The Travels of Marco Polo, the Venetian
Introduction
Prologue 1
Book I
- Chapter I. IT should be known to the reader that,
at the time when Baldwin II. was emperor of Constantinople, 1 where a
magistrate representing the doge of Venice then resided, 2 and in the
year of our Lord 1250, 3 Nicolo Polo, the father of the said Marco,
and Maffeo, the brother of Nicolo, respectable and well-informed men,
embarked in a ship of their own, with a rich and varied cargo of
merchandise, and reached Constantinople in safety. After mature
deliberation on the subject of their proceedings, it was determined, as
the measure most likely to improve their trading capital, that they
should prosecute their voyage into the Euxine or Black Sea. 4 With this
view they made purchases of many fine and costly jewels, and taking
their departure from Constantinople, navigated that sea to a port named
Soldaia, 5 from whence they travelled on horseback many days until they
reached the court of a powerful chief of the Western Tartars, named
Barka, 6 who dwelt in the cities of Bolgara and Assara, 7 and had the
reputation of being one of the most liberal and civilized princes
hitherto known amongst the tribes of Tartary. He expressed much
satisfaction at the arrival of these travellers, and received them with
marks of distinction. In return for which courtesy, when they had laid
before him the jewels they brought with them, and perceived that their
beauty pleased him, they presented them for his acceptance. The
liberality of this conduct on the part of the two brothers struck him
with admiration; and being unwilling that they should surpass him in
generosity, he not only directed double the value of the jewels to be
paid to them, but made them in addition several rich presents.
- Chapter II. Of Armenia Minor—Of the Port of
Laiassus—And of the Boundaries of the Province.
- 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.
- Chapter X. Of the Monastery of Saint Barsamo, in
the Neighbourhood of Tauris.
- Chapter XI. Of the Province of Persia.
- Chapter XII. Of the Names of the Eight Kingdoms
that constitute the Province 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 Karmania—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.
- Chapter XIX. Of the desert Country between Kierman
and Kobiam, and of the bitter Quality of the Water.
- 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 Inhabitants—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 Inhabitants.
- Chapter XXXI. Of the City of Samarcan, and of the
Miraculous Column in the Church of St. John the Baptist.
- 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 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 the Custom observed there upon the Birth of a Male
Child—And of the Ceremony of burning the Bodies of the Dead.
- Chapter XXXVIII. Of the District of Kamul, and of
some peculiar Customs respecting the Entertainment of Strangers.
- Chapter XXXIX. Of the City of Chinchitalas
- 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.
- Chapter XLVI. Of six successive Emperors of the
Tartars, and of the Ceremonies 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.
- 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.
- 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 occasions 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 Victory 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 Mahometans, 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 themselves 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.
- Chapter VIII. Of the treasonable Practices employed
to cause the City of Kanbalu to rebel, and of the Apprehension and
Punishment of those concerned.
- Chapter IX. Of the Personal Guard of the Grand
Khan.
- Chapter X. Of the Style in which the Grand Khan
holds his Public Courts, and sits at Table with all his Nobles—Of the
Manner in which the Drinking Vessels of Gold and Silver, filled with
the Milk of Mares and Camels, are disposed in the Hall—And of the
Ceremony that takes place when he drinks.
- Chapter XI. Of the Festival that is kept
throughout the Dominions of the Grand Khan on the Twenty-eighth of
September, being the Anniversary of his Nativity.
- Chapter XII. Of the White Feast, held on the First
Day of the Month of February, being the Commencement of their Year—Of
the Number of Presents then brought—And of the Ceremonies that take
place at a Table whereon is inscribed the Name of the Grand Khan.
- Chapter XIII. Of the Quantity of Game taken and
sent to the Court, during the Winter Months.
- Chapter XIV. Of Leopards and Lynxes used for
hunting Deer—Of Lions habituated to the Chase of various Animals—And
of Eagles taught to seize Wolves.
- Chapter XV. Of two Brothers who are principal
Officers of the Chase to the Grand Khan.
- Chapter XVI. Of the Grand Khan's proceeding to the
Chase, with his Gerfalcons and Hawks—Of his Falconers—And of his
Tents.
- Chapter XVII. Of the Multitude of Persons who
continually resort to and depart from the City of Kanbalu—And of the
Commerce of the Place.
- Chapter XVIII
- Chapter XIX. Of the Council of Twelve great
Officers appointed for the Affairs of the Army, and of Twelve others,
for the general Concerns of the Empire.
- Chapter XX. Of the Places established on all the
great Roads for supplying Post-Horses—Of the Couriers on Foot—And of
the Mode in which the Expense is defrayed.
- Chapter XXI. Of the Relief afforded by the Grand
Khan to all the Provinces of his Empire, in Times of Dearth or
Mortality of Cattle.
