journey westward, and arrived in Venice in 1295. The following year he fought his own galley in the battle off Curzola; was taken prisoner; and was imprisoned in a dungeon at Genoa. It was here that he compiled the account of his travels in the East, which he afterward revised with great care. Being liberated, he returned home, and became a member of the Grand Council of Venice. His narrative created an immense sensation among the learned, and many did not hesitate to affirm that it was all pure fiction. But the Catholic missionaries and subsequent travellers were able to verify many of his statements, and then came a reaction of public opinion; his wonderful minuteness, extensive research, and accuracy being the theme of universal admiration. His work was of inestimable value as a stimulant and guide in geographical research; it encouraged the Portuguese to find the way to Hindustan round the Cape of Good Hope; and it roused the passion for discovery in the breast of Columbus, thus leading to the two greatest of modern geographical discoveries. And the researches of modern travellers continually verify the correctness of observation and truthfulness of narration of Marco Polo. The first Italian edition appeared in 1496, and has been often reprinted. Critical editions have been edited by Baldelli (1827) and Bartoli (1864). There are about sixty translations, including several in English. One of the best in any language is the standard English translation by Colonel Yule (1871), entitled The Book of Marco Polo. THE EMPEROR's hunt. He takes with him full 10,000 falconers, and some 500 gerfalcons, besides peregrines, sakers, and other hawks in great numbers to fly at the water-fowl. These are distributed about, hither and thither, one hundred together, or two hundred at the utmost, as he thinks proper. The Emperor is attended by full 10,000 men, disposed in couples; and these are called Toscaol, which is as much as to say "Watchers." They are posted from spot to spot, always in couples, and thus they cover a great deal of ground. Every man of them is provided with a whistle and hood, so as to be able to call in a hawk and hold it in hand. And when the Emperor makes a cast, there is no need of his following it up, for those men I speak of keep so good a lookout that they never lose sight of the birds, and if the hawks have need of help they are ready to render it. All the Emperor's hawks, and those of the Barons as well, have a little label attached to the leg to mark, on which is written the names of the owner and keeper of the bird. In this way the hawk, when it is caught, is at once identified and handed over to its owner. If not, the bird is carried to a certain Baron, who is styled the Bularguchi. And I tell you that whatever may be found without a known owner, whether it be a horse, or a sword, or a hawk, or what not, it is carried to that Baron straightway, and he takes charge of it. And if the finder neglects to carry his trover to the Baron, the latter punishes him. Likewise the loser of any article goes to the Baron, and if the thing be in his hands it is immediately given up to the owner. Moreover, the said Baron always pitches on the highest spot of the camp, with his banner displayed, in order that those who have lost or found anything may have no difficulty in finding their way to him. And so the Emperor follows this road leading along in the vicinity of the Ocean Sea, which is within two days' journey of his capital city Camboluc, and as he goes, there is many a fine sight to be seen, and plenty of the very best entertainment in hawking. The Emperor himself is carried upon four elephants in a fine chamber made of timber, lined inside with plates of beaten gold, and outside with lions' skins, for he always travels in this way on his fowling expeditions. He always keeps beside him a dozen of his choicest gerfalcons, and is attended by several of his Barons, who ride on horseback alongside. And sometimes, as they may be going along, and the Emperor from his chamber is holding discourse with the Barons, one of the latter shall exclaim: "Sire! Look out for Cranes!" Then the Emperor instantly has the top of his chamber thrown open, and having marked the cranes, he casts one of his gerfalcons, whichever he pleases; and often the quarry is struck within his view, so that he has the most exquisite sport and diversion, there as he sits in his chamber or lies on his bed; and all the Barons with him get the enjoyment of it likewise! So it is not without reason, I tell you, that I do not believe there ever existed in the world, or will exist, a man with such sport and enjoyment as he has! |