[1] The Lu or Circuit was an administrative division under the Mongols,
intermediate between the Sing and the Fu, or department. There were
185 lu in all China under Kublai. (Pauth. 333). [Mr. E.L.
Oxenham, Hist. Atlas Chin. Emp., reckons 10 provinces or sheng, 39
fu cities, 316 chau, 88 lu, 12 military governorships. - H.C.]
CHAPTER LXIX.
CONCERNING THE CITY OF NANGHIN.
Nanghin is a very noble Province towards the west. The people are
Idolaters (and so forth) and live by trade and manufactures. They have
silk in great abundance, and they weave many fine tissues of silk and
gold. They have all sorts of corn and victuals very cheap, for the
province is a most productive one. Game also is abundant, and lions too
are found there. The merchants are great and opulent, and the Emperor
draws a large revenue from them, in the shape of duties on the goods which
they buy and sell.[NOTE 1]
And now I will tell you of the very noble city of Saianfu, which well
deserves a place in our book, for there is a matter of great moment to
tell about it.
NOTE 1. - The name and direction from Yang-chau are probably sufficient to
indicate (as Pauthier has said) that this is NGAN-KING on the Kiang,
capital of the modern province of Ngan-hwei.