- Chapter XXII. Of the Trees which he causes to be
planted at the Sides of the Roads, and of the Order in which they are
kept.
- Chapter XXIII. Of the kind of Wine made in the
Province of Cathay—And of the Stones used there for burning in the
manner of Charcoal.
- Chapter XXIV. Of the great and admirable
Liberality exercised by the Grand Khan towards the Poor of Kanbalu, and
other Persons who apply for Relief at his Court.
- Chapter XXV. Of the Astrologers of the City of
Kanbalu.
- Chapter XXVI. Of the Religion of the Tartars—Of
the Opinions they hold respecting the Soul—And of some of their
Customs.
- Chapter XXVII. Of the River named Pulisangan, and
of the Bridge over it.
- Chapter XXVIII. Of the City of Gouza.
- Chapter XXIX. Of the Kingdom of Ta-in-fu
- Chapter XXX. Of the City of Pi-an-fu.
- Chapter XXXI. Of the Fortress of Thaigin or
Tai-gin.
- Chapter XXXII. Of the very large and noble River
called the Kara-moran.
- Chapter XXXIII. Of the City of Ka-chan-fu.
- Chapter XXXIV. Of the City of Ken-zan-fu.
- Chapter XXXV. Of the Boundaries of Cathay and
Manji.
- Chapter XXXVI. Of the Province of Sin-din-fu, and
of the great River Kian.
- Chapter XXXVII. Of the Province of Thebeth.
- Chapter XXXVIII. Of the Province of Kain-du
- Chapter XXXIX. Of the great Province of Karaian,
and of Yachi its principal City.
- Chapter XL. Of the Province named Karazan.
- Chapter XLI. Of the Province of Kardandan and the
City of Vochang.
- Chapter XLII. Of the Manner in which the Grand
Khan effected the Conquest of the Kingdom of Mien and Bangala.
- Chapter XLIII. Of an uninhabited Region, and of
the Kingdom of Mien.
- Chapter XLIV. Of the City of Mien, and of a grand
Sepulchre of its King.
- Chapter XLV. Of the Province of Bangala
- Chapter XLVI. Of the Province of Kangigu
- Chapter XLVII. Of the Province of Amu.
- Chapter XLVIII. Of Tholoman
- Chapter XLIX. Of the Cities of Chintigui, Sidinfu,
Gingui, and Pazanfu
- Chapter L. Of the City of Chan-glu
- Chapter LI. Of the City of Chan-gli
- Chapter LII. Of the City of Tudin-fu
- Chapter LIII. Of the City of Singui-matu
- Chapter LIV. Of the great River called the
Kara-moran, and of the Cities of Koi-gan-zu and Kuan-zu.
- Chapter LV. Of the most noble Province of Manji,
and of the Manner in which it was subdued by the Grand Khan.
- Chapter LVI. Of the City of Koi-gan-zu
- Chapter LVII. Of the Town of Pau-ghin
- Chapter LVIII. Of the City of Kain
- Chapter LIX. Of the Cities of Tin-gui and Chin-gui
- Chapter LX
- Chapter LXI. Of the Province of Nan-ghin
- Chapter LXII. Of the City of Sa-yan-fu, that was
taken by the means of Nicolo and Maffeo Polo
- Chapter LXIII. Of the City of Sin-gui, and of the
very great River Kiang
- Chapter LXIV. Of the City of Kayn-gui
- Chapter LXV. Of the City of Chan-ghian-fu
- Chapter LXVI. Of the City of Tin-gui-gui.
- Chapter LXVII. Of the Cities of Sin-gui and Va-giu
- Chapter LXVIII. Of the noble and magnificent City
of Kin-sai.
- Chapter LXIX. Of the Revenues of the Grand Khan
- Chapter LXX. Of the City of Ta-pin-zu
- Chapter LXXI. Of the City of Uguiu
- Chapter LXXII. Of the Cities of Gen-gui, Zen-gian,
and Gie-za
- Chapter LXXIII. Of the Kingdom or Viceroyalty of
Kon-cha, and its capital City named Fu-giu
- Chapter LXXIV. Of the City of Kue-lin-fu
- Chapter LXXV. Of the City of Un-guen
- Chapter LXXVI. Of the City of Kan-giu
- Chapter LXXVII. Of the City and Port of Zai-tun,
and the City of Tin-gui
Book III
- Chapter I. Of India, distinguished into the
Greater, Lesser, and Middle—Of the Manners and Customs of its
Inhabitants—Of many remarkable and extraordinary Things to be observed
there; and, in the first place, of the kind of Vessels employed in
Navigation.
