"In the Island of Hai-nan (Hai-lam), again (setting aside the central
aborigines), a language is spoken which differs from Amoy more than that
of Swatow, but is more nearly related to these two than to any other of
the languages of China.
"In Fuh-chau fu we have another language which is largely spoken in the
centre and north of Fuh-kien. This has many points of resemblance to the
Amoy, but is quite unintelligible to the Amoy people, with the exception
of an occasional word or phrase.
"Hing-hwa fu (Heng-hoa), between Fuh-chau and Chinchew, has also a
language of its own, though containing only two Hien districts. It is
alleged to be unintelligible both at Amoy and at Fuhchau.
"To the other languages of China that of Amoy is less closely related; yet
all evidently spring from one common stock. But that common stock is not
the modern Mandarin dialect, but the ancient form of the Chinese language
as spoken some 3000 years ago. The so-called Mandarin, far from being
the original form, is usually more changed than any. It is in the ancient
form of the language (naturally) that the relation of Chinese to other
languages can best be traced; and as the Amoy vernacular, which very
generally retains the final consonants in their original shape, has been
one of the chief sources from which the ancient form of Chinese has been
recovered, the study of that vernacular is of considerable importance."
NOTE 7. - This is inconsistent with his former statements as to the supreme
wealth of Kinsay. But with Marco the subject in hand is always pro
magnifico.
Ramusio says that the Traveller will now "begin to speak of the
territories, cities, and provinces of the Greater, Lesser, and Middle
India, in which regions he was when in the service of the Great Kaan,
being sent thither on divers matters of business. And then again when he
returned to the same quarter with the queen of King Argon, and with his
father and uncle, on his way back to his native land. So he will relate
the strange things that he saw in those Indies, not omitting others which
he heard related by persons of reputation and worthy of credit, and things
that were pointed out to him on the maps of manners of the Indies
aforesaid."
[Illustration: The Kaan's Fleet leaving the Port of Zayton]
[Illustration: Marco Polo's Itineraries No. VI. (Book II, Chapters 67-82)
Journey through Manzi Polo's names thus Kinsay]
[1] Dr. C. Douglas objects to this derivation of Zayton, that the place
was never called Tseut'ung absolutely, but T'seu-t'ung-ching, "city
of prickly T'ung-trees"; and this not as a name, but as a polite
literary epithet, somewhat like "City of Palaces" applied to Calcutta.
[2] Giovanni did not get to Zayton; but two years later he got to Canton
with Fernao Perez, was sent ashore as Factor, and a few days after
died of fever. (De Barros, III. II. viii.) The way in which Botero, a
compiler in the latter part of the 16th century, speaks of Zayton as
between Canton and Liampo (Ningpo), and exporting immense quantities
of porcelain, salt and sugar, looks as if he had before him modern
information as to the place. He likewise observes, "All the moderns
note the port of Zaiton between Canton and Liampo." Yet I know no
other modern allusion except Giovanni d'Empoli's; and that was printed
only a few years ago. (Botero, Relazione Universale, pp. 97,
228.)
[3] Martini says of Ganhai ('An-Hai or Ngan-Hai), "Ingens hic mercium ac
Sinensium navium copia est ... ex his ('Anhai and Amoy) in totam
Indiam merces avehuntur."
[4] Dr. Douglas assures me that the cut at p. 245 is an excellent
view of the entrance to the S. channel of the Chang-chau River,
though I derived it from a professed view of the mouth of the
Chinchew River. I find he is quite right; see List of
Illustrations.
[5] In a modern Chinese geographical work abstracted by Mr. Laidlay, we
are told that the great river of Tsim-lo, or Siam, "penetrates
to a branch of the Hwang-Ho." (J.A.S.B. XVII. Pt. I. 157.)
[6] CHINESE-ENGLISH DICTIONARY of the Vernacular or Spoken language of
Amoy, with the principal variations of the Chang-chew and Chin-chew
Dialects; by the Rev. Carstairs Douglas, M.A., LL.D.,
Glasg., Missionary of the Presb. Church in England. (Truebner, 1873.)
I must note that I have not access to the book itself, but condense
these remarks from extracts and abstracts made by a friend at my
request.
BOOK THIRD.
JAPAN, THE ARCHIPELAGO, SOUTHERN INDIA, AND THE COASTS AND ISLANDS OF THE
INDIAN SEA
[Illustration: The Kaan's Fleet passing through the Indian Archipelago
"Fist aparoiller xiv nes, lesquels avoit chascune iv arbres, et maintes
foies aloient a xii voiles ... et najeient bien iii mois tant k'il
vendrent a bre Asie qui es ver midi"]
BOOK III.
CHAPTER I.
OF THE MERCHANT SHIPS OF MANZI THAT SAIL UPON THE INDIAN SEAS.
Having finished our discourse concerning those countries wherewith our
Book hath been occupied thus far, we are now about to enter on the subject
of INDIA, and to tell you of all the wonders thereof.
And first let us speak of the ships in which merchants go to and fro
amongst the Isles of India.
These ships, you must know, are of fir timber.[NOTE 1] They have but one
deck, though each of them contains some 50 or 60 cabins, wherein the
merchants abide greatly at their ease, every man having one to himself.
The ship hath but one rudder, but it hath four masts; and sometimes they
have two additional masts, which they ship and unship at pleasure.[NOTE 2]
