The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 / Page 751 (Color Image)

0751	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1

CHAP. XXVI. THE KAAN'S POSTS AND RUNNERS

435

But now I will tell you another thing that I had

forgotten, but which ought to be told whilst I am on this

subject. You must know that by the Great Kaan's

orders there has been established between those post-

houses, at every interval of three miles, a little fort with

some forty houses round about it, in which dwell the

people who act as the Emperor's foot-runners. Every

one of those runners wears a great wide belt, set all over

with bells, so that as they run the three miles from post

to post their bells are heard jingling a long way off.

And thus on reaching the post the runner finds another

man similarly equipt, and all ready to take his place,

who instantly takes over whatsoever he has in charge,

and with it receives a slip of paper from the clerk, who

is always at hand for the purpose ; and so the new man

sets off and runs his three miles. At the next station he

finds his relief ready in like manner ; and so the post

proceeds, with a change at every three miles. And in

this way the Emperor, who has an immense number of

these runners, receives despatches with news from places

ten days' journey off in one day and night ; or, if need

be, news from a hundred days off in ten days and

nights ; and that is no small matter ! (In fact in the

fruit season many a time fruit shall be gathered one

morning in Cambaluc, and the evening of the next day

it shall reach the Great Kaan at Chandu, a distance of

ten days' journey.5 The clerk at each of the posts notes

the time of each courier's arrival and departure ; and

there are often other officers whose business it is to

make monthly visitations of all the posts, and to punish

those runners who have been slack in their work.6) The

Emperor exempts these men from all tribute, and pays

them besides.

Moreover, there are also at those stations other men

equipt similarly with girdles hung with bells, who are

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