Taels;
candy, 53,504 piculs, 304,970 Hk. taels. - H.C.]
[Dr. Bretschneider (Hist. of Bot. Disc. I. p. 2) remarks that "the sugar
cane although not indigenous in China, was known to the Chinese in the 2nd
century B.C. It is largely cultivated in the Southern provinces." - H.C.]
The fierce lions are, as usual, tigers. These are numerous in this
province, and tradition points to the diversion of many roads, owing to
their being infested by tigers. Tiger cubs are often offered for sale in
Amoy.[3]
[1] "It is not improbable that there is some admixture of aboriginal blood
in the actual population (of Fuh-Kien), but if so, it cannot be much.
The surnames in this province are the same as those in Central
and North China.... The language also is pure Chinese; actually much
nearer the ancient form of Chinese than the modern Mandarin dialect.
There are indeed many words in the vernacular for which no
corresponding character has been found in the literary style: but
careful investigation is gradually diminishing the number." (Note
by Rev. Dr. C. Douglas.)
[2] Note by Mr. C. Phillips. I omit a corroborative quotation about
sugar from the Turkish Geography, copied from Klaproth in the former
edition: because the author, Hajji Khalfa, used European sources; and
I have no doubt the passage was derived indirectly from Marco Polo.
[3] Note by Mr. G. Phillips.
CHAPTER LXXXI.
CONCERNING THE GREATNESS OF THE CITY OF FUJU.
Now this city of Fuju is the key of the kingdom which is called CHONKA,
and which is one of the nine great divisions of Manzi.[NOTE 1] The city
is a seat of great trade and great manufactures. The people are Idolaters
and subject to the Great Kaan. And a large garrison is maintained there by
that prince to keep the kingdom in peace and subjection. For the city is
one which is apt to revolt on very slight provocation.
There flows through the middle of this city a great river, which is about
a mile in width, and many ships are built at the city which are launched
upon this river. Enormous quantities of sugar are made there, and there is
a great traffic in pearls and precious stones. For many ships of India
come to these parts bringing many merchants who traffic about the Isles of
the Indies. For this city is, as I must tell you, in the vicinity of the
Ocean Port of ZAYTON,[NOTE 2] which is greatly frequented by the ships of
India with their cargoes of various merchandize; and from Zayton ships
come this way right up to the city of Fuju by the river I have told you
of; and 'tis in this way that the precious wares of India come hither.
[NOTE 3]
The city is really a very fine one and kept in good order, and all
necessaries of life are there to be had in great abundance and cheapness.
NOTE 1. - The name here applied to Fo-kien by Polo is variously written as
Choncha, Chonka, Concha, Chouka. It has not been satisfactorily
explained. Klaproth and Neumann refer it to Kiang-Che, of which Fo-kien
at one time of the Mongol rule formed a part. This is the more improbable
as Polo expressly distinguishes this province or kingdom from that which
was under Kinsay, viz. Kiang-Che. Pauthier supposes the word to represent
Kien-Kwe "the Kingdom of Kien," because in the 8th century this
territory had formed a principality of which the seat was at Kien-chau,
now Kien-ning fu. This is not satisfactory either, for no evidence is
adduced that the name continued in use.
One might suppose that Choncha represented T'swan-chau, the Chinese
name of the city of Zayton, or rather of the department attached to it,
written by the French Thsiuan-tcheou, but by Medhurst Chwanchew, were
it not that Polo's practice of writing the term tcheu or chau by giu
is so nearly invariable, and that the soft ch is almost always expressed
in the old texts by the Italian ci (though the Venetian does use the
soft ch).[1]
It is again impossible not to be struck with the resemblance of Chonka
to "CHUNG-KWE" "the Middle Kingdom," though I can suggest no ground for
the application of such a title specially to Fo-kien, except a possible
misapprehension. Chonkwe occurs in the Persian Historia Cathaica
published by Mueller, but is there specially applied to North China. (See
Quat. Rashid., p. lxxxvi.)
The city of course is FU-CHAU. It was visited also by Friar Odoric, who
calls it Fuzo, and it appears in duplicate on the Catalan Map as Fugio
and as Fozo.
I used the preceding words, "the city of course is Fu-chau," in the first
edition. Since then Mr. G. Phillips, of the consular staff in Fo-kien, has
tried to prove that Polo's Fuju is not Fu-chau (Foochow is his
spelling), but T'swan-chau. This view is bound up with another regarding
the identity of Zayton, which will involve lengthy notice under next
chapter; and both views have met with an able advocate in the Rev. Dr. C.
Douglas, of Amoy.[2] I do not in the least accept these views about Fuju.
In considering the objections made to Fu-chau, it must never be forgotten
that, according to the spelling usual with Polo or his scribe, Fuju is not
merely "a name with a great resemblance in sound to Foochow" (as Mr.
Phillips has it); it is Mr. Phillips's word Foochow, just as absolutely
as my word Fu-chau is his word Foochow. (See remarks almost at the end of
the Introductory Essay.) And what has to be proved against me in this
matter is, that when Polo speaks of Fu-chau he does not mean Fu-chau.
It must also be observed that the distances as given by Polo (three days
from Quelinfu to Fuju, five days from Fuju to Zayton) do correspond well
with my interpretations, and do not correspond with the other.
