Marco Polo · Complete work
Book Two, Chapters 42–50
Book Two, Chapters 42–50 of 8. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
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De la bataille qui fut entre les Tartares, & le Roy de Mien. Chap. XLII.
En l’an de nostre salut mil deux cens quatrevingtz & deux, s’esmeut grande fuerre pour le royaume de Caraiam, duquel avons cy dessus parlé, & le royaume de Botiam: qui fut cause que le grand Cham envoya un des princes de sa court nommé Nescordim avec douze mil chevaulx pour secourir & defendre la province de Caraiam de toutes molestations & entreprinses. Or ce Nescordim estoit homme prudent & hardy, ayant en sa compaignie de braves & vaillans hommes, & bien experimentez aux armes. De la venue duquel les Roys de Mien & Bangala advertiz furent grandement effroyez, estimans qu’il fust venu pour les assaillir, & conquester leurs royaumes: au moyen dequoy pour luy resister feirent amas de gens, & assemblerent leurs forces jusques au nombre de soixante mil hommes, tant de pied que de cheval, & oultre deux mil elephans portans chasteaux, en chacun desquelz estoient douze, ou quinze, ou seize hommes en armes bien equippez. Le Roy Mien ayant dressé ceste armée la feit marcher vers la cité de Vociam, pres de laquelle s’estoient campez les Tartares, & desja par trois jours entiers y avoient sejourné en la campaigne. De telle entreprinse Nescordim adverty, & que si grosse armée marchoit contre luy, fut aucunement estonné, combien qu’il dissimulast sa peur & craincte le plus qu’il pouvoit: & toutesfois se consjoit & asseuroit grandement, en ce qu’il avoit en sa compaignie de braves hommes, vaillans & adextres aux armes, encores qu’ilz fussent beaucoup moindres en nombre. A ceste cause se deliberant recevoir virillement son ennemy, si l’occasion s’y presentoit d’un grand & hardy courage les meist aux champs, & s’en vint camper pres d’un boys fort espes de grandz arbres & buissons: s’asseurant que les elephans avec leurs tours & bhasteaux n’eussent peu y entrer, ne les endommager. Incontinent que le Roy Mien sentit approcher les Tartares, se delibera les devancer & premier les assaillir: mais les chevaulx des Tartares ayans apperceu les elephans (qui estoient ordonnez & constituez en l’avantgarde) furent tellement espouventez, qu’ilz commencerent a reculer, & ne peurent pour picquer n’autrement estre espeuz de passer oultre contre les elephans: en sorte que les hommes de cheval furent contrainctz mettre pied à terre, & attacher leurs chevaulx aux arbres, puis venir assaillir vertueusement les elephans. Et pource qu’ilz avoient mis a la poincte tous leurs archers & arbalestriers (qui estoient bien adextres a tirer) ilz commencerent a charger leurs ennemys de si grand nombre de fleches, que les elephans blecez en plusieurs endroictz ne peurent soustenir tel effort, & se meirent en fuitte, prenantz surieusement leurs courses vers les forestz prochaines, & n’en peurent estre aucunement destournez par leurs gouverneurs, quelque peine, industrie ou diligence qu’iz sceussent y mettre, mais couroient ça & la, & a l’entrée des boys rompoient leurs chasteaulx, & renversoient par terre les hommes armez qui estoient dedans, qui causa un grand desordre & confusion. Ce que voyans les Tartares, incontinent retournent a leurs chevaulx, sur lesquelz ilz montent, & de grande violence & impetuosité se ruent sur leurs ennemys: lesquelz desja estonnez dont leur avantgarde estoit renversée, & leurs elephans destournez, se deffendirent le mieulx qu’ilz peurent, & viennent & eulx joindre & batailler a la main, & lors se renouvella la bataille fiere & cruelle, tellement qu’il en tumba beaucoup d’une part & d’autre, & toutesfois le Roy Mien fut finablement mis en route, & se saulva a la fuyte avec quelque peu de ses gens. Lors les Tartares les poursuyvirent, & en tuerent grande quantité, en sorte qu’ilz demourerent victorieux. Apres laquelle Victoire des Tartares.victoire, ilz se jecterent dedans la forest a la poursuitte des elephans qui s’estoient enfuyz de l’avantgarde des ennemys, mais sans l’ayde d’aucuns de leurs captifz & prisonniers, jamais n’en eussent peu prendre aucun, tant ilz estoient effarouschez, toutesfois ilz en prindrent environ deux cens. Depuis ceste bataille & deslors en avant le grand Cham à commencé user & soy ayder en guerre d’elephans, dont au paravant il ne s’estoit jamais servy pour cest usage, & n’en avoit aucuns qui a ce fussent instruictz & aguerriz, Peu apres le grand Cham conquesta par armes tout le pays & terres du Roy Mien, lesquelles il annexa à son empire.
