Starting from Tholoman and following the course of the Yang-tse River northward for twelve days, numerous cities and castles are passed, though none worthy of special mention, until reaching the splendid and great city of Cugny.
The inhabitants of Cugny are idolaters and are under the dominion of the Great Khan. They live by trade and craftsmanship and excel at producing magnificent fabrics from tree bark, especially used during the summer. They are also recognized as good soldiers and use paper money, evidence that one has entered the lands where the Great Khan's currency circulates.
In these regions lions are so abundant that nobody dares to spend the night outside their home. When navigating the river at night, it is necessary to stay away from the banks, as lions swim to the boats and devour those they can catch. They are enormous, ferocious, and bold animals; even in pairs, they are capable of attacking a lion. Therefore, travelers always carry two trained dogs. When encountering a lion, the dogs rush at it, surround it, and bite its tail, legs, or wherever they can reach. The lion attempts to defend itself and sometimes pretends to retreat only to suddenly turn around and try to catch them. However, the dogs are agile, evade its attacks, and continue harassing it until it flees, seeking refuge in a forest or near a tree. That is when the men, being excellent archers, draw their bows and mortally wound it. In this way the travelers rid themselves of the danger.
In this region silk is produced in abundance, as well as other goods, which are transported along the river and its tributaries, both upstream and downstream. Navigation continues for another twelve days, passing through many cities whose inhabitants also idolaters and subjects of the Great Khan'live by trade and craftsmanship and use paper money. At the end of this section, one reaches the city of Sindifu, already mentioned earlier.
From there one rides for seventy days, traversing provinces, towns, and castles described previously. Eventually one returns to Cugny. From that city the march continues for four more days, passing through more cities and castles. Its inhabitants also idolaters use the Great Khan's paper money, their lord. Thus one finally arrives at Cacanfu, situated in the south, which forms part of the province of Cathay, of which I will now speak.
Starting from Tholoman and following the course of the Yang-tse River northward for twelve days, numerous cities and castles are passed, though none worthy of special mention, until reaching the splendid and great city of Cugny.
The inhabitants of Cugny are idolaters and are under the dominion of the Great Khan. They live by trade and craftsmanship and excel at producing magnificent fabrics from tree bark, especially used during the summer. They are also recognized as good soldiers and use paper money, evidence that one has entered the lands where the Great Khan's currency circulates.
In these regions lions are so abundant that nobody dares to spend the night outside their home. When navigating the river at night, it is necessary to stay away from the banks, as lions swim to the boats and devour those they can catch. They are enormous, ferocious, and bold animals; even in pairs, they are capable of attacking a lion. Therefore, travelers always carry two trained dogs. When encountering a lion, the dogs rush at it, surround it, and bite its tail, legs, or wherever they can reach. The lion attempts to defend itself and sometimes pretends to retreat only to suddenly turn around and try to catch them. However, the dogs are agile, evade its attacks, and continue harassing it until it flees, seeking refuge in a forest or near a tree. That is when the men, being excellent archers, draw their bows and mortally wound it. In this way the travelers rid themselves of the danger.
In this region silk is produced in abundance, as well as other goods, which are transported along the river and its tributaries, both upstream and downstream. Navigation continues for another twelve days, passing through many cities whose inhabitants also idolaters and subjects of the Great Khan'live by trade and craftsmanship and use paper money. At the end of this section, one reaches the city of Sindifu, already mentioned earlier.
From there one rides for seventy days, traversing provinces, towns, and castles described previously. Eventually one returns to Cugny. From that city the march continues for four more days, passing through more cities and castles. Its inhabitants also idolaters use the Great Khan's paper money, their lord. Thus one finally arrives at Cacanfu, situated in the south, which forms part of the province of Cathay, of which I will now speak.
