Travelers from history and their famous sea voyages

years later by Ghzn Khan, on the return by this same route to Persia,
the chief of the two Persian ambassadors, and the Great Khan”s envoy, who
was in company, both died by the way
It is worth noting that in the case of an embassy sent to Cathay a few
years later by Ghzn Khan, on the return by this same route to Persia,
the chief of the two Persian ambassadors, and the Great Khan”s envoy, who
was in company, both died by the way. Their voyage, too, seems to have
been nearly as long as Polo”s; for they were seven years absent from
Persia, and of these only four in China. (See _Wassf_ in _Elliot_, III.
47.)

author
Moreover, in Rashiduddin, we find the identical plural form used by our
author. He says that, after the sack of Baghdad, Hulaku, who had escaped
from the polluted atmosphere of the city, sent ‘Ilk?Noyn and Karbg?
with 3000 Moghul horse into Baghdad, in order to have the buildings
repaired, and to put things generally in order. These chiefs posted
sentries from the KISHKN ([Arabic]), and from their own followings in
the different quarters of the town, had the carcases of beasts removed
from the streets, and caused the bazaars to be rebuilt.’

HOW THE GREAT KAAN SENT THE TWO BROTHERS AS HIS ENVOYS TO THE POPE.

through, covering the plain of Yezd, is very curious
Khanikoff observes on this chapter: ‘This notice of woods easy to ride
through, covering the plain of Yezd, is very curious. Now you find it a
plain of great extent indeed from N.W. to S.E., but narrow and arid;
indeed I saw in it only thirteen inhabited spots, counting two
caravanserais. Water for the inhabitants is brought from a great distance
by subterraneous conduits, a practice which may have tended to desiccate
the soil, for every trace of wood has completely disappeared.’

Incentive to Anti-Foreign Riots in China_, by _D
[With reference to cannibalism in China see _Medical Superstitions an
Incentive to Anti-Foreign Riots in China_, by _D. J. Macgowan, North China
Herald_, 8th July, 1892, pp. 60-62. Mr. E. H. Parker (_China Review_,
February-March, 1901, 136) relates that the inhabitants of a part of
Kwang-si boiled and ate a Chinese officer who had been sent to pacify
them. ‘The idea underlying this horrible act [cannibalism] is, that by
eating a portion of the victim, especially the heart, one acquires the
valour with which he was endowed.’ (_Dennys” Folk-lore of China_, 67.)–H.
C.]

though now it is a seat of fanatical Mahomedanism
Yezd, in pre-Mahomedan times, was a great sanctuary of the Gueber worship,
though now it is a seat of fanatical Mahomedanism. It is, however, one of
the few places where the old religion lingers. In 1859 there were reckoned
850 families of Guebers in Yezd and fifteen adjoining villages, but they
diminish rapidly.

‘M. Polo notices that the cattle not indigenous to the province lose their
hoofs in the Suh-chau Mountains; but that is probably not on account of
some poisonous grass, but in consequence of the stony ground.’
(_Palladius_, l.c. p. 9.)–H. C.]

have heard from persons of character from beyond sea) styled BALDACH,
whilst the part that lies, according to the prophecy, deserted and
pathless extends some ten miles to the Tower of Babel The inhabited
portion called Baldach is very large and populous; and though it
should belong to the Persian monarchy it has been conceded by the
Kings of the Persians to their High Priest, whom they call the
_Caliph_; in order that in this also a certain analogy [_quaedam
habitudo_] such as has been often remarked before, should be exhibited
between Babylon and Rome
‘That portion of ancient Babylon which is still occupied is (as we
have heard from persons of character from beyond sea) styled BALDACH,
whilst the part that lies, according to the prophecy, deserted and
pathless extends some ten miles to the Tower of Babel The inhabited
portion called Baldach is very large and populous; and though it
should belong to the Persian monarchy it has been conceded by the
Kings of the Persians to their High Priest, whom they call the
_Caliph_; in order that in this also a certain analogy [_quaedam
habitudo_] such as has been often remarked before, should be exhibited
between Babylon and Rome. For the same (privilege) that here in the
city of Rome has been made over to our chief Pontiff by the Christian
Emperor, has there been conceded to their High Priest by the Pagan
Kings of Persia, to whom Babylonia has for a long time been subject.
But the Kings of the Persians (just as our Kings have their royal
city, like Aachen) have themselves established the seat of their
kingdom at Egbatana, which, in the Book of Judith, Arphaxat is said to
have founded, and which in their tongue is called HANI, containing as
they allege 100,000 or more fighting men, and have reserved to
themselves nothing of Babylon except the nominal dominion. Finally,
the place which is now vulgarly called Babylonia, as I have mentioned,
is not upon the Euphrates (at all) as people suppose, but on the Nile,
about 6 days” journey from Alexandria, and is the same as Memphis, to
which Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, anciently gave the name of
Babylon.’–Ottonis Frising. Lib. VII. cap. 3, in _Germanic Hist.
Illust. etc. Christiani Urstisii Basiliensis_, Francof. 1585.–Y.