De la province de Mien, & des bocaiges d’icelle.Chapitre XLIII.
Sortans de la province de Caraiam, on vient en une grande vallée qui dure pres de trois journées, tousjours en devallant, & sans y trouver aucune habitation, encores qu’il y ayt une belle plaine, en laquelle par trois jours en la sepmaine on faict de grandes traffiques, & y a une grande assemblée de peuple comme en une foire. En icelle descendent des haultes montaignes du pays plusieurs personnes qui apportent de l’or pour le Permutation d’or a l’argent.changer & permuter avec de l’argent, & baillent ordinairement une once d’or pour cinq once d’argent. Au moyen de quoy plusieurs marchans des nations, & pays estranges y viennent pour y faire telles traffiques & permutations de l’argent avec l’or. Mais au regard de ces haultes montaignes, les paysans qui y demourent, & recueillent l’or dessusdict, y vivent en grande seureté, & sans crainte d’estre molestez. Car elles sont inaccessibles aux estrangers, pource que les chemins en sont si falcheux & difficiles, que plustost on s’y egare, que de rencontrer les cachettes de ces paysans. De la on vient a la province de Mien, laquelle sur la coste de Mydi est limitrophe des Indes, & contient plusieurs grandz boys & foretz esquelz repairent infiniz elephans, licornes, & autres bestes sauvages: au reste le pays est desert & non habité d’aucuns hommes.
De la cité de Mien, & sepulture du Roy.Chapitre XLIIII.
Ayant cheminé par quinze journées, on vient a trouver une cité appellée Mien, qui est grande & fameuse, aussi elle est capitale de tout le royaulme, subjecte & tributaire au grand Cham. Les habitans d’icelle ont langaige particulier, & sont idolatres. En ceste cité autresfois y a eu un Roy fort riche & opulent, lequel estant sur la fin de ses jours commanda un sepulchre luy estre edifié & construict en ceste forme: qu’en chacune encoigneure de son tumbeau on feist une tour de marbre de la haulteur de cinq toises, en observant l’espesseur selon la proportion de la haulteur, lesquelles tours fussent rondes en leur summité, & l’une d’icelles entierement couverte d’or, au feste de laquelle fussent pendues plusieurs petites clochettes d’or, afin qu’estans esbranlées par le vent, rendissent un son doulx & armonieux. Semblablement une autre tour couverte d’argent, ayant aussi de petites clochettes d’argent suspendues en sa summité pour rendre autre son par l’agitation du vent. Lequel sepulchre ce Roy feit construire en l’honneur de son nom, & pour perpetuer sa memoire envers les hommes. Et lors que le grand Cham subjuga la province de Mien, il defendit expressement aux gensdarmes de demolir & ruyner cette sepulture qui avoit esté erigée en l’honneur du nom de ce Roy. Joinct que les Tartares (encores qu’ilz soient fort cruelz & sans pitié) ne veulent jamais violer les sepultures, n’autres choses qui concernent les trespassez. En ceste province y a grande quantité d’elephans, & de beaulx & grandz buffles, cerfz, dains & autres diverses especes de bestes saulvages.
De la province de Bangala. Chap. LV.
La province de Bangala sur la coste de Midy, est prochaine & contigue a l’Inde, laquelle n’avoit encores esté conquestée par le grand Cham lors que je demourois en sa court: toutesfois il avoit dressé & envoyé une grosse armée pour la subjuguer & rendre tributaire. Ceste region à son Roy & langaige propre & particulier. Tous les habitans d’icelle sont idolatres, qui vivent de chair, de riz & de laict. Ilz ont grande quantité de soyes & cotton, a cause desquelz se font au pays plusieurs grandes foires & marchez. Aussi y a grande abondance de spicnarde, galange, gingembre, sucres, & autres diverses espiceries. Oultre y a de grandz beufz, & aussi gros qu’elephans, mais non du tout si grandz. Ilz ont une tresmauvaise coustume de chastrer les enfans, pour en apres les vendre aux marchandz qui les transportent en diverses provinces.
De la province de Cangigu.Chap. XLVI.
