Book Two, Chapters 16–24

Of the Wild Beasts Sent from Every Quarter to the Great Khan. Chap. XVI.

During these three months in which the Emperor, as I said above, resides in the city of Cambaluc—December, January, and February—all the huntsmen in each of the provinces neighboring and adjoining the kingdom of Cathay do nothing but hunt. All the large game they take, such as deer, bears, roe deer, wild boars, fallow deer, and other wild beasts, they present to their governors and captains. If these men are no more than thirty days’ journey from the Emperor’s court, they send the animals they have taken to him by ship or cart, after first dressing the carcasses. But if the court is more than thirty days’ journey away, they send only the hides, which are suitable for making armor.

How the Great Khan Takes Wild Beasts with Other Wild Beasts That Have Been Tamed. Chap. XVII.

The Great Khan keeps various wild animals at his court. Once they have been tamed and trained, he takes them hunting with him, finding great pleasure and delight in watching a tame beast fight a wild one. Above all he has leopards that he has trained, marvelous hunters that take a great many animals. He also has ounces, no less swift and skillful in the hunt. Likewise he has splendid large lions, certainly larger than those in Babylon. Their coats are streaked with fine bands of different colors—white, black, and red—and these too are trained for hunting. Indeed, they are especially suited and skilled at taking wild boars, bears, deer, roe deer, wild asses, and buffalo. When they go hunting, they customarily carry two lions in a cart, accompanied by a little dog that follows them. Moreover, the Emperor has many trained eagles so fierce and keen in flight that they seize and take hares, roe deer, fallow deer, and foxes. Some are even so bold and daring that they venture to attack the wolf and swoop upon it with such violence, harrying it so relentlessly, that men can take it easily, without great toil or danger.

How the Great Khan Conducts His Hunt. Chap. XVIII.

There are two barons at the Emperor’s court who have charge and oversight of all his hunting. Each has two thousand men under him, who arrange everything necessary for the hunt and keep dogs of every kind, training and preparing them for it. When the Great Khan wishes to enjoy the hunt and put on a remarkable spectacle, these two barons bring their twenty thousand men with a great multitude of dogs, most commonly about five thousand in number. They go with the Emperor into the countryside, to the places where they intend to hunt, and after setting out their ropes they begin in this manner: the Emperor stands with his gentlemen in the middle of the plain, flanked on either side by the two captains of his hunt and their men, some dressed in red and the others in indigo or azure. All are drawn up in a line, one directly beside the next, occupying such a vast extent of country that from one end to the other would be almost a day’s journey. With them are all the dogs mentioned above. Once the men are set in good order, they release the dogs and urge them on to hunt, yet continue advancing in formation across a great sweep of country. Thus they take many wild beasts, for the country holds a great abundance of them, and they cannot readily escape the ropes, nets, and dogs.

Of the Great Khan’s Falconry. Chap. XIX.

When March arrives, the Great Khan leaves the city of Cambaluc for the countryside along the shore of the Ocean Sea. He takes his falconers, sometimes ten thousand in number, with falcons, sparrowhawks, gyrfalcons, and other birds of prey, agile and highly skilled in flight. The falconers spread out across the country, and when they find game they release their birds after it; game abounds there, and the greater part of what is caught is brought to the Emperor. Meanwhile he sits in a wooden pavilion carried by four elephants, covered in lion skins, gilded and richly adorned within. Certain dukes or barons accompany him for company and diversion, together with twelve choice birds of prey, the finest of all. Around the elephants bearing the pavilion in which the Emperor sits ride several gentlemen and knights, who always keep close to him. Whenever they see cranes, pheasants, or other birds flying through the air, they immediately point them out to the falconers beside the Emperor. The falconers in turn alert him and uncover his pavilion, then release their falcons and birds of prey, while the Emperor watches the contest and entertainment from his litter. In addition, another ten thousand men run here and there across the fields during the flight, watching where the falcons and other birds go and ready to help them if need arises. They are called Toscaor in the Tartar language, meaning guards, and know how to recall the birds released after prey by making a particular whistle. The falconer who releases a bird need not follow it: these Toscaors carefully pursue the birds to prevent their being lost or injured, and promptly retrieve them. Those who first encounter a bird in danger are obliged to help it at once. Every bird of prey wears on one foot a little tablet or silver band bearing the arms and insignia of its lord or falconer, so that if it strays, it can be returned to its owner. If the mark and insignia on the band cannot be recognized, the bird is handed to a baron appointed for the purpose, called Bularguci, that is, Keeper of Lost Things. He is charged with keeping all birds of prey brought to him until their masters recognize and claim them. He does the same for horses and other things lost or mislaid during the hunt. If anyone finds something while hunting and, instead of bringing it at once to this keeper, holds on to it for a time, he is judged and punished as a thief. During the hunts, therefore, this provost or commissioner of lost things takes up a fairly elevated position and unfurls his banner. Amid so great a crowd he can thus be recognized, and things found can more easily be brought to him, or reclaimed from him by those who lost them.

