_Bhikshu_], of whom I have spoken as skilled in so many enchantments.
For when the Great Khan is at his capital and in his great palace, seated
at his table, which stands on a platform some eight cubits above the
ground, his cups are set before him on a great buffet in the middle of
the hall pavement, at a distance of some ten paces from his table, and
filled with wine, or other good spiced liquor such as they use. Now,
when the lord desires to drink, these necromancers, by the power of their
enchantments, cause the cups to move from their place without being
touched by anybody, and to present themselves to the Emperor! This every
one present may witness, and ofttimes there are more than two thousand
persons present. ’Tis a truth, and no lie; and so will the sages of your
own country who understand necromancy, tell you, for they also can
perform this marvel.
“And when the idol festivals come round, these Bacsi go to the prince and
say, ‘Sire, the feast of such a god is come’ (naming him). ‘My lord, you
know,’ the enchanter will say, ‘that this god, when he gets no offerings,
always sends bad weather and spoils our seasons. So we pray you to give
us such and such a number of black-faced sheep’ (naming whatever number
they please). ‘And we also beg, good my lord, that we may have such a
quantity of incense, and such a quantity of lign-aloes, and’—so much of
this, so much of that, and so much of t’other, according to their
fancy—‘that we may perform a solemn service and a great sacrifice to our
idols, and that so they may be induced to protect us and all that is
ours.’
“The Bacsi say these things to the nobles entrusted with the stewardship,
who stand round the Great Khan, and then repeat them to the Khan, and he
then orders the nobles to give to the Bacsi anything they have demanded.
And when they have received the articles, they go and make a great feast
in honour of their god, and hold grand ceremonies of worship, with grand
illuminations and quantities of incense of a variety of odours, which
they make up from different aromatic spices. And then they cook the
meat, and set it before the idols, and sprinkle their broth hither and
thither, saying that in this way the idols obtain their bellyful. In
this way it is that they keep their festivals. You must know that each
idol has a name of his own, and a feast-day, just as our saints have
their anniversaries.
“They have also immense minsters and monasteries, some as big as a small
town, with upwards of two thousand monks, so to speak, in a single
monastery. These monks dress more decently than the rest of the people,
and shave the head and beard. Some among these Bacsi are allowed by
their rule to take wives, and they have plenty of children.
“Another kind of devotees is the Sunni, who are more remarkable for their
abstemiousness, and lead a life of such austerity as I will describe.
All their life long they eat only bran, which they take mixed with hot
water. That is their food; bran, and nothing but bran; with water for
their drink. Their life is one long fast; so I may well speak of its
asceticism as extraordinary. They have great idols, and very many; but
they sometimes also worship fire. The other idolaters who are not also
of this sect call these people heretics—_Palamis_, as we should
say—because they do not worship the idols after their fashion. Those of
whom I am now speaking would not take a wife on any consideration. They
wear dresses of hempen stuff, black and blue, and sleep upon mats; in
fact, their asceticism is something astonishing. Their idols are all
feminine; that is, they bear women’s names.”
* * * * *
[It was after reading Marco Polo’s account of the Great Khan’s palace, as
it is given in Purchas’s “Pilgrims,” that the poet Coleridge, falling
asleep, dreamed his melodious dream of Kublai’s Paradise. When he awoke
he was able to recall a portion of it, beginning thus:—
“In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran,
By caverns measureless to man,
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five inches of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round;
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests, ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.”]
* * * * *
The principal palace of the Great Khan was situated, however, at Cambaluc
(the modern Peking), and is thus described by our Venetian:—
“It is enclosed all round by a great wall, forming a square, each side of
which is a mile in length; that is to say, the whole compass thereof is
four miles. This you may depend on; it is also very thick, and a good
ten paces in height, whitewashed and loop-holed all round. At each angle
of the wall is situated a very fine and rich palace, in which the war
harness of the Emperor is kept, such as bows and quivers, saddles and
bridles, and bowstrings, and everything needful for an army. Also,
midway between every two of these corner palaces is another of the like;
so that, taking the whole circuit of the enclosed, you will find eight
vast palaces stored with the great lord’s harness of war. And you must
understand that each palace is reserved for only one kind of article; one
being stored with bows, a second with saddles, a third with bridles, and
so on, in succession, right round.