Apres avoir passé la province dessusdicte en tirant vers Orient, se presente la province de Cangigu, laquelle semblablement à son Roy & langaige particulier, & les habitans d’icelle sont idolatres, subjectz & tributaires du grand Cham. Leur Roy à environ trois cens femmes. On trouve en ceste province grande quantité d’or, & espiceries aromatiques, mais elles n’ont point de traicte, & ne se peuvent facilement transporter, au moyen de ce que le pays est fort eslongné de la mer. Oultre y à grand nombre d’elephans, & de belles chasses aux bestes sauvages. Les habitans vivent de chair, laict, & riz comme ceulx de Bangala. Ilz n’ont aucun vin, mais ilz font une boiture excellente, composée de riz & d’espiceries. Les hommes & femmes indifferemment ont de coustume se paindre le visaigne, le col, les mains, le ventre, & les cuisses, y imprimans & engravans avec des eguilles plusieurs figures, comme de lyons, dragons, oyseaux & autres animaulx, lesquelles y tiennent si fermement qu’il n’est pas facile les oster & effacer: & tant plus ilz ont sur leurs corps de telles figures & images imprimées, tant plus ilz sont estimez beaux.
De la province Amu. Chap. XLVII.
La province d’Amu est assise sur la coste d’Orient, subjecte au grand Cham, les habitans de laquelle adorent les idoles, & ont langaige peculier. Il zont de grandz trouppeaulx de bestail & abondance de vivres. Oultre ont grand quantité de beaux chevaulx que les marchandz tirent du pays pour mener en Inde. Aussi y à force beufz & buffles, car les pasturages y sont fort bons. Tant les hommes que les femmes portent en leurs bras certains joyaulx & braceletz d’or ou d’argent de grand valeur.
De la province de Tholoman. Chap. XLVIII.
En tirant vers Orient se presente la province de Tholoman a distance d’Amu de huict journées: laquelle est aussi de la dition & seigneurie du grand Cham, ayant langaige propre, & les habitans d’icelle adnnez au service des idoles. Les hommes & femmes du pays sont de belle stature, encores qu’ilz soient bruns. La terre y est fertile & bien cultivée, & le païs bien peuplé, & garny de belles villes, chasteaulx, & forteresses. Les hommes sont fort adextres aux armes, pource qu’ilz sont ordinairement exercitez a la guerre. Ilz font brusler les corps de leurs propres parens trespassez, & le reste de leurs os & cendres ilz enferment soigneusement en des boistes qu’ilz cachent dedans quelque creux de montaignes, de peur qu’ilz ne puissent estre trouvez, & attainctz par les hommes ne par les bestes. Il se trouve en ce pays grande quantité d’or: & toutesfois au lieu de monnoye ilz usent de petitz grains d’or qu’ilz trouvent dedans les arenes de la mer.
De la province de Ginguy. Chap. XLIX.
De Tholoman tenant encores le chemin vers Orient, on parvient a la province de Ginguy: toutesfois on chemine par douze journées le long de une riviere, jusques a ce qu’on arrive a une grande villasse appellée Sinulgu.Sinulgu. Tout le pays est subject & tributaire au grand Cham, & les habitans d’iceluy idolatres. On y faict d’excellens Draps d’escorces d’arbres.draps d’escorces d’arbres, dont ilz s’abillent en temps d’esté. Oultre y à si grande quantité de lyons, que pour la crainte d’iceulx ilz n’osent sortir de nuict hors de leurs maisons, car ilz sont si Lyons cruelz.cruelz, que tout ce qu’ilz rencontrent ilz despecent & devorent. Mesmes les navires & basteaulx qui montent & descendent aval la riviere ne sont jamais attachez aux rivaiges d’icelle pour la crainte des lyons, mais sont arrestez au mylieu du fleuve par le moyen des ancres: autrement s’ilz estoient garrez au bort de l’eaue, les lyons viendroient de nuict en grand nombre qui entreroient dedans, & tous ceulx qu’ilz rencontreroient les deschireroient & mangeroient. Et combien que les lyons y soient fort grandz, fiers & cruelz, toutesfois nature à pourveu au pays de chiens qui sont si fors & hardiz qu’ilz ne craignent d’assaillir les lyons: au moyen de quoy advient souventesfois qu’un homme qui sera bon archer, monté sur son cheval avec deux chiens renversera un lyon & le fera mourir: car les chiens quand ilz sentent approcher le lyon, avec grand abboy & clameur l’assaillent, mesmement quand ilz se voyent secouruz par l’ayde de l’homme, & ne cessent de mordre le lyon es parties de derriere & soubz la queuë combien que le lyon se revanche fierement, ouvrant la gueule pour espoanter les chiens, leur presentant & la dent & les ongles, & se retournant habillement d’une part & d’autre affin de les abbatre & desmembrer: neantmoins les chiens usent de grande ruse, & prevoient si bien que facilement le lyon ne les peult attaindre & blecer: joinct que l’homme de cheval luy presente le traict sur l’arbaleste bandée, ou la fleche sur l’arc tendu quand il s’efforce envahir les chiens. Et toutefois le lyon à de coustume fuyr quand il se voit ainsi assailly, craignant que par le grand bruit & abboy des chiens ne surviennent & soient provoquez sur luy d’autres hommes & chiens, ou bien s’en va acculer contre quelque arbre, ou il se fortifie, s’asseurant du derriere, & lors tournant la gueule ouverte contre les chiens, de toute sa force se defend d’eulx: mais ce pendant l’homme qui est a cheval ne cesse de tirer sur luy & le charger de fleches, tant qu’il l’ait renversé & faict mourir: aussi que les chiens luy donnent tant d’affaires, & le pressent si fort, qu’il n’apperçoit point les coups de traict jusques a ce qu’il tumbe. Il y à grande abondance de soyes en ce pays, lesquelles les marchandz transportent en diverses contrées.
