Chapter XXI.

OF THE NOBLE CITY OF QUINSAI, AND OF THE VAST REVENUES DRAWN FROM THENCE BY THE EMPEROR OF THE TARTARS.

In a journey of three days, you find cities, castles, and villages well peopled and rich. The people are idolaters, under the dominion of the Great Khan. At the end of these days you come to Quinsai, i.e. the City of Heaven, which for the excellency thereof hath that name; for in the world there is not the like, or a place in which are found so many pleasures, that a man would think he were in paradise. In this city our author, Marco Polo, hath often been, and considered the same with great diligence, observing the whole state thereof, setting down the same in his memorials, as here from them shall be declared briefly. This city, by common report, is a hundred miles in circuit. The streets and lanes are very long and very wide; there are market-places exceeding large; on the one side a clear lake of fresh water, on the other a great river, which enters in many places, and carries away all the filth of the city, and so runneth into that lake, thence continuing its course into the ocean. This course of water causeth a good air and commodious passage both by land and by those canals. There may go both carts and barks to carry necessaries; and the report is, that there are twelve thousand bridges great and small, and those on the chief channels are so high that a ship without her masts may pass under, and at the same time chariots and horses pass over it. On the other side the city is a large canal forty miles long, which encloses it on that side, large and full of water from the river, made by the ancient kings of that province both to receive the overflowing of the water and, besides that, to fortify the city, the earth which was taken out being laid within as a bank or hill encompassing it.

There are ten great market-places, besides others in the great streets, which are square, half a mile in each square; and from the great entrance is a principal street, forty paces wide, running right from one end of the city to the other, with many bridges crossing it, and every four miles is found such a market-place, two miles, as is said, in compass. There is also one large canal, which runs against the said street behind the market-places, on the next bank whereof are erected great storehouses of stone, where the merchants from India and other parts lay up their merchandise, being at hand, and commodious for the market-places. In each of these market-places the people meet three days in a week, to the number of between forty and fifty thousand, who bring thither all things that can be desired for man’s life, beasts, game, and fowls, that lake yielding such advantages for bringing them up, that for a Venetian groat you may have two geese, and four ducks for the same. Then follow the butcher-rows of veal, beef, kid, and lamb, which the great and rich men eat; for the poor eat all the offal and unclean meats without respect. There are all sorts of herbs and fruits continually, and amongst the rest huge pears, weighing ten pounds apiece, white within like paste, and very fragrant. Peaches yellow and white, very delicate. Grapes grow not there, but are brought from other places dried; very good wine also, but it is not esteemed in those parts as with us, that of rice and spices contenting them. Every day from the ocean are brought up the river--which is the space of five-and-twenty miles--great quantities of fish, besides that of the lake, so much that a man would think would never be bought, and yet in a few hours all is gone. All these market-places are encompassed with high houses, and underneath are shops for artificers and all sorts of merchandise, as spice, jewels, pearls, and in some only rice-wine. Many streets answer one to another in the said market-places; in some of them are many cold baths, accommodated with attendants of both sexes, a thing to which from children they use themselves. There are chambers also in the same baths, with hot waters for strangers which are not accustomed to the cold waters; they wash every day, neither do they eat before they have washed.

In other streets are mercenary prostitutes, in such numbers that I dare not report it, and not only near the market-places, where they have their places appointed, but through all the city; they stand pompously adorned with rich perfumes, many servants, and their houses finely furnished. These are very skilful in making sports and dalliances, and contriving pleasures for ravishing men out of themselves. In other streets are the physicians, the astrologers, they which teach to read and write, and infinite other trades. At each end of every market-place is a palace, where lords and governors are appointed by the king to determine difficulties which happen betwixt merchants and others, as also to look to the guards on the bridges, punishing such as are negligent. Along the principal street on both sides are great palaces with gardens, and near them houses of artificers, and such multitudes of people going to and fro that a man would wonder whence such multitudes could be provided with victuals; and Master Marco learned of an officer of the custom-house in Quinsay that, by a very accurate computation, it appeared the daily expense of pepper in Quinsay was three-and-forty somma, and every somma is two hundred and twenty-three pounds. Hence may be guessed the quantity of victuals, flesh, wine, and spices were there spent. The inhabitants are idolaters, use none but paper money, are of a very fair complexion, apparelled for the most part in silk, which grows in all that territory abundantly, besides that which is brought from other places. There are twelve principal companies or corporations, each of which have one thousand shops, and in each shop or standing are ten, fifteen, or twenty men at work, and in some forty under one master.