“The great wall has five gates on its southern face, the central being
the great gate, which is opened only for the egress or admission of the
Great Khan himself. Close on either side is a smaller one, through which
all other people pass; and then, towards each angle, is another great
gate, also open to people in general; so that on that side are five gates
in all.
“Inside of this wall is a second, enclosing a space that is somewhat
longer than it is broad. This enclosure has its eight palaces also,
corresponding to those of the outer wall, and stored like them with the
Emperor’s harness of war. There are likewise five gates on the southern
face, answering to those in the outer wall; and one gate on each of the
other faces. In the centre of the second enclosure stands the Emperor’s
Great Palace, and I will tell you what it is like.
“You must know that it is the greatest palace ever erected. Towards the
north it is in contact with the outer wall, while towards the south lies
a vacant space which the nobles and the soldiers are constantly
traversing. The palace itself hath no upper story, but is all on the
ground floor; only the basement is raised some ten palms above the
surrounding soil. And this elevation is retained by a wall of marble
raised to the level of the pavement, two paces in width, and projecting
beyond the base of the palace so as to form a kind of terrace-walk, by
which people can pass round the building, and this is exposed to view;
while along the outer edge of the wall runs a very fine pillared
balustrade, up to which the people are allowed to come. The roof is very
lofty, and the walls are covered with gold and silver. They are also
adorned with representations of dragons, sculptured and gilt, beasts and
birds, knights and idols, and divers other subjects. And on the ceiling,
too, can nothing be seen but gold and silver and painting. On each of
the four sides is a great marble staircase, leading to the top of the
marble wall, and forming the approach to the palace.
“The hall of the palace is so large that it could easily dine six
thousand people; and it is quite a marvel to see how many rooms there are
besides. The building is altogether so vast, so rich, and so beautiful,
that no man on earth could design anything superior to it. The outside
of the roof also is all coloured with vermilion and yellow and green and
blue and other hues, which are fixed with a varnish so fine and
exquisite, that they shine like crystal, and lend a resplendent lustre to
the palace, visible far around. This roof is so solidly and strongly
constructed that it is fit to last for ever.
“On the inner side of the palace are large buildings with halls and
chambers, where the Emperor’s private property is placed, such as his
treasures of gold, silver, gems, pearls, and gold plate, and in which the
ladies and concubines reside. He occupies himself there at his own
convenience, and no one else has access to it.
“Between the two walls of the enclosure which I have described are two
fine parks, and beautiful trees bearing a variety of fruits. There are
beasts also of sundry kinds, such as white stags and fallow deer,
gazelles and roebucks, and fine squirrels of various kinds, with numbers
also of the animal that gives the musk, and all manner of other beautiful
creatures, insomuch that the whole place is full of them, and no spot
remains void except where there is traffic of people going to and fro.
The parks are covered with abundant grass; and the roads through them
being all paved and raised two cubits above the surface, they never
become muddy, nor does the rain lodge on them, but flows off into the
meadows, quickening the soil and producing that fertility of herbage.
“From the north-western corner of the enclosure extends a fine lake,
containing abundance of fish of different kinds, which the Emperor hath
caused to be put in there, so that, whenever he desires any, he can have
them at his pleasure. A river enters this lake and issues from it; but a
grating of iron or brass is put up to prevent the escape of the fish.
“Moreover, about a bowshot from the north side of the palace is an
artificial hill, made with the earth out of the lake; it is a good
hundred paces in height, and a mile in compass, and is entirely covered
with evergreen trees which never lose their leaves. And I assure you
that wherever a beautiful tree exists, and the Emperor hears of it, he
sends for it and has it transported bodily, with all its roots and the
earth attached to them, and planted upon his hill. No matter how huge
the tree may be, he has it carried by his elephants, and in this way he
has formed the finest collection of trees in all the world. And he has
also caused the whole hill to be covered with ore of azure, {35} which is
very green. And thus not only are the trees all green, but the hill
itself is all green likewise; and there is nothing to be seen on it that
is not green; and hence it is called the Green Mount; and, in good sooth,
it is well named.
