The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 / Page 705 (Color Image)

0705	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1

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CHAP. X.V.

NEW YEAR'S DAY FESTIVAI,

39'

nine pieces of gold, and so with stuffs or whatever else

the present may consist of.]

On that day also, the whole of the Kaan's elephants,

amounting fully to 5000 in number, are exhibited, all

covered with rich and gay housings of inlaid cloth repre-

senting beasts and birds, whilst each of them carries on

his back two splendid coffers ; all of these being filled

with the Emperor's plate and other costly furniture

required for the Court on the occasion of the White

Feast.' And these are followed by a vast number of

camels which are likewise covered with rich housings

and laden with things needful for the Feast. All these

are paraded before the Emperor, and it makes the finest

sight in the world.

Moreover, on the morning of the Feast, before the

tables are set, all the Kings, and all the Dukes,

Marquesses, Counts, Barons, Knights, and Astrologers,

and Philosophers, and Leeches, and Falconers, and

other officials of sundry kinds from all the places round

about, present themselves in the Great Hall before the

Emperor ; whilst those who can find no room to enter

stand outside in such a position that the Emperor can

see them all well. And the whole company is marshalled

in this wise. First are the Kaan's sons, and his nephews,

and the other Princes of the Blood Imperial ; next to

them all Kings ; then Dukes, and then all others in

succession according to the degree of each. And when

they are all seated, each in his proper place, then a great

prelate rises and says with a loud voice : " Bow and

adore ! " And as soon as he has said this, the company

bow down until their foreheads touch the earth in adora-

tion towards the Emperor as if he were a god. And

this adoration they repeat four times, and then go to a

highly decorated altar, on which is a vermilion tablet

with the name of the Grand Kaan inscribed thereon,

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