The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 / Page 309 (Color Image)

0309	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2

CHAP. II. EXPEDITION AGAINST CIIIPANGU

255

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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