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.
