The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 / Page 457 (Color Image)

0457	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1

4•' •

r ' • .

. i 1..

CHAP. XXIX THE PROVINCE OF BADASHAN

157

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

•

National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books