Of the Magnificence of the Great Khan’s Tents and Pavilions. Chap. XX.

Hunting in this way and taking pleasure in the flight of the birds, they come to the great plain of Caciamordim. There about ten thousand tents and pavilions are handsomely pitched and prepared for the Great Khan and all the gentlemen of his court, arranged in the following order. The first and most conspicuous is very large and spacious, comfortably accommodating a thousand men, with its entrance facing south. The barons, knights, and gentlemen lodge in it. Close beside it, on the west, stands a pavilion large enough to serve as the Emperor’s audience hall when he wishes to speak with those who have business with him. Next to this stands another tent where the Emperor sleeps and rests. Around these three tents are other adjoining halls and chambers, connected so that one may pass from one to another. The tents reserved for the Emperor himself, together with the great pavilion for his nobles, are built and furnished in this manner. They rise upon three columns made of very fragrant wood, carved all around with various magnificent designs. They are covered with red and black lion skins, for lions of various colors are found in abundance in that country. Tents covered thus cannot be damaged by rain or wind, since the leather of these skins is so strong and tough that it cannot easily be pierced or cut. The inside of the tents is entirely lined with beautiful and costly skins of ermine and sable martens. Even in that country these are much sought after and precious: the fur lining of a robe made of such skins will sometimes cost two thousand florins. The ropes supporting the three tents are of fine silk. Many other pavilions are pitched around these three, housing the Great Khan’s wives, children, and ladies. Then there are other pavilions set apart solely for falcons, sparrowhawks, goshawks, male hawks, gyrfalcons, and other birds of prey. In short, so many tents and pavilions stand there that, seen from afar, they look like a great city planted on the plain. For besides the Emperor’s household servants and retinue, a great number of people with leisure follow the court for the pleasure of the hunt. They pitch their tents and make themselves as comfortable there as if they were inside the city of Cambaluc; there are even many physicians, astrologers, and philosophers. The Emperor spends the whole month of March in this beautiful countryside, and in that time takes countless beasts and birds in the hunt and in flight. No one else is allowed to hunt anywhere in the province during this month, at least within twenty days’ journey all around. Indeed, from the beginning of March until October it is forbidden them even to keep a hunting dog or bird of prey in the house, and they dare not, by any means, take deer, fallow deer, roe deer, hares, or similar game. This is why the country is so abundant in game and the animals so tame that when they encounter men they scarcely deign to flee or turn aside. When the hunt is over, the Emperor returns to his palace, where for three full days he holds open house for everyone, including those he had summoned to accompany him on the hunt. Afterward he gives them leave to return home.

Of the Great Khan’s Money and Great Wealth. Chapitre XXI.

The Great Khan’s money is made of neither gold nor silver nor any other metal. Instead, they take the inner bark of the tree called the mulberry, join it together, then divide and cut it into round pieces of various sizes, some large and some small. Upon these they stamp the characters and arms of the empire. The smallest piece is worth a little tournois; other, slightly larger pieces are worth two Venetian gros, others five, others ten; there are pieces worth one écu, others two, and others five. Thus the Emperor has such a vast quantity of money made of this humble material at his city of Cambaluc that there is enough for his entire empire. No one in any of his kingdoms, countries, lands, or dominions may, on pain of death, make or use any other money, or refuse this money in any way. Even someone arriving from another land or kingdom not subject to the Great Khan would not dare to use any other currency anywhere in the empire. As a result, merchants arriving in Cambaluc from distant countries and foreign regions, though they may possess great quantities of gold, silver, pearls, and other precious stones, are compelled to hand them over and take the money described above in payment. Since they could make no use of it in their own countries, when they wish to return home they must exchange it again or purchase merchandise to take with them. Sometimes, too, the Emperor commands the inhabitants of Cambaluc who possess gold, silver, or precious stones to bring them immediately to his officers, receiving imperial money from them to the full value at which these things are assessed. In this way the citizens and merchants suffer no loss or damage, yet the Emperor draws to himself all the gold and silver of his country, creating a treasure beyond reckoning. With the same money he pays the wages of his officers and the pay of his men-at-arms and soldiers; for everything his court needs he uses this money alone. Since, then, out of almost nothing and a humble material he has such a quantity of currency made, through which he obtains an immensity of gold and silver from his countries, lands, and dominions, while spending nothing else on the provisions of his court, the payment of his officers, or the wages of his troops, it is easy to see that no prince or king in all the world surpasses him in wealth and abundance.

