THE AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT.
At the time that Baldwin was Emperor of Constantinople, in the year
of our Lord 1250, two gentlemen of the most illustrious family of
Paolo or Polo, at Venice, embarked on board a vessel freighted with
various kinds of merchandize on their own account; and having
traversed the Mediterranean and the Bosphorus, they came with a fair
wind, and the blessing of God, to Constantinople. There they
continued for some time to repose themselves, and then crossing the
Pontus Euxinus, arrived at a certain port called Soldadia, from
whence they went to the court of a great Tartar prince, called Barha,
to whom they showed the fine jewels they had brought, and presented
him with some of the most valuable. That monarch was far from being
ungrateful; he kindly accepted their presents, and in return gave
them others of greater value. They remained a full year at his
court, and then disposed all things for their return to Venice. But
before they had an opportunity of departing, there broke out a war
between this Prince Barha and another Tartar king, whose name was
Alan; and this dispute being decided by a battle, the army of Barha
was defeated. This unlucky accident exceedingly embarrassed the
Venetians, who knew not what measures to take, or how to get safely
back into their own country. At length, however, they took a
resolution of escaping, as well as they could, out of the country
where they were, and by several by-roads escaped to a city called
Guthacam, seated on the river Tygris. They continued their journey
from hence through a great desert, where there were neither
inhabitants nor villages, till at last they arrived at Bochara, a
considerable city on the confines of Persia. It was, at the time of
their arrival, the residence of a prince called Barach, in whose
court, meeting with a good reception, and not knowing how otherwise
to dispose of themselves, they remained three years. At that time a
certain person of distinction was sent ambassador from the said
Prince Alan to the Great Khan, who is the superior monarch of all the
Tartars, residing in the remotest countries of the earth, betwixt the
north-east and the east, called Cublai Khan; who coming to Bochara,
and finding there these two brethren, who were now well versed in the
Tartarian language, he rejoiced exceedingly, and persuaded these men
to go with him to the great Emperor of the Tartars, knowing that he
should gratify him in this, and that they also should be entertained
with great honour, and rewarded with large gifts, especially seeing,
through the conference had with them, he perceived their pleasing
behaviour. These men therefore considering that they could not
easily return home without danger, consulting together, agreed to go
with the said ambassador, and accompany him to the Emperor of the
Tartars, having certain other Christians in their company, whom they
brought with them from Venice; and departing towards the north-east
and the north, were a whole year in going to the said court of the
said king.
The cause of their long time spent in this journey, was the snows and
waters being much increased, so that they were forced in their travel
to stay the wasting of the snow, and decreasing of the floods. Being
therefore brought before the presence of the Great Khan, they were
most courteously received by him. He questioned them concerning many
things; as of the countries of the west, the Roman Emperor, and other
kings and princes, how they carried themselves in government, and in
war-like affairs; how peace, justice, and concord continued among
them: also what manner of life and customs were observed among the
Latins, and especially of the Pope, of the Christians, of the Church,
and of the religion of the Christian faith; and M. Nicolo and M.
Maffio, as wise men, told him the truth, always speaking well to him,
and orderly, in the Tartarian tongue; insomuch that he often
commanded they should be brought to his presence, and they were very
acceptable in his sight; having well understood the affairs of the
Latins, and resting satisfied with their answers.
The Great Khan intending to send them his ambassadors to the Pope,
first consulted with his great lords, and then calling to him the two
brethren, desired them to go to the Pope of the Romans, with one of
his barons called Chogatal, to pray him to send an hundred men
learned in the Christian religion unto him, who might show his wise
men that the faith of the Christians was to be preferred before all
other sects, and was the only way of salvation, and that the gods of
the Tartars were devils, and that they, and others, the people of the
east, were deceived in the worship of their gods. He gave them also
in charge, to bring, in their return from Jerusalem, of the oil of
the lamp which burneth before the sepulchre of our Lord Jesus Christ,
towards whom he had great devotion, and held him to be the true God;
they therefore yielded due reverence to the Great Khan, promised that
they would faithfully execute the charge committed unto them, and
present the letters which they received from him, written in the
Tartarian tongue, according to his command, unto the Bishop of Rome.
He, according to the custom of the kingdom, commanded a golden tablet
to be given them, engraven and signed with the king's mark; carrying
which with them throughout his whole empire, instead of a passport,
they might be everywhere safely conveyed through dangerous places, by
the governors of provinces and cities, and receive their expenses
from them; and lastly, how long soever they would stay in any place,
whatsoever they needed, for them or theirs, should be furnished them.
