Kashgar was at this time a Metropolitan See of the Nestorian Church. (Cathay, etc. 275, ccxlv.)

Many strange sayings have been unduly ascribed to our traveller, but I remember none stranger than this by Colonel Tod:  “Marco Polo calls Cashgar, where he was in the 6th century, the birthplace of the Swedes”! (Rajasthan, I. 60.) Petis de la Croix and Tod between them are answerable for this nonsense. (See The Hist. of Genghizcan the Great, p. 116.)

On cotton, see ch. xxxvi.—­On Nestorians, see Kanchau.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

OF THE GREAT CITY OF SAMARCAN.

Samarcan is a great and noble city towards the north-west, inhabited by both Christians and Saracens, who are subject to the Great Kaan’s nephew, CAIDOU by name; he is, however, at bitter enmity with the Kaan.[NOTE 1] I will tell you of a great marvel that happened at this city.

[Illustration:  View of Samarcand. (From a sketch by Mr. Ivanoff.) “Samarcan est une grandisme cite et noble.”]

It is not a great while ago that SIGATAY, own brother to the Great Kaan, who was Lord of this country and of many an one besides, became a Christian.[NOTE 2] The Christians rejoiced greatly at this, and they built a great church in the city, in honour of John the Baptist; and by his name the church was called.  And they took a very fine stone which belonged to the Saracens, and placed it as the pedestal of a column in the middle of the church, supporting the roof.  It came to pass, however, that Sigatay died.  Now the Saracens were full of rancour about that stone that had been theirs, and which had been set up in the church of the Christians; and when they saw that the Prince was dead, they said one to another that now was the time to get back their stone, by fair means or by foul.  And that they might well do, for they were ten times as many as the Christians.  So they gat together and went to the church and said that the stone they must and would have.  The Christians acknowledged that it was theirs indeed, but offered to pay a large sum of money and so be quit.  Howbeit, the others replied that they never would give up the stone for anything in the world.  And words ran so high that the Prince heard thereof, and ordered the Christians either to arrange to satisfy the Saracens, if it might be, with money, or to give up the stone.  And he allowed them three days to do either the one thing or the other.

What shall I tell you?  Well, the Saracens would on no account agree to leave the stone where it was, and this out of pure despite to the Christians, for they knew well enough that if the stone were stirred the church would come down by the run.  So the Christians were in great trouble and wist not what to do.  But they did do the best thing possible; they besought Jesus Christ that he would consider their case, so that the holy church should not come