Across this river there is a bridge of twenty-six boats,
laid over with planks, and kept together by iron hooks
and chains, which are fastened to iron pillars on
each bank, as thick as a mans thigh, so that the whole
is kept perfectly firm and even. On crossing this
river they came to a great city, where the ambassadors
were more splendidly, feasted that in any other place;
and here they saw a more magnificent idol temple than
any of the former. They took notice also of three
public stews, full of very beautiful harlots; and
as the women here are handsomer than any other in
Kathay, this place has the name of
Rosnabaad,
or the
City of Beauty. After passing through
several other cities, they arrived on the twelfth of
the month Zu’lkaadeh, at another river[30] twice
as large as the Jihon, which they passed over in boats.
Continuing their journey, and crossing over several
rivers, some in boats and others by means of bridges,
they arrived, on the twenty-seventh of the last mentioned
month, at the great and populous city of
Sadin-fu[31].
In one of the temples of this city there stands a
gilded brass image fifty cubits high, called the
image
with a thousand hands, for such is the number
with which this idol is furnished, and on the palm
of each there is an eye. The feet of this idol
are near ten cubits long. Round this idol there
are several others of different heights, placed in
chambers or niches, some reaching only as high as
the ankle of the great one, others to the knee, and
others again as high as the breast. It is reckoned
that this prodigious work required 100,000 loads of
brass. The top of the temple is exquisitely finished,
and terminates in an open hall. It is surrounded
by eight mounts or eminences, which may be ascended
both on the outside and the inside; and these have
several grottos, the walls of which are adorned with
various paintings, representing priests, idols, hermits,
tigers, leopards, serpents, and trees. These,
with the idols, mountains, and arches, seem all to
be composed of plaster. Around this great temple
there are many fine buildings, and among these a turning
tower, similar to that of Kan-chew, but larger and
finer.
Continuing their journey, at the rate of four or five
pharasangs each day[32], the ambassadors arrived before
day-break of the eighth of Zu’lhajieh, at the
imperial city of Khanbalik[33], or Pekin. This
city is so great that each side is a pharasang in
length, or about four and a quarter English miles.
But at this time 100,000 houses within its walls lay
in ruins. The ambassadors and their retinue were
conducted on foot along a causeway 700 feet long,
to the palace gate, where there stood five elephants
on either side. On passing this outward gate,
they entered a very beautiful paved court of great
extent, where they found 100,000 men waiting at the
emperors gate, although it was not yet day. Facing
this court there was a great kiosk or pavilion,
the basis of which was thirty cubits high, on which