Born 1250.—Died 1324.
Departure of the father and uncle of Marco from
Venice—Bulgaria—Wanders through Turkestan—Sanguinary wars—Cross
the Gihon and remain three years at Bokhāra—Travels to
Cathay—Cambalu—Honourably received by Kublai Khan—Return as
the khan’s ambassador to Italy—Family misfortunes—Return
with Marco into Asia—Armenia—Persia—The assassins—City of
Balkh—Falls ill on the road—Is detained a whole year in the
province of Balashghan—Curious productions of the country,
and the singular manners of its inhabitants—Khoten—Desert
of Lop—Wonders of this desert—Shatcheu and Khamil—Barbarous
custom—Chinchintalas—Salamander linen—Desert of Shomo—Enormous
cattle—Musk deer—Beautiful cranes—Stupendous palace of
Chandu—Arrives at Cambalu—Acquires the language of the country,
and is made an ambassador—Description of Kublai Khan—Imperial
harem—Nursery of beauty—Palace of Cambalu—Pretension of the
Chinese to the invention of artillery—Magnificence of the
khan—Paper-money—Roads—Post-horses—Religion—Fertility—Tibet—Bloody
footsteps of war—Wild beasts—Abominable manners—Strange
clothing and money—The Dalai Lama—Murder of travellers—Teeth
plated with gold—Preposterous custom—Magical
physicians—Southern China—Emperor Fanfur—Anecdote—Prodigious
city—Extremes of wealth and poverty—Hackney-coaches and public
gardens—Manufacture of porcelain—Returns to Italy—The Polos
are forgotten by their relatives—Curious mode of proving their
identity—Marco taken prisoner by the Genoese—Writes his travels
in captivity—Returns to Venice—Dies 30