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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 |
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Citation Information
i
CHAP. XLIX. CROCODILI:S
8i
tinued to his son ISENTIMUR. Klaproth gives the date of the latter's nomination from the Chinese Annals as 12So. It is not easy to reconcile Marco's statements perfectly with a knowledge of these facts ; but we may suppose that, in speaking of Cogachin as ruling at Karajang (or Tali-fu) and Esentiniur at Vachi, he describes things as they stood when his visit occurred, whilst in the second reference to " Sentemur's " being King in the province and his father dead, he speaks from later knowledge. This interpretation would confirm what has been already deduced from other circumstances, that his visit to Yun-nan was prior to 1280. (Pemaberton's Teport on the Eastern Frontier, 108 segq. ; Qual. Rashid. pp. lxxxix--xc. ; Journ. Asiat. sér. II. vol. i.)
NOTE 2.—[Captain Gill writes (II. p. 302) : " There are said to be very rich gold and silver mines within a few days' journey of the city " (of Ta-li). Dr. Anderson says (Mandalay to Momien, p. 203) : " Gold is brought to Momein from Yonephin and Sherg-wan villages, fifteen days' march to the north-east ; but no information could be obtained as to the quantity found. It is also brought in leaf, which is sent to Burma, where it is in extensive demand."—H. C.]
NOTE 3.—It cannot be doubted that Marco's serpents here are crocodiles, in spite of his strange mistakes about their having only two feet and one claw on each, and his imperfect knowledge of their aquatic habits. Ile may have seen only a mutilated specimen. But there is no mistaking the hideous ferocity of the countenance, and the " eyes bigger than a fourpenny loaf," as Ramusio has it. Though the actual eye of the crocodile does not bear this comparison, the prominent orbits do, especially in the case of the Ghariyczl of the Ganges, and form one of the most repulsive features of the reptile's physiognomy. In fact, its presence on the surface of an Indian river is often recognisable only by three dark knobs rising above the surface, viz. the snout and the two orbits. And there is some fäundation for what our author says of the animal's habits, for the crocodile does sometimes frequent holes at a distance from water, of which a striking instance is within my own recollection (in which the deep furrowed track also was a notable circumstance).
The Cochin Chinese are very fond of crocodile's flesh, and there is or was a regular export of this dainty for their use from Kamboja. I have known it eaten by certain classes in India. (J. R. G. S. XXX. 193.)
The term serpent is applied by many old writers to crocodiles and the like, e.g. by Odoric, and perhaps allusively by Shakspeare (" Where's my Serpent of Old Nile ?" ). Mr. Fergusson tells me he was once much struck with the snake-like motion of a group of crocodiles hastily descending to the water from a high sand-bank, without apparent use of the limbs, when surprised by the approach of a boat.*
Matthioli says the gall of the crocodile surpasses all medicines for the removal of pustules and the like from the eyes. Vincent of Beauvais mentions the same, besides many other medical uses of the reptile's carcass, including a very unsavoury cosmetic. Watt. p. 245 ; Spec. Natur. Lib. XV I I. e. io6, I oS. )
E" According to Chinese notions, Ilan Yii, the St. Patrick of China, having persuaded the alligators in China that he was all-powerful, induced the stupid saurians to migrate to Ngo Hu or ` Alligators' Lake ' in the Kwang-tung province." (North-China Herald, 5th July, 1895, p. 5.)
Alligators have been found in IS78 at Wu-hu and at Chen-kiang (Ngan-hwei and Kiang-Su). (See A. A. Fauvel, Alligators in China, in Jour. N. China B. R. A. S. XIII. 1879, I-36.)—H. C.]
NOTE 4.—I think the great horses must be an error, though running through all
* Though the bellowing of certain American crocodiles is often spoken of, I have nowhere seen allusion to the roaring of the ghariyál, nor does it seem to be commonly known. I have once only heard it, whilst on the bank of the Ganges near Rampúr Boliah, waiting for a ferry-boat. It was like a loud prolonged snore ; and though it seemed to come distinctly from a crocodile on the surface of the river, I made sure by asking a boatman who stood by : " It is the ghariyál speaking," he answered.
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