All These Characteristics Are Strikingly Indicative Of The Unrevised Product Of Dictation, And Many Of Them Would Necessarily Disappear Either In Translation Or In A Revised Copy.

Of changes in representing the same proper name, take as an example that of the Kaan of Persia whom Polo calls Quiacatu (Kaikhatu), but also Acatu, Catu, and the like.

As an example of the literal following of dictation take the following: -

"Let us leave Rosia, and I will tell you about the Great Sea (the Euxine), and what provinces and nations lie round about it, all in detail; and we will begin with Constantinople - First, however, I should tell you about a province, etc.... There is nothing more worth mentioning, so I will speak of other subjects, - but there is one thing more to tell you about Rosia that I had forgotten.... Now then let us speak of the Great Sea as I was about to do. To be sure many merchants and others have been here, but still there are many again who know nothing about it, so it will be well to include it in our Book. We will do so then, and let us begin first with the Strait of Constantinople.

"At the Straits leading into the Great Sea, on the West Side, there is a hill called the Faro. - But since beginning on this matter I have changed my mind, because so many people know all about it, so we will not put it in our description but go on to something else." (See vol.

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