We Apply The Term Wolf-
Dog To Several Varieties, And In Macbeth's Enumeration We Have -
- - "Hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,
Shoughs, water rugs, and Demi-Wolves."
Lastly the root-word may be the Chinese Kiuen "dog," as Pauthier says.
The mastiffs were probably Tibetan, but may have come through China, and
brought a name with them, like Boule-dogues in France.
[Palladius (p. 46) says that Chinuchi or Cunici "have no resemblance
with any of the names found in the Yuen shi, ch. xcix., article Ping
chi (military organisation), and relating to the hunting staff of the
Khan, viz.: Si pao ch'i (falconers), Ho r ch'i (archers), and Ke lien
ch'i (probably those who managed the hounds)." - H. C.]
CHAPTER XX.
HOW THE EMPEROR GOES ON A HUNTING EXPEDITION.
After he has stopped at his capital city those three months that I
mentioned, to wit, December, January, February, he starts off on the 1st
day of March, and travels southward towards the Ocean Sea, a journey of
two days.[NOTE 1] He takes with him full 10,000 falconers, and some 500
gerfalcons besides peregrines, sakers, and other hawks in great numbers;
and goshawks also to fly at the water-fowl.[NOTE 2] But do not suppose
that he keeps all these together by him; they are distributed about,
hither and thither, one hundred together, or two hundred at the utmost, as
he thinks proper. But they are always fowling as they advance, and the
most part of the quarry taken is carried to the Emperor. And let me tell
you when he goes thus a-fowling with his gerfalcons and other hawks, he is
attended by full 10,000 men who are disposed in couples; and these are
called Toscaol, which is as much as to say, "Watchers." And the name
describes their business.[NOTE 3] They are posted from spot to spot,
always in couples, and thus they cover a great deal of ground! Every man
of them is provided with a whistle and hood, so as to be able to call in a
hawk and hold it in hand. And when the Emperor makes a cast, there is no
need that he follow it up, for those men I speak of keep so good a look
out that they never lose sight of the birds, and if these have need of
help they are ready to render it.
All the Emperor's hawks, and those of the Barons as well, have a little
label attached to the leg to mark them, on which is written the names of
the owner and the keeper of the bird. And in this way the hawk, when
caught, is at once identified and handed over to its owner. But if not,
the bird is carried to a certain Baron, who is styled the Bularguchi,
which is as much as to say "The Keeper of Lost Property." And I tell you
that whatever may be found without a known owner, whether it be a horse,
or a sword, or a hawk, or what not, it is carried to that Baron
straightway, and he takes charge of it. And if the finder neglects to
carry his trover to the Baron, the latter punishes him. Likewise the loser
of any article goes to the Baron, and if the thing be in his hands it is
immediately given up to the owner. Moreover, the said Baron always pitches
on the highest spot of the camp, with his banner displayed, in order that
those who have lost or found anything may have no difficulty in finding
their way to him. Thus nothing can be lost but it shall be incontinently
found and restored.[NOTE 4]
And so the Emperor follows this road that I have mentioned, leading along
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!
The Emperor himself is carried upon four elephants in a fine chamber made
of timber, lined inside with plates of beaten gold, and outside with
lions' skins [for he always travels in this way on his fowling
expeditions, because he is troubled with gout]. He always keeps beside him
a dozen of his choicest gerfalcons, and is attended by several of his
Barons, who ride on horseback alongside. And sometimes, as they may be
going along, and the Emperor from his chamber is holding discourse with
the Barons, one of the latter shall exclaim: "Sire! Look out for Cranes!"
Then the Emperor instantly has the top of his chamber thrown open, and
having marked the cranes he casts one of his gerfalcons, whichever he
pleases; and often the quarry is struck within his view, so that he has
the most exquisite sport and diversion, there as he sits in his chamber or
lies on his bed; and all the Barons with him get the enjoyment of it
likewise! So it is not without reason I tell you that I do not believe
there ever existed in the world or ever will exist, a man with such sport
and enjoyment as he has, or with such rare opportunities.[NOTE 5]
And when he has travelled till he reaches a place called CACHAR
MODUN,[NOTE 6] there he finds his tents pitched, with the tents of his
Sons, and his Barons, and those of his Ladies and theirs, so that there
shall be full 10,000 tents in all, and all fine and rich ones. And I will
tell you how his own quarters are disposed. The tent in which he holds his
courts is large enough to give cover easily to a thousand souls. It is
pitched with its door to the south, and the Barons and Knights remain in
waiting in it, whilst the Lord abides in another close to it on the west
side.
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