"His travels are proof in themselves of enterprise, resource, and dogged endurance, and there can be no doubt that he travelled with his wits about him and his eyes open. Primarily they were the eyes of a practical traveler and a merchant, quick to notice the available sources of food and water along the route, the means of transport, and the obstacles interposed by nature or by man, and no less quick to observe the marketable products of every district, whether natural or manufactured, and the channels through which flowed the interlacing streams of export and import." Introduction, pg. 19

"The present translation is intended to provide a straightforward and readable version, related as closely as possible to modern knowledge but making no claim to meet the requirements of the specialist." Introduction, pg. 27

"When the Great Khan saw that Messer Niccolo and Messer Maffeo and Messer Marco were on...