Prologue…

Prologue

CHAP. PAGE PRELIMINARY ADDRESS OF RUSTICIANO OF PISA 1

I.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS POLO SET FORTH FROM CONSTANTINOPLE TO TRAVERSE THE WORLD 2

NOTES.—1. Chronology. 2. “The Great Sea.” The Port of Soldaia.

II.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS WENT ON BEYOND SOLDAIA 4

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 THERE 9

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 KAAN 11

V.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS ARRIVED AT THE COURT OF THE GREAT KAAN 11

VI.—HOW THE GREAT KAAN ASKED ALL ABOUT THE MANNERS OF THE CHRISTIANS, AND PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE POPE OF ROME 12

NOTE.—Apostoille. The name |Tartar|.

VII.—HOW THE GREAT KAAN SENT THE TWO BROTHERS AS HIS ENVOYS TO THE POPE 13

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 BEHALF 15

NOTES.—1. The Tablet. 2. The Port of Ayas.

IX.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS CAME TO THE CITY OF ACRE; AND THENCE TO VENICE 17

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 NICOLO 19

NOTE.—Oil from the Holy Sepulchre.

XI.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS SET OUT FROM ACRE, AND MARK ALONG WITH THEM 20

NOTE.—Pope Gregory X. and his Election.

XII.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS PRESENTED THEMSELVES BEFORE THE NEW POPE 22

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 KAAN 25

NOTE.—The City of Kemenfu, Summer Residence of Kúblái.

XIV.—HOW MESSER NICOLO AND MESSER MAFFEO POLO AND MARCO PRESENTED THEMSELVES BEFORE THE GREAT KAAN 26

NOTES.—1. Verbal. 2. “Vostre Homme.”

XV.—HOW THE LORD SENT MARK ON AN EMBASSY OF HIS 27

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 SENT 30

XVII.—HOW MESSER NICOLO, MESSER MAFFEO, AND MESSER MARCO, ASKED LEAVE OF THE GREAT KAAN TO GO THEIR WAY 31

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 COUNTRY 34

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 HERMENIA 41

NOTES.—1. Little Armenia. 2. Meaning of Chasteaux. 3. Sickliness of Cilician Coast. 4. The phrase |“fra terre.”|

II.—CONCERNING THE PROVINCE OF TURCOMANIA 43

NOTES.—1. Brutality of the people. 2. _Application of name |Turcomania|. Turcoman Hordes._

III.—DESCRIPTION OF THE GREATER HERMENIA 45

NOTES.—1. Erzingan. Buckrams, what were they? 2. Erzrum. 3. Baiburt. 4. Ararat. 5. _Oil wells of Baku._

IV.—OF GEORGIANIA AND THE KINGS THEREOF 50

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 MAUSUL 60

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 TAKEN 63

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 LAND 68

NOTES.—1. Chronology. 2. “_Ses |Regisles| et ses |Casses|._”

VIII.—HOW THE CHRISTIANS WERE IN GREAT DISMAY BECAUSE OF WHAT THE CALIF HAD SAID 70

NOTE.—The word “|cralantur|.”

IX.—HOW THE ONE-EYED COBLER WAS DESIRED TO PRAY FOR THE CHRISTIANS 71

X.—HOW THE PRAYER OF THE ONE-EYED COBLER CAUSED THE MOUNTAIN TO MOVE 72

NOTE.—The Mountain Miracle.

XI.—OF THE NOBLE CITY OF TAURIS 74

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 TAURIS 77

NOTE.—The Monastery of Barsauma.

XIII.—OF THE GREAT COUNTRY OF PERSIA; WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE THREE KINGS 78

NOTES.—1. Kala’ Atishparastán. 2. The Three Kings.

XIV.—HOW THE THREE KINGS RETURNED TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY 79

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 NAMED 83

NOTES.—1. The Eight Kingdoms. 2. Export of Horses, and Prices. 3. Persian Brigands. 4. Persian wine.

XVI.—CONCERNING THE GREAT CITY OF YASDI 88

NOTES.—1. Yezd. 2. Yezd to Kerman. The Woods spoken of.