Of the Twelve Governors of the Empire’s Provinces, and Their Charge and Office. Chap. XXII.

The Great Khan has twelve barons at his court who are his lieutenants over thirty-four provinces. Their office is to appoint two governors in each province to arrange and provide all that is necessary for the armies, companies, and garrisons wherever they are stationed. They report their decisions to the Emperor, who by his authority and imperial majesty confirms what they have determined and ordered. These twelve barons can grant many privileges, liberties, and exemptions, so the people show them great honor and reverence and seek their favor and goodwill. They reside in a great palace inside the city of Cambaluc, assigned to their office; there are many halls and chambers in it for them, their retinues, and their servants. They have lieutenants and assessors to advise them, and secretaries to make careful written records of their actions and orders.

Of the Great Khan’s Posting Stations and Couriers, and Their Locations. Chap. XXIII.

Outside the city of Cambaluc many roads lead toward the neighboring provinces. On each of these roads, about eight leagues from the city, stand posting stations, small castles or magnificently built houses where heralds and couriers stop and lodge on their journeys. In their language these are called Janli, meaning the dwelling place of horses, for each station always has three or four hundred horses ready and waiting for the couriers. Another eight leagues farther on is a second station, no different from the first; the others follow at the same intervals to the frontiers and limits of the empire. Thus throughout the empire, along the great public roads, there are about ten thousand posting stations. The number of horses maintained at these stations for the couriers is about two hundred thousand. Even in forests and deserts, where there is no human dwelling or habitation, there are such stations, though ten or twelve leagues apart. The neighboring towns and inhabitants of the districts where the stations stand must supply fodder for the horses and provisions for their keepers. But everything required at stations in forests and deserts is supplied by the Emperor’s officers. By this means, whenever the Emperor wishes to hear news of events in a distant land, he immediately dispatches couriers, who carry out his command with such speed that they travel eighty or a hundred leagues in a day, covering a vast country in very little time. This is how it is done: two couriers are sent out, and they press their horses without stopping until they reach the first station at a gallop. There they leave their tired horses and take two others, fresh and rested, on which they race with the same speed to the next station. So they continue their journeys, going and coming without pause or delay, carrying the Emperor’s packets and commands to the borders of the empire in a few days. In the same way they bring back a reply or other certain news to the Emperor. Between these stations there are also other houses and inns, one or two leagues apart, where messengers on foot stop and lodge. Each wears a belt furnished with bells, and they are always ready to carry any packets or letters from the Emperor, when presented to them, with all possible speed to the first inn. Before they arrive, the sound of their bells can be heard from afar, so the others make ready and await them. As soon as the packet is received, they carry it to the next inn. Thus it passes from hand to hand without delay to its destination. It often happens that in less than three days the Emperor hears news, or receives some freshly harvested fruit, from a place ten long days’ journey from his court. All these couriers and messengers, whether on foot or horseback, are exempt from every tax, levy, and subsidy, and also receive generous wages and salaries from the Emperor’s treasurers.

Of the Emperor’s Provision in Times of Scarcity. Chapitre XXIIII.

Every year the Great Khan customarily sends his couriers into various provinces subject to his empire to inquire whether the grain has been ruined or damaged by locusts or other vermin, or whether pestilence or some other injury of the weather has made the land barren. When he is informed that a city or province is suffering severe shortage or famine, he remits the people’s levies and taxes for that year and sends them a great quantity of grain, both to live on and to sow the land. For in times of fertility and abundant grain the Emperor has great stores laid up, carefully preserved for three or four years in his granaries, so that if scarcity comes to the country he can help it and make good the shortage from these provisions. He then has his grain sold at a low and modest price, so that a muid is sold for one quarter less than it would cost from anyone else. Likewise, if some plague or contagious disease has struck the livestock, he remits the usual tribute for that year and has other livestock sold and delivered to the people. Furthermore, to keep couriers and other travelers through Cathay from straying or losing their way, this wise and prudent Emperor has made this provision: he has planted many trees along the great roads, close together and arranged so that they point, as plainly as a finger, to the true and direct road toward the intended destination. As for the great number of poor people whom he feeds throughout the year, and the alms he regularly gives in bread and grain, it would seem incredible were I to dwell upon it. But I can affirm as a fact that every day of the year he feeds about thirty thousand poor people with bread, and will not allow bread to be denied to anyone at all. For this reason his subjects regard and revere him as a god.