“On the top of the hill, too, stands a fair large palace, which is all
green outside and in, so that the hill, and the trees, and the palace
form together a charming spectacle; and it is wonderful to see their
uniformity of colour. Everybody who sees it is delighted. And the Great
Khan has ordered this beautiful prospect for the comfort, solace, and
delectation of his heart.
“You must know that besides the palace I have been describing, _i.e._ the
Great Palace, the Emperor has caused another to be built, resembling his
own in every respect; and this he has done for his son, when he shall
reign and be Emperor after him. Hence it is made just in the same
fashion, and of the same size, so that everything can be carried on in
the same manner after his death. It stands on the other side of the lake
from the Great Khan’s palace, and a bridge is thrown across from one to
the other. The prince I speak of holds now a seal of empire, but not
with such complete authority as the Great Khan, who remains supreme as
long as he lives.”
* * * * *
Let us now accompany the Emperor on a hunting expedition:—
“After he has sojourned in his capital city for three months, December,
January, and February, the Great Khan starts on the first day of March,
and travels southward towards the Ocean Sea, a two days’ journey. He
takes with him fully ten thousand falconers and some five hundred
falcons, besides peregrines, sakers, and other hawks in great number; and
goshawks also, for flying at the water-fowl. But do not suppose that he
keeps all these together by him; they are distributed hither and thither,
one hundred together, or two hundred at the utmost, as he thinks proper.
But they are always fowling as they advance, and the greater part of the
quarry taken is carried to the Emperor. And let me tell you, when he
goes thus a-fowling with his gerfalcons and other hawks, he is attended
by fully ten thousand men, who are placed in couples; and these are
called _Toscach_, which is as much as to say, ‘Watchers.’ The name
describes their business. They are posted from spot to spot, always in
couples, so that they cover a good deal of ground. Each of them is
provided with whistle and hood, so as to be able to call in a hawk, and
hold it in hand. And when the Emperor makes a cast, there in no need
that he should follow it up, for the men I speak of keep so close a watch
that they never lose sight of the birds, if the hawks require help, they
are ready to render it.
“The Emperor’s hawks, as well as those of the nobles, have a little label
attached to the leg to mark them, whereon are written the names of the
owner and the keeper of the bird. So that the hawk, when caught, is at
once identified, and handed over to its owner. But if not, the bird is
carried to a certain noble, styled the _Bulargachi_, that is, ‘the Keeper
of Lost Property.’ And I tell you that anything found without a proper
owner, whether horse, sword, or hawk, or what not, is taken immediately
to that official, and he holds it in charge. Should the finder neglect
to carry his trover to the Bulargachi, the latter punishes him.
Likewise, the loser of any article goes to him, and should it be in his
hands, he immediately gives it up to its owner. Moreover, the said noble
always pitches on the highest point of the camp, with his banner
displayed, in order that those who have lost or found should have no
difficulty in making their way to him. Thus, nothing can be lost without
being quickly found and restored. . . .
“The Emperor, on his journey, is borne upon four elephants in a fine
pavilion made of timber, lined inside with plates of beaten gold, and
outside with lion’s skins. He always travels in this fashion on his
hunting expeditions, because he is troubled with gout. He invariably
keeps beside him a dozen of his choicest gerfalcons, and is attended by
several of his nobles, who ride on horseback by his side. And sometimes,
as they go along, and the Emperor from his chamber is discoursing with
his nobles, one of the latter will exclaim, ‘Sire, look out for cranes!’
Then the Emperor has the top of his chamber instantly thrown open, and,
having marked the cranes, he casts one of his gerfalcons, whichever he
pleases; and often the quarry is struck in his sight, so that he has the
most exquisite sport and diversion, as he sits in his chamber or lies on
his bed; and all the nobles in attendance share the enjoyment with him!