XVII.—CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF KERMAN 90

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 ROBBERS 97

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 HORMOS 107

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 TRAVELLED 123

NOTES.—1. Kerman to Kúbenán. 2. Desert of Lút. 3. Subterraneous Canals.

XXI.—CONCERNING THE CITY OF COBINAN AND THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE THERE 125

NOTES.—1. Kuh-Banán. 2. Production of Tútíá.

XXII.—OF A CERTAIN DESERT THAT CONTINUES FOR EIGHT DAYS’ JOURNEY 127

NOTES.—1. Deserts of Khorasan. 2. _The |Arbre Sol| or |Arbre Sec|._

XXIII.—CONCERNING THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN 139

NOTE.—The Assassins, Hashíshîn, or Muláhidah.

XXIV.—HOW THE OLD MAN USED TO TRAIN HIS ASSASSINS 142

NOTES.—1. The story widely spread. Notable murders by the Sectaries. 2. Their different branches.

XXV.—HOW THE OLD MAN CAME BY HIS END 145

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 SAPURGAN 149

NOTE.—Shibrgân, and the route followed. Dried Melons.

XXVII.—OF THE CITY OF BALC 151

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 CASEM 153

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 BADASHAN 157

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 KESHIMUR 166

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 PAMIER 170

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 CASCAR 180

NOTE.—Kashgar.

XXXIV.—OF THE GREAT CITY OF SAMARCAN 183

NOTES.—1. Christians in Samarkand. 2. _Chagatai’s relation to Kúblái mis-stated._ 3. _The Miracle of the Stone._

XXXV.—OF THE PROVINCE OF YARCAN 187

NOTE.—Yarkand. Goître prevalent there.

XXXVI.—OF A PROVINCE CALLED COTAN 188

NOTES.—1. Government. 2. “Adoration of Mahommet.” 3. Khotan.

XXXVII.—OF THE PROVINCE OF PEIN 191

NOTES.—1. Position of Pein (App. L. 6.) 2. The Yu _or Jade._ 3. Temporary marriages.

XXXVIII.—OF THE PROVINCE OF CHARCHAN 194

NOTE.—Position of Charchan and Lop.

XXXIX.—OF THE CITY OF LOP, AND THE GREAT DESERT 196

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 TANGUT 203

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 CAMUL 209

NOTES.—1. Kamul. 2. Character of the people. 3. Shameless custom. 4. Parallel.

XLII.—OF THE PROVINCE OF CHINGINTALAS 212

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 SUKCHUR 217

NOTES.—1. Explanatory. 2. The City of Suhchau. 3. Rhubarb country. 4. Poisonous pasture.

XLIV.—OF THE CITY OF CAMPICHU 219

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 ETZINA 223

NOTES.—1. Position of Yetsina. 2. Textual. 3. _The Wild Ass of Mongolia._

XLVI.—OF THE CITY OF CARACORON 226

NOTES.—1. Karakorum. 2. Tartar. 3. Chorcha. 4. Prester John.

XLVII.—OF CHINGHIS, AND HOW HE BECAME THE FIRST KAAN OF THE TARTARS 238

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 JOHN 240

XLIX.—HOW PRESTER JOHN MARCHED TO MEET CHINGHIS 241

NOTES.—1. Plain of Tanduc. 2. _Divination by Twigs and Arrows._

L.—THE BATTLE BETWEEN CHINGHIS KAAN AND PRESTER JOHN. DEATH OF CHINGHIS 244

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 TARTARS 245

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 TARTARS 251

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 TARTARS 256

NOTES.—1. The old Tartar idols. 2. Kumiz.

LIV.—CONCERNING THE TARTAR CUSTOMS OF WAR 260

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 TARTARS 266

NOTES.—1. The Cudgel. 2. Punishment of Theft. 3. Marriage of the Dead. 4. Textual.

