Chapter CXXXVI: Preface

There is no need of a long Preface to this small book. When the third edition of the _Book of Ser Marco Polo_ was published in 1903, criticism was lenient to the Editor of YULE’S grand work, and it was highly satisfactory to me that such competent judges as Sir Aurel STEIN and Sven HEDIN gave their approval to the remarks I made on the itineraries followed in Central Asia by the celebrated Venetian Traveller.

Nevertheless occasional remarks having been made by some of the reviewers, proper notice was taken of them; moreover, it was impossible to avoid some mistakes and omissions in a work including several hundreds of pages. As years went on, extensive voyages were undertaken by travellers like Sir Aurel STEIN, Sven HEDIN, PELLIOT, KOZLOV, and others, who brought fresh and important information. I had myself collected material from new works as they were issued and from old works which had been neglected. In the mean time I had given a second edition of _Cathay and the Way Thither_, having thus an opportunity to explore old ground again and add new commentaries to the book.

All this material is embodied in the present volume which is to be considered but as a supplementary volume of “Addenda” and “Corrigenda” to the Book itself. I have gathered matter for a younger editor when a fourth edition of the _Book of Ser Marco Polo_ is undertaken, age preventing the present editor to entertain the hope to be able to do the work himself.

To many who lent their aid have I to give my thanks: all are named in the following pages, but I have special obligation to Sir Aurel STEIN, to Dr. B. LAUFER, of Chicago, to Sir Richard TEMPLE, and to Prof. Paul PELLIOT, of the College de France, Paris, who furnished me with some of the more important notes. A paper by Prof. E. H. PARKER in the _Asiatic Quarterly Review_ proved also of considerable help.

HENRI CORDIER.

PARIS, 8, RUE DE SIAM,
11_th of November_, 1919.

A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SIR HENRY YULE’S WRITINGS.

—— Notes [miscellaneous] by H. Yule, Palermo, August 28th, 1872.
(_Indian Antiquary_, I. 1872, pp. 320–321.)

—— “Discovery of Sanskrit.” By H. Yule, Palermo, Dec. 26th, 1872.
(_Indian Antiquary_, II. 1873, p. 96.)

—— “Sopeithes, King of the Κηκεοί.” By H. Yule. (_Indian Antiquary_,
II. 1873, p. 370.)

—— The Geography of Ibn Batuta’s Travels in India. By Col. H. Yule,
Palermo. (_Indian Antiquary_, III. 1874, pp. 114–117, 209–212.)

—— The Geography of Ibn Batuta’s Travels. By Col. H. Yule, C.B.
(_Ibid._ pp. 242–244.)

—— Mediæval Ports of Western and Southern India, etc., named in the
Tohfat-al-Majâhidîn. By Col. H. Yule, C.B., Palermo. (_Indian
Antiquary_, III. 1874, pp. 212–214.)

—— Malifattan. By Col. H. Yule, C.B., Palermo. (_Indian Antiquary_,
IV. 1875, pp. 8–10.)

—— Champa. By H. Yule. (_Indian Antiquary_, VI. 1877, pp. 228–230.)
From the _Geog. Mag._, March, 1877, IV. pp. 66–67. Written for
the _Encyclopædia Britannica_, but omitted.

—— Specimen of a Discursive Glossary of Anglo-Indian Terms. By H. Y.
and A. C. B. (_Indian Antiquary_, VIII. 1879, pp. 52–54, 83–86,
173–176, 201–204, 231–233.)

SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS

PAGE
PREFACE v

A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SIR HENRY YULE’S WRITINGS vii

MARCO POLO AND HIS BOOK

INTRODUCTORY NOTICES 3

PROLOGUE 13

Sarai—Shang tu—Khitán inscription

BOOK I. ACCOUNT OF REGIONS VISITED OR HEARD OF ON THE JOURNEY
FROM THE LESSER ARMENIA TO THE COURT OF THE GREAT KAAN AT
CHANDU 15

Baudas—Nasich—Death of Mostas’im—Tauris—Cala Ataperistan—
Persia—Fat-tailed sheep—The Caraunas Robbers—Pashai—Hormos—
Tun-o-Kain—Tutia—Arbre sec—Old Man of the Mountain—Road to
Sapurgan—Dogana—Badakhshan—Wakhan—Plateau of Pamir—Paonano
Pao—Yue Chi—Bolor— Khotan—Pein—City of Lop—Great Desert—
Camul—Chingintalas—Sukchur—Campichu—Etzina—Tatar—
Karacathayans—Keraits—Death of Chingiz Khan—Táilgan—Marriage—
_Tengri_—Coats of Mail—Reindeer— Sinju—Gurun—King George—
Tenduc—Christians.

BOOK II. PART I. THE KAAN, HIS COURT AND CAPITAL 65

Nayan—_P’ai Tzŭ_—Mongol Imperial Family—Hunting Leopard—
Cachar Modun—Bark of Trees—Value of Gold—_Ch’ing siang_—
Cycle of Twelve—Persian.

BOOK II. PART II. JOURNEY TO THE WEST AND SOUTH-WEST OF CATHAY 75

Wine and Vines—Christian Monument at Si-ngan fu—Khumdan—
Mubupa—_Chien tao_—Sindafu—Tibet—Wild Oxen—Kiung tu—Karajang—
Zardandan—Couvade—King of Mien—Burma—Nga-tshaung-gyan—Caugigu.