cator.
[LXI.]—Of the City of Chandu, and the Kaan’s Palace there298
Notes.—1. Two Roads. 2. Chandu, properly Shangtu. 3. Leopards. 4. The Bamboo Palace. Uses of the Bamboo. 5. Kúblái’s Annual Migration to Shangtu. 6. The White Horses. The Oirad Tribe. 7. The Mare’s Milk Festival. 8. Weather Conjuring. 9. Ascription of Cannibalism to Tibetans, etc. 10. The term Bacsi. 11. Magical Feats ascribed to the Lamas. 12. Lamas. 13. Vast extent of Lama Convents. 14. Married Lamas. 15. Bran. 16. Patarins. 17. The Ascetics called Sensin. 18. Textual. 19. Tao-sze Idols.

[BOOK SECOND.]

PART I.

Chap. Page
[I.]—Of Cublay Kaan, the Great Kaan now reigning, and of his Great Puissance331
Note.—Eulogies of Kúblái.
[II.]—Concerning the Revolt of Nayan, who was Uncle to the Great Kaan Cublay332
Notes.—1. Chronology. 2. Kúblái’s Age. 3. His Wars. 4. Nayan and his true relationship to Kúblái.
[III.]—How the Great Kaan marched against Nayan335
Note.—Addition from Ramusio.
[IV.]—Of the Battle that the Great Kaan fought with Nayan336
Notes.—1. The word Bretesche. 2. Explanatory. 3. The Nakkára. 4. Parallel Passages. 5. Verbal. 6. The Story of Nayan. (See App. L. 7.)
[V.]—How the Great Kaan caused Nayan to be put to Death343
Notes.—1. The Shedding of Royal blood avoided. 2. Chorcha, Kaoli, Barskul, Sikintinju. 3. Jews in China.
[VI.]—How the Great Kaan went back to the City of Cambaluc348
Note.—Passage from Ramusio respecting the Kaan’s views of Religion. Remarks.
[VII.]—How the Kaan rewarded the Valour of his Captains350
Notes.—1. Parallel from Sanang Setzen. 2. The Golden Honorary Tablets or Paizah of the Mongols. 3. Umbrellas. 4. The Gerfalcon Tablets.
[VIII.]—Concerning the Person of the Great Kaan356
Notes.—1. Colour of his Eyes. 2. His Wives. 3. The Kungurat Tribe. Competitive Examination in Beauty.
[IX.]—Concerning the Great Kaan’s Sons359
Notes.—1. Kúblái’s intended Heir. 2. His other Sons.
[X.]—Concerning the Palace of the Great Kaan362
Notes.—1. Palace Wall. 2. The word Tarcasci. 3. Towers. 4. Arsenals of the Palace. 5. The Gates. 6. Various Readings. 7. Barracks. 8. Wide diffusion of the kind of Palace here described. 9. Parallel description. 10. “Divine” Park. 11. Modern account of the Lake, etc. 12. “Roze de l’açur.” 13. The Green Mount. 14. Textual. 15. Bridge.
[XI.]—Concerning the City of Cambaluc374
Notes.—1. Chronology, etc., of Peking. 2. The City Wall. 3. Changes in the Extent of the City. 4. Its ground plan. 5. Aspect. 6. Public Towers. 7. Addition from Ramusio.
[XII.]—How the Great Kaan maintains a Guard of Twelve Thousand Horse, which are called Keshican379
Note.—The term Quescican.
[XIII.]—The Fashion of the Great Kaan’s Table at his High Feasts381
Notes.—1. Order of the Tables. 2. The word Vernique. 3. The Buffet of Liquors. 4. The superstition of the Threshold. 5. Chinese Etiquettes. 6. Jugglers at the Banquet.
[XIV.]—Concerning the Great Feast held by the Grand Kaan every year on his Birthday386
Notes.—1. The Chinese Year. 2. “Beaten Gold.” 3. Textual. Festal changes of costume. 4. Festivals.
[XV.]—Of the Great Festival which the Kaan holds on New Year’s Day390
Notes.—1. The White Month. 2. Mystic value of the number 9. 3. Elephants at Peking. 4. Adoration of Tablets. K’o-tow.
