Horde, 228, 238; Ilch. II. 184; Q. R.
pp. 308-309; Ayeen Akb. I. 270, and Blochmann's, p. 115; J. As. ser.
IV. tom. xix. 276; Olearius, ed. 1659, I. 656; Cathay, 135; De
Mailla, ix. 106; Gaubil, p. 6; Pallas, Samml. I. 35.)
["By Keshican in Colonel Yule's Marco Polo, Keshikten is evidently
meant. This is a general Mongol term to designate the Khan's lifeguard. It
is derived from the word Keshik, meaning a guard by turns; a corps on
tour of duty. Keshik is one of the archaisms of the Mongol language, for
now this word has another meaning in Mongol. Colonel Yule has brought
together several explanations of the term. It seems to me that among his
suppositions the following is the most consistent with the ancient meaning
of the word: -
"We find Kishik still used at the court of Hindustan, under the great
kings of Timur's House, for the corps on tour of duty at the palace....
The royal guards in Persia, who watch the King's person at night, are
termed Keshikchi."
"The Keshikten was divided into a day-watch called Turgaut and a
night-watch Kebteul. The Kebte-ul consisted of pure Mongols, whilst the
Turgaut was composed of the sons of the vassal princes and governors of
the provinces, and of hostages. The watch of the Khan was changed every
three days, and contained 400 men. In 1330 it was reduced to 100 men."
(Palladius, 42-43.) Mr. E. H. Parker writes in the China Review,
XVIII. p. 262, that they "are evidently the 'body guards' of the modern
viceroys, now pronounced Kashiha, but, evidently, originally Keshigha."
- H. C.]
[1] One of the nearest readings is that of the Brandenburg Latin collated
by Mueller, which has Quaesicam.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE FASHION OF THE GREAT KAAN'S TABLE AT HIS HIGH FEASTS.
And when the Great Kaan sits at table on any great court occasion, it is
in this fashion. His table is elevated a good deal above the others, and
he sits at the north end of the hall, looking towards the south, with his
chief wife beside him on the left. On his right sit his sons and his
nephews, and other kinsmen of the Blood Imperial, but lower, so that their
heads are on a level with the Emperor's feet. And then the other Barons
sit at other tables lower still. So also with the women; for all the wives
of the Lord's sons, and of his nephews and other kinsmen, sit at the lower
table to his right; and below them again the ladies of the other Barons
and Knights, each in the place assigned by the Lord's orders. The tables
are so disposed that the Emperor can see the whole of them from end to
end, many as they are.[NOTE 1] [Further, you are not to suppose that
everybody sits at table; on the contrary, the greater part of the soldiers
and their officers sit at their meal in the hall on the carpets.] Outside
the hall will be found more than 40,000 people; for there is a great
concourse of folk bringing presents to the Lord, or come from foreign
countries with curiosities.
In a certain part of the hall near where the Great Kaan holds his table,
there [is set a large and very beautiful piece of workmanship in the form
of a square coffer, or buffet, about three paces each way, exquisitely
wrought with figures of animals, finely carved and gilt. The middle is
hollow, and in it] stands a great vessel of pure gold, holding as much as
an ordinary butt; and at each corner of the great vessel is one of smaller
size [of the capacity of a firkin], and from the former the wine or
beverage flavoured with fine and costly spices is drawn off into the
latter. [And on the buffet aforesaid are set all the Lord's drinking
vessels, among which are certain pitchers of the finest gold,] which are
called verniques,[NOTE 2] and are big enough to hold drink for eight or
ten persons. And one of these is put between every two persons, besides a
couple of golden cups with handles, so that every man helps himself from
the pitcher that stands between him and his neighbour. And the ladies are
supplied in the same way. The value of these pitchers and cups is
something immense; in fact, the Great Kaan has such a quantity of this
kind of plate, and of gold and silver in other shapes, as no one ever
before saw or heard tell of, or could believe.[NOTE 3]
[There are certain Barons specially deputed to see that foreigners, who do
not know the customs of the Court, are provided with places suited to
their rank; and these Barons are continually moving to and fro in the
hall, looking to the wants of the guests at table, and causing the
servants to supply them promptly with wine, milk, meat, or whatever they
lack. At every door of the hall (or, indeed, wherever the Emperor may be)
there stand a couple of big men like giants, one on each side, armed with
staves. Their business is to see that no one steps upon the threshold in
entering, and if this does happen, they strip the offender of his clothes,
and he must pay a forfeit to have them back again; or in lieu of taking
his clothes, they give him a certain number of blows. If they are
foreigners ignorant of the order, then there are Barons appointed to
introduce them, and explain it to them. They think, in fact, that it
brings bad luck if any one touches the threshold. Howbeit, they are not
expected to stick at this in going forth again, for at that time some are
like to be the worse for liquor, and incapable of looking to their
steps.[NOTE 4]]
And you must know that those who wait upon the Great Kaan with his dishes
and his drink are some of the great Barons.
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