Des villes de Cacausu, Canglu, & Ciangli.Chapitre L.
Oultre la province de Ginguy on trouve par pays plusieurs villes & chasteaulx, & jusques apres avoir cheminé par quatre journées, on parvient a la noble & renommée cité de Cacausu, qui est de la province de Cathay, située sur la coste de midy: en laquelle y à grande abondance de soyes, dont on faict d’excellens draps & taffetas entremeslez de fil d’or. De la passant oultre a trois journées vers Midy, se presente une autre grande cité appellée Canglu, en laquelle se trouve grande quantité de sel, car la terre y est fort sallée, & en tirent le sel de ceste maniere. Ilz font un grand amas de terre en forme d’une motte, puis guettent par dessus de l’eaue, affin qu’elle tire & emmene avec soy la saumure de la terre, laquelle eaue se reçoit dans un fossé au pied de la motte, duquel ilz l’espuisent & la font bouillir sur le feu, tant qu’elle se congelle en sel. A cinq journées de ceste ville de Canglu se trouve une autre ville appellée Ciangli, par le mylieu de laquelle passe une grosse riviere qui porte navires & basteaux chargez de marchandise: qui cause qu’en ce lieu y à de belles foires & grandes traffiques de marchands.
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation of Book Two (the empire of Kublai Khan and China), made directly from the 1556 French text (Groulleau, Paris), for fidelity, the traveler’s voice, and modern clarity. The long s is normalized to s.
Of the battle between the Tartars and the king of Mien. Chap. XLII.
In the year of our salvation one thousand two hundred and eighty-two, a great war arose over the kingdom of Caraiam, of which we have spoken above, and the kingdom of Botiam. For this reason the Great Khan sent a prince of his court named Nescordim with twelve thousand horsemen to aid and defend the province of Caraiam against every attack and hostile enterprise. Nescordim was a prudent and courageous man, accompanied by brave, valiant men well practiced in arms. When the kings of Mien and Bangala learned of his coming, they were greatly frightened, believing that he had come to attack them and conquer their kingdoms. To resist him, therefore, they mustered their people and assembled a force of sixty thousand men, foot and horse, besides two thousand elephants carrying castles, each containing twelve, or fifteen, or sixteen well-equipped armed men. The king of Mien, having assembled this army, marched it toward the city of Vociam, near which the Tartars had encamped and already spent three full days in the open country. Nescordim, learning of this enterprise and that such a great army was marching against him, was somewhat shaken, though he concealed his fear as best he could. Yet he took great comfort and assurance from the brave men in his company, valiant and skillful in arms, though they were much fewer in number. Resolving therefore to face his enemy stoutly if the chance arose, he brought his men into the field with bold and steadfast courage and camped near a dense wood of great trees and thickets, confident that the elephants with their towers and castles could not enter it or harm them there. As soon as the king of Mien learned that the Tartars were approaching, he resolved to get ahead of them and attack first. But when the Tartars’ horses saw the elephants, drawn up in the vanguard, they were so terrified that they began to fall back, and no amount of spurring or other effort could make them advance against the elephants. The horsemen were thus forced to dismount and tie their horses to the trees, then boldly attack the elephants on foot. Since they had placed all their archers and crossbowmen, who were expert marksmen, at the front, these began to shower such a multitude of arrows upon the enemy that the elephants, wounded in many places, could not endure the assault. They fled, rushing wildly toward the neighboring forests; their handlers, for all the effort, ingenuity, and care they could employ, could not turn them back. Instead, the beasts ran this way and that, and at the entrances to the woods broke their castles and threw the armed men inside to the ground, causing great disorder and confusion. Seeing this, the Tartars immediately returned to their horses, mounted them, and hurled themselves with tremendous force and violence upon their enemies. Already dismayed at the rout of their vanguard and the flight of their elephants, the others defended themselves as best they could. They closed with the Tartars and fought hand to hand, and then the battle flared up again, fierce and cruel, so that many fell on either side. At last, however, the king of Mien was routed and escaped in flight with a few of his men. The Tartars pursued them and killed great numbers, and so remained victorious. After this victory they entered the forest in pursuit of the elephants that had fled from the enemy vanguard. Without the aid of some captives and prisoners, they could never have taken a single one, so frightened were the beasts; nevertheless, they captured about two hundred. From this battle onward the Great Khan began using elephants to aid him in war, though before then he had never used them for that purpose and had none trained or seasoned for it. Soon afterward the Great Khan conquered by force of arms all the country and lands of the king of Mien and annexed them to his empire.
