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. These are
very strong fences of my position, and it demands strong arguments to
level them. The adverse arguments (in brief) are these:
(1.) That Fu-chau was not the capital of Fo-kien ("chief dou reigne").
(2.) That the River of Fu-chau does not flow through the middle of the
city ("por le mi de cest cite"), nor even under the walls.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 446 of 1350
Words from 119164 to 119439
of 370046