Taking their leave therefore of the Emperor, they took their journey,
carrying the letters and golden tablet with them; and when they had
ridden twenty days' journey, the lord who was associated with them,
began to fall grievously sick; whereupon consulting and leaving him
there, they prosecuted their intended journey, being everywhere
courteously received by reason of the Emperor's tablet; yet in many
places they were compelled to stay, occasioned by the overflowings of
the rivers, so that they spent three years before they came unto the
port of the country of the Armenians, named Giazza; from Giazza they
went to Acre, about the year of our Lord 1269, in the month of April.
But having entered into the city of Acre, they heard that Pope
Clement the Fourth was lately dead, and that no other was substituted
in his place, for which they were not a little grieved. At that time
there was a certain legate of the Apostolic See at Acre, viz., Master
Tibaldo Nisconti di Piacenza, to whom they declared all they had in
commission from the Great Khan, and he advised them to expect the
creation of a new Pope. In the mean space therefore departing to
Venice to visit their friends, Master Nicolo found that his wife was
dead, whom at his departure he had left with child, but had left a
son named Marco, who was now nineteen years of age. This is that
Marco who composed this book, who will manifest therein all those
things that he hath seen. The election of the Pope of Rome was
deferred two years. They fearing the discontent of the Emperor of
the Tartars, who expected their return, went back again to Acre to
the legate, carrying with them Marco aforesaid, and having gone to
Jerusalem, and fetched the oil with the legate's letter, testifying
their fidelity to the Great Khan, and that a Pope was not yet chosen,
they went again towards Giazza.
In the meantime messengers came from the cardinals to the legate,
declaring to him that he was chosen Pope, and he called himself
Gregory. Hearing this, he presently sent messengers to call back the
Venetians, and admonishing them not to depart, prepared other letters
for them, which they should present to the Great Khan of the Tartars,
with whom he also joined two preaching friars, men famous for their
honest conversation and learning. The one was called Friar Nicholo
Davicenza, the other Friar Gulielmo de Tripoli; to these he gave
letters and privileges, and authority to ordain priests and bishops,
and of absolution in all cases as if himself were present, with
presents also of great value, to present to the Great Khan, together
with his benediction. They came to Giazza, a sea-port in Armenia,
and because Bentiochdas and the Sultan of Babylon, leading a great
army, then invaded the Armenians, the two friars above mentioned
began to be afraid of themselves, and delivering the letters and
presents to Signiors Nicolo, Maffio and Marco, desiring to avoid the
danger of the ways and peril of wars, remained with the master of the
temple, and returned with him.
But the three Venetians exposing themselves to all danger, with many
labours and much difficulty, travelled many days always towards the
north-east and north, till they, after three years and a half, came
to the Emperor of the Tartars great city of Clemenisu; for in the
winter time their journey had often long hindrances by reason of the
snow and extreme cold, with inundations of waters. However, King
Cublai hearing of their coming, though they were yet very far off,
sent messengers forty days' journey to meet them, who should conduct
them, and furnish all necessaries for their journey. Going therefore
to the King's court, and being brought to his presence, they fell
down before him on their faces, yielding the accustomed reverence; of
whom being courteously received, they were ordered to rise, and he
commanded them to declare how they passed the many dangers of the
ways, and what they had treated with the Bishop of Rome; then they
related it distinctly and at large, and gave the Emperor the Pope's
letters and presents, which they brought; at which the Khan
wonderfully rejoicing, commended their faithful cares. The oil also
brought from the Lord's sepulchre, and offered unto him, he
reverently received, commanded it should be honourably preserved, and
asking of Marco, who he was? Master Nicolo answered, that he was his
Majesty's servant, and his son; he entertained him with a friendly
countenance, and taught him to write among other of his honourable
courtiers; whereupon he was much esteemed of all the court, and in a
little space learned the customs of all the Tartars, and four
different languages, being able to write and read them all.
The Great Khan, to make his wisdom more apparent, committed an
ambassage unto him to be performed in a city called Carachan, unto
which he could scarcely travel in six months' space; but he carrying
himself wisely in all things, discharged what he had in commission
with the commendation and favour of the prince, and knowing the
Emperor would be delighted with novelties, in the places which he
passed through, he diligently searched the customs and manners of
men, and the conditions of the countries, making a memorial of all
that he knew and saw to divert the Great Khan; and in six-and-twenty
years which he continued one of his court, he was so acceptable to
him, that he was continually sent through all his realms and
signiories for the affairs of the Great Khan, and sometimes for his
own, but by the Khan's order; and this is the true reason that the
said Master Marco learned and saw so many particulars relating to the
east, which follow in order in these memoirs; but these Venetians,
having stayed in that court many years, and grown very rich in jewels
of great value, were inspired with desire to visit their country,
fearing that if the Khan (now old) should die, they should not be
able to return. One day Master Nicolo, seeing the Khan merry, craved
licence to depart in the name of all three: whereat he was moved, and
asked why they would put themselves on so dangerous a journey, and if
they wanted riches, he would give them twice as much as they had, and
out of pure affection would not permit their departure.
