(De Mailla, IX. 409; 418, 428; Gaubil, 195; Deguignes,
III. 177.)
[Illustration: Japanese in fight with Chinese. (After Siebold, from an
ancient Japanese drawing.)
"Or ensint avint ceste estoire de la desconfiture de les gens dou Grant
Kaan."]
The Abacan of Polo is probably the Asikan of the Japanese, whom Gaubil
calls Argan. Vonsainchin is perhaps Fan Wen-hu with the Chinese title
of Tsiang-Kiun or General (elsewhere represented in Polo by Sangon),
- FAN TSIANG-KIUN.
We see that, as usual, whilst Marco's account in some of the main features
concurs with that of the histories, he gives a good many additional
particulars, some of which, such as the ill-will between the Generals, are
no doubt genuine. But of the story of the capture of the Japanese capital
by the shipwrecked army we know not what to make: we can't accept it
certainly.
[The Korea Review publishes a History of Korea based upon Korean and
Chinese sources, from which we gather some interesting facts regarding the
relations of China, Korea, and Japan at the time of Kublai: "In 1265, the
seed was sown that led to the attempted invasion of Japan by the Mongols.
A Koryu citizen, Cho I., found his way to Peking, and there, having gained
the ear of the emperor, told him that the Mongol powers ought to secure
the vassalage of Japan.
