The Travels of Marco Polo
Chapter 14 : XXIV.--HOW THE OLD MAN USED TO TRAIN HIS a.s.sa.s.sINS NOTES.--1. The story widely spre

XXIV.--HOW THE OLD MAN USED TO TRAIN HIS a.s.sa.s.sINS

NOTES.--1. The story widely spread. Notable murders by the Sectaries.

2. Their different branches.

XXV.--HOW THE OLD MAN CAME BY HIS END

NOTE.--History of the apparent Destruction of the Sect by Hulaku; its survival to the present time. Castles of Alamut and Girdkuh.

XXVI.--CONCERNING THE CITY OF SAPURGAN

NOTE.--s.h.i.+brgan, and the route followed. Dried Melons.

XXVII.--OF THE CITY OF BALC

NOTES.--1. Balkh. 2. Country meant by Dogana. 3. Lions in the Oxus Valley.

XXVIII.--OF TAICAN, AND THE MOUNTAINS OF SALT. ALSO OF THE PROVINCE OF CASEM

NOTES.--1. Talikan. 2. Mines of Rock-salt. 3. Ethnological characteristics. 4. Kishm. 5. Porcupines. 6. Cave dwellings. 7. Old and New Capitals of Badakhshan.

XXIX.--OF THE PROVINCE OF BADASHAN

NOTES.--1. Dialects of Badakhshan. Alexandrian lineage of the Princes.

2. Badakhshan and the Balas Ruby. 3. Azure Mines. 4. Horses of Badakhshan. 5. Naked Barley. 6. Wild sheep. 7. Scenery of Badakhshan.

8. Repeated devastation of the Country from War. 9. Amplitude of feminine garments.

x.x.x.--OF THE PROVINCE OF PASHAI

NOTE.--On the country intended by this name.

x.x.xI.--OF THE PROVINCE OF KEs.h.i.+MUR

NOTES.--1. Kashmir language. 2. Kashmir Conjurers. (_See App. L. 2._) 3. Importance of Kashmir in History of Buddhism. 4. Character of the People. 5. Vicissitudes of Buddhism in Kashmir. 6. Buddhist practice as to slaughter of animals. 7. Coral.

x.x.xII.--OF THE GREAT RIVER OF BADASHAN; AND PLAIN OF PAMIER

NOTES.--1. The Upper Oxus and Wakhan. The t.i.tle _Nono_, (_See App. L.

3._) 2. The Plateau of Pamir. (_See App. L. 4 and 5._) The Great Wild Sheep. Fire at great alt.i.tudes. 3. Bolor.

x.x.xIII.--OF THE KINGDOM OF CASCAR

NOTE.--Kashgar.

x.x.xIV.--OF THE GREAT CITY OF SAMARCAN

NOTES.--1. Christians in Samarkand. 2. Chagatai's relation to Kublai mis-stated. 3. The Miracle of the Stone.

x.x.xV.--OF THE PROVINCE OF YARCAN

NOTE.--Yarkand. Goitre prevalent there.

x.x.xVI.--OF A PROVINCE CALLED COTAN

NOTES.--1. Government. 2. "Adoration of Mahommet." 3. Khotan.

x.x.xVII.--OF THE PROVINCE OF PEIN

NOTES.--1. Position of Pein (App. L. 6.) 2. The Yu or Jade. 3. Temporary marriages.

x.x.xVIII.--OF THE PROVINCE OF CHARCHAN

NOTE.--Position of Charchan and Lop.

x.x.xIX.--OF THE CITY OF LOP, AND THE GREAT DESERT

NOTES.--1. Geographical discrepancy. 2. Superst.i.tions as to Deserts: their wide diffusion. The Sound of Drums on certain sandy acclivities.

3. Sha-chau to Lob-nor.

XL.--CONCERNING THE GREAT PROVINCE OF TANGUT

NOTES.--1. Tangut. 2. Buddhism encountered here. 3. Kalmak superst.i.tion, the "_Heaven's Ram_." 4. Chinese customs described here. 5. Mongol disposal of the Dead. 6. Superst.i.tious practice of avoiding to carry out the dead by the house-door; its wide diffusion.

XLI.--OF THE PROVINCE OF CAMUL

NOTES.--1. Kamul. 2. Character of the people. 3. Shameless custom.

4. Parallel.

XLII.--OF THE PROVINCE OF CHINGINTALAS

NOTES.--1. The Country intended. 2. Ondanique. 3. Asbestos Mountain.

4. The four elements. 5 and 6. The Story of the Salamander. Asbestos fabrics.

XLIII.--OF THE PROVINCE OF SUKCHUR

NOTES.--1. Explanatory. 2. The City of Suhchau. 3. Rhubarb country.

4. Poisonous pasture.

XLIV.--OF THE CITY OF CAMPICHU

NOTES.--1. The City of Kanchau. 2. Rec.u.mbent Buddhas. 3. Buddhist Days of Special Wors.h.i.+p. 4. Matrimonial Customs. 5. Textual.

XLV.--OF THE CITY OF ETZINA

NOTES.--1. Position of Yetsina. 2. Textual. 3. The Wild a.s.s of Mongolia.

XLVI.--OF THE CITY OF CARACORON

NOTES.--1. Karakorum. 2. Tartar. 3. Chorcha. 4. Prester John.