Travelers from history and their famous sea voyages

of Andrea Bianco (1436) and Fra Mauro (1459), may be ascribed to the
influence of Polo”s own work; but a more genuine evidence of the
prevalence of the legend is found in the celebrated Hereford Map
constructed in the 13th century by Richard de Haldingham
The appearance of the Arbre Sec in Maps of the 15th century, such as those
of Andrea Bianco (1436) and Fra Mauro (1459), may be ascribed to the
influence of Polo”s own work; but a more genuine evidence of the
prevalence of the legend is found in the celebrated Hereford Map
constructed in the 13th century by Richard de Haldingham. This, in the
vicinity of India and the Terrestrial Paradise, exhibits a Tree with the
rubric ‘_Albor Balsami est Arbor Sicca_.’

NOTE 2.–This description of the Desert of Kermn, says Mr. Khanikoff, ‘is
very correct. As the only place in the Desert of Lt where water is found
is the dirty, salt, bitter, and green water of the rivulet called
_Shor-Rd_ (the Salt River), we can have no doubt of the direction of Marco
Polo”s route from Kermn so far.’ Nevertheless I do not agree with
Khanikoff that the route lay N.E. in the direction of Ambar and Kain, for a
reason which will appear under the next chapter. I imagine the route to
have been nearly due north from Kermn, in the direction of Tabbas or of
Tn. And even such a route would, according to Khanikoff”s own map, pass
the Shor-Rd, though at a higher point.

NOTE 2.–’They have no herdsmen or others to watch their cattle, because
the laws of the Turks (i.e. Tartars) against theft are so severe…. A man
in whose possession a stolen horse is found is obliged to restore it to
its owner, _and to give nine of the same value_; if he cannot, his
children are seized in compensation; if he have no children, he is
slaughtered like a mutton.’ (_Ibn Batuta_, II. 364.)

NOTE 1.–Though this particular Bayan and Mingan are not likely to be
mentioned in history, the names are both good Mongol names; _Bayan_ that
of a great soldier under Kbli, of whom we shall hear afterwards; and
_Mingan_ that of one of Chinghiz”s generals.

_Saracanco_ of Pegolotti the latter half of the name may be the Mongol
_Knk_ ‘Great
The use of the latter name suggests the possibility that in the
_Saracanco_ of Pegolotti the latter half of the name may be the Mongol
_Knk_ ‘Great.’ (See _Pavet de Courteille_, p. 439.)

[Illustration: Castle of Baiburt.]

in the vicinity of the Ocean Sea (which is within two days” journey of his
capital city, Cambaluc), and as he goes there is many a fine sight to be
seen, and plenty of the very best entertainment in hawking; in fact, there
is no sport in the world to equal it!

A.D. 1092. Nizum-ul-Mulk, formerly the powerful minister of Malik Shah,
Seljukian sovereign of Persia, and a little later his two sons. 1102. The
Prince of Homs, in the chief Mosque of that city. 1113. Maudd, Prince of
Mosul, in the chief Mosque of Damascus. About 1114. Abul Muzafar “Ali,
Wazir of Sanjr Shah, and Chakar Beg, grand-uncle of the latter. 1116.
Ahmed Yel, Prince of Maragha, at Baghdad, in the presence of Mahomed,
Sultan of Persia. 1121. The Amir Afdhal, the powerful Wazir of Egypt, at
Cairo. 1126. Kasim Aksonkor, Prince of Mosul and Aleppo, in the Great
Mosque at Mosul. 1127. Moyin-uddin, Wazir of Sanjr Shah of Persia. 1129.
Amr Billah, Khalif of Egypt. 1131. Taj-ul Mulk Buri, Prince of Damascus.
1134. Shams-ul-Mulk, son of the preceding. 1135-38. The Khalif
Mostarshid, the Khalif Rashd, and Dad, Seljukian Prince of Azerbaijan.
1149. Raymond, Count of Tripoli. 1191. Kizil Arzlan, Prince of Azerbaijan.
1192. Conrad of Montferrat, titular King of Jerusalem; a murder which King
Richard has been accused of instigating. 1217. Oghulmish, Prince of
Hamadn.

upon the site, about 16 miles S
As regards the position of AVAH, Abbott says that a village still stands
upon the site, about 16 miles S.S.E. of Svah. He did not visit it, but
took a bearing to it. He was told there was a mound there on which
formerly stood a Gueber Castle. At Svah he could find no trace of Marco
Polo”s legend. Chardin, in whose time Svah was not quite so far gone to
decay, heard of an alleged tomb of Samuel, at 4 leagues from the city.
This is alluded to by Hamd Allah.

Major Sykes (ch. xxiii.) writes: ‘I translated Marco”s description of
_tutia_ (which is also the modern Persian name), to a khn of Kubenn, and
he assured me that the process was the same to-day; spodium he knew
nothing about, but the sulphate of zinc is found in the hills to the east
of Kubenn.’