The rich tradesmen do not work with their hands, but stand in their shops, well, or rather pompously dressed, especially their wives, with jewels invaluable. And although their old kings ordained that the child should be of the father’s trade, yet the rich are permitted not to work at it, but to keep their shop, and men working in the same trade. Their houses are well built, and very richly furnished with pictures and other ornaments of immense price. The natives are peaceable; know not how to manage arms, nor keep them in their houses; neither is there strife and debate among them. They exercise their trades with great sincerity. They live in such amity, that one street seems as one house, without jealousy among their wives, which they hold in great respect, and it would be reputed a great disgrace to speak a dishonest word to a married woman. They entertain foreign merchants kindly, both in their houses, and with best advice for their affairs; but they are not over fond of the soldiers and guards of the Grand Khan, because by them deprived of their natural lords and kings. About the lake are very fair buildings, and great palaces of the principal men, and temples of their idols, with monasteries of many monks. In the midst of the lake are two islands, upon each of which is a palace with incredible numbers of rooms, whither they resort upon occasion of marriages, or other feasts, where provisions of vessels, linen, and other things are maintained in common for such purposes, one hundred sometimes accommodated at once in several rooms. In the lake also are boats and barges for pleasure, adorned with fair seats and tables, and other provisions for a banquet, covered above, and flat, upon which men stand with poles to push the boat on, the lake being but shallow. Within they are painted, without are windows to open and shut at pleasure; nor can anything in the world seem more pleasant than in this lake, to have such various objects, the city so fully presenting itself to the eye, with so many temples, monasteries, palaces, gardens with high trees, and on the water barges and people; for their custom is to work one part of the day, and to spend some part in this diversion with their friends, or with women on the lake, or else in chariots, riding through the city, which is also another of the Quinsay pleasures; for all the streets are paved with stone, as also are all the highways in the province of Mangi only for the foot; posts are left on the side a space unpaved. The principal street of Quinsay is paved ten paces on each hand, and in the midst it is full of gravel, with passages for the water, which keep it always clean.

In this street are innumerable long close chariots accommodated with cloths and cushions of silk for six persons, who divert themselves in the street, or go to the gardens, and there pass the time in bowers, fine walks, etc., which are kept for that purpose, and return at night in the same chariots. When a child is born, the father sets down the exact point of time, and with that note goes to the astrologer to consult of his future fortunes; of these astrologers are a great number in every market-place. These people will not celebrate a marriage without such consultation. When one dies that is of note, the kindred clothe themselves in canvas, and so both men and women accompany him to the burying-place, playing on instruments, and singing all the way prayers to their idols, and being come to that place, cast into the fire many papers of cotton, whereon are painted slaves, horses, camels, stuffs of gold, and silk, and moneys, which they think he shall really possess in another world, and make a grand concert of music, in conceit of the joy wherewith the idols there receive his soul, where he beginneth, as they fancy, to live anew. In every street are towers of stone, to which, when in danger of fire, they used to carry their gods, their timber houses being very subject to such casualties. The Khan hath ordered that on the most of the bridges, day and night, there stand under a covert ten soldiers, five by day and five by night, and every guard-room is a tabernacle of wood, with a great bason, whereby they know the hours of the day and night, which at every hour’s end the warders strike, to signify what hour, one, two, etc., beginning at the sun-rising; and then again at the beginning of the night. They walk up and down, and if any have a light or fire after the appointed time, they cause him to answer it before the justices or governors aforesaid, or if any walk later.

If any be not able to work, they carry him to some hospital, of which are exceeding many, founded by the old kings with great revenues through the city; when they are well again, they are compelled to work. If a fire happen, those from divers places come to and quench it, and to carry the goods to the islands, or those towers; for in the night none of the citizens dare go out but those who are in danger. The Khan always keeps here a body of his best and most faithful soldiery, as being the best and richest place in the world. Within a mile of each other are built ramparts of wood, where the same precautions are used for like purposes. When the Khan had reduced all Mangi to his obedience, he divided it, being before but one kingdom, into nine parts, and set them a vice-king over each, who there administers justice. Every year they give account to the Khan’s officers of the revenues, and other accidents, and every third year are changed, as all other officers are. One of these deputy kings is resident at Quinsay, who is governor of above one hundred and forty cities, all rich and great; nor let this be esteemed a wonder, seeing in Mangi there are twelve thousand cities, all inhabited by rich and industrious people, in every one of which the Khan maintaineth a garrison, proportionable to the greatness and occasions, one thousand, ten, or twenty thousand, not all Tartars, but Cathayans; for the Tartars are horsemen, and keep in such places as may be fit to exercise their horses. Into Cathay he sends those of Mangi, and Cathayans hither, such as are fit for arms, of which he makes choice every third year, and sends them for four or five years together into places twenty days’ journey from their own country, and then suffers them to return home, a fresh body succeeding; and most part of the Khan’s revenues are this way expended, and if any city rebel, he suddenly, from the next garrison, composes an army to reduce or destroy them. The city of Quinsay hath in constant garrison thirty thousand soldiers, and that which hath least hath one thousand regular troops, horse and foot in garrison.

