The pressure of the knuckles under a shawl, a masonic
system in use from Peking to Bombay, and possibly to Constantinople.
The term translated here "Light," and the "Light Country," is in the G.T.
"a la Carte," "a la Cartes." This puzzled me for a long time, as I
see it puzzled Mr. Hugh Murray, Signor Bartoli, and Lazari (who passes it
over). The version of Pipino, "ad Lucis terras finitimas deferunt,"
points to the true reading; - Carte is an error for Clarte.
The reading of this chapter is said to have fired Prince Rupert with the
scheme which resulted in the establishment of the Hudson's Bay Company.
[1] That is, in one passage of Pliny (iv. 12); for in another passage from
his multifarious note book, where Thule is spoken of, the Arctic day
and night are much more distinctly characterised (IV. 16).
CHAPTER XXII.
DESCRIPTION OF ROSIA AND ITS PEOPLE. PROVINCE OF LAC.
Rosia is a very great province, lying towards the north. The people are
Christians, and follow the Greek doctrine. There are several kings in the
country, and they have a language of their own. They are a people of
simple manners, but both men and women very handsome, being all very white
and [tall, with long fair hair]. There are many strong defiles and passes
in the country; and they pay tribute to nobody except to a certain Tartar
king of the Ponent, whose name is TOCTAI; to him indeed they pay tribute,
but only a trifle.
![The Travels Of Marco Polo - Volume 2 Of 2 By Marco Polo And Rustichello Of Pisa
- Etc.
Pliny's attribution, surely erroneous, of this custom to the Chinese [see
supra, H.C.], suggests that there may have - Page 917](../images/travel.jpg)