Of the province of Mien and its woodlands. Chapitre XLIII.
Leaving the province of Caraiam, one comes to a great valley that extends almost three days’ journey, always descending and without any habitation, although it has a beautiful plain where on three days of the week there is lively trade and a great gathering of people like a fair. People come down to it from the high mountains of the country, bringing gold to exchange for silver. They commonly give one ounce of gold for five ounces of silver. Thus many merchants from foreign nations and countries come there to carry on this trade and exchange silver for gold. The peasants who live in those high mountains and gather the gold live in great security, with no fear of being molested. For their mountains are inaccessible to foreigners, the paths being so treacherous and difficult that a stranger is more likely to lose his way than to find the peasants’ hiding places. From there one comes to the province of Mien, which borders India on the southern side. It has many great woods and forests inhabited by countless elephants, unicorns, and other wild beasts. Apart from these, the country is deserted and uninhabited by men.
Of the city of Mien and the king’s tomb. Chapitre XLIIII.
After traveling for fifteen days, one comes upon a city called Mien, large and famous, the capital of the whole kingdom, subject to the Great Khan and paying him tribute. Its inhabitants have their own language and worship idols. Once there was in this city a very rich and powerful king who, toward the end of his life, ordered a tomb built for him in this form: at each corner of his tomb there should be a marble tower five toises high, its thickness proportionate to its height, each tower rounded at its summit, and one covered entirely in gold. From the top of that tower many little golden bells should hang, so that, stirred by the wind, they would make a sweet and harmonious sound. Another tower should likewise be covered in silver, with small silver bells hung from its summit to sound in turn at the wind’s touch. The king had this tomb built to honor his name and perpetuate his memory among men. When the Great Khan subdued the province of Mien, he expressly forbade his soldiers to demolish or ruin the tomb that had been erected in honor of this king’s name. Indeed, the Tartars, though very cruel and pitiless, will never violate tombs or anything else belonging to the dead. This province has many elephants, handsome great buffaloes, stags, fallow deer, and various other kinds of wild beast.
Of the province of Bangala. Chap. LV.
The province of Bangala, to the south, lies near India. It had not yet been conquered by the Great Khan when I lived at his court, though he had raised and sent a great army to subdue it and make it tributary. This region has its own king and its own language. All its inhabitants worship idols and live on meat, rice, and milk. They have a great abundance of silk and cotton, on account of which many great fairs and markets are held in the country. There is also abundant spikenard, galangal, ginger, sugar, and various other spices. Moreover, there are great oxen, as large as elephants, though not quite so large. The people have a most wicked custom of castrating children, whom they then sell to merchants to be taken into various provinces.
Of the province of Cangigu. Chap. XLVI.
Beyond the province just described, going east, lies the province of Cangigu, which likewise has its own king and language. Its inhabitants worship idols, and are subject to and pay tribute to the Great Khan. Their king has about three hundred wives. A great quantity of gold and aromatic spices is found in this province, but the spices are not traded and cannot easily be carried away because the country is so far from the sea. There are also many elephants and fine opportunities to hunt wild beasts. The inhabitants live on meat, milk, and rice, like the people of Bangala. They have no wine, but make an excellent drink of rice and spices. Men and women alike have a custom of painting their faces, necks, hands, bellies, and thighs, marking and engraving on them with needles many figures, such as lions, dragons, birds, and other animals. These designs remain so firmly that they cannot easily be removed or erased; and the more such figures and images people have marked on their bodies, the more beautiful they are considered.