I come next to speak of the palace of King Fanfur. His predecessors caused to be enclosed a place of ten miles circuit, with high walls, and divided it into three parts. That in the midst was entered by one gate on the one side, and on the other were great and large galleries, the roof sustained by pillars, painted and wrought in pure gold and fine azure. These were smaller at the entry, and the further the greater, the fairest at the end; the roof richly adorned with gold, and on the walls were painted the stories of the farmer kings, done very elegantly. Every year, on certain idol holidays, Fanfur keeps his court and feasts his principal lords, the great merchants, and rich artificers of Quinsay. Ten thousand are at a time under these terraces. This feasting endured ten or twelve days with incredible magnificence, every guest endeavouring to present himself in greatest pomp. Behind this marble building was a wall, which divided the palace, in which were, as it were, a cloister with pillars, sustaining the terrace round about the cloister, wherein were chambers for the king and queen, curiously wrought. From this cloister was an entrance into a gallery six paces wide, extending in length to the lake, all covered. On each side of this gallery were ten courts, answering to each other like cloisters, each court having fifty chambers, with their gardens, and in them one thousand concubines abode, which the king kept for his service, who, sometimes with the queen, sometimes with them, went on his royal barge on the lake for recreation, or to visit his idol temples. The other two parts of the seraglio were divided into groves, lakes, and gardens, planted with trees, in which were enclosed all sorts of beasts, roebucks, stags, hares, conies, and there the king diverted himself with his damsels in chariots or on horseback, no man entering there. There the ladies hunted with his dogs, and when weary they went into those groves, which answered one another over the lake, and there leaving their garments, came forth naked, and fell to swimming in the king’s presence. Sometimes he would eat a banquet in those groves, being served by those damsels, without once thinking of arms, which sweet meat cost him the sour sauce ye have heard. All this was told me by a rich old merchant of Quinsay while I was there, one who had been familiar with King Fanfur, and knew all his life, and had seen that palace flourishing, into which he would needs bring me. The viceroy now resides there, and the first galleries remain as they were, but the damsels’ chambers are ruined. The walls also which encompassed the woods and gardens are fallen to the ground, the beasts and trees being gone, and all the other ornaments destroyed. Twenty-five miles from Quinsay is the ocean, between the east and north-east, near which is a city called Gampu, an excellent port, where arrive the Indian ships with merchandise. While Marco Polo was in Quinsay, account being given to the Grand Khan of the revenues, and the number of inhabitants, he hath seen that there have been enrolled one hundred and sixty toman of fires, reckoning for a fire the family dwelling in one house; every toman contains ten thousand, which makes sixteen hundred thousand families, of all which there is but one church of Christians, and those Nestorians. Every householder is bound to have written over his door the names of his whole household, males and females; also the number of horses, the names added or blotted out as the family increaseth or decreaseth; and this is observed in all the cities of Mangi and Cathay. Those also that keep inns write in a book the names of their guests, and the day and hour of their departure, which books they send daily to the lords or magistrates, who preside at the market-places. In Mangi, the poor which are not able to bring up their children sell them to the rich. The revenues which accrue to the Khan from Quinsay, and the other cities pertaining thereto, being the ninth part of the kingdom of Mangi, are first of salt, every year, eight tomans of gold; every toman is eighty thousand sazzis of gold, and every sazzi is more than one florin of gold, which will amount to six millions and four hundred thousand ducats. The cause is, that that province being nigh the sea, there are many lakes where the water in summer is coagulated into salt, wherewith five other kingdoms in that country are served. There is plenty of sugar growing, which pay, as likewise all spices do, three parts, and a third in the hundred: the like of rice-wine. Also those twelve companies, which we said had twelve thousand shops, and the merchants which bring goods hither, or carry any hence by sea, pay the same price. They which come from remote countries and regions, as, for example, from the Indies, pay ten per cent. Likewise all things there breeding, as beasts, and growing out of the earth, and silk, pay tithe to the king, and the computation being made in the presence of Master Marco, besides salt before-mentioned, yearly amounts to two hundred and ten tomans, which will be sixteen millions eight hundred thousand ducats in gold.

