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.
