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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
MARCO POLO
BOOK II.
.
414
418
Chandu and stop there three months ; and at the same
time his son Chinkin used to go away to his usual
haunts, and this Achmath remained in charge of the
city ; sending to obtain the Kaan's orders from Chandu
when any emergency arose.
So Vanchu and Chenchu, having come to this con-
clusion, proceeded to communicate it to the chief people
among the Cathayans, and then by common consent sent
word to their friends in many other cities that they had
determined on such a day, at the signal given by a
beacon, to massacre all the men with beards, and that
the other cities should stand ready to do the like on
seeing the signal fires. The reason why they spoke
of massacring the bearded men was that the Cathayans
naturally have no beard, whilst beards are worn by the
Tartars, Saracens, and Christians. And you should
know that all the Cathayans detested the Grand Kaan's
rule because he set over them governors who were
Tartars, or still more frequently Saracens, and these
they could not endure, for they were treated by them
just like slaves. You see the Great Kaan had not
succeeded to the dominion of Cathay by hereditary
right, but held it by conquest ; and thus having no con-
fidence in the natives, he put all authority into the hands
of Tartars, Saracens, or Christians who were attached to
his household and devoted to his service, and were
foreigners in Cathay.
Wherefore, on the day appointed, the aforesaid
Vanchu and Chenchu having entered the palace at night,
Vanchu sat down and caused a number of lights to be
kindled before him. He then sent a messenger to
Achmath the Bailo, who lived in the Old City, as if to
summon him to the presence of Chinkin, the Great
Kaan's son, who (it was pretended) had arrived unex-
pectedly. When Achmath heard this he was much
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