Of the province of Amu. Chap. XLVII.
The province of Amu lies to the east and is subject to the Great Khan. Its inhabitants worship idols and have their own language. They have great herds of livestock and abundant provisions, as well as many fine horses, which merchants take out of the country to India. There are also plenty of oxen and buffaloes, for the pastures are excellent. Both men and women wear costly ornaments and bracelets of gold or silver on their arms.
Of the province of Tholoman. Chap. XLVIII.
Proceeding east, one comes to the province of Tholoman, eight days’ journey from Amu. It too lies under the dominion and lordship of the Great Khan, has its own language, and its inhabitants are devoted to the service of idols. The men and women of the country are well formed, though dark-skinned. Its land is fertile and well cultivated, and the country is populous and furnished with fine cities, castles, and fortresses. The men are very skilled in arms, for they are constantly exercised in warfare. They burn the bodies of their own deceased relatives, then carefully enclose the remaining bones and ashes in boxes and conceal these in hollows in the mountains, for fear that either men or beasts might find and touch them. A great quantity of gold is found in this country, yet instead of money the people use small grains of gold found in the sands of the sea.
Of the province of Ginguy. Chap. XLIX.
From Tholoman, still traveling east, one reaches the province of Ginguy, though first one travels for twelve days along a river before arriving at a great town called Sinulgu. The whole country is subject to the Great Khan and pays him tribute, and its inhabitants worship idols. They make excellent cloth from tree bark, in which they dress in summer. There are also so many lions that for fear of them the people dare not leave their houses at night: the beasts are so savage that they tear to pieces and devour anything they meet. Even the ships and boats that travel up and down the river are never tied to its banks for fear of the lions, but are held by anchors in midstream. Otherwise, if they were moored at the water’s edge, lions would come in great numbers by night, climb aboard, and tear apart and eat everyone they found. Yet though the lions are very large, fierce, and savage, nature has provided the country with dogs so strong and bold that they do not fear to attack them. Thus it often happens that a man who is a good archer, mounted on his horse with two dogs, will bring down and kill a lion. For when the dogs sense a lion approaching, they assail it with loud barking and cries, especially when they see the man coming to their aid. They keep biting it from behind and beneath the tail, though the lion fights back fiercely, opening its mouth to terrify the dogs, threatening them with teeth and claws, and turning nimbly from side to side to strike and dismember them. Nevertheless, the dogs use great cunning and keep so watchful that the lion cannot easily reach or wound them. Meanwhile the horseman aims his bolt with his crossbow drawn, or an arrow with his bow bent, whenever the lion tries to attack the dogs. The lion, however, usually flees when it finds itself thus assaulted, fearing that the loud barking and cries of the dogs will summon more men and dogs against it. Or else it backs up against a tree to defend itself, guarding its rear, then turns its open jaws against the dogs and fights them with all its strength. Meanwhile the man on horseback does not cease shooting and raining arrows upon it until he has brought it down and killed it. The dogs, too, keep it so occupied and press it so closely that it does not notice the shots until it falls. Silk is abundant in this country, and merchants carry it to various lands.
Of the cities of Cacausu, Canglu, and Ciangli. Chapitre L.
Beyond the province of Ginguy one passes many cities and castles. After four days’ travel, one reaches the noble and celebrated city of Cacausu in the province of Cathay, situated to the south. There is an abundance of silk here, from which excellent fabrics and taffetas interwoven with gold thread are made. Three days farther south lies another great city called Canglu, where salt is plentiful, for its earth is very salty. They extract the salt in this way: they pile up a great mound of earth and pour water over it, so that the water draws the brine out of the earth and carries it down into a ditch at the foot of the mound. They draw off this water and boil it over a fire until it crystallizes into salt. Five days’ journey from Canglu lies another city called Ciangli, through whose center flows a great river bearing ships and boats laden with merchandise. This accounts for the fine fairs and the extensive trade carried on there.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition of Book Two, made independently and directly from the 1556 French text (Groulleau, Paris). The long s is normalized to s.
On the battle between the Tartars and the king of Mien. Chap. XLII.
