Flows south
to Sue-chau or Swi-fu, does render change in the distribution of the waters
about the city highly credible."] [See Irrigation of the Ch'eng-tu
Plain, by Joshua Vale, China Inland Mission in Jour. China
Br.R.A.S.Soc. XXXIII. 1899-1900, pp. 22-36. - H.C.]
[Above Kwan Hsien, near Ch'eng-tu, there is a fine suspension bridge,
mentioned by Marcel Monnier (Itineraires, p. 43), from whom I borrow the
cut reproduced on this page. This bridge is also spoken of by Captain Gill
(l.c. I. p. 335): "Six ropes, one above the other, are stretched very
tightly, and connected by vertical battens of wood laced in and out.
Another similar set of ropes is at the other side of the roadway, which is
laid across these, and follows the curve of the ropes. There are three or
four spans with stone piers." - H.C.]
[Illustration: Bridge near Kwan-hsien (Ch'eng-tu).]
NOTE 3. - (G.T.) "Hi est le couiereque dou Grant Sire, ce est cilz qe
recevent la rente dou Seignor." Pauthier has couvert. Both are, I doubt
not, misreadings or misunderstandings of comereque or comerc. This
word, founded on the Latin commercium, was