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National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
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CxAP. LV. TARTAR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
267
without any keeper. They get all mixt together, but
eventually every beast is recovered by means of its
owner's brand, which is known. For their sheep and
goats they have shepherds. All their cattle are re-
markably fine, big, and in good condition.2
They have another notable custom, which is this.
If any man have a daughter who dies before marriage,
and another man have had a son also die before
marriage, the parents of the two arrange a grand
wedding between the dead lad and lass. And marry
them they do, making a regular contract ! And when
the contract papers are made out they put them in
the fire, in order (as they will have it) that the parties
in the other world may know the fact, and so look on
each other as man and wife. And the parents thence-
forward consider themselves sib to each other, just as
if their children had lived and married. Whatever
may be agreed on between the parties as dowry, those
who have to pay it cause to be painted on pieces of
paper and then put these in the fire, saying that in
that way the dead person will get all the real articles
in the other world.3
Now I have told you all about the manners and
customs of the Tartars ; but you have heard nothing
yet of the great state of the Grand Kaan, who is the
Lord of all the Tartars and of the Supreme Imperial
Court. All that I will tell you in this book in proper
time and place, but meanwhile I must return to my
story which I left off in that great plain when w e
began to speak of the Tartars.4
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R
FOE
NOTE I.—The cudgel among the Mongols was not confined to thieves and such
like. It was the punishment also of military and state offences, and even princes
were liable to it without fatal disgrace. " If they give any offence," says Carpini, " or omåt to obey the slightest beck, the Tartars themselves are beaten like donkeys." The number of blows administered was, according to Wassáf, always odd, 3, 5, and
so forth, up to 77. (Cary. 712 ; 'khan. I. 37. )
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