This fortress must have continued famous to Polo's time - indeed it
continues so still, the strategic position being one which nothing short of
a geological catastrophe could impair, - but I see no way of reconciling its
position with his narrative.
[Illustration: Plan of Ki-chau, after Duhalde.]
The name in Ramusio's form might be merely that of the Dynasty, viz.
Tai-Kin= Great Golden. But we have seen that Thaigin is not the only
reading. That of the MSS. seems to point rather to some name like
Kaichau. A hypothesis which has seemed to me to call for least correction
in the text is that the castle was at the Ki-chau of the maps, nearly due
west of P'ing-yang fu, and just about 20 miles from the Hwang Ho; that the
river was crossed in that vicinity, and that the traveller then descended
the valley to opposite P'u-chau fu, or possibly embarked and descended the
river itself to that point. This last hypothesis would mitigate the
apparent disproportion in the times assigned to the different parts of the
journey, and would, I think, clear the text of error. But it is only a
hypothesis. There is near Kichau one of the easiest crossing places of the
River, insomuch that since the Shen-si troubles a large garrison has been
kept up at Ki-chau to watch it.[1] And this is the only direction in which
two days' march, at Polo's rate, would bring him within 20 miles of the
Yellow River. Whether there is any historic castle at Ki-chau I know not;
the plan of that place in Duhalde, however, has the aspect of a strong
position. Baron v. Richthofen is unable to accept this suggestion, and has
favoured me with some valuable remarks on this difficult passage, which I
slightly abridge: -
"The difficulties are, (1) that for either reading, Thaigin or Caichu,
a corresponding place can be found; (2) in the position of Cachanfu,
setting both at naught.
"Thaigin. There are two passages of the Yellow River near its great bend.
One is at T'ungkwan, where I crossed it; the other, and more convenient, is
at the fortress of Taiching-kwan, locally pronounced Taigin-kwan. This
fortress, or rather fortified camp, is a very well-known place, and to be
found on native maps; it is very close to the river, on the left bank,
about 6 m. S.W. of P'u-chau fu. The road runs hence to Tung-chau fu and
thence to Si-ngan fu. T'aiching-kwan could not possibly (at Polo's rate) be
reached in 2 days from P'ing-yang fu.
"Caichu. If this reading be adopted Marsden may be right in supposing
Kiai-chau, locally Khaidju, to be meant. This city dominates the
important salt marsh, whence Shan-si and Shen-si are supplied with salt. It
is 70 or 80 m. from P'ing-yang fu, but could be reached in 2 days. It
commands a large and tolerably populous plain, and is quite fit to have
been an imperial residence.
"May not the striking fact that there is a place corresponding to either
name suggest that one of them was passed by Polo in going, the other in
returning? and that, this being the only locality between Ch'eng-tu fu and
Chu-chau where there was any deviation between the two journeys, his
geographical ideas may have become somewhat confused, as might now happen
to any one in like case and not provided with a map? Thus the traveller
himself might have put into Ramusio's text the name of Thaigin instead of
Caichu. From Kiai-chau he would probably cross the River at T'ungkwan,
whilst in returning by way of Taiching-kwan he would pass through
P'uchau-fu (or vice versa). The question as to Caichu may still be
settled, as it must be possible to ascertain where the Kin resided."[2]
[Mr. Rockhill writes (Land of the Lamas, p. 17): "One hundred and twenty
li south-south-west of the city is Kiai Chou, with the largest salt
works in China." Richthofen has estimated that about 150,000 tons of salt
are produced annually from the marshes around it. - H.C.]
NOTE 3. - The eight days' journey through richly cultivated plains run up
the basin of the Wei River, the most important agricultural region of
North-West China, and the core of early Chinese History. The loess is
here more than ever predominant, its yellow tinge affecting the whole
landscape, and even the atmosphere. Here, according to Baron v.
Richthofen, originated the use of the word hwang "yellow," as the symbol
of the Earth, whence the primeval emperors were styled Hwang-ti, "Lord
of the Earth," but properly "Lord of the Loess."
[The Rev. C. Holcombe (l.c. p. 66) writes: "From T'ung-kwan to Si-ngan
fu, the road runs in a direction nearly due west, through a most lovely
section of country, having a range of high hills upon the south, and the
Wei River on the north. The road lies through one long orchard, and the
walled towns and cities lie thickly along, for the most part at a little
distance from the highway." Mr. Rockhill says (Land of the Lamas, pp.
19-20): "The road between T'ung-kwan and Si-ngan fu, a distance of 110
miles, is a fine highway - for China - with a ditch on either side, rows of
willow-trees here and there, and substantial stone bridges and culverts
over the little streams which cross it.