LVI.—SUNDRY PARTICULARS ON THE PLAIN BEYOND CARACORON 269

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 SINJU 274

NOTES.—1. Erguiul. 2. Siningfu. 3. The Yak. 4. _The Musk Deer._ 5. Reeves’s Pheasant.

LVIII.—OF THE KINGDOM OF EGRIGAIA 281

NOTES.—1. Egrigaia. 2. Calachan. 3. White Camels, and Camlets: Siclatoun.

LIX.—CONCERNING THE PROVINCE OF TENDUC, AND THE DESCENDANTS OF PRESTER JOHN 284

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 CHAGANNOR 296

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 THERE 298

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 PUISSANCE 331

NOTE.—Eulogies of Kúblái.

II.—CONCERNING THE REVOLT OF NAYAN, WHO WAS UNCLE TO THE GREAT KAAN CUBLAY 332

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 NAYAN 335

NOTE.—Addition from Ramusio.

IV.—OF THE BATTLE THAT THE GREAT KAAN FOUGHT WITH NAYAN 336

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 DEATH 343

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 CAMBALUC 348

NOTE.—Passage from Ramusio respecting the Kaan’s views of Religion. Remarks.

VII.—HOW THE KAAN REWARDED THE VALOUR OF HIS CAPTAINS 350

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 KAAN 356

NOTES.—1. Colour of his Eyes. 2. His Wives. 3. _The Kungurat Tribe. Competitive Examination in Beauty._

IX.—CONCERNING THE GREAT KAAN’S SONS 359

NOTES.—1. Kúblái’s intended Heir. 2. His other Sons.

X.—CONCERNING THE PALACE OF THE GREAT KAAN 362

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 CAMBALUC 374

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 KESHICAN 379

NOTE.—The term |Quescican|.

XIII.—THE FASHION OF THE GREAT KAAN’S TABLE AT HIS HIGH FEASTS 381

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 BIRTHDAY 386

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 DAY 390

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-PIECE 394

NOTES.—1. Textual. 2. The words |Camut| and |Borgal|. 3. Tame Lions.

XVII.—HOW THE GREAT KAAN ENJOINETH HIS PEOPLE TO SUPPLY HIM WITH GAME 396

NOTE.—Parallel Passage.

XVIII.—OF THE LIONS AND LEOPARDS AND WOLVES THAT THE KAAN KEEPS FOR THE CHASE 397

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 HOUNDS 400

NOTE.—The Masters of the Hounds, and their title.

XX.—HOW THE EMPEROR GOES ON A HUNTING EXPEDITION 402

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 ENTERTAINMENT 410

NOTE.—This chapter peculiar to the 2nd Type of MSS.

XXII.—CONCERNING THE CITY OF CAMBALUC, AND ITS GREAT TRAFFIC AND POPULATION 412

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 COUNTRY 423

NOTE.—Chinese Paper Currency.

XXV.—CONCERNING THE TWELVE BARONS WHO ARE SET OVER ALL THE AFFAIRS OF THE GREAT KAAN 430

NOTE.—_The Ministers of the Mongol Dynasty. The term |Sing|._

XXVI.—HOW THE KAAN’S POSTS AND RUNNERS ARE SPED THROUGH MANY LANDS AND PROVINCES 433

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 MURRAIN 439

NOTE.—Kúblái’s remissions, and justice.

XXVIII.—HOW THE GREAT KAAN CAUSES TREES TO BE PLANTED BY THE HIGHWAYS 440

NOTE.—Kúblái’s Avenues.

XXIX.—CONCERNING THE RICE-WINE DRUNK BY THE PEOPLE OF CATHAY 441

NOTE.—Rice-wine.

XXX.—CONCERNING THE BLACK STONES THAT ARE DUG IN CATHAY, AND ARE BURNT FOR FUEL 442

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 DEARTH 443

NOTE.—The Chinese Public Granaries.

XXXII.—OF THE CHARITY OF THE EMPEROR TO THE POOR 444

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._

EXPLANATORY LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOLUME I.

INSERTED PLATES AND MAPS.

