In chapters 23, 24 of Book I., we have in the G. T.
Asisim, Asciscin, Asescin, and in Pauthier's MSS. Hasisins, Harsisins,
etc. I adopt ASCISCIN, or in English spelling ASHISHIN, for the same
reason as before. So with Creman, Crerman, Crermain, QUERMAN, Anglice
KERMAN; Cormos, HORMOS, and many more.[2]
In two or three cases I have adopted a reading which I cannot show
literatim in any authority, but because such a form appears to be the
just resultant from the variety of readings which are presented; as in
surveying one takes the mean of a number of observations when no one can
claim an absolute preference.
Polo's proper names, even in the French Texts, are in the main formed on
an Italian fashion of spelling.[3] I see no object in preserving such
spelling in an English book, so after selecting the best reading of the
name I express it in English spelling, printing Badashan, Pashai,
Kerman, instead of Badascian, Pasciai, Querman, and so on.
And when a little trouble has been taken to ascertain the true form and
force of Polo's spelling of Oriental names and technical expressions, it
will be found that they are in the main as accurate as Italian lips and
orthography will admit, and not justly liable either to those disparaging
epithets[4] or to those exegetical distortions which have been too often
applied to them.
