that of the Commendatore C. Negri.  Strongly as I feel the too generous
    appreciation of these labours implied in such awards, I confess to
    have been yet more deeply touched and gratified by practical evidence
    of the approval of the two distinguished Travellers mentioned above;
    as shown by Baron von Richthofen in his spontaneous proposal to
    publish a German version of the book under his own immediate
    supervision (a project in abeyance, owing to circumstances beyond his
    or my control); by Mr. Ney Elias in the fact of his having carried
    these ponderous volumes with him on his solitary journey across the
    Mongolian wilds!

[2] I am grateful to Mr. de Khanikoff for his especial recognition of
    these in a kindly review of the first edition in the Academy.

[3] Especially from Lieutenant Garnier’s book, mentioned further on; the
    only existing source of illustration for many chapters of Polo.

[4] [Merged into the notes of the present edition.—­H.  C.]

[5] See page xxix.

[6] Writing in Italy, perhaps I ought to write, according to too prevalent
    modern Italian custom, Polo Marco.  I have already seen, and in the
    work of a writer of reputation, the Alexandrian geographer styled
    Tolomeo Claudio! and if this preposterous fashion should continue to
    spread, we shall in time have Tasso Torquato, Jonson Ben, Africa
    explored by Park Mungo, Asia conquered by Lane Tamer, Copperfield
    David by Dickens Charles, Homer Englished by Pope Alexander, and
    the Roman history done into French from the original of Live Tite!

[7] Introduction p. 24, and passim in the notes.

[8] Ibid., p. 112.

[9] See Introduction, pp. 51, 57.

[10] See Title of present volumes.

[11] Which quite agrees with the story of the document quoted at p. 77 of
    Introduction.

[12] Vol. i. p. 64, and p. 67.

[13] I.e. 1306; see Introduction, pp. 68-69.

[14] The form which Marco gives to this word was probably a reminiscence
    of the Oriental corruption failsuf.  It recalls to my mind a Hindu
    who was very fond of the word, and especially of applying it to
    certain of his fellow-servants.  But as he used it, bara failsuf,—­
    “great philosopher”—­meant exactly the same as the modern slang
    “Artful Dodger”!

[15] See for the explanation of Karma, “the power that controls the
    universe,” in the doctrine of atheistic Buddhism, Hardy’s Eastern
    Monachism, p. 5.

[16] Vol. ii. p. 316 (see also i. 348).

[17] Vol. ii. pp. 318-319.

ORIGINAL PREFACE.