The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 / Page 587 (Color Image)

0587	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1

CHAP. LIX. THE PROVINCE OF TENDUC

285

of Tendue that Prester John had the seat of his govern-

ment when he ruled over the Tartars, and his heirs

still abide there ; for, as I have told you, this King

George is of his line, in fact, he is the sixth in descent

Here also is what we call the country of GOG and

MAGOG ; they, however, call it UNG and MUNGUL, after

the names of two races of people that existed in that

Province before the migration of the Tartars. Ung

was the title of the people of the country, and Mzingul

a name sometimes applied to the Tartars.5

And when you have ridden seven days eastward

through this province you get near the provinces of

Cathay. You find throughout those seven days'

journey plenty of towns and villages, the inhabitants

of which are Mahommetans, but with a mixture also

of Idolaters and Nestorian Christians. They get their

living by trade and manufactures ; weaving those fine

cloths of gold which are called Nasicli and Nagues,

besides silk stuffs of many other kinds. For just as

we have cloths of wool in our country, manufactured

in a great variety of kinds, so in those regions they

have stuffs of silk and gold in like variety.6

All this region is subject to the Great Kaan. There

is a city you come to called SINDACIIU, where they

carry, on a great many crafts such as provide for the

equipment of the Emperor's troops. In a mountain of

the province there is a very good silver mine, from

which much silver is got : the place is called YDIFU.

The country is well stocked with game, both beast

and bird.?

Now we will quit that province and go three days'

journey forward.

NOTE . —Marco's own errors led commentators much astray about Tanduc or Tendue, till Klaproth put the matter in its true light.

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