On the wild animals sent to the Great Khan from every direction. Chap. XVI.

During the three months when the emperor stays in the city of Cambaluc, as I said above—December, January, and February—all his hunters in the provinces near Cathay devote themselves to hunting. They bring the large wild animals they catch, such as deer, bears, roe deer, wild boars, fallow deer, and other such animals, to their governors and captains. If these officials are no more than thirty days’ journey from the emperor’s court, they send the animals to him by ship or cart, after first giving the dogs their share of the kill. If the court is more than thirty days away, they send only the skins, which are suitable for making armor.

How the Great Khan catches wild animals with other, tamed wild animals. Chap. XVII.

The Great Khan keeps various wild animals at his court. Once they have been tamed and trained, he takes them hunting. He greatly enjoys watching a tame animal fight a wild one. In particular, he has trained leopards that are remarkably good at hunting and catch many animals. He also has ounces, which are just as quick and skilled at hunting. He has some very fine, large lions too, certainly larger than the lions in Babylon. Their coats have small streaks of different colors—white, black, and red. They too are trained for hunting and are especially good at catching wild boars, bears, deer, roe deer, wild asses, and buffalo. When people take them hunting, they usually carry two lions in a cart, with a small dog following them. The emperor also has many tame eagles. They fly so fiercely and eagerly that they catch hares, roe deer, fallow deer, and foxes. Some are bold and reckless enough to attack a wolf with great force. They harass it so much that people can then catch it easily, without much work or danger.

How the Great Khan organizes a hunt. Chap. XVIII.

Two barons at the emperor’s court are in charge of all his hunting. Each has two thousand men under him. These men arrange everything needed for the hunt, keep dogs of every kind, and train them to hunt. When the Great Khan wants to enjoy a hunt and put on an extraordinary show, the two barons mentioned above bring their twenty thousand men and a great many dogs, usually about five thousand. They go out into the country with the emperor to hunt animals. After setting up their lines, they begin the hunt in this way. The emperor stands with his gentlemen in the middle of a plain. The two hunting captains and their men stand on either side of him. One group wears red clothing, the other dark blue or azure. They all stand side by side in a straight line. In this way they cover such a vast stretch of country that it would take almost a day to travel from one end to the other. They have all the dogs mentioned above with them. Once the men are in position, they release the dogs and urge them to hunt. Yet the men keep moving in formation, covering a great area. They catch many wild animals, for there are so many in the country that the animals cannot easily escape the men’s lines, nets, and dogs.

On the Great Khan’s falconry. Chap. XIX.

When March arrives, the Great Khan leaves Cambaluc and goes to the plains by the Ocean Sea. He takes his falconers with him, sometimes ten thousand of them. They have falcons, sparrowhawks, gyrfalcons, and other birds of prey that are very swift and well trained for hunting with birds. The falconers spread out across the country. When they find game, they release their birds after it. There is plenty of game in the country, and most of what they catch is taken to the emperor. Meanwhile, he sits in a wooden pavilion carried by four elephants. It is covered with lion skins, gilded and richly decorated inside. Several dukes or barons accompany him for company and entertainment, along with twelve specially chosen birds of prey. Around the elephants carrying the pavilion ride many gentlemen and knights on horseback. They stay near the emperor. When they see cranes, pheasants, or other birds flying in the air, they immediately point them out to the falconers near him. The falconers tell the emperor, uncover his pavilion, and release their falcons and other birds of prey. Seated in his litter, the emperor watches the contest for amusement. In addition, another ten thousand men run here and there across the fields during the hunt. They watch where the falcons and other birds fly and help them if necessary. In the Tartar language these men are called Toscaor, meaning guards. By making a particular whistle, they can call back birds that have been released after prey. A falconer does not need to follow the bird he releases. The Toscaors carefully follow it so it will not be lost or injured, and they retrieve it at once. The first men to reach a bird in danger are required to help it promptly. Each bird of prey wears a small silver plate or leg band on one foot, marked with the arms and signs of its lord or falconer. This way, if it gets lost, it can be returned to its owner. If the mark on the band cannot be identified, the bird is handed over to a baron appointed for that purpose. He is called Bularguci, meaning keeper of lost things. He keeps every bird of prey brought to him until its owner recognizes and claims it. He does the same with horses and other things lost during the hunt. Anyone who finds something while hunting but keeps it for a while instead of promptly bringing it to this keeper is treated and punished as a thief. So this official in charge of lost property stands in a fairly high place during the hunts. He displays his banner there so people can recognize him among the great crowd. That makes it easier for people to bring him things they find and for those who have lost things to claim them from him.

