I, of the second edition of Cathay and the
Way thither.
II., p. 27.
KHUMDAN.
Cf. Kumudana, given by the Sanskrit-Chinese vocabulary found in Japan
(Max MUELLER, Buddhist Texts from Japan, in Anecdota Oxoniensia, Aryan
Series, t. I., part I., p. 9), and the Khumdan and Khumadan of
Theophylactus. (See TOMASCHEK, in Wiener Z.M., t. III., p. 105;
Marquart, Eransahr, pp. 316-7; Osteuropaeische und Ostasiatische
Streifzuege, pp. 89-90.) (PELLIOT.)
XLI., p. 29 n. The vocabulary Hwei Hwei (Mahomedan) of the College of
Interpreters at Peking transcribes King chao from the Persian Kin-chang, a
name it gives to the Shen-si province. King chao was called Ngan-si fu in
1277. (DEVERIA, Epigraphie, p. 9.) Ken jan comes from Kin-chang =
King-chao = Si-ngan fu.
Prof. Pelliot writes, Bul. Ecole franc. Ext. Orient, IV., July-Sept.,
1904, p. 29: "Cette note de M. Cordier n'est pas exacte. Sous les Song,
puis sous les Mongols jusqu'en 1277, Si-ngan fou fut appele King-tchao
fou. Le vocabulaire houei-houei ne transcrit pas 'King-tchao du persan
kin-tchang,' mais, comme les Persans appelaient alors Si-ngan fou
Kindjanfou (le Kenjanfu de Marco Polo), cette forme persane est a son
tour transcrite phonetiquement en chinois Kin-tchang fou, sans que les
caracteres choisis jouent la aucun role semantique; Kin-tchang fou
n'existe pas dans la geographie chinoise. Quant a l'origine de la forme
persane, il est possible, mais non par sur, que ce soit King-tchao fou. La
forme 'Quen-zan-fou,' qu'un ecolier chinois du Chen Si fournit a M. von
Richthofen comme le nom de Si-ngan fou au temps des Yuan, doit avoir ete
fautivement recueillie. Il me parait impossible qu'un Chinois d'une
province quelconque prononce zan le caractere [Chinese] tchao."
XLI., p. 29 n. A clause in the edict also orders the foreign bonzes of Ta
T'sin and Mubupa (Christian and Mobed or Magian) to return to
secular life.
Mubupa has no doubt been derived by the etymology mobed, but it is
faulty; it should be Muhupa. (PELLIOT, Bul. Ecole franc. Ext. Orient,
IV., July-Sept., 1904, p. 771.) Pelliot writes to me that there is now no
doubt that it is derived from mu-lu hien and that it must be understood
as the "[religion of] the Celestial God of the Magi."
XLIII., p. 32.
"The chien-tao, or 'pillar road,' mentioned, should be chan-tao, or
'scaffolding road.' The picture facing p. 50 shows how the shoring up or
scaffolding is effected. The word chan is still in common use all over
the Empire, and in 1267 Kublai ordered this identical road ('Sz Ch'wan
chan-tao') to be repaired. There are many such roads in Sz Ch'wan
besides the original one from Han-chung-Fu." (E.H. PARKER, As. Quart.
Rev., Jan., 1904, p. 144.)
XLIV., p. 36. SINDAFU (Ch'eng tu fu). - Through the midst of this great
city runs a large river.... It is a good half-mile wide....
"It is probable that in the thirteenth century, when Marco Polo was on his
travels, the 'great river a good half-mile wide,' flowing past Chengtu,
was the principal stream; but in the present day that channel is
insignificant in comparison to the one which passes by Ta Hsien, Yung-Chia
Chong, and Hsin-Chin Hsien.