In the year of our salvation one thousand two hundred eighty-two, a great war broke out over the kingdom of Caraiam, described above, and the kingdom of Botiam. The Great Khan therefore sent a prince of his court named Nescordim with twelve thousand horsemen to help defend Caraiam from any attacks and incursions. Nescordim was a wise and bold man. His troops were brave, valiant, and experienced in war. When the kings of Mien and Bangala learned of his arrival, they were very frightened. They thought he had come to attack them and conquer their kingdoms. To resist him they raised forces numbering sixty thousand men, both foot soldiers and cavalry, and more than two thousand elephants carrying towers, each with twelve, fifteen, or sixteen well-equipped armed men. The king of Mien marched this army toward Vociam, near which the Tartars had camped in the open country for three full days. When Nescordim learned that such a large army was advancing against him, he was somewhat shaken, though he concealed his fear as best he could. Still, he drew great confidence from his brave, valiant, skilled men, though they were far fewer. Resolved to meet the enemy boldly if the chance came, he took his forces into the field with great courage and camped near a thick wood of tall trees and bushes. He knew the elephants with their towers and castles could not get into the wood to harm them. As soon as the king of Mien heard that the Tartars were approaching, he decided to strike first. But the Tartar horses saw the elephants placed in the vanguard and became so frightened that they backed away. No amount of spurring or anything else could make them advance against the elephants. The riders had to dismount and tie their horses to the trees, then attack the elephants bravely on foot. They placed all their skilled archers and crossbowmen at the front, and these shot so many arrows at the enemy that the elephants, wounded in many places, could not withstand the attack. They fled furiously toward the nearby forests. Their handlers could not turn them aside, no matter how hard or skillfully they tried. The elephants ran everywhere. At the edge of the woods they broke their towers and threw the armed men in them to the ground, causing great disorder and confusion. Seeing this, the Tartars immediately returned to their horses, mounted, and charged their enemies with great force. The enemy, already shaken by the collapse of their vanguard and the flight of their elephants, defended themselves as best they could. They closed with the Tartars in hand-to-hand combat. A fierce, cruel battle began again, and many fell on both sides. In the end the king of Mien was routed and escaped with a few of his men. The Tartars pursued them and killed many, winning the battle. After their victory, they went into the forest after the elephants that had fled from the enemy vanguard. They would never have caught a single one without help from some of their captives and prisoners, since the elephants were so frightened. Even so, they captured about two hundred. From that battle onward the Great Khan began using elephants in war. He had never used them that way before and had none trained for battle. Soon afterward he conquered all the king of Mien's lands by force and added them to his empire.
On the province of Mien and its woods. Chapter XLIII.
Leaving Caraiam, one enters a great valley that slopes downward for nearly three days' travel without a single settlement. Yet it has a fine plain where trading takes place three days a week, with a crowd of people as at a fair. Many people come down from the country's high mountains with gold to exchange for silver. They regularly give one ounce of gold for five ounces of silver. Merchants from other nations and foreign countries therefore come there to make these exchanges. The inhabitants of the high mountains who collect this gold live in great safety, without fear of attack. Foreigners cannot reach them, because the paths are so difficult and dangerous that a visitor is more likely to get lost than to find the peasants' hiding places. From there one comes to Mien, which borders India on the southern side. It contains large woods and forests inhabited by countless elephants, unicorns, and other wild animals. Apart from this, the land is deserted and uninhabited.
On the city of Mien and the king's tomb. Chapter XLIIII.
After traveling fifteen days, one reaches a large and famous city called Mien, the capital of the whole kingdom, subject to the Great Khan and paying him tribute. Its inhabitants have their own language and worship idols. A very rich and wealthy king once lived in this city. Near the end of his life, he ordered a tomb built for himself in this way. A marble tower five fathoms high, with a thickness proportionate to its height, was to stand at each corner. The towers were to be round at the top. One was to be entirely covered with gold, with little gold bells hung from its peak to make a sweet, harmonious sound as the wind shook them. Another was to be covered with silver and likewise have little silver bells suspended at its top to sound in the wind. The king built this tomb to honor his name and preserve his memory among men. When the Great Khan conquered Mien, he expressly forbade his soldiers from destroying this tomb, erected to honor the king's name. Moreover, the Tartars, cruel and pitiless as they are, never violate tombs or anything else concerning the dead. The province has many elephants, fine large buffalo, deer, fallow deer, and other wild animals.
On the province of Bangala. Chap. LV.