So it is not without reason I tell you that I do not believe there ever
existed in the world, or will exist, a man with such sport and enjoyment
as he has, or with such rare opportunities.
“And when he has travelled until he reaches a place called Cachar Modem,
there he finds his tents pitched, with the tents of his sons, and his
nobles, and those of his ladies, and their attendants, so that there
shall be fully ten thousand in all, and all costly and handsome. And I
will tell you how his own quarters are disposed. The tent in which he
held his courts is large enough to accommodate a thousand persons. It is
pitched with its door to the south, and the nobles and knights remain in
attendance in it, while the Emperor abides in another close to it on the
west side. When he wishes to speak with any person, he causes him to be
summoned to the great tent. Immediately behind the latter is a spacious
chamber, where he sleeps. . . . The two audience-tents and the
sleeping-chamber are thus constructed:—Each of the audience-tents has
three poles, which are of spice-wood, and most artfully covered with
lion’s skins, striped with black and white and red, so that they do not
suffer from any weather. All three apartments are also covered outside
with similar skins of striped lions, a substance that lasts for ever.
Inside they are lined with sable and ermine, which are the finest and
costliest furs in existence. . . . All the tent-ropes are of silk. In
short, I may say that these tents, namely, the two halls of audience and
the sleeping-chamber, are so costly, that it is not every king could
afford to pay for them.
“Round about these tents are others, also fine ones and beautifully
pitched, in which abide the imperial ladies, and the ladies of the
different princes and officers. Tents are there also for the hawks and
their keepers, so that altogether the number of tents on the plain is
something wonderful. To see the many people who are thronging to and fro
on every side and every day there, you would take the camp for a good
large city. For you must include the physicians and astrologers and
falconers, and all the other attendants on so numerous a company; and add
that everybody has his own household with him, for such is their custom.
“There until the spring the Emperor remains encamped, and all that time
he does nothing but go hawking among the cane brakes that fringe the
abundant lakes and rivers in that region, and across broad plains
plentifully frequented by cranes and swans, and all other kinds of fowl.
Nor are the rest of the nobles of the camp ever weary of hunting and
hawking, and daily they bring home great store of venison and feathered
game of every kind. Indeed, unless you witnessed it, you would never
believe what quantities of game are taken, and what marvellous sport and
diversion they have while residing there in camp.
“Another thing I must mention, namely, that for twenty days’ journey
round the spot nobody is allowed, whoever he may be, to keep hawks or
hounds, though anywhere else whoever chooses may keep them. And
furthermore, throughout all the Emperor’s territories, nobody, however
audacious, dares to hunt any of these four animals, namely, hare, stag,
buck, and roe, from the month of March to the month of October. Whoever
should do so would rue it bitterly. But these people are so obedient to
their Emperor’s commands, that even if a man were to find one of those
animals asleep by the roadside, he would not touch it for the world. And
thus the game multiplies at such a rate, that the whole country swarms
with it, and obtains as much as he could desire. Beyond the time I have
mentioned, however, to wit, that from March to October, everybody may
take these animals as he chooses.
“After the Emperor has tarried there, enjoying his sport, as I have
related, from March to the middle of May, he moves with all his people,
and returns straight to his capital city of Cambaluc (which is also the
capital city of Cathay, as you have been told), but all the while
continuing to take his diversion in hunting and hawking as he travels.”
* * * * *
We pass on to Marco Polo’s description of Tibet, which at one time was
considered a part of the empire of the Mongol Khans. Its civil
administration is ascribed to Kublai Khan:—
“In this region you find quantities of bamboos, full three palms in
girth, and fifteen paces in length, with an interval of about three palms
between the joints. And let me tell you that merchants and other
travellers through that country are wont at nightfall to gather these
canes and make fires of them; for as they burn they make such loud
reports, that the lions and bears and other wild beasts are greatly
frightened, and make off as fast as possible; in fact, nothing will
induce them to come near a fire of that kind. {41} So, you see, the
travellers make these fires to protect themselves and their cattle from
the wild beasts, which have so greatly multiplied since the devastation
of the country. And it is this multiplication of the wild beasts that
prevents the country from being reoccupied. In fact, but for the help of
these bamboos, which make such a noise in burning that the beasts are
terrified and kept at a distance, no one would be able even to travel
through the land.
