The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 / Page 233 (Color Image)

0233	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2

CHAP. LXXVI. THE GREAT CITY OF KINSAY

187

•

beautiful and spacious edifice, furnished in such style as

to seem fit for the palace of an Emperor. Arid when

any one of the citizens desired to hold a marriage feast,

or to give any other entertainment, it used to be done at

one of these palaces. And everything would be found

there ready to order, such as silver plate, trenchers, and

dishes [napkins and table-cloths], and whatever else was

needful. The King made this provision for the gratifica-

tion of his people, and the place was open to every one

who desired to give an entertainment. [Sometimes

there would be at these palaces an hundred different

parties ; some holding a banquet, others celebrating

a wedding ; and yet all would find good accommodation

in the different apartments and pavilions, and that in

so well ordered a manner that one party was never in

the way of another./

The houses of the city are provided with lofty towers

of stone in which articles of value are stored for fear of

fire ; for most of the houses themselves are of timber,

and fires are very frequent in the city.

The people are Idolaters ; and since they were con-

quered by the Great Kaan they use paper-money. [Both

men and women are fair and comely, and for the most

part clothe themselves in silk, so vast is the supply of

that material, both from the whole district of Kinsay, and

from the imports by traders from other provinces.5] And

you must know they eat every kind of flesh, even that

of dogs and other unclean beasts, which nothing would

induce a Christian to eat.

Since the Great Kaan occupied the city he has

ordained that each of the 12,000 bridges should be pro-

vided with a guard of ten men, in case of any disturbance,

or of any being so rash as to plot treason or insurrection

against him. [Each guard is provided with a hollow

instrument of wood and with a metal basin, and with a

National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books