The Travels of Marco Polo Volume II Part 74

<+>(They carry a threat of attack if he should refuse to present himself before Toctai. Nogai refuses with defiance. Both sides prepare for war, but Toctai's force is the greater in numbers.)

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

HOW TOCTAI MARCHED AGAINST NOGAI.

<+>(The usual description of their advance to meet one another. Toctai is joined by the two sons of Totamangu with a goodly company. They encamp within ten miles of each other in the Plain of NERGHI.)

CHAPTER x.x.xII.

HOW TOCTAI AND NOGAI ADDRESS THEIR PEOPLE, AND THE NEXT DAY JOIN BATTLE.

<+>(The whole of this is in the usual formula without any circ.u.mstances worth transcribing. The forces of Nogai though inferior in numbers are the better men-at-arms. King Toctai shows great valour.)

CHAPTER x.x.xIII.

THE VALIANT FEATS AND VICTORY OF KING NOGAI.

<+>(The deeds of Nogai surpa.s.s all; the enemy scatter like a flock, and are pursued, losing 60,000 men, but Toctai escapes, and so do the two sons of Totamangu.)

CHAPTER x.x.xIV. AND LAST

CONCLUSION.[1]

And now ye have heard all that we can tell you about the Tartars and the Saracens and their customs, and likewise about the other countries of the world as far as our researches and information extend. Only we have said nothing whatever about the GREATER SEA and the provinces that lie round it, although we know it thoroughly. But it seems to me a needless and useless task to speak about places which are visited by people every day.

For there are so many who sail all about that sea constantly, Venetians, and Genoese, and Pisans, and many others, that everybody knows all about it, and that is the reason that I pa.s.s it over and say nothing of it.

Of the manner in which we took our departure from the Court of the Great Kaan you have heard at the beginning of the Book, in that chapter where we told you of all the vexation and trouble that Messer Maffeo and Messer Nicolo and Messer Marco had about getting the Great Kaan's leave to go; and in the same chapter is related the lucky chance that led to our departure. And you may be sure that but for that lucky chance, we should never have got away in spite of all our trouble, and never have got back to our country again. But I believe it was G.o.d's pleasure that we should get back in order that people might learn about the things that the world contains. For according to what has been said in the introduction at the beginning of the Book, there never was a man, be he Christian or Saracen or Tartar or Heathen, who ever travelled over so much of the world as did that n.o.ble and ill.u.s.trious citizen of the City of Venice, Messer Marco the son of Messer Nicolo Polo.

Thanks be to G.o.d! Amen! Amen!

[1] This conclusion is not found in any copy except in the Crusca Italian, and, with a little modification, in another at Florence, belonging to the Pucci family. It is just possible that it was the embellishment of a transcriber or translator; but in any case it is very old, and serves as an epilogue.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Asiatic Warriors of Polo's Age. (From a contemporary Persian Miniature.)]

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A.--_Geneaology of the House of Chinghiz, to end of Thirteenth Century_.

Supreme [KAANS] in large capitals. KHANS of KIPCHAK, CHAGATAI, and PERSIA in small capitals. Numerals indicate order of succession. For other sons of Kublai, see Book II., chapter ix.

Those who are mentioned by Marco Polo have a _line_ under their names.

Seniority runs from right to left.

Vesugai _______________________________________________ Uchegin or [I._CHINGIZ KAAN_]

Pilgutai __________________________ _____________________ Jintu TULI [II. OKKODAI KAAN] ___________ __________ ______________________ Tagajar Arikbuga I. _HULAKU_ [V._KuBLaI_ [IV._MANGKU_ _KAAN_] _KAAN_] _____________ ______ ____ Agul 3._TIGUDAR_ Tara- 2._ABAKA_ _Chingkim_ _AHMAD_ kai ______ ______________ ____________ [VI._TEMUR KAAN_] Kanbala _______ ______ _Nayan_ 6._BAIDU_ Tarmabala 5._KAI-_ 4._ARGHUN_ _KHATU_ ________ _______ 8. OLJAITU 7._GHAZAN_ [Khans of PERSIA] __________________________________________________________ Shiregi Kashin [III. _KUYUK_KAAN] _Kaidu_ Chapar or Shabar __________________________________________________________ _CHAGATAI_ ______ _________________________________________ Kadami Sarban Paidar 2.YESSU- Muwatukan Juji MANGKU, followed by Kara-Hulaku's widow, 3. ARGUNA. ____________ 8. TUKA 7. NIK- ALGHUL Yesan- I. KAKA- _Nigudar-_ (or BUKA) PAL Tewa. HULAKU. _Aghul_ TEMUR 6.BORRAK. 5.MUBARIK SHAH 9. TEWA or DUA [Khans of ULUS CHAGATAI] __________________________________________________________ Tewal Shaiban 4. _BARKA_ 7. _BATU_ ____________________ _______ Tatar Kaunchi 3.ULAGHJI Toghan 2. SARTAK _______________ _______ _Noghai_ 6. _TUDAI- 5. _MANGKU_ Bartu _MANGKU_ _TEMUR_ _______________ 8._TOKTAI_ Abaji 7. _TULABUGA_.

[Khans of KIPCHAK or ULUS JUJI]

APPENDIX B.--_The Polo Families_.

(I.) GENEALOGY OF THE FAMILY OF MARCO POLO THE TRAVELLER.

/- Maffeo, /- Giovannino Seniority runs from make will in (_Illeg._) [bottom] to [top].

Feb. 1309; alive in 1321.

was dead before 1318. +- Stefano (_Illeg._) alive in 1321.

Catarina, d. of Nic. /- Fiordelisa.

Sagredo. ------ +- Maffeo - Pasqua.

2. (Mother made a will, (_Illeg._) of Maffeo. 1300.

_Fiordelisa Trevisan_?) Renuzzo Delfio +- Nicol, -------+ of S. Giov. /- Moreta, Grisostomo married married twice, - MARCO, after 1324; d. before 1300. of S. Giov. alive in Grisostomo, 1336.

1. (Marco's 1254-1324. A Mother, ---------+- Bellella, n Name unknown.) Donata--(?) married to-- d died after before 1324; r 1333 and died before 1333.

e before 1336. a - Fantina, married P before 1324; o alive in 1379.

l --------- Pietro Bragadin o Marco Bragadin of S. Giov.

, of S. Geminiano Grisostomo, + was alive in o 1388.

f /- Maroca. /- Agnesina S. - Marco, --+- Nicol. ---- Marco, -----+ made will, known as F 1280 _Marcolino_ - Matteo, e (1328) of married Caterina, l S. Giov. daughter of i Grisotomo. Giandomenico.

c - Antonio.