“I will tell you how it is that the canes make such a noise. The people
cut the green canes, of which there are vast numbers, and set fire to a
heap of them at once. After they have been burning awhile they burst
asunder, and this makes such a loud report, that you might hear it ten
miles off. In fact, a person unused to this noise, hearing it
unexpectedly, might easily go into a swoon or die of fright. But those
accustomed to it care nothing about it. Hence those who are not used
stuff their ears well with cotton, and wrap up their heads and faces with
all the clothes they can muster; and so they get along until they have
become used to the sound. It is just the same with horses. Those unused
to these noises are so terrified that they break away from their halters
and heel-ropes, and many a man has lost his beasts in this way. So all
who do not wish to lose their horses are careful to tie all four legs,
and peg the ropes down strongly, and wrap the heads and eyes and ears of
the animals closely, and so they save them. But horses also, when they
have heard the noise several times, cease to mind it. I tell you the
truth, however, when I say that the first time you hear it nothing can be
more alarming. And yet, in spite of all, the lions, bears, and other
wild beasts will sometimes come and do great mischief; for in those parts
they are very numerous.
“You ride for twenty days without finding any inhabited spot, so that
travellers are obliged to carry all their provisions with them, and are
constantly falling in with those wild beasts which are so numerous and so
dangerous. After that you come at length to a tract where there are very
many towns and villages. . . .
“The people are idolaters and an evil generation, holding it no sin to
rob and maltreat; in fact, they are the greatest brigands on earth. They
live by the chase, as well as on their cattle and the fruits of the
earth.
“I should tell you also that in this country are many of the animals that
produce musk, which are called in the Tartar language _Gudderi_. These
robbers have great numbers of large and fierce dogs, which are of much
service in catching the musk-beasts, and so they procure an abundance of
musk. They have none of the Great Khan’s paper money, but use salt
instead of money. They are very poorly clad, for their clothes are only
of the skins of beasts, and canvas, and buckram. They have a language of
their own, and are called _Tebit_.”
* * * * *
Speaking of the people who dwell in the provinces to the north-west of
China, Marco Polo relates the following curious custom:—
“When any one is ill, they send for the devil-conjurors, who are the
keepers of their idols. When these are come, the sick man tells what
ails him, and then the conjurors incontinently begin playing on their
instruments, and singing, and dancing; and the conjurors dance to such a
pitch, that at last one of them will fall to the ground lifeless, like a
dead man. And then the devil entereth into his body. And when his
comrades see him in this plight, they begin to put questions to him about
the sick man’s ailment. And he will reply, ‘Such or such a spirit hath
been meddling with the man, for that he hath angered it and done it some
despite.’ Then they say, ‘We pray thee to pardon him, and to take of his
blood or of his goods what thou wilt in consideration of thus restoring
him to health.’ And when they have so prayed, the malignant spirit that
is in the body of the prostrate man will, perhaps, answer, ‘The sick man
hath also done great despite unto such another spirit, and that one is so
ill-disposed that it will not pardon him on any account.’ This, at
least, is the answer they get if the patient be like to die. But if he
is to get better, the answer will be that they are to bring two sheep, or
maybe three; and to brew ten or twelve jars of drink, very costly and
abundantly spiced. Moreover, it will be announced that the sheep must be
all black-faced, or of some other particular colour, as it may happen;
and then all these things are to be offered in sacrifice to such and such
a spirit whose name is given. And they are to bring so many conjurors,
and so many ladies, and the business is to be done with a great singing
of lauds, and with many lights and store of good perfumes. That is the
sort of answer they get if the patient is to get well. And then the
kinsfolk of the sick man go and procure all that has been commanded, and
do as has been bidden, and the conjuror springs to his feet again.