The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 / Page 266 (Color Image)

0266	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2

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Boox II.

216 MARCO POLO

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in the other eight divisions of this country ; so that I

believe the whole of the rest of the world together does

not produce such a quantity, at least, if that be true

which many people have told me ; and the sugar alone

again produces an enormous revenue. However, I will

not repeat the duties on every article separately, but

tell you how they go in the lump. Well, all spicery pays

three and a third per cent. on the value ; and all

merchandize likewise pays three and a third per cent.

[But sea-borne goods from India and other distant

countries pay ten per cent.] The rice-wine also makes

a great return, and coals, of which there is a great

quantity ; and so do the twelve guilds of craftsmen that

I told you of, with their 12,000 stations apiece, for every

article they make pays duty. And the silk which is

produced in such abundance makes an immense return.

But why should I make a long story of it ? The silk,

you must know, pays ten per cent., and many other

articles also pay ten per cent.

And you must know that Messer Marco Polo, who

relates all this, was several times sent by the Great Kaan

to inspect the amount of his customs and revenue from

this ninth part of Manzi,' and he found it to be, exclusive

of the salt revenue which we have mentioned already,

2 IO /mans of gold, equivalent to 14, 700,000 sa gi of

gold ; one of the most enormous revenues that ever was

heard of. And if the sovereign has such a revenue from

one-ninth part of the country, you may judge what he

must have from the whole of it ! However, to speak

the truth, this part is the greatest and most productive ;

and because of the great revenue that the Great Kaan

derives from it, it is his favourite province, and he takes

all the more care to watch it well, and to keep the

people contented.2

Now we will quit this city and speak of others.

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