Bangala, on the southern side, borders India. The Great Khan had not yet conquered it when I was at his court, but he had assembled and sent a large army to subdue it and make it pay tribute. The country has its own king and language. All its inhabitants worship idols and live on meat, rice, and milk. They have plenty of silk and cotton, which bring many large fairs and markets to the country. There is also abundant spikenard, galangal, ginger, sugar, and various other spices. Its great oxen are as big as elephants, though not quite so tall. They have the very bad custom of castrating boys and then selling them to merchants, who take them to various provinces.
On the province of Cangigu. Chap. XLVI.
Traveling east beyond the province just described, one reaches Cangigu. It too has its own king and language. Its inhabitants worship idols and are subject to the Great Khan and pay him tribute. Their king has about three hundred wives. The province has plenty of gold and aromatic spices, but there is no trade in the spices, and they cannot readily be transported because the country is so far from the sea. There are also many elephants and fine opportunities to hunt wild animals. The people live on meat, milk, and rice, like the people of Bangala. They have no wine, but make an excellent drink of rice and spices. Both men and women customarily decorate their faces, necks, hands, bellies, and thighs. With needles they mark and engrave figures there, such as lions, dragons, birds, and other animals. The marks hold so firmly that they cannot easily be removed or erased. The more such images people have on their bodies, the more beautiful they are considered.
On the province of Amu. Chap. XLVII.
Amu lies to the east and is subject to the Great Khan. Its inhabitants worship idols and have their own language. They have large herds of livestock and abundant food. They also have many fine horses, which merchants take from the country to India. There are plenty of oxen and buffalo too, for the pastures are very good. Both men and women wear valuable gold or silver jewelry and bracelets on their arms.
On the province of Tholoman. Chap. XLVIII.
Eight days' travel east of Amu lies Tholoman. It too belongs to the Great Khan's dominion, has its own language, and has inhabitants devoted to serving idols. Its men and women are well built, though brown-skinned. The fertile land is well cultivated, and the country is populous and has fine cities, castles, and fortresses. The men are very skilled at fighting because they regularly practice warfare. They burn the bodies of their deceased relatives. They carefully put the remaining bones and ashes in boxes and hide them in mountain hollows, so that neither people nor animals can find or reach them. There is much gold in this country, but instead of money they use little grains of gold found in the sands of the sea.
On the province of Ginguy. Chap. XLIX.
Continuing east from Tholoman, one reaches Ginguy. One travels along a river for twelve days before arriving at a large town called Sinulgu. The whole country is subject to the Great Khan and pays him tribute, and its inhabitants worship idols. They make excellent cloth from tree bark and wear it in summer. There are so many lions that people do not dare leave their homes at night for fear of them. The lions are so savage that they tear apart and devour whatever they meet. Even the ships and boats traveling up and down the river are never tied to its banks for fear of lions. Instead they anchor in the middle of the river. If they were moored at the water's edge, lions would come in large numbers at night, climb aboard, and tear apart and eat everyone they found. Although the lions are very large and fierce, nature has provided the country with dogs strong and bold enough to attack them. Thus a good archer on horseback with two dogs often brings down and kills a lion. When the dogs sense a lion nearby, they attack with loud barking and cries, especially when a man is there to help them. They keep biting the lion's hindquarters and under its tail. The lion fights fiercely, opening its mouth to frighten the dogs and showing its teeth and claws. It turns quickly from side to side to knock them down and tear them apart. But the dogs are so cunning and careful that the lion cannot easily reach or wound them. The rider meanwhile aims his loaded crossbow or drawn bow at the lion when it tries to attack the dogs. The lion usually flees when attacked this way, fearing that the loud barking of the dogs will bring more men and dogs against it. Otherwise it backs against a tree for protection from behind and turns its open mouth toward the dogs, defending itself with all its strength. Meanwhile the horseman keeps shooting arrows at it until he brings it down and kills it. The dogs also keep it so busy and press it so hard that it does not notice the arrows hitting it until it falls. The country produces much silk, which merchants take to various regions.
On the cities of Cacausu, Canglu, and Ciangli. Chapter L.
Beyond Ginguy there are many cities and castles along the route. After four days one reaches the noble and famous city of Cacausu, in Cathay to the south. It produces abundant silk, from which excellent cloth and taffeta interwoven with gold thread are made. Three days farther south is another large city called Canglu, where plenty of salt is found because the soil is very salty. They extract it as follows. They pile up earth into a large mound and pour water over it so that the water draws out and carries away the salt in the earth. The water collects in a ditch at the foot of the mound. They draw it off and boil it over a fire until it solidifies into salt. Five days from Canglu is another city called Ciangli. A large river passes through its center, carrying ships and boats loaded with goods, which leads to fine fairs and much trading there.