- Chapter II
- Chapter III. Of the nature of the Idols worshipped
in Zipangu, and of the People being addicted to eating Human Flesh.
- Chapter IV. Of the Sea of Chin, between this Island
and the Province of Manji.
- Chapter V. Of the Gulf of Keinan, and of its
Rivers.
- Chapter VI. Of the Country of Ziamba, of the King
of that Country, and of his becoming tributary to the Grand Khan.
- Chapter VII. Of the Island of Java.
- Chapter VIII. Of the Islands of Sondur and Condur,
and of the Country of Lochac.
- Chapter IX. Of the Island of Pentan, and of the
Kingdom of Malaiur.
- Chapter X. Of the Island of Java Minor.
- Chapter XI. Of the Kingdom of Felech, in the
Island of Java Minor.
- Chapter XII. Of the Second Kingdom, named Basman.
- Chapter XIII. Of the Third Kingdom, named Samara.
- Chapter XIV. Of the Fourth Kingdom, named
Dragoian.
- Chapter XV. Of the Fifth Kingdom, named Lambri.
- Chapter XVI. Of the Sixth Kingdom, named Fanfur,
where Meal is procured from a certain Tree.
- Chapter XVII. Of the Island of Nocueran.
- Chapter XVIII. Of the Island of Angaman.
- Chapter XIX. Of the Island of Zeilan.
- Chapter XX. Of the Province of Maabar.
- Chapter XXI. Of the Kingdom of Murphili or Monsul.
- Chapter XXII. Of the Province of Lac, Loac, or
Lar.
- Chapter XXIII. Of the Island of Zeilan.
- Chapter XXIV. Of the City of Kael.
- Chapter XXV. Of the Kingdom of Koulam.
- Chapter XXVI. Of Komari.
- Chapter XXVII. Of the Kingdom of Dely.
- Chapter XXVIII. Of Malabar.
- Chapter XXIX. Of the Kingdom of Guzzerat.
- Chapter XXX. Of the Kingdom of Kanan.
- Chapter XXXI. Of the Kingdom of Kambaia.
- Chapter XXXII. Of the Kingdom of Servenath.
- Chapter XXXIII. Of the Kingdom of Kesmacoran.
- Chapter XXXIV. Of the Islands of Males and of
Females.
- Chapter XXXV. Of the Island of Soccotera.
- Chapter XXXVI. Of the Great Island of Madagascar.
- Chapter XXXVII. Of the Island of Zenzibar.
- Chapter XXXVIII. Of the multitude of Islands in
the Indian Sea.
- Chapter XXXIX. Of the Second or Middle India,
named Abascia (or Abyssinia).
- Chapter XL
- Chapter XLI. Of the City of Escier.
- Chapter XLII. Of the City of Dulfar.
- Chapter XLIII. Of the City of Kalayati.
- Chapter XLIV. Of Ormus.
- Chapter XLV. Of those Countries which are termed
the Region of Darkness.
- Chapter XLVI
- Chapter XLVII 1 . Of Great Turkey.
- Chapter XLVIII. What the Grand Khan said of the
Injuries done to him by Kaidu.
- Chapter XLIX. Of the Daughter of King Kaidu, how
strong an valiant she was.
- Chapter L. How Abaga sent Argon his Son with an
Army.
- Chapter LI. How Argon succeeded his Father in the
Sovereignty.
- Chapter LII. How Acomat went with his Host to
fight Argon.
- Chapter LIII. How Argon held Council with his
Barons before encountering Acomat.
- Chapter LIV. How the Barons replied to Argon.
- Chapter LV. How Argon sent his Messengers to
Acomat.
- Chapter LVI. Acomat's Reply to the Message of
Argon.
- Chapter LVII. The Battle between Argon and Acomat.
- Chapter LVIII. How Argon was liberated.
- Chapter LIX. How Argon recovered the Sovereignty.
- Chapter LX. How Argon caused his Uncle Acomat to
be put to death.
- Chapter LXI. The Death of Argon.
- Chapter LXII. How Quiacatu seized upon the
Sovereignty after the Death of Argon.
- Chapter LXIII. How Baidu seized upon the
Sovereignty after the Death of Quiacatu.
- Chapter LXIV 1 . Of the Lords of the Tartars of
the West.
- Chapter LXV. Of the War between Alau and Berca,
and the Battle they fought.
- Chapter LXVI. How Berca and his Host went to meet
Alau.
- Chapter LXVII. Alau's Address to his Men.
- Chapter LXVIII. Of the great Battle between Alau
and Berca.
- Chapter LXIX. How Totamangu was Lord of the
Tartars of the West.
- Chapter LXX. How Toctai sent for Nogai to Court.
- Chapter LXXI. How Toctai proceeded against Nogai.
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