IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
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HOW GRAIN IS STORED UP AGAINST DEARTH rMARCO POLO R enough, that is logs. But so great is the multitude of people, and stoves, and baths, which are continually heated, that the wood could not be enough, because there is none that does not go to the stove and have himself bathed at least three times the week, and in winter every day if they can do so; and every noble or rich nian has his own stove at home at which he washes himself, so that the wood would not be enough for so much burning, and these stones are found FB in very great quantity; and they burn plenty of these stones because they are worth more VA VB and cost less than wood does and are a great saving of wood. And they are[not]used by the builders of houses, and moreover the said stones are of no value except for burning. Now I have told you of this heading and next we shall tell you of another heading,' how the great lord provides that corn may not be too dear.
OW THE GREAT KAAN HAS GREAT QUANTITY OF GRAIN GATHERED AND DISTRIBUTED TO HELP HIS PEOPLE. Now you may know that it is truth
R 1 1 that the great lord in seasons when he sees that some of the grains are in great abundance and that there is great sale of them, he has a very great quantity R FB of them bought and gathered throughout all his provinces and has it put in great houses R which are appointed in each province, and has it so well watched that it is not spoilt [47b] vB P for three years nor for four; and every three years it is changed.. And thus provision is carefully made of all grains that the king's barns may always be full, that he may be able to provide for the needy in time of barrenness. And you understand that he makes public R stores of all grains of the sort which they use, that is wheat and barley and millet and VA rice and panick and all other grains; and of these grains he makes them gather in R very great abundance. And in the said times when it happens that some grain fails and that the dearth is great, then the great lord makes them take out some of his FB R grain of which he has so much as I have told you, of that kind which they need, .to sell R for money; and if the measure is sold by others for one bezant, I am speaking to you R TA FB of wheat, he makes them give the buyers •three and four of it,2 or so much that they may FB have it cheap in common. And he takes out so much of it that all, who wish it for their food, can have some, so that each has wealth3 and abundance of grain. And in this LT way the great lord so provides that his men cannot have great dearth. And he has FB this done through all the lands where he has rule . For he has so much of it gathered in every place that everyone who has need of it may have it when he wishes. Now I have told you of this, and then we shall tell you of another heading, how the great lord does
charity.
' capitre ... capiere
2 V: se le se vende vno bixante le favo vender nze<o
3 deuise
250
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