NOTE 5.—­Galanga or Galangal is an aromatic root belonging to a class of drugs once much more used than now.  It exists of two kinds:  1. Great or Java Galangal, the root of the Alpinia Galanga.  This is rarely imported and hardly used in Europe in modern times, but is still found in the Indian bazaars. 2. Lesser or China Galangal is imported into London from Canton, and is still sold by druggists in England.  Its botanical origin is unknown.  It is produced in Shan-si, Fo-kien, and Kwang-tung, and is called by the Chinese Liang Kiang or “Mild Ginger.”

["According to the Chinese authors the province of Sze-ch’wan and Han-chung (Southern Shen-si) were in ancient times famed for their Ginger.  Ginger is still exported in large quantities from Han k’ou.  It is known also to be grown largely in the southern provinces.—­Galingale is the Lesser or Chinese Galanga of commerce, Alpinia officinarum Hance.” (Bretschneider, Hist. of Bot.  Disc. I. p. 2.  See Heyd, Com.  Levant, II. 616-618.)—­H.C.]

Galangal was much used as a spice in the Middle Ages.  In a syrup for a capon, temp. Rich.  II., we find ground-ginger, cloves, cinnamon and galingale.  “Galingale” appears also as a growth in old English gardens, but this is believed to have been Cyperus Longus, the tubers of which were substituted for the real article under the name of English Galingale.

The name appears to be a modification of the Arabic Kulijan, Pers. Kholinjan, and these from the Sanskrit Kulanjana. (Mr. Hanbury; China Comm.-Guide, 120; Eng.  Cycl.; Garcia, f. 63; Wright, p. 352.)

NOTE 6.—­The cat in question is no doubt the fleecy Persian.  These fowls,—­but white,—­are mentioned by Odoric at Fu-chau; and Mr. G. Phillips in a MS. note says that they are still abundant in Fo-kien, where he has often seen them; all that he saw or heard of were white.  The Chinese call them “velvet-hair fowls.”  I believe they are well known to poultry-fanciers in Europe. [Gallus Lanatus, Temm.  See note, p. 286, of my edition of Odoric.—­H.C.]

NOTE 7.—­The times assigned in this chapter as we have given them, after the G. Text, appear very short; but I have followed that text because it is perfectly consistent and clear.  Starting from the last city of Kinsay government, the traveller goes six days south-east; three out of those six days bring him to Kelinfu; he goes on the other three days and at the 15th mile of the 3rd day reaches Unken; 15 miles further bring him to Fuju.  This is interesting as showing that Polo reckoned his day at 30 miles.