He
adds, that next to the Khan, two other life-guards used to stand, who held
in their hands 'natural' axes of jade (axes found fortuitously in the
ground, probably primitive weapons)." (Palladius, p. 43.) - H. C.]
NOTE 5. - Some of these etiquettes were probably rather Chinese than
Mongol, for the regulations of the court of Kublai apparently combined the
two. In the visit of Shah Rukh's ambassadors to the court of the Emperor
Ch'eng Tsu of the Ming Dynasty in 1421, we are told that by the side of
the throne, at an imperial banquet, "there stood two eunuchs, each having
a band of thick paper over his mouth, and extending to the tips of his
ears.... Every time that a dish, or a cup of darassun (rice-wine) was
brought to the emperor, all the music sounded." (N. et Ext. XIV. 408,
409.) In one of the Persepolitan sculptures, there stands behind the King
an eunuch bearing a fan, and with his mouth covered; at least so says
Heeren. (Asia, I. 178.)
NOTE 6. - "Jongleours et entregetours de maintes plusieurs manieres de
granz experimenz" (P.); "de Giuculer et de Tregiteor" (G. T.). Ital.
Tragettatore, a juggler; Romance, Trasjitar, Tragitar, to juggle. Thus
Chaucer: -
"There saw I playing Jogelours,
Magiciens, and Tragetours,
And Phetonisses, Charmeresses,
Old Witches, Sorceresses," etc.
- House of Fame, III.