Yet not long after it happened, that a king of the Indians, named
Argon, sent three of his counsellors unto the court of the great
Cublai, whose names were Ullatai, Apusea, and Coza, to treat with
him, that he would deliver him a wife; for his wife, named Bolgana,
being lately dead, begged this favour of the king at the point of
death, and left in her will, that he should not marry a wife of
another family than her own, which was of Catha. King Cublai,
therefore, yielding to his request, caused to be sought out for them
a fair young maiden of seventeen years of age, named Cogalin,
descended of the former queen's family, to be the wife of Argon.
Those ambassadors departing, rode eight months the same way they
came, but found bloody wars among the Tartars, so that they were
constrained to return, and acquaint the Great Khan with their
proceedings. In the mean time Master Marco had returned from those
parts of India, where he had been employed with certain ships, and
declared to the Khan the singularities of the places, and the
security of those seas; which reaching the ears of the ambassadors,
they conferred with the Venetians, and agreed, that they with the
Queen should go to the Great Khan, and desire leave to return by sea,
and to have the three Latins, men skilled in sea affairs, with them,
to the country of King Argon. The Great Khan was much displeased
with their request, yet upon their petition granted it, and caused
Nicolo, Maffio, and Marco to come into his presence, and after much
demonstration of his love, would have them promise to return to him
after they had spent some time in Christendom, and in their own
house; and he caused to be given them a tablet of gold, in which was
written his command for their liberty and security through all his
dominions, and that expenses should be given them and theirs, and a
guide or convoy for safe passage, ordering also that they should be
his ambassadors to the Pope, the kings of France and Spain, and and
other Christian princes.
He caused fourteen ships to be prepared, each having four masts, and
able to bear nine sails in sailing, the form of which is too long
here to be related; four or five of them had from two hundred and
fifty to two hundred and sixty mariners in each of them. In these
ships, the ambassadors, the Queen, with Nicolo, Maffio, and Marco,
set sail, having first taken leave of the Great Khan, who gave them
many rubies and other precious stones, and their expenses for two
years. After three months they came unto a certain island called
Java, and from thence sailing through the Indian Sea, after eighteen
months they came into the country of King Argon; six hundred men of
the mariners and others, and but one of the women, died in the
passage, but only Coza of the three ambassadors survived. When they
came to the country of King Argon, they found that he was dead, and
that one Chiacato governed the kingdom for his son, who was under
age. They sent to acquaint him with their business, who answered
that they should give her to Casan, the king's son, then in the parts
of Arbor Secco, in the confines of Persia, with sixty thousand
persons for the guard of certain passages against the enemy. Having
done so, Nicolo, Maffio, and Marco returned to Chiacato, and stayed
there nine months.
After this taking leave, Chiacato gave them four tables of gold, each
a cubit long, and five fingers broad, of the weight of three or four
marks, in which were written, that in the power of the Eternal God
the name of the Great Khan should be honoured and praised many years,
and every one who should not obey should be put to death, and his
goods confiscated. In them were further contained, that these three
ambassadors should be honoured, and service done them in all lands
and countries as to his own person, and that horses, convoys,
expenses, and necessaries should be given them; all which was so duly
put in execution, that sometimes they had two hundred horses for
their safeguard. In this their travel, they heard that the Great
Khan was dead, which took from them all desire of returning thither.
They rode till they came to Trebizond, and from thence to
Constantinople, and after to Negropont, and at last came with great
riches safe to Venice, A.D. 1295.
Here ends the historical introduction of our author, which shows us
how he came to be qualified for writing the following description of
the remotest countries in the east. The reader will naturally
observe that our author wrote under very particular circumstances, as
having no other knowledge than what he acquired amongst the Tartars;
and therefore, though the harsh and uncouth names, that occur in the
subsequent relation of his travels, may both disfigure and perplex
them, yet they very plainly prove the sincerity and authority of our
author's writings, since taking things as he has stated them, it was
simply impossible that he should have written them any otherwise than
as they stand; for it was his hard lot to travel with the Tartars,
and to pen the history of his travels in a prison, so that their
imperfections ought not to be ascribed to the man, but to his
circumstances.