"Si bien estudier" (G.T.). The word may be
estiver (It. stivare), to stow, but I half suspect it should be
estuver in the sense of "kiln-dry," though both the Geog. Latin and the
Crusca render it gubernare.[1] Lecomte says: "Rice is always stored in
the public granaries for three or four years in advance. It keeps long if
care be taken to air it and stir it about; and although not so good to the
taste or look as new rice, it is said to be more wholesome."
The Archbishop of Soltania (A.D. 1330) speaks of these stores. "The said
Emperor is very pitiful and compassionate ... and so when there is a
dearth in the land he openeth his garners, and giveth forth of his wheat
and his rice for half what others are selling it at." Kublai Kaan's
measures of this kind are recorded in the annals of the Dynasty, as quoted
by Pauthier. The same practice is ascribed to the sovereigns of the T'ang
Dynasty by the old Arab Relations. In later days a missionary gives in
the Lettres Edifiantes an unfavourable account of the action of these
public granaries, and of the rascality that occurred in connection with
them. (Lecomte, II. 101; Cathay, 240; Relat. I. 39; Let. Ed. xxiv.
76.)
[The Yuen-shi in ch. 96 contains sections on dispensaries (Hui min yao
kue), granary regulations (Shi ti), and regulations for a time of dearth
(Chen Sue). (Bretschneider, Med. Res. I. p. 187.) - H. C.]
[1] Marsden observes incidentally (Hist. of Sumatra, 1st edition, p. 71)
that he was told in Bengal they used to dry-kiln the rice for
exportation, "owing to which, or to some other process, it will
continue good for several years."
CHAPTER XXXII.
OF THE CHARITY OF THE EMPEROR TO THE POOR.
I have told you how the Great Kaan provides for the distribution of
necessaries to his people in time of dearth, by making store in time of
cheapness. Now I will tell you of his alms and great charity to the poor
of his city of Cambaluc.
You see he causes selection to be made of a number of families in the city
which are in a state of indigence, and of such families some may consist
of six in the house, some of eight, some of ten, more or fewer in each as
it may hap, but the whole number being very great. And each family he
causes annually to be supplied with wheat and other corn sufficient for
the whole year. And this he never fails to do every year. Moreover, all
those who choose to go to the daily dole at the Court receive a great loaf
apiece, hot from the baking, and nobody is denied; for so the Lord hath
ordered. And so some 30,000 people go for it every day from year's end to
year's end.