_To face page_ Title PORTRAIT of Sir HENRY YULE. From the Painting by Mr. T. B. Wirgman, in the Royal Engineers’ Mess House at Chatham.

iv. Illuminated Title, with Medallion representing the POLOS ARRIVING AT VENICE after 26 years’ absence, and being refused admittance to the Family Mansion; as related by Ramusio, p. 4 of Introductory Essay. Drawn by Signor QUINTO CENNI, No. 7 Via Solferino, Milan; from a Design by the Editor.

1. DOORWAY of the HOUSE of MARCO POLO in the Corte Sabbionera at Venice (see p. 27). Woodcut from a drawing by Signor L. ROSSO, Venice.

26. Corte del Milione, Venice.

28. Malibran Theatre, Venice.

30. Entrance to the Corte del Milione, Venice. From photographs taken for the present editor, by Signor NAYA.

42. Figures from St. Sabba’s, sent to Venice. From a photograph of Signor NAYA.

50. Church of SAN MATTEO, at Genoa.

62. Palazzo di S. Giorgio, at Genoa.

68. Miracle of S. Lorenzo. From the Painting by V. CARPACCIO.

70. FACSIMILE of the WILL of MARCO POLO, preserved in St. Mark’s Library. Lithographed from a photograph specially taken by Bertani at Venice.

74. Pavement in front of S. Lorenzo.

76. Mosaic Portrait of Marco Polo, at Genoa.

78. The Pseudo Marco Polo at Canton.

80. Porcelain Incense-Burner, from the Louvre.

82. Temple of 500 Genii, at Canton, after a drawing by FÉLIX RÉGAMEY.

108. Probable view of MARCO POLO’S OWN GEOGRAPHY: a Map of the World, formed as far as possible from the Traveller’s own data. Drawn by the Editor.

134. Part of the Catalan Map of 1375.

• • • • •

1. Marco Polo’s Itineraries, No. I. WESTERN ASIA. This includes also “Sketch showing the chief Monarchies of Asia, in the latter part of the 13th century.”

4. Map illustrating the geographical position of the CITY of SARAI.

4. Plan of part of the remains of the same city. Reduced from a Russian plan published by M. Grigorieff.

29 Reduced FACSIMILE of the BUDDHIST INSCRIPTION of the Mongol & 30. Era, on the Archway at KIU-YONG KWAN in the Pass of Nan-k’au, north-west of Peking, showing the characters in use under the Mongol Dynasty. Photogravure from the Recueil des documents de l’Époque Mongole, by H.H. Prince ROLAND BONAPARTE. See an Article by Mr. Wylie in the J. R. A. S. for 1870, p. 14.

41. Plan of AYAS, the Laias of Polo. From an Admiralty Chart.

41. Plan of position of DILÁWAR, the supposed site of the Dilavar of Polo. Ext. from a Survey by Lt.-Col. D. G. Robinson, R.E.

114. Marco Polo’s Itineraries, No. II. Routes between KERMAN and HORMUZ.

178. Marco Polo’s Itineraries, No. III. Regions on and near the UPPER OXUS.

305. Heading, in the old Chinese seal-character, of an INSCRIPTION on a Memorial raised by Kúblái Kaan to a Buddhist Ecclesiastic, in the vicinity of his summer-palace at SHANGTU in Mongolia. Reduced from a facsimile obtained on the spot by Dr. S. W. Bushell, 1872, and by him lent to the Editor.

319. The CHO-KHANG. The grand Temple of Buddha at Lhasa, from The Journey to Lhasa, by SARAT CHANDRA DAS, by kind permission of the Royal Geographical Society.

352. “Table d’Or de Commandement;” the PAÏZA of the MONGOLS, from a specimen found in Siberia. Reduced to one-half the scale of the original, from an engraving in a paper by I. J. Schmidt in the Bulletin de la Classe Historico-Philologique de l’Acad. Imp. des Sciences, St.-Pétersbourg, tom. iv. No. 9.

355. Second Example of a Mongol Païza with superscription in the Uighúr character, found near the Dnieper River, 1845. From Trans. of the Oriental Section, Imp. Soc. of Archæology of St. Petersburg, vol. v. The Inscription on this runs: “By the strength of Eternal Heaven, and thanks to Its Great Power, the Man who obeys not the order of Abdullah shall be guilty, shall die.”

376. Plan of PEKING as it is, and as it was about A.D. 1290.

426. BANK-NOTE of the MING Dynasty, on one-half the scale of the original. Reduced from a genuine note in the possession of the British Museum. Was brought back from Peking after the siege of the Legations in 1900.

448. Mongol “Compendium Instrument.”

450. Mongol Armillary Sphere.

452. Observatory Terrace.

454. Observatory Instruments of the Jesuits. All these from photographs kindly lent to the present Editor by Count de Semallé.

last Marco Polo’s Itineraries. No. IV. EASTERN ASIA. This includes page also Sketch Map of the Ruins of SHANGTU, after Dr. BUSHELL; and Enlarged Sketch of the Passage of the Hwang-ho or Karamoran on the road to Si-ngan fu (see vol. ii. pp. 25–27) from the data of Baron von Richthofen.

WOODCUTS PRINTED WITH THE TEXT.

INTRODUCTORY NOTICES.

Page x. A MEDIÆVAL SHIP.

xxvi. COAT OF ARMS of Sir HENRY YULE.

7. ARMS of the POLO family, according to Priuli.

8. ARMS of the POLO family, according to Marco Barbaro. (See p. 7, note.)

13. Autograph of HETHUM or HAYTON I. King of (Cilician) Armenia; copied from Codice Diplomatico del Sacro Militare Ordine Gerosolemitano, I. 135. The signature is attached to a French document without date, granting the King’s Daughter “Damoiselle Femie” (Euphemia) in marriage to Sire Julian, son of the Lady of Sayete (Sidon). The words run: Thagávor Haiwetz (“Rex Armenorum”), followed by the King’s cypher or monogram; but the initial letter is absent, probably worn off the original document.

18. The PIAZZETTA at VENICE in the 14th century. From a portion of the Frontispiece Miniature of the MS. of Marco Polo in the Bodleian. (Borrowed from the National Miscellany, published by J. H. Parker, Oxford, for 1853–55; and see Street’s Brick and Marble, etc., 1855, pp. 150–151.) [See vol. ii. p. 529.]

29. Three extracts from MAPS of VENICE, showing the site of the CA’ POLO at three different periods, (1) From the great woodcut Map or View of Venice, dated 1500, and commonly called Albert Dürer’s. (2) From a Plan by Cav. Ludovico Ughi, 1729. (3) From the Modern Official Plan of the City.

34. Diagram of arrangement of oars in galleys.

35. Extract from a fresco by SPINELLO ARETINI, in the Municipal Palace at SIENA, representing a GALLEY-FIGHT (perhaps imaginary) between the Venetians and the fleet of the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and illustrating the arrangements of mediæval galleys. Drawn from a very dim and imperfect photograph, after personal study of the original, by the Editor.

37. Extract from a picture by DOMENICO TINTORETTO in the Ducal Palace at Venice, representing the same GALLEY-FIGHT. After an engraving in the Theatrum Venetum.

49. MARCO POLO’S GALLEY going into action at CURZOLA. Drawn by Signor Q. CENNI, from a design by the Editor.

50. Map to illustrate the SEA-FIGHT at CURZOLA, where Marco Polo was taken prisoner.

57. SEAL of the PISAN PRISONERS in Genoa, after the battle of Meloria (1284). From Manni, Osservazioni Storiche sopra Sigilli Antichi, tom. xii. Engraved by T. ADENEY.

75. The Convent and CHURCH of S. LORENZO, the burial-place of Marco Polo, as it existed in the 15th century. From the Map of 1500 (see above). Engraved by the same.

78. Arms of the TREVISAN family, according to Priuli.

120. TAILED STAR near the Antarctic, as Marco Polo drew it for Pietro d’Abano. From the Conciliator of Pietro d’Abano.