Travels of Marco Polo the Venetian Marsden, William and Masefield, John (Eds.) London-New York: J.M Dents and sons - E-P. Dutton and co. https://archive.org/details/marcopolo00polouoft

CHAPTER I

It should be known to the reader that, at the time when Baldwin IIWas a count of Flanders.Baldwin II: Count of Flanders, and cousin of Louis IX. King of France, who reigned from 1237 to 1261, was the last of the Latin emperors of Constantinople.. was emperor of Constantinople/ where a magis trate representing the doge of Venice then resided, and in the year of our Lord 1250There are strong grounds, Marsden says, for believing that this date of 1250, although found in all the editions, is incorrect. In the manuscript, of which there are copies in the British Museum and Berlin libraries, the commencement of the voyage is placed in 1252, and some of the events related in the sequel render it evident that the departure, at least, of our travellers from Constantinople, must have been some years later than the middle of the century, and probably not sooner than 1255. How long they were detained in that city is not stated; but, upon any calculation of the period of their arrival or departure, it is surprising that Grynams, the editor of the Basle and Paris edition of 1532, and after him the learned Miiller and Bergeron, should, notwithstanding the anachronism, introduce into their texts the date of 1269, which was eight years after the expulsion of the emperor Baldwin, and was, in fact, the year in which they returned to Syria from their first Tartarian journey. Nicolo Polo, the father of the said Marco, and Maffeo, the brother of Nicolo, respectable and weli-informed men, embarked in a ship of their own, with a rich and varied cargo of merchandise, and reached Constantinople in safety. After mature deliberation on the subject of their proceedings, it was determined, as the measure most likely to improve their trading capital, that they should prosecute their voyage into the Euxine or Black Sea. With this view they made purchases of many fine and costly jewels, and taking their departure from Constantinople, navigated that sea to a port named Soldaia, from whence they travelled on horse back many days until they reached the court of a powerful chief of the Western TartarsVarious nomadic groups become part of Genghis Khan's army in the early 13th century, and become known to Europeans as Tatars or Tartars., named BarkaThis Tartar prince is usually named Bereke, the successor, and said to be the brother, of Batu, the son of Tushi, eldest son of Jengiz-khan; who inherited, as his portion of the dominions of his grandfather (although not in full sovereignty), the western countries of Kapchak or Kipchak, Allan, Russ, and Bulgar, and died in 1256., who dwelt in the cities of Bolgara and Assara, and had the reputation of being one of the most liberal and civilized princes hitherto known amongst the tribes of Tartary. He expressed much satisfaction at the arrival of these travellers, and received them with marks of distinction. In return for which courtesy, when they had laid before him the jewels they brought with them, and perceived that their beauty pleased him, they presented them for his acceptance. The liberality of this conduct on the part of the two brothers struck him with admiration; and being unwilling that they should surpass him in generosity, he not only directed double the value of the jewels to be paid to them, but made them in addition several rich presents. The brothers having resided a year in the dominions of this prince, they became desirous of revisiting their native country, but were impeded by the sudden breaking out of a war be tween him and another chief, named Alau, who ruled over the Eastern TartarsOne of several Mongol kingdoms. In a fierce and very sanguinary battle that ensued between their respective armies, Alau was victorious, in consequence of which, the roads being rendered unsafe for travellers, the brothers could not attempt to return by the way they came; and it was recommended to them, as the only practicable mode of reaching Constantinople, to proceed in an easterly direction, by an unfrequented route, so as to skirt the limits of BarkaBarka or Barca the King of the Tartars of the Ponent s territories. Accordingly they made their way to a town named Oukaka, situated on the confines of the kingdom of the Western TartarsVarious nomadic groups become part of Genghis Khan's army in the early 13th century, and become known to Europeans as Tatars or Tartars.. Leaving that place, and advancing still further, they crossed the Tigris, one of the four rivers of Paradise, and came to a desert, the extent of which was seventeen days journey, wherein they found neither town, castle, nor any substantial building, but only Tartars with their herds, dwelling in tents on the plain. Having passed this tract they arrived at length at a well-built city called Bokhara, in a province of that name, belonging to the dominions of Persia, and the noblest city of that kingdom, but governed by a prince whose name was Barak. Here, from inability to proceed further, they remained three years. It happened while these brothers were in Bokhara, that a person of consequence and gifted with eminent talents made his appearance there. He was proceeding as ambassador from Alau before mentioned, to the grand khan, supreme chief of all the Tartars, named Kublai, whose residence was at the extremity of the continent, in a direction between north east and east. Not having ever before had an opportunity, although he wished it, of seeing any natives of Italy, he was gratified in a high degree at meeting and conversing with these brothers, who had now become proficients in the Tartar language; and after associating with them for several days, and finding their manners agreeable to him, he proposed to them that they should accompany him to the presence of the great khan, who would be pleased by their appearance at his court, which had not hitherto been visited by any person from their country; adding assurances that they would be honourably received, and recompensed with many gifts.