“On each ship four decks are constructed; and there are cabins and public rooms for the merchants.  Some of these cabins are provided with closets and other conveniences, and they have keys so that their tenants can lock them, and carry with them their wives or concubines.  The crew in some of the cabins have their children, and they sow kitchen herbs, ginger, etc., in wooden buckets.  The captain is a very great Don; and when he lands, the archers and negro-slaves march before him with javelins, swords, drums, horns, and trumpets.” (IV. pp. 91 seqq. and 247 seqq. combined.) Comparing this very interesting description with Polo’s, we see that they agree in all essentials except size and the number of decks.  It is not unlikely that the revival of the trade with India, which Kublai stimulated, may have in its development under his successors led to the revival also of the larger ships of former times to which Marco alludes.

[1] Or even 30 (p. 248).

[2] Corresponding to the “Hevelow and rumbelow” of the Christian oarsmen. 
   (See Coeur de Lion in Weber, II. 99.)

CHAPTER II.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND OF CHIPANGU, AND THE GREAT KAAN’S DESPATCH OF A
HOST AGAINST IT.

Chipangu is an Island towards the east in the high seas, 1500 miles distant from the Continent; and a very great Island it is.[NOTE 1]

The people are white, civilized, and well-favoured.  They are Idolaters, and are dependent on nobody.  And I can tell you the quantity of gold they have is endless; for they find it in their own Islands, [and the King does not allow it to be exported.  Moreover] few merchants visit the country because it is so far from the main land, and thus it comes to pass that their gold is abundant beyond all measure.[NOTE 2]

I will tell you a wonderful thing about the Palace of the Lord of that Island.  You must know that he hath a great Palace which is entirely roofed with fine gold, just as our churches are roofed with lead, insomuch that it would scarcely be possible to estimate its value.  Moreover, all the pavement of the Palace, and the floors of its chambers, are entirely of gold, in plates like slabs of stone, a good two fingers thick; and the windows also are of gold, so that altogether the richness of this Palace is past all bounds and all belief.[NOTE 3]

[Illustration:  Ancient Japanese Emperor. (After a Native Drawing; from Humbert.)]

They have also pearls in abundance, which are of a rose colour, but fine, big, and round, and quite as valuable as the white ones. [In this Island some of the dead are buried, and others are burnt.  When a body is burnt, they put one of these pearls in the mouth, for such is their custom.] They have also quantities of other precious stones.[NOTE 4]