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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
11
11 '
380
MARCO POLO BOOK It
into Baghdad, in order to have the buildings repaired, and to put things generally in order. These chiefs posted sentries from the KISHIKÁN (Otr a ), and from their
own followings in the different quarters of the town, had the carcases of beasts removed from the streets, and caused the bazaars to be rebuilt."
We find Kishik still used at the court of Hindustan, under the great kings of Timor's House, for the corps on tour of duty at the palace ; and even for the sets of matchlocks and sabres, which were changed weekly from Akbar's armoury for the royal use. The royal guards in Persia, who watch the king's person at night, are termed Keshikchi, and their captain Keshikchi Bashi. E" On the night of the I 1 th of J emady ul Sany, A.H. 116o (or 8th June, 1747), near the city of Khojoon, three days' journey from Meshed, Mohammed Kuly Khan Ardemee, who was of the same tribe with Nadir Shah, his relation, and Kushukchee Bashee, with seventy of the Kukshek or guard, . . . bound themselves by an oath to assassinate Nadir Shah." (Memoirs of Khojeh Abdulkzrreenz . . . transi. by F. Gladwin, Calcutta, 178S, pp. 166-167).]
Friar Odoric speaks of the four barons who kept watch by the Great Kaan's side as the Cuthé, which probably represents the Chinese form Kiesie (as in De Mailla), or Kuesie (as in Gaubil). The latter applies the term to four devoted champions of Chinghiz, and their descendants, who were always attached to the Kaan's body-guard, and he identifies them with the Quesitan of Polo, or rather with the captains of the latter ; adding expressly that the word Kuesie is Mongol.
I see Kishik is a proper name among the Kalmak chiefs ; and Keshikten also is the name of a Mongol tribe, whose territory lies due north of Peking, near the old site of Shangtu. (Bk. I. ch. lxi.) [Keshikhteng, a tribe (pu ; mong. ainzak) of the Chao Uda League (mêng; mong. chogolgczn) among the twenty-four tribes of the Nei Mane--ku (Inner Mongols). (See Mayers' Chinese Governnze;zt, p. 81.)H. C.] In Kovalevsky, I find the following :-
(No. 2459) " Keshik, grace, favour, bounty, benefit, good fortune, charity."
(No. 2461) "Keshikten, fortunate, happy, blessed."
(No. 2541) " Kichyeku, to be zealous, assiduous, devoted."
(No. 2588) " Kushiku, to hinder, to bar the way to," etc.
The third of these corresponds closely with Polo's etymology of " knights devoted to their lord," but perhaps either the first or the last may afford the real derivation.
In spite of the different initials (3 instead of Gr), it can scarcely be doubted that
the Kalchi and Kalakchi of Timur's Institutes are mere mistranscriptions of the same word, e.g. : " I ordered that 12,000 Ka/chi, men of the sword completely armed, should be cantoned in the Palace ; to the right and to the left, to the front, and in the rear of the imperial diwán ; thus, that T000 of those 12,000 shòuld be every night upon guard," etc. The translator's note says of Iíizlchi, " A Mogul word supposed to mean guards." We see that even the traditional number of 12,000, and its division into four brigades, are maintained. (See Timour's Inst., pp. 299 anc1235, 237.)
I must add that Professor Vámbéry does not assent to the form Keshikcín, on the ground that this Persian plural is impossible in an old Tartar dialect, and he supposes the true word to be Kechilan or Kechiklen, " the night-watchers," from Kiche or Kichek (Chag. and Uighdr), _ " night."
I believe, however, that Persian was the colloquial language of foreigners at the Kaan's court, who would not scruple to make a Persian plural when wanted ; whilst Rashid has exemplified the actual use of this one.
(D' Olzsson, IV. 410 ; Gold. Horde, 228, 238 ; lick. II. 184 ; Q. R. pp. 308-309 Ayeen Akb. I. 27o, and Blochmann's, p. 115 ; J. As. sèr. IV. tom. xix. 276 ; Olearius, ed. 1659, I. 656 ; Cathay, 135 ; De Mailla, ix. io6 ; Gaubi~, p. 6 ; Pallas, Samnzl. I. 35.)
E" By Keshican in Colonel Yule's Marco Polo, Keshikten is evidently meant. This is a general Mongol term to designate the Khan's lifeguard. It is derived from the
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