A day’s journey from Quinsay to the south-east, are all the way houses, villages, fair gardens, and plenty of victuals; at the end whereof is Tapinzu, a fine city in the jurisdiction of Quinsay. Three days thence, south-east, is Uguin, and two days farther you may still ride that way, finding castles, cities, and well-cultivated places in such a neighbourhood that they seem to travellers all one city, and are all in the jurisdiction of Quinsay; there are great canes fifteen paces long and four palms thick. Two days’ journey farther is the city Congui, fair and large; and travelling farther south-east; are places full of people and trades; and in this part of Mangi are no sheep, but beavers, buffaloes, goats, and swine in great plenty. At the end of four days’ journey farther is the city Zengian, built on a hill in the midst of a river, which dividing into two branches, encompasses it, and then runs one to the south-east, the other to the north-west. This city is in the jurisdiction of Quinsay, and its inhabitants are merchants also and idolaters; this country abounds with all sorts of game. Three days’ journey from thence, through a most pleasant country, exceedingly well inhabited, stands Gieza, a great city, which is the last of the Quinsay kingdom; after which you enter into another kingdom of Mangi, called Concha; the principal city thereof is called Fugiu, by which you travel six days’ journey south-east, through hills and dales, always finding places inhabited, and plenty of game, of beasts and fowl; they are idolaters, merchants subject to the Khan. There are stout lions, and here grow ginger and galingale in great plenty, with other sorts of spices; eight pounds of ginger are sold for a Venetian groat. There is a herb whose fruit hath the effect, and gives the colour and smell of saffron, but is not saffron, which is used in their meats. They commonly eat man’s flesh, if the persons die not of sickness, as better tasted than others. When they go into the field they shave to the ears, and paint their faces with azure: they serve on foot, except the captain, who rides, and uses a sword and lance; they are very cruel, and when they kill an enemy presently drink his blood, and afterwards eat his flesh.

After six days’ journey is Quelinfu, a great city, with three bridges, each eight paces broad, and above a hundred long: the women fair and delicately shaped. They have abundance of silk and cotton, are great merchants, have plenty of ginger and galingale. I was told, but saw them not, that they have hens without feathers, hairy like cats, which yet lay eggs, and are good to eat. Here are many lions, which make the way very dangerous. After three days’ journey you arrive in a populous country, inhabited by idolaters, who make abundance of silk manufactures; the chief city is Unguem, where is great plenty of sugar, sent thence to Cambalu, which they knew not how to make good till they became subject to the Khan, in whose court were Babylonians, which taught them to refine it with ashes of certain trees, they only boiling it before into a black paste. Fifteen miles farther lies Cangiu, still in the realm of Concha, and here the Khan keeps an army in readiness for a guard of the country. Through this city passes a river a mile broad, fairly built on both sides, and abounding with ships carrying sugar and other lading. This river disembogues from hence five days’ journey south-east at Zaitum, a seaport, from which the rich ships of India come to this pleasant city, as is all the country betwixt, in which are trees and shrubs of camphire. Zaitum is a famous port, where all the ships arrive with merchandise, thence dispersed through all India. There is here such a quantity of pepper, that what comes by Alexandria to the west is little to it, and, as it were, one of a hundred. The concourse of merchants is incredible, it being one of the most commodious ports in the world, exceeding profitable to the Khan, who receives custom at the rate of ten in the hundred of all merchandise. They pay so much for hire of ships also, that there is not above one half of their merchandise remaining entire to themselves, and yet that moiety yields vast profit to them. The citizens are idolatrous, given to pleasure: in it are many artificers on embroidered and arras work. The river is great, very wide and swift, and one arm of it runs to Quinsay, at the parting of which is Tringui situated, where porcelain dishes are made. I was told of a certain earth, which they cast up in hills, and so let lie exposed to all weathers for thirty or forty years without stirring; after which refining by time, they make dishes, paint them, and then put them in the furnace. You may there have eight dishes for one Venetian groat. In this kingdom of Concha, the Khan has as great a revenue almost as that of the kingdom of Quinsay. In these two Master Marco was, and in none of the other nine kingdoms of Mangi, in all which one language is used, with variety of dialect, and but one sort of writing; and therefore we will speak no more of them, but in the next book discourse of India the Greater, the Middle, and the Less, in which he was both in the service of the Khan, and also in his return with the Queen to Argon.