The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 / Page 554 (Color Image)

0554	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1

252 MARCO POLO Boom I.

mountains and valleys, where water is to be found as

well as woods and pastures.

Their houses are circular, and are made of wands

covered with felts.' These are carried along with them

whithersoever they go ; for the wands are so strongly

bound together, and likewise so well combined, that the

frame can be made very light. Whenever they erect

these huts the door is always to the south. They also

have waggons covered with black felt so efficaciously

that no rain can get in. These are drawn by oxen and

camels, and the women and children travel in them.'

The women do the buying and selling, and whatever is

necessary to provide for the husband and household ;

for the men all lead the life of gentlemen, troubling

themselves about nothing but hunting and hawking,

and looking after their goshawks and falcons, unless it

be the practice of warlike exercises.

They live on the milk and meat which their herds

supply, and on the produce of the chase ; and they eat

all kinds of flesh, including that of horses and dogs, and

Pharaoh's rats, • of which last there are great numbers

in burrows on those plains.3 Their drink is mare's

milk.

They are very careful not to meddle with each

other's wives, and will not do so on any account, hold-

ing that to be an evil and abominable thing. The

women too are very good and loyal to their husbands,

and notable housewives withal.4 [Ten or twenty of

them will dwell together in charming peace and unity,

nor shall you ever hear an ill word among them.]

The marriage customs of Tartars are as follows.

Any man may take a hundred wives an he so please,

and if he be able to keep them. But the first wife is

ever held most in honour, and as the most legitimate

[and the same applies to the sons whom she may bear].

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