IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| Cathay and the Way Thither : vol.2 |
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Citation Information
UNDER THE MONGOLS. 271
As all these cities are widely apart from one another, there is in each a prince of the blood or other prince of eminent rank, who commands the troops and governs the people, administers public affairs and maintains the laws and regulations. The Sing of each kingdom or province is established in the chief city, and every Sing is like a little town in itself, so numerous are the buildings for the use of the various public officers, and for the multitude of attendants and slaves attached to the establishment to do petty duties under the chiefs of the subordinate offices. It is the custom in that country to remove delinquents and criminals from their houses, families and property of every description, and to employ them in carrying loads, drawing carts, or moving stones for building, according to the sentence passed upon each.
The gentlemen attached to the princes and other persons of respectability, receive each the honours which are assigned to their respective ranks, and of the ranks there are several degrees.
As for the history of former emperors since time immemorial we propose to relate it specially in the Appendix to this work, for in this place we must be brief.'
Towards the south-east everything is subject to the Kaan except an isle of the ocean called CHIPANGU,2 which is not far from the coast of Churché and Kaoli. The people of that country are of short stature, with great bellies and heads sunk between their shoulders. Straight eastward all is subject to him that lies between the sea-coast and the frontier of the KIRGHIZ.3
Twelve Sing. Kiangsi also comprised Canton prior to 1293 (at least so I understand Klaproth). His making Sucheu on the desert frontier a separate province is perhaps a mistake altogether.
i All that follows is from D'Ohsson only.
The Cipangu, Zipangu of Polo, JAPAN, from the Chinese name Jipankwe ("kingdom of the Rising Sun," Panth.)
3 There seems to be here some indication of an idea of the coast
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