And it is an eight
journeys from the city above-said. This city sits upon a fair
river, great and broad, that men clepe Caramaron. This river
passeth throughout Cathay. And it doth often-time harm, and that
full great, when it is over great.
CHAPTER XXIII
OF THE GREAT CHAN OF CATHAY. OF THE ROYALTY OF HIS PALACE, AND HOW
HE SITS AT MEAT; AND OF THE GREAT NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT SERVE HIM
CATHAY is a great country and a fair, noble and rich, and full of
merchants. Thither go merchants all years for to seek spices and
all manner of merchandises, more commonly than in any other part.
And ye shall understand, that merchants that come from Genoa or
from Venice or from Romania or other parts of Lombardy, they go by
sea and by land eleven months or twelve, or more some-time, ere
they may come to the isle of Cathay that is the principal region of
all parts beyond; and it is of the great Chan.
From Cathay go men toward the east by many journeys. And then men
find a good city between these others, that men clepe Sugarmago.
That city is one of the best stored of silk and other merchandises
that is in the world.
