A COPIOUS ACCOUNT OF THE COUNTRIES BETWEEN THE PLACE OF HIS RESIDENCE
AND THE COUNTRY OF THIBET.
The miles off Cambalu is a certain great river named Pulisangan,
emptying itself into the ocean, by which many ships with much
merchandise ascend; and in that place there is a very fair bridge,
all of serpentine stone, curiously wrought, containing three hundred
paces in length, and eight in breadth, so broad that ten men may ride
abreast; on each side it is secured with a wall of marble, and
pillars set in a row, and in the height of this ascent is a great and
high pillar, at the feet whereof is a great lion, and on the top
another, and so quite through the bridge: one pace and a half
distance are pillars with lions on the tops, and a fair wall with
wrought marble work betwixt, to keep men from falling. Having passed
over the river and bridge, and proceeding thirty miles westward (in
which palaces are continually seen, with vineyards and fertile
fields), you come to the city Gouza, both fair and great, having many
monasteries of idols. Cloths of gold and silk are made there, and
the purest and finest cambrics or lawns; and many common inns for
strangers or travellers are found in that city. The citizens are
artificers and merchants. A mile without this city the way parteth,
one leading west, the other south-east; that to the west leadeth
through the province of Cathay, but the other, towards the country of
Mangi, from the city of Gouza to the kingdom of Tainfu.
You ride ten days through Cathay, always finding many fair cities,
well furnished with vineyards and tilled fields, from whence wine is
carried to Cathay, where there is none; there are many mulberry-trees
for silkworms, the people civil, and cities very numerous and
populous. Tainfu is the name of the kingdom, and of the chief city,
which is great and fair, hath much trade, with store of ammunition,
fit for the Khan's armies. The wine about this city serveth the
whole province. Seven days further westward is a pleasant country
beautified with many castles and cities, in which also there is great
trade in different merchandise carried on. After which you come to a
city very great, named Pianfu, in which there is vast abundance of
silk and much trade. Westward from Pianfu stands a very pleasant
castle, named Thaigin, anciently built by a king called Dor; in it is
a spacious palace, wherein is a fine hall, in which are painted all
the famous kings which have reigned there, and it is a fair
spectacle. Of this king Dor, they say he was potent, and was
attended only by young damsels, of which he had many in his court.
These also, when he had a mind to take his pleasure, carried him in a
small light chariot through the castle, which was so fortified by art
and nature, that the governor thereof feared none, no, not Umcan his
lord, against whom he rebelled.
But seven men, professing fidelity and service to Dor, took him at a
disadvantage in hunting, and brought him prisoner to Presbyter John,
or Umcan, who put him on vile cloths, and appointed him to keep his
cattle, and set over him a strong guard, till years were ended: after
which he commanded him to be brought before him, and being dressed in
princely apparel, he giving him his pardon, after a sharp admonition,
sent him well attended to the re-possession of his kingdom. About
twenty miles beyond the castle Thaigin is the river Caramaran, which,
by reason of the exceeding breadth and depth thereof, hath no bridge
over it in all the space from thence till it floweth to the ocean.
On the shore thereof are many cities and castles built, wherein great
trade is carried on. This country abounds with ginger, silk, and
fowl, especially pheasants, so that three of them are bought for a
Venetian groat. There grow reeds in vast plenty, so thick that some
are a foot, and others afoot and a half in compass, which are applied
to many uses. Passing this river, after two days' journey, is the
famous city called Carianfu, where many cloths of gold and silk are
made. Here grow ginger, galingale spike, and many spices. The
people are idolaters. Proceeding seven days' journey westward, many
cities and towns, lovely fields and gardens, are found, and
everywhere mulberries for silkworms. As for the people, they are
mostly idolaters; but there are also Christians, Turks, Nestorians,
and some Saracens. There is a vast abundance here of wild beasts and
fowl. If you proceed seven days' journey farther, you shall come to
a certain great city named Quensanfu, which is the chief city of the
kingdom, in which have reigned many famous kings; and at this day the
son of the Great Khan, called Mangalu, hath the command thereof.
That country yields great plenty of silk, cloth of gold, and all
other things necessary for furnishing an army, and for preservation
of man's life. The inhabitants worship idols, and there are some
Christians, Turks, and Saracens. Five miles without this city
standeth the palace of Mangalu, seated in a plain, where are many
springs, rivulets, and places of game. There is a high wall
encompassing a park of five miles, where are all sorts of wild beasts
and fowls. In the midst is an excellent palace, having many halls
and chambers, great and fair, all painted with gold and azure, and
numberless statues adorning it. The king, with his courtiers,
delights himself in hunting the wild beasts, and taking of fowl, and
following his father's examples in justice and equity, is much
beloved of his people.
Proceeding three days' journey westward from the said palace, through
a very beautiful plain, where many cities and castles are, which
abound with silk merchandise and manufactures, you come to a country
where in the mountains and valleys are frequent habitations, and many
villages of the province of Chunchian. The inhabitants as to
religion are idolaters; and as to employment, husbandmen. Also in
that country they hunt lions, bears, stags, roebucks, deer, and
wolves. The plain is two days' journey over, and the country is
about twenty days' journey westward, well inhabited. being finely
diversified into mountains, valleys, and woods. After these twenty
days towards the west, there lies a province called Achbaluch Mangi,
that is, the white city, on the borders of Mangi, which is well
peopled. This province, for two days' journey, hath a plain, in
which are an infinite number of villages: beyond these lie mountains,
valleys, and wood, all well inhabited. It hath plenty of wild
beasts, and of those creatures that yield musk. In this province
ginger grows in great plenty, as also corn and rice.
After twenty days' journey through those hills is a plain, and a
province in the confines of Mangi, named Sindinfu. The chief city
hath the same name, and is very great, and exceeding rich, being
twenty miles in circuit. It hath had many rich and mighty kings; but
an old king dying, left three sons successors in the kingdom, who
divided the city into three parts, compassing every part with their
proper walls; all which, notwithstanding, were contained within the
former wall; but the Great Khan subjected nevertheless that city and
kingdom. Through this city run many rivers, and many places round
about, some half a mile over, some two hundred paces, very deep; on
them are many bridges of stone, very fair, eight paces broad, set on
both sides with marble pillars, which bear up a timber frame that
covers the bridge, each bridge having streets and shops thereupon.
When the rivers have passed through the city they become one great
river, called Quian, which runs one hundred days' journey hence to
the ocean. Near these rivers are many cities and castles, and on
them innumerable ships for merchandise. Proceeding four days'
journey farther, through a very fine plain, many cities, castles, and
villages are found, in which five lawns extend in beautiful order.
There are also many wild beasts there. Beyond the plain, which we
have now mentioned, is the wide province of Thibet, which the Great
Khan vanquished and wasted; for in it lie many cities destroyed and
castles overthrown, by the space of twenty days' journey; and because
it is become a wilderness, wanting inhabitants, wild beasts and lions
are increased excessively, and it is requisite therefore that
travellers carry victuals with them. Very large cane grows in this
country, ten paces in length, and three palms in thickness, and as
much from knot to knot. When travellers therefore will rest at night
secure from beasts, they take great bundles of the greener reeds, and
putting fire under, kindle them, which makes such a crackling, and so
great a noise, that it may be heard two miles off; which terrible
sound the wild beasts hearing, flee away; but it has sometimes
happened that horses and other beasts, which merchants use for their
journey, hearing this noise and cracking, have grown also much
afraid, and betaking themselves to flight have escaped from their
masters; and therefore wiser travellers binding their feet together
detain them in their proper places.