The Travels of Marco Polo Volume I Part 16

VII.--HOW THE KAAN REWARDED THE VALOUR OF HIS CAPTAINS

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

NOTES.--1. Colour of his Eyes. 2. His Wives. 3. The Kungurat Tribe.

Compet.i.tive Examination in Beauty.

IX.--CONCERNING THE GREAT KAAN'S SONS

NOTES.--1. Kublai's intended Heir. 2. His other Sons.

X.--CONCERNING THE PALACE OF THE GREAT KAAN

NOTES.--1. Palace Wall. 2. The word _Tarcasci_ 3. Towers. 4. a.r.s.enals 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'acur_." 13. The Green Mount. 14. Textual. 15. Bridge.

XI.--CONCERNING THE CITY OF CAMBALUC

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

NOTE.--The term _Quescican_.

XIII.--THE FASHION OF THE GREAT KAAN'S TABLE AT HIS HIGH FEASTS

NOTES.--1. Order of the Tables. 2. The word _Vernique_. 3. The Buffet of Liquors. 4. The superst.i.tion 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

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

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

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

NOTE.--Parallel Pa.s.sage.

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

NOTES.--1. The Cheeta or Hunting Leopard. 2. Lynxes. 3. The Tiger, termed _Lion_ by Polo. 4. The Burgut Eagle.

XIX.--CONCERNING THE TWO BROTHERS WHO HAVE CHARGE OF THE KAAN'S HOUNDS

NOTE.--The Masters of the Hounds, and their t.i.tle.

XX.--HOW THE EMPEROR GOES ON A HUNTING EXPEDITION

NOTES.--1. Direction of the Tour. 2. Hawking Establishments. 3. The word _Toskaul_. 4. The word _Bularguchi_. 5. Kublai's Litter. 6. Kachar Modun. 7. The Kaan's Great Tents. 8. The Sable and Ermine. 9. Petis de la Croix.

XXI.--HOW THE GREAT KAAN, ON RETURNING FROM HIS HUNTING EXPEDITION, HOLDS A GREAT COURT AND ENTERTAINMENT

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

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

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]

NOTES.--1. Chapter peculiar to Ramusio. 2. Kublai'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 Pa.s.s FOR MONEY OVER ALL HIS COUNTRY

NOTE.--Chinese Paper Currency.

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

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

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

NOTE.--Kublai's remissions, and justice.

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

NOTE.--Kublai's Avenues.

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

NOTE.--Rice-wine.

x.x.x.--CONCERNING THE BLACK STONES THAT ARE DUG IN CATHAY, AND ARE BURNT FOR FUEL