It O
should O
be O
known O
to O
the O
reader O
that O
at O
the O
time O
when O
Baldwin O
II. O
was O
emperor O
of O
Constantinople/ O
where O
a O
magis O
trate O
representing O
the O
doge O
of O
Venice O
then B-LOC
resided O
and O
in O
the O
year O
of O
our O
Lord O
1250 O
Nicolo O
Polo B-PER
the I-PER
father O
of O
the O
said O
Marco O
and B-PER
Maffeo O
the B-PER
brother O
of O
Nicolo O
respectable B-PER
and O
weli O
informed O
men O
embarked O
in O
a O
ship O
of O
their O
own O
with O
a O
rich O
and O
varied O
cargo O
of O
merchandise O
and O
reached O
Constantinople O
in B-LOC
safety. I-LOC
After O
mature O
deliberation O
on O
the O
subject O
of O
their O
proceedings O
it O
was O
determined O
as O
the O
measure O
most O
likely O
to O
improve O
their O
trading O
capital O
that O
they O
should O
prosecute O
their O
voyage O
into O
the O
Euxine O
or O
Black O
Sea. O
With O
this B-LOC
view I-LOC
they O
made O
purchases O
of O
many O
fine O
and O
costly O
jewels O
and O
taking O
their O
departure O
from O
Constantinople O
navigated B-LOC
that I-LOC
sea O
to O
a O
port O
named O
Soldaia O
from O
whence O
they O
travelled O
on O
horse O
back O
many O
days O
until O
they O
reached O
the O
court O
of O
a O
powerful O
chief O
of O
the O
Western O
Tartars O
named O
Barka O
who O
dwelt O
in O
the B-PER
cities O
of O
Bolgara O
and O
Assara O
and B-LOC
had I-LOC
the O
reputation B-LOC
of O
being O
one O
of O
the O
most O
liberal O
and O
civilized O
princes O
hitherto O
known O
amongst O
the O
tribes O
of O
Tartary. O
He O
expressed O
much O
satisfaction O
at O
the O
arrival O
of O
these O
travellers O
and O
received O
them O
with O
marks O
of O
distinction. O
In O
return O
for O
which O
courtesy O
when O
they O
had O
laid O
before O
him O
the O
jewels O
they O
brought O
with O
them O
and O
perceived O
that O
their O
beauty O
pleased O
him O
they O
presented O
them O
for O
his O
acceptance. O