of which are great fences with deep waters, through which people may pass with proper vessels[10], and there is no entrance into Mangi but by this causeway except by shipping.  At the end of this days journey is a large and fair city called Paughin, of which the inhabitants are idolaters, and manufacturers of stuffs of silk and gold, in which they drive a considerable trade.  It is plentifully supplied with all the necessaries of life, and the paper money of the khan is current in the whole province.  One days journey farther south-east, is the large and famous city of Caim.  The neighbouring country abounds in fish, beasts, and fowl of all kinds, especially with pheasants as large as peacocks, which are so plentiful, that three may be bought for a Venetian groat.  Proceeding another days journey through a well cultivated, fertile, and well peopled country, we come to a moderate sized city called Tingui, which is much resorted to by ships and merchants, and abounds in all the necessaries of life.  This place is in the south-east, on the left hand, three days journey from the ocean, and in the country, between it and the sea, there are many salt pits, in which great quantities of salt are made.  After this is Cingui[11], a great city, whence the whole country is furnished with salt, of which the khan makes immense profit, almost beyond belief.  The inhabitants are idolaters, and use paper money.  Riding farther to the south-east is the noble city of Jangui[12], which has twenty-seven other cities dependent on its government.  In this city, one of the twelve barons, who are governors of provinces, usually resides; but I, Marco, had the sole government of this place for three years, instead of one of these barons, by a special commission from the great khan.  The inhabitants are idolaters, living chiefly by merchandize, and they manufacture arms and harness for war.  Naughin[l3] is a province to the west[14] of Tangui, one of the greatest and noblest in all Mangi, and a place of vast trade, having abundance of beasts and fowls, wild and tame, and plenty of corn.  The inhabitants are idolaters, and manufacture, stuffs of silk and gold, using only paper money.  This country produces large revenues to the khan, especially in the customs which he receives from trade.

Sian-Fu is a large and noble city in the province of Mangi, having twelve great and rich cities under its jurisdiction.  This city is so strong that it was three years besieged by the army of the Tartars, and could not be vanquished at the time when the rest of the kingdom of Mangi was subdued.  It was so environed with lakes and rivers, that ships came continually with plenty of provisions and it was only accessible from the north.  The long resistance of this city gave much dissatisfaction to the khan; which coming to the knowledge of Nicolo and Maffei Polo, then at his court, they offered their services to construct certain engines, after the manner of those used in Europe, capable of throwing stones of three hundred