In 1328, Thomas of Mancasola, a
Dominican, who had come from Samarkand with a Mission to the Pope (John
XXII.) from Ilchigadai, Khan of Chagatai, was appointed Latin Bishop of
that city. (Mosheim, p. 110, etc.; Cathay, p. 192.)
NOTE 2. - CHAGATAI, here called Sigatay, was Uncle, not Brother, to the
Great Kaan (Kublai). Nor was Kaidu either Chagatai's son or Kublai's
nephew, as Marco here and elsewhere represents him to be. (See Bk. IV. ch.
i.) The term used to describe Chagatai's relationship is frere charnel,
which excludes ambiguity, cousinship, or the like (such as is expressed by
the Italian fratello cugino), and corresponds, I believe, to the
brother german of Scotch law documents.
NOTE 3. - One might say, These things be an allegory! We take the fine
stone that belongs to the Saracens (or Papists) to build our church on,
but the day of reckoning comes at last, and our (Irish Protestant)
Christians are afraid that the Church will come about their ears. May it
stand, and better than that of Samarkand has done!
There is a story somewhat like this in D'Herbelot, about the Karmathian
Heretics carrying off the Black Stone from Mecca, and being obliged years
after to bring it back across the breadth of Arabia; on which occasion the
stone conducted itself in a miraculous manner.
There is a remarkable Stone at Samarkand, the Kok-Tash or Green Stone,
on which Timur's throne was set. Tradition says that, big as it is, it was
brought by him from Brusa; - but tradition may be wrong. (See Vambery's
Travels, p. 206.) [Also H. Moser, A travers l'Asie centrale, 114-115.
- H. C.]
[The Archimandrite Palladius (Chinese Recorder, VI. p. 108) quotes from
the Chi shun Chin-kiang chi (Description of Chin-Kiang), 14th century,
the following passage regarding the pillar: "There is a temple (in
Samarcand) supported by four enormous wooden pillars, each of them 40 feet
high. One of these pillars is in a hanging position, and stands off from
the floor more than a foot." - H. C.]
CHAPTER XXXV.
OF THE PROVINCE OF YARCAN.
Yarcan is a province five days' journey in extent. The people follow the
Law of Mahommet, but there are also Nestorian and Jacobite Christians.
They are subject to the same Prince that I mentioned, the Great Kaan's
nephew. They have plenty of everything, [particularly of cotton. The
inhabitants are also great craftsmen, but a large proportion of them have
swoln legs, and great crops at the throat, which arises from some quality
in their drinking-water.] As there is nothing else worth telling we may
pass on.[NOTE 1]
NOTE 1. - Yarkan or Yarken seems to be the general pronunciation of the
name to this day, though we write YARKAND.
[A Chinese traveller, translated by M. Gueluy (Desc. de la Chine
occidentales, p. 41), says that the word Yarkand is made of Iar,
earth, and Kiang (Kand?), large, vast, but this derivation is
doubtful.
