They Are Extremely Lean, Although They Use Abundance
Of Flesh And Rice; Yet The Natives Will Shed No Blood, And Employ The
Saracens Who Live Among Them To Slaughter Their Cattle.
They have many
strong cities and towns, and being surrounded by deserts and rugged
mountains, they are in no danger of any foreign enemies, so that the king
of this country yields tribute to none.
Coral is held in great estimation
in this country, and sells dearer than in any other part of the world.
There are certain hermits in this province, who live with great abstinence
in cells and monasteries, devoting their whole lives to the service of
their idols, and observing the strictest chastity; Many of these men are
reputed as saints and are held in high estimation among the people. From
this province you may go to the Indies and the ocean; but I shall not now
follow out the course to India, but returning to Balaxiam, shall trace the
way to Kathay, betwixt the east and north-east.
Beyond Balaxium is a certain river, on which there are many castles and
villages, belonging to the brother of the king of Balaxium; and after three
days journey, we came to Vachan[8], which extends three days journey in
length, and as much is breadth, The inhabitants of this country have a
peculiar language, and are Mahometans; they are brave Warriors, and good
huntsmen, as their country abounds in wild beasts. Departing from thence,
in a direction between the east and north-east, we ascended for three whole
days journey, until we came to an exceeding high mountain, than which there
is none said to be higher in the world. In this place, between two
mountains, is a plain, in which is a great lake, and a fine river runs
through the plain, on the banks of which are such excellent pastures, that
a lean horse or ox will become quite fat in ten days. It contains also
great quantities of wild beasts, and particularly very large wild sheep,
having horns six spans long, out of which they make various kinds of
vessels. This plain continues twelve days journey in length, and is called
Pamer, in which there are no habitations, so that travellers must carry
all their provisions along with them. This plain is so high and cold that
no birds are to be found; and it is even said, that fires do not burn so
bright in this place, and do not so effectually boil or dress victuals as
in other places[9]. From hence, the way to Kathay leads, for forty days
journey, between the east and the north-east, through mountains, hills, and
vallies, in which there are many rivers, but no villages, neither any
verdure, except that some huts and cottages are to be seen among the
mountains; but the inhabitants are savage and wicked idolaters, who live by
hunting, and are clothed in the skins of wild beasts; the country is called
Palow[10]. After this you come to the province of Caschar[11], which is
inhabited by Mahometans, who are tributary to the great khan of the Mongals
or Tartars. The soil is fertile, and the country is full of pleasant
fields, gardens, and orchards, producing vines, fruit trees, cotton, hemp,
and flax, and extends five days journey. The inhabitants have a particular
language, and have many merchants, manufacturers, and artizans, but they
are so covetous, that they do not allow themselves either good meat or
drink. Among them there are some Nestorian Christians, who also have some
churches,
[1] Called likewise Mulete or Alamut; Marco makes here a sudden
return to the north-west of Persia; and from the abruptness of the
transition, it has been probably disarranged in transcription. This
country has been likewise called the land of the Assassins; it is near
Cashbin in Dilem, on the borders of Mazenderan. - E.
[2] The last of these princes was named Moadin, who, as mentioned
in the text, was made prisoner, and put to death by Houlagu-khan. In
the sequel of this work, there will be found other and more full
accounts of this old man of the mountain, or prince of the assassins.
- E.
[3] The transition seems here again abrupt, and unconnected; at
least the intermediate country of Mazerderan and Chorassan to the
desert, probably of Margiana, is very slightly passed over. - E.
[4] In this section, Marco seems to trace his journey along with
his father and uncle from Giazza towards Tartary; but the regular
connection appears to have been thrown into confusion, by ignorant
transcribers and editors. - E.
[5] Probably Satugar of the modern maps, on the western border of
Balk. - E.
[6] Forster considers this place to be Scasse or Al-shash, on the
river Sirr or Sihon, perhaps the Tashkund of modern maps, in the
province of Shash. The distances given by Marco must be strangely
corrupted by transcribers and editors, or Marco must have forgot when
he wrote his travels, perhaps twenty-six years after he passed this
country, when only a boy. The distance between Balk, on one of the
branches of the Sihon or Oxus, and Shash on the Jihon or Sirr, is at
least 350 miles in a straight line; which he appears to have travelled
in five days, but which would more probably occupy fifteen. - E.
[7] This river is probably the Sirr or Sihon; and the mountains of
Karatan and Arjun pervade the district, the two chains being separated
by the river. - E.
[8] Vochan, Vocham or Vakhan, on the river Vash. - Forst.
[9] This observation was made on the mountains of Savoy and
Switzerland, not many years ago, by M. de Luc, and published as a new
discovery. The phenomena must be owing to the diminished pressure of
the atmosphere at this great elevation, by which water boils at a much
lower temperature than is requisite for effective cookery: A digester
would effectually remove this evil, by enabling the water to become
sufficiently hot, without being dissipated.
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