国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
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The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 | |
マルコ=ポーロ卿の記録 : vol.1 |
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CHAP. XXIX THE PROVINCE OF BADASHAN
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CHAPTER XXIX.
OF THE PROVINCE OF BADASHAN.
BADASHAN is a Province inhabited by people who worship
Mahomrnet, and have a peculiar language. It forms a
very great kingdom, and the royalty is hereditary. All
those of the royal blood are descended from King Alex-
ander and the daughter of King Darius, who was Lord
of the vast Empire of Persia. And all these kings call
themselves in the Saracen tongue Z ULCARNIAIN, which is
as much as to say Alexander; and this out of regard for
Alexander the Great.'
I.t is in this province that those fine and valuable gems
the Balas Rubies are found. They are got in certain
rocks among the mountains, and in the search for them
the people dig great caves underground, just as is done
by miners for silver. There is but one special mountain
that produces them, and it is called SYGHINAN. The stones
are dug on the king's account, and no one else dares dig
in that mountain on pain of forfeiture of life as well as
goods ; nor may any one carry the stones out of the
kingdom. But the king amasses them all, and sends
them to other kings when he has tribute to render, or
when he desires to offer a friendly present ; and such only
as he pleases he causes to be sold. Thus he acts in order
to keep the Balas at a high value ; for if he were to allow
everybody to dig, they would extract so many that the
world would be glutted with them, and they would cease
to bear any value. Hence it is that he allows so few to
be taken out, and is so strict in the matter.2
There is also in the same country another mountain,
in which azure is found ; 'tis the finest in the world, and
isg of in a vein like silver. There are also other
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