THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WORLD. AT THE COURT OF CUBLAI .86.
with which he is supplied with drink. And from that large one comes the wine, or from the two small ones the drinks which are in those lesser ones.' The wine or the TA dear drink which may be there is drawn out of those four small ones and great golden VA vessels very beautiful, which are called lacquered bowls are filled with it, which arc R indeed such that they hold so much wine or other drink that eight men or tent R would have enough of it . And they are set one lacquer bowl between every two men R R who sit at table, and each of these two men who are at table have a ladle, and the ladles VA R are rnadc like a gold cup with a foot and golden handle, and with that cup they take P wine from that great golden lacquer bowl and are able to drink. And likewise there are L between two ladies who eat at the court one of those large ones and two cups, as the VA [391)] men have. And you may know that these golden bowls and these things are of VA great value; and I tell you that the great lord has so great & inestimable store of vessels P of gold and of silver that all those who sec them are dumbfounded and there is not a man P who did not see them who could think or believe it. Also there are some barons deputed who LT R have to arrange in their proper and suitable places the foreigners who come over, who do not know the customs of the court; and these barons go continually here and there through the hall asking those who sit at table if they want anything, and if there are any there who wish for wine, or milk, or meat, or anything else they have it brought to them immediately by the servants. At all the doors of the hall, or of any place where the lord may be, stand two great men like giants, one on one side and the other on the other, with a rod in hand; and this because no one is allowed to touch the threshold of the door, but he must stretch his foot beyond. And if by accident he touches it the said guards take away his clothes, and to have them again he must redeem them; and if they do not take his clothes they give him as many blows as are appointed him. But if they are foreigners, who do not know the rule, there are certain barons appointed to introduce them and warn them of the rule. And this is done because if the threshold is touched it is held as a bad omen. But in coming out of the hall, because some are overcome with drink nor could by any means control themselves, no such ban is required. And you may know that those who do the service of food and drink to the great Kaan at the sideboard VA
at his table are many great barons, and I tell you that they all have their mouths P FB and their noses wrapped in beautiful veils or napkins of silk & of gold, so that R their breath nor their smell should not come into the vessels and cups[or]into the food LT and the drink of the great lord. And always when the great lord must drink, all R
1 Et de cele grant uient le urn au beuraies que sunt en celle mendre For au read ou. FA,FB: Si
que le vin de la grant vient au petites que li sont entour aussi (sont aussi pres)—& so VA,P. Just
above, TA: da ongnj lato di questo vaso ne sono d u e piccholj and so here deglj d u e piccholj
2 FA,FB, V: x TA, LT have 8 only. P: xvi i i L, R: 8 or io
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