[XVI.]—Concerning the Twelve Thousand Barons who receive Robes of Cloth of Gold from the Emperor on the Great Festivals, thirteen changes a-piece394
Notes.—1. Textual. 2. The words Camut and Borgal. 3. Tame Lions.
[XVII.]—How the Great Kaan enjoineth his People to supply him with Game396
Note.—Parallel Passage.
[XVIII.]—Of the Lions and Leopards and Wolves that the Kaan keeps for the Chase397
Notes.—1. The Cheeta or Hunting Leopard. 2. Lynxes. 3. The Tiger, termed Lion by Polo. 4. The Búrgút Eagle.
[XIX.]—Concerning the Two Brothers who have charge of the Kaan’s Hounds400
Note.—The Masters of the Hounds, and their title.
[XX.]—How the Emperor goes on a Hunting Expedition402
Notes.—1. Direction of the Tour. 2. Hawking Establishments. 3. The word Tosḳáúl. 4. The word Bularguchi. 5. Kúblái’s Litter. 6. Kachar Modun. 7. The Kaan’s Great Tents. 8. The Sable and Ermine. 9. Pétis de la Croix.
[XXI.]—How the Great Kaan, on returning from his Hunting Expedition, holds a Great Court and Entertainment410
Note.—This chapter peculiar to the 2nd Type of MSS.
[XXII.]—Concerning the City of Cambaluc, and its Great Traffic and Population412
Notes.—1. Suburbs of Peking. 2. The word Fondaco.
[XXIII.]—[Concerning the Oppressions of Achmath the Bailo, and the Plot that was formed against Him]415
Notes.—1. Chapter peculiar to Ramusio. 2. Kúblái’s Administration. The Rise of Ahmad. 3. The term Bailo. 4. The Conspiracy against Ahmad as related by Gaubil from the Chinese. 5. Marco’s presence and upright conduct commemorated in the Chinese Annals. The Kaan’s prejudice against Mahomedans.
[XXIV.]—How the Great Kaan causeth the Bark of Trees, made into something like Paper, to pass for Money over all his Country423
Note.—Chinese Paper Currency.
[XXV.]—Concerning the Twelve Barons who are set over all the Affairs of the Great Kaan430
Note.—The Ministers of the Mongol Dynasty. The term Sing.
[XXVI.]—How the Kaan’s Posts and Runners are sped through many Lands and Provinces433
Notes.—1. Textual. 2. The word Yam. 3. Government Hostelries. 4. Digression from Ramusio. 5. Posts Extraordinary. 6. Discipline of the Posts. 7. Antiquity of Posts in China, etc.
[XXVII.]—How the Emperor bestows Help on his People, when they are afflicted with Dearth or Murrain439
Note.—Kúblái’s remissions, and justice.
[XXVIII.]—How the Great Kaan causes Trees to be Planted by the Highways440
Note.—Kúblái’s Avenues.
[XXIX.]—Concerning the Rice-Wine drunk by the People of Cathay441
Note.—Rice-wine.
[XXX.]—Concerning the Black Stones that are dug in Cathay, and are burnt for Fuel442
Note.—Distribution and Consumption of Coal in China.
[XXXI.]—How the Great Kaan causes Stores of Corn to be made, to help his People withal in time of Dearth443
Note.—The Chinese Public Granaries.
[XXXII.]—Of the Charity of the Emperor to the Poor444
Note.—Buddhist influence, and Chinese Charities.
[XXXIII.]—[Concerning the Astrologers in the City of Cambaluc]446
Notes.—1. The word Tacuin.—The Chinese Almanacs. The Observatory. 2. The Chinese and Mongol Cycle.
[XXXIV.]—[Concerning the Religion of the Cathayans; their views as to the Soul; and their Customs]456
Notes.—1. Textual. 2. Do. 3. Exceptions to the general charge of Irreligion brought against the Chinese. 4. Politeness. 5. Filial Piety. 6. Pocket Spitoons.