On the splendor of the Great Khan’s tents and pavilions. Chap. XX.

As the party hunts and enjoys the birds in flight, it reaches the great plain of Caciamordim. About ten thousand tents and pavilions have been splendidly set up there for the Great Khan and all the gentlemen of his court. The pavilions are arranged as follows. The first and most conspicuous is very large and spacious. It can comfortably hold a thousand men, and its entrance faces south. The barons, knights, and gentlemen stay in it. Near it on the west side is a fairly large pavilion that serves as a hall for the emperor when he wants to speak with people who have business with him. Beside this stands another tent where the emperor sleeps and rests. Around these three tents are other small halls and adjoining rooms, with passages from one to another. The tents reserved for the emperor and the large pavilion for his nobles are made in this way. They are raised on three pillars of very fragrant wood, carved all around with various magnificent designs. They are also covered with red and black lion skins, for the country has many lions of different colors. Tents covered this way cannot be damaged by rain or wind: the leather is so strong and tough that it cannot easily be pierced or cut. Inside, the tents are fully lined with fine, costly ermine and sable skins. Sables are expensive in Tartary, where they too are much sought after and prized. The fur lining of a robe made from such skins can sometimes cost two thousand florins. The ropes holding up these three tents are of fine silk. Many other pavilions stand around them, housing the Great Khan’s wives, children, and ladies. Still other pavilions are set aside solely for falcons, sparrowhawks, goshawks, tiercels, gyrfalcons, and other birds of prey. In short, there are so many tents and pavilions that, from a distance, the plain looks like the site of a large city. Apart from the emperor’s household servants and attendants, many people with nothing to do follow the court for the pleasure of watching the hunt. They have their own tents set up and make themselves as comfortable in them as if they were in Cambaluc. There are also many doctors, astrologers, and philosophers. The emperor stays in this fine plain throughout March, catching countless animals and birds by hunting and falconry. During that month no one else is allowed to hunt anywhere in the province, at least within twenty days’ journey of the camp. In particular, from the beginning of March until October, people are forbidden to keep a hunting dog or bird of prey in their homes. Nor do they dare catch deer, fallow deer, roe deer, hares, or similar game animals in any way. As a result, the country is so full of large wild animals, and they have become so tame, that when people come across them they do not even bother to run or turn away. After finishing this hunt, the emperor returns to his palace. For three whole days he keeps open house for everyone, including those he called to accompany him on the hunt. Then he gives them permission to go home.

On the Great Khan’s money and great wealth. Chapitre XXI.

The Great Khan’s money is not made of gold, silver, or any other metal. Instead, they take the middle layer of bark from the tree called the mulberry, join it together, and cut it into round pieces of different sizes. They then stamp the characters and arms of the empire on them. The smallest piece is worth one petit tournois. Slightly larger ones are worth two Venetian gros, and others five or ten. Some are worth one écu, others two or five. The emperor has so much money made from this cheap material in Cambaluc that there is enough for his entire empire. No one in any of his kingdoms, lands, or dominions is allowed, on pain of death, to make or use any other money, or to refuse this money. A person arriving from another country or kingdom not subject to the Great Khan does not dare use any other money anywhere in the empire. So merchants often arrive in Cambaluc from distant countries and foreign regions with much gold, silver, pearls, and other precious stones. Yet they have to hand them over and accept the money described above in payment. Since they cannot make use of that money in their own countries, when they want to return they must exchange it again or buy goods to take home. Sometimes the emperor orders the inhabitants of Cambaluc who have gold, silver, or precious stones to take them immediately to his officials. In return they receive imperial money equal to the assessed value. In these ways the townspeople and merchants suffer no loss, while the emperor draws all the gold and silver of his country to himself, building up a treasure beyond reckoning. He pays his officials’ wages and his soldiers’ pay in this same money. He uses no other money to buy anything he needs for his court. Thus he makes an enormous amount of money from worthless material. With it he takes in vast quantities of gold and silver from his lands and dominions, while paying for his court’s supplies, his officials, and his soldiers with nothing else. It is easy to see that no prince or king in the world surpasses him in wealth and riches.

