THE

TRAVELS OF MARCO POLO,

The Venetian.

THE TRANSLATION OF MARSDEN REVISED,

WITH A SELECTION OF HIS NOTES.

EDITED BY

THOMAS WRIGHT, ESQ. M.A. F.S.A. ETC.

CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE.

HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

LONDON:

R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.

CHAPTER II.-Of Armenia Minor-Of the Port of Laiassus-And of the Boun-

daries of the Province

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CHAPTER III. Of the Province called Turkomania, where are the Cities of

Kogni, Kaisariah, and Sevasta, and of its Commerce

CHAPTER IV.-Of Armenia Major, in which are the Cities of Arzingan, Argiron,

and Darziz-Of the Castle of Paipurth-Of the Mountain where the Ark of

Noah rested-Of the Boundaries of the Province-And of a remarkable

Fountain of Oil

CHAPTER V. Of the Province of Zorzania and its Boundaries-Of the Pass

where Alexander the Great constructed the Gate of Iron-And of the

miraculous Circumstances attending a Fountain at Teflis

CHAPTER VI.-Of the Province of Mosul and its different Inhabitants-Of the

People named Kurds-And of the Trade of this Country

CHAPTER VII. Of the great City of Baldach or Bagadet, anciently called

Babylon-Of the Navigation from thence to Balsara, situated in what is

termed the Sea of India, but properly the Persian Gulf-And of the various

Sciences studied in that City

CHAPTER VIII.-Concerning the Capture and Death of the Khalif of Baldach,

and the miraculous Removal of a Mountain

CHAPTER IX. Of the noble City of Tauris, in Irak, and of its Commercial and

other Inhabitants

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CHAPTER X. Of the Monastery of Saint Barsamo, in the Neighbourhood of

Tauris

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ib.

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CHAPTER XI.-Of the Province of Persia

CHAPTER XII.-Of the Names of the Eight Kingdoms that constitute the Pro-

vince of Persia, and of the Breed of Horses and of Asses found therein.

CHAPTER XIII.-Of the City of Yasdi and its Manufactures, and of the

Animals found in the Country between that place and Kierman

CHAPTER XIV. Of the Kingdom of Kierman, by the Ancients named Kar-

mania-Of its Fossil and Mineral Productions-Its Manufactures-Its

Falcons-And of a great Descent observed upon passing out of that

Country.

CHAPTER XV. Of the City of Kamandu, and District of Reobarle-of certain

Birds found there-Of a peculiar kind of Oxen-And of the Karaunas, a

Tribe of Robbers

CHAPTER XVI.-Of the City of Ormus, situated on an Island not far from the

Main, in the Sea of India-Of its Commercial Importance-And of the hot

Wind that blows there.

CHAPTER XVII. Of the Shipping employed at Ormus-Of the Season in

which the Fruits are produced-And of the Manner of Living and Customs

of the Inhabitants

CHAPTER XVIII. Of the Country travelled over upon leaving Ormus, and

returning to Kierman by a different Route; and of a bitterness in the Bread

occasioned by the Quality of the Water

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CHAPTER XIX.-Of the desert Country between Kierman and Kobiam, and

of the bitter Quality of the Water

ib.

CHAPTER XX.-Of the Town of Kobiam, and its Manufactures

CHAPTER XXI.-Of the Journey from Kobiam to the Province of Timochain on

the Northern confines of Persia-And of a particular Species of Tree

CHAPTER XXII.-Of the Old Man of the Mountain-Of his Palace and

Gardens-Of his Capture and his Death.

CHAPTER XXIII.-Of a fertile Plain of six Days' Journey, succeeded by a

Desert of eight, to be passed in the Way to the City of Sapurgan-Of the

excellent Melons produced there-And of the City of Balach

CHAPTER XXIV. Of the Castle named Thaikan-Of the Manners of the Inha-

bitants-And of Salt-Hills

CHAPTER XXV.-Of the Town of Scassem, and of the Porcupines found there

CHAPTER XXVI.-Of the Province of Balashan-Of the Precious Stones found

there and which become the Property of the King-Of the Horses and the

Falcons of the Country-Of the salubrious Air of the Mountains-And of

the Dress with which the Women adorn their Persons

CHAPTER XXVII. Of the Province of Bascià lying South of the former-Of

the golden Ornaments worn by the Inhabitants in their Ears-And of their

Manners

CHAPTER XXVIII. Of the Province of Kesmur situated towards the south-

east-Of its Inhabitants who are skilled in Magic-Of their Communication

with the Indian Sea-And of a Class of Hermits, their Mode of Life, and

extraordinary Abstinence.

CHAPTER XXIX. Of the Province of Vokhan-Of an Ascent for three Days,

leading to the Summit of a high Mountain-Of a peculiar Breed of Sheep

found there-Of the Effect of the great Elevation upon Fires-And of the

Savage Life of the Inhabitants

CHAPTER XXX.-Of the City of Kashcar, and of the Commerce of its Inha-

bitants

CHAPTER XXXI. Of the City of Samarcan, and of the Miraculous Column in

the Church of St. John the Baptist

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CHAPTER XXXII.-Of the Province of Karkan, the Inhabitants of which are

troubled with swollen Legs and with Goitres

CHAPTER XXXIII. Of the City of Kotan, which is abundantly supplied with

all the Necessaries of Life.

CHAPTER XXXIV.-Of the Province of Peyn-Of the Chalcedonies and Jasper

found in its River-And of a peculiar Custom with regard to Marriages

CHAPTER XXXV.-Of the Province of Charchan-Of the kinds of Stone found

in its Rivers-And of the Necessity the Inhabitants are under, of flying to

the Desert on the approach of the Armies of the Tartars

CHAPTER XXXVI.-Of the Town of Lop-Of the Desert in its Vicinity-And

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of the strange Noises heard by those who pass over the latter.

