The Captain Of An Hundred Men Has A Badge Or Tablet Of Silver; The
Captain Of A Thousand Has A Tablet Of Gold Or Silver Gilt; And The
Commander Of Ten Thousand Has A Tablet Of Gold, Ornamented With The Head Of
A Lion.
These tablets differ in size and weight, according to the dignity
of the wearers.
On each tablet there is an inscription of the following
import: "By the strength and power of the Almighty God, and by the grace
which He hath given to our empire: Let the name of the great khan be
blessed, and let all die or be destroyed who will not obey his commands."
Besides these badges of distinction all officers have commissions in
writing, in which all their duties, privileges, and authorities are
recited. When the generals appear in public, they have a cloth or canopy
carried over their heads, and they give audience sitting on chairs of
silver. The badge or tablet of a general, weighs three hundred sagi, or
fifty ounces of gold, laving images of the sun and moon; and such as have
the representation of a ger-falcon, may take with them a whole army for
their guard.
Kublai-khan is a comely handsome man of middle stature, with a fresh
complexion, bright black eyes, a well formed nose, and every way well
proportioned. He has four lawful wives, every one of whom has the title of
empress, and the eldest born son of these wives is to succeed him in the
empire. Each of these empresses has her own magnificent palace and peculiar
court, and is attended by three hundred women, besides many eunuchs, and
the suite of each extends at least to ten thousand persons. The great Khan
has also many concubines; and every second year he sends messengers to a
remarkably fair tribe among the Tartars named Virgut, to make search for
die fairest young women among them for his use. These messengers usually
bring with them four or five hundred young women, more or less as they see
cause. Examiners are appointed to take a view of all their beauties, who
fix values upon them in proportion to their various merits, at sixteen,
seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, or more carats; and only those are
brought to court whose values reach to a certain appointed rate. On their
arrival at Cambalu, other examiners again view them, and choose out twenty
or thirty of the handsomest for the chambers of the khan. Those who are
thus selected, are placed for some time under the care of some of the wives
of the great barons about the court, who are directed to report whether
they do not snore in their sleep, and if they are not offensive in smell or
behaviour. Such as are finally approved, are divided into parties of five;
and one such party attends in the chamber of the khan for three days and
nights in their turn, while another party waits in an adjoining chamber to
prepare whatever the others may command them. Those who are less prized in
the course of these rigid examinations of their qualities, are employed in
cookery or other offices about the palace, or are bestowed by the khan on
his favoured officers, with large portions. The men of the country from
whence these young women are brought, deem it a great honour when their
daughters are found worthy of the khans regard, and esteem themselves
unfortunate when they are rejected at court.
Kublai had twenty-two sons by his four legitimate wives, and the first born
of his first wife, named Zingis, would have succeeded him in the empire if
he had not died before his father. Zingis left a son named Timur, who is a
wise and valiant prince of great military experience, and who is destined
to succeed his grandfather on the imperial throne, instead of his deceased
father. By his concubines he has twenty-five sons, all of whom are daily
exercised in martial employments, and are all promoted to high military
posts and governments. Seven of his sons by his lawful wives are kings of
great provinces, and rule the countries committed to their charge with
great prudence and discretion.
[1] In a former note, it has been mentioned, on the authority of Abulgazi-
khan, himself a descendant of Zingis, and prince, of Khuaresm, that
Kublai-khan was only the fifth emperor of the Tartars, and that he
ascended the throne in 1257. The difference of date in this latter
circumstance is quite unimportant, and may have proceeded, either from
a different way of reckoning, or the delay of intelligence from so
vast a distance. But Kublai died in 1292, after reigning thirty-five
years, according to Abulgazi, and is said to have been then eighty
years of age. He must therefore have been forty-five years old at his
accession, instead of twenty-seven. Harris indeed mentions in, a note,
that the age of Kublai in the MSS. and even in many of the printed
editions, was left blank. - E.
[2] In Harris, this date is 1286; but as, in a note, this war is said to
have occurred on occasion of the election of Kublai to the imperial
dignity in 1257, I have ventured to restore what seems to be the true
date. Besides Naiam, in 1286, thirty years of age, could not possibly
have been the uncle of Kublai. - E.
[3] The new city of Pekin, of which hereafter. - E.
[4] The followers of Naiam in this rebellion are said to have consisted of
four nations, or tribes of Tartars, named Ciazza, Cadi, Barscol, and
Sitinqui, but of whom no other information or notice remains. - E.
[5] This is the only notice of the Jews in the east by Marco Polo, and
serves considerably to confirm the authenticity of Rabbi Banjamin;
who, as a Jew, felt more interest in attending to his countrymen. - E.
SECTION XI.
Account of the Imperial City of Cambalu, and the Court of the Great Khan,
or Emperor of the Tartars.
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