On the twelve governors of the empire’s provinces and their duties. Chap. XXII.

The Great Khan has twelve barons at his court who serve as his deputies over thirty-four provinces. Their duty is to appoint two governors in each province to arrange and provide everything needed for the armies, companies, and garrisons wherever they are stationed. They inform the emperor of their decisions, and he confirms what they have ordered with his imperial authority. These twelve barons can grant many privileges, liberties, and exemptions. As a result, the people greatly honor and respect them and seek their favor. They live in a large palace in Cambaluc assigned to them for their office. It has many halls and rooms for them, their households, and their servants. They have deputies and advisers to counsel them, as well as secretaries to keep careful written records of everything they do and order.

On the Great Khan’s relay posts and couriers, and where they are located. Chap. XXIII.

Several roads lead out of Cambaluc toward the surrounding provinces. On each road, about eight leagues from the city, stands a relay post: a small castle or splendidly built house where heralds and couriers stay as they pass through. In their language these places are called Janli, meaning the dwelling of horses. Each has three or four hundred horses always ready and waiting for couriers. Another eight leagues farther on is a post just like the first. More posts follow at the same intervals all the way to the borders of the empire. Thus there are about ten thousand posts along the empire’s main public roads. About two hundred thousand horses are kept at these posts for the couriers. Similar posts can be found even in forests and deserted places without any human settlement, though there they are ten or twelve leagues apart. Nearby towns and inhabitants of the district containing each post must supply fodder for its horses and food for their keepers. But the emperor’s officials supply everything needed by the posts in woods and deserts. Through this system, whenever the emperor wants news of events in a distant country, he immediately sends couriers out. They carry out his orders so quickly that they travel eighty or a hundred leagues in a day and cover a vast country in very little time. Here is how they do it. Two couriers are sent. They spur their horses without stopping until they have galloped to the first post. There they leave their tired horses and take two fresh, rested ones. They gallop just as quickly to the next post. Without a break or a stay, they continue riding back and forth in this way, carrying the emperor’s packets and orders to the limits of the empire in only a few days. In the same way they bring replies or other reliable news back to the emperor. Between those posts there are also other houses and inns one or two leagues apart. Foot messengers stay there. Each wears a belt fitted with bells, and they are always ready to carry any of the emperor’s packets or letters to the next inn as quickly as they can. Before a messenger arrives, the people at the inn hear his bells from far away and get ready to receive him. Once the packet arrives, they immediately carry it on to the next inn. In this way it passes from hand to hand without any delay until it reaches its destination. Often, in less than three days, the emperor learns news or receives some newly available fruit from a place ten long days’ journey from his court. All these couriers and messengers, on foot or on horseback, are exempt from all taxes, levies, and subsidies. They also receive substantial wages and salaries from the emperor’s treasury officials.

On the emperor’s preparations for times of scarcity. Chapitre XXIIII.

Every year the Great Khan sends couriers into various provinces under his rule. They find out whether locusts or other pests have spoiled or damaged the grain, or whether an epidemic or bad weather has made the land unproductive. When he learns that a city or province is suffering severe shortages or famine, he cancels its people’s taxes and levies for that year. He sends them plenty of grain both to eat and to sow in the fields. In years when the grain harvest is plentiful, the emperor gathers a large reserve and has it carefully kept in his granaries for three or four years. That way, if the country faces a shortage, he can make up the shortfall from these stores. He then has his grain sold very cheaply: a muid sells for four times less than it would cost from anyone else. Likewise, if an epidemic or contagious disease strikes the livestock, he cancels his usual tax for the year and has other livestock sold and delivered to the people. This wise and prudent emperor has also taken steps to stop couriers and other travelers from losing their way in Cathay. He has had many trees planted close together along the main roads. They are lined up so that they clearly point out the right road to the intended destination. As for the many poor people he feeds all year and the alms he regularly gives in bread, grain, and wheat, you would think it unbelievable if I described it all. But I can say truthfully that he feeds about thirty thousand poor people bread every day of the year. He will not allow bread to be denied to anyone. Because of this, his subjects regard him as a god.