CHAPTER XXXVII.-Of the Province of Tanguth-Of the City of Sachion-Of

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the Custom observed there upon the Birth of a Male Child-And of the

Ceremony of burning the Bodies of the Dead

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CHAPTER XXXVIII. - Of the District of Kamul, and of some peculiar Customs

respecting the Entertainment of Strangers

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CHAPTER XXXIX. Of the City of Chinchitalas

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CHAPTER XL.-Of the District of Succuir, where the Rhubarb is produced,

and from whence it is carried to all parts of the World

CHAPTER XLI.-Of the City of Kampion, the principal one of the Province of

Tanguth-Of the nature of their Idols, and of the Mode of Life of those

amongst the Idolaters who are devoted to the services of Religion Of the

Almanac they make use of-And the Customs of the other Inhabitants with

regard to Marriage

CHAPTER XLII.-Of the City of Ezina-Of the kinds of Cattle and Birds found

there And of a Desert extending forty Days' Journey towards the North

CHAPTER XLIII. Of the City of Karakoran, the first in which the Tartars

fixed their Residence

CHAPTER XLIV.-Of the Origin of the Kingdom of the Tartars-Of the Quarter

from whence they came-And of their former Subjection to Un-Khan, a

Prince of the North, called also Prester John.

CHAPTER XLV.-Concerning Chingis-Khan, first Emperor of the Tartars, and

his Warfare with Un-Khan, whom he overthrew, and of whose Kingdom he

possessed himself

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CHAPTER XLVI.-Of six successive Emperors of the Tartars, and of the Cere-

monies that take place when they are carried for Interment to the Mountain

of Altaï

CHAPTER XLVII. Of the Wandering Life of the Tartars-Of their Domestic

Manners, their Food, and the Virtue and useful Qualities of their Women

CHAPTER XLVIII.-Of the Celestial and Terrestrial Deities of the Tartars,

and of their Modes of Worship-Of their Dress, Arms, Courage in Battle,

Patience under Privations, and Obedience to their Leaders

CHAPTER XLIX. Of the Tartar Armies, and the manner in which they are

constituted-Of their Order of Marching-Of their Provisions-And of

their Mode of attacking the Enemy

.

CHAPTER L.-Of the Rules of Justice observed by these People-And of an

imaginary Kind of Marriage contracted between the deceased Children of

different Families.

CHAPTER LI. Of the Plain of Bargu near Kara-Koran-Of the Customs of its

Inhabitants-Of the Ocean, at the Distance of forty Days' Journey from

thence Of the Falcons produced in the Country on its Borders-And of the

Bearings of the Northern Constellation to an Observer in those Parts

CHAPTER LII.-Of the Kingdom of Erginul, adjoining to that of Kampion,

and of the City of Singui-Of a Species of Oxen covered with extremely fine

Hair-Of the Form of the Animal that yields the Musk, and the Mode of

taking it—And of the Customs of the Inhabitants of that Country, and the

Beauty of the Women

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CHAPTER LIII.-Of the Province of Egrigaia, and of the City of Kalacha-Of

the Manners of its Inhabitants-And of the Camelots manufactured there 145

CHAPTER LIV.-Of the Province of Tenduk, governed by Princes of the Race

of Prester John, and chiefly inhabited by Christians-Of the Ordination of

their Priests-And of a Tribe of People called Argon, the most personable

and the best-informed of any in these Countries

CHAPTER LV. Of the Seat of Government of the Princes of the Family of

Prester John, called Gog and Magog-Of the Manners of its Inhabitants

-Of their Manufacture of Silk-And of the Mines of Silver worked there

CHAPTER LVI.-Of the City of Changanor-Of different Species of Cranes-

And of Partridges and Quails bred in that Part by the Orders of the Grand

Khan.

CHAPTER LVII.-Of the Grand Khan's beautiful Palace in the City of Shandu

-Of his Stud of White Brood-Mares, with whose Milk he performs an

Annual Sacrifice-Of the wonderful Operations of the Astrologers on occa-

sions of Bad Weather-Of the Ceremonies practised by them in the Hall of

the Royal Palace-And of two Descriptions of Religious Mendicants, with

their Modes of Living

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I. Of the admirable Deeds of Kublai-Kaan, the Emperor now

reigning-Of the Battle he fought with Nayan, his Uncle, and of the Vic-

tory he obtained

CHAPTER II. Of the Return of the Grand Khan to the City of Kanbalu after

his Victory-Of the Honour he confers on the Christians, the Jews, the Ma-

hometans, and the Idolaters, at their respective Festivals-And the Reason

he assigns for his not becoming a Christian

CHAPTER III.-Of the kind of Rewards granted to those who conduct them-

selves well in Fight, and of the Golden Tablets which they receive

CHAPTER IV.-Of the Figure and Stature of the Grand Khan-Of his four

principal Wives-And of the annual Selection of Young Women for him in

the Province of Ungut.

CHAPTER V.-Of the number of the Grand Khan's Sons by his four Wives,

whom he makes Kings of different Provinces, and of Chingis his First-born

-Also of the Sons by his Concubines, whom he creates Lords

CHAPTER VI.-Of the great and admirable Palace of the Grand Khan, near to

the City of Kanbalu.

CHAPTER VII.-Of the new City of Tai-du, built near to that of Kanbalu-Of

a Rule observed respecting the Entertainment of Ambassadors-And of the

nightly Police of the City.

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