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The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 |
CHAP. II. EXPEDITION AGAINST CIIIPANGU
255
i
burnt, they put one of these pearls in the mouth, for such
is their custom.] They have also quantities of other
precious stones.'
Cublay, the Grand Kaan who now reigneth, having
heard much of the immense wealth that was in this Island,
formed a plan to get possession of it. For this purpose
he sent two of his Barons with a great navy, and a great
force of horse and foot. These Barons were able and
valiant men, one of them called ABACAN and the other
VONSAINCHIN, and they weighed with all their company
from the ports of Zayton and Kinsay, and put out to sea.
They sailed until they reached the Island aforesaid, and
there they landed, and occupied the open country and the
villages, but did not succeed in getting possession of any
city or castle. And so a disaster befel them, as I shall
now relate.
You must know that there was much ill-will between
those two Barons, so that one would do nothing to help
the other. And it came to pass that there arose a north
wind which blew with great fury, and caused great damage
along the coasts of that Island, for its harbours were few.
It blew so hard that the Great Kaan's fleet could not
stand against it. And when. the chiefs saw that, they
carne to the conclusion that if the ships remained where
they were the whole navy would perish. So they all got
on board and made sail to leave the country. But when
they had gone about four miles they came to a small Island,
on which they were driven ashore in spite of all they could
do ; and a large part of the fleet was wrecked, and a great
multitude of the force perished, so that there escaped only
some 30,000 men, who took refuge on this Island.
These held themselves for dead men, for they were
without food, and knew not what to do, and they were in
great despair when they saw that such of the ships as
had escaped the storm were making full sail for their own
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