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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
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260
MARCO POLO Boo': T.
Mr. Rockhill (Land of the Lamas, 130) says he never saw them drink knin iz. —H. C.]
The mare's-milk drink of Scythian nomads is alluded to by many ancient authors. But the manufacture of Kumiz is particularly spoken of by Herodotus. " The (mare's) milk is poured into deep wooden casks, about which the blind slaves are placed, and then the milk is stirred round. That which rises to the top is drawn off, and considered the best part ; the under portion is of less account." Strabo also speaks of the nomads beyond the Cimmerian Chersonesus, who feed on horse-flesh and other flesh, mare's-milk cheese, mare's milk, and sour milk (*yámarcm) " which they have a particular way of preparing." Perhaps Herodotus was mistaken about the wooden tubs. At least all modern attempts to use anything but the orthodox skins have failed. Priscus, in his narrative of the mission of himself and Maximin to Attila, says the Huns brought them a drink made from barley which they called Káµos. The barley was, no doubt, a misapprehension of his. (Herod. Bk. iv. p. 2, in Rawl. ; Strabo, VII. 4, 6: Excerpta de Legationilms, in Corp. Hist. Byzant. I. 55.)
CHAPTER LIV.
CONCERNING THE TARTAR CUSTOMS OF WAR.
Ili
•
ALL their harness of war is excellent and costly. Their
arms are bows and arrows, sword and mace ; but above
all the bow, for they are capital archers, indeed the best
that are known. On their backs they wear armour of
cuirbouly, prepared from buffalo and other hides, which
is very strong.' They are excellent soldiers, and passing
valiant in battle. They are also more capable of hard-
ships than other nations ; for many a time, if need be,
they will go for a month without any supply of food,
living only on the milk of their mares and on such game
as their bows may win them. Their horses also will
subsist entirely on the grass of the plains, só that there
is no need to carry store of barley or straw or oats ; and
they are very docile to their riders. These, in case of
need, will abide on horseback the livelong night, armed
at all points, while the horse will be continually grazing.
Of all troops in the world these are they which en-
dure the greatest hardship and fatigue, and which cost
.~.nronk.Agrapew
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