but was presently made prisoner, and conducted to the presence of Kublai, who gave orders for his being put to death.  This was carried into execution by enclosing him between two carpets, which were violently shaken until the spirit had departed from the body; the motive for this peculiar sentence being that the sun and the air should not witness the shedding of the blood of one who belonged to the imperial family.  Those of his troops which survived the battle came to make their submission and swear allegiance to Kublai.

Nayan, who had privately undergone the ceremony of baptism, but never made open profession of Christianity, thought proper, on this occasion, to bear the sign of the cross in his banners, and he had in his army a vast number of Christians, who were among the slain.  When the Jews and the Saracens perceived that the banner of the cross was overthrown, they taunted the Christian inhabitants with it, saying:  “Behold the state to which your (vaunted) banners, and those who followed them, are reduced!” On account of these derisions the Christians were compelled to lay their complaints before the Grand Khan, who ordered the former to appear before him, and sharply rebuked them.  “If the cross of Christ,” he said, “has not proved advantageous to the party of Nayan, the effect has been consistent with reason and justice, inasmuch as he was a rebel and a traitor to his lord, and to such wretches it could not afford its protection.  Let none therefore presume to charge with injustice the God of the Christians, who is himself the perfection of goodness and of justice.”

The Grand Khan, having obtained this signal victory, returned with great pomp and triumph to the capital city of Kanbalu.  This took place in the month of November, and he continued to reside there during the months of February and March, in which latter was our festival of Easter.  Being aware that this was one of our principal solemnities, he commanded all the Christians to attend him, and to bring with them their book, which contains the four gospels of the evangelists.  After causing it to be repeatedly perfumed with incense, in a ceremonious manner, he devoutly kissed it, and directed that the same should be done by all his nobles who were present.  This was his usual practice upon each of the principal Christian festivals, such as Easter and Christmas; and he observed the same at the festivals of the Saracens, Jews, and idolaters.[66] Upon being asked his motive for this conduct, he said:  “There are four great prophets who are reverenced and worshipped by the different classes of mankind.  The Christians regard Jesus Christ as their divinity; the Saracens, Mahomet; the Jews, Moses;[67] and the idolaters, Sogomombar-khan,[68] the most eminent among their idols.  I do honor and show respect to all the four, and invoke to my aid whichever among them is in truth supreme in heaven.”