The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 / Page 704 (Color Image)

0704	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1

~90 J

MARCO POLO Boox II.

CHAPTER XV.

OF THE GREAT FESTIVAL WHICH THE KAAN HOLDS ON NEW

YEAR'S DAY.

THE beginning of their New Year is the month of

February, and on that occasion the Great Kaan and

all his subjects made such a Feast as I now shall

describe.

It is the custom that on this occasion the Kaan and

all his subjects should be clothed entirely in white ; so,

that day, everybody is in white, men and women, great

and small. And this is done in order that they may

thrive all through the year, for they deem that white

clothing is lucky." On that day also all the people of

all the provinces and governments and kingdoms and

countries that own allegiance to the Kaan bring him

great presents of gold and silver, and pearls and gems,

and rich textures of divers kinds. And this they do that

the Emperor throughout the year may have abundance

of treasure and enjoyment without care. And the

people also make presents to each other of white

things, and embrace and kiss and make merry, and

wish each other happiness and good luck for the coming

year. On that day, I can assure you, among the

customary presents there shall be offered to the Kaan

from various quarters more than 1 oo,000 white horses,

beautiful animals, and richly caparisoned. [And you

must know 'tis their custom in offering presents to the

Great Kaan (at least when the province making the

present is able to do so), to present nine times nine

articles. For instance, if a province sends horses, it

sends nine times nine or S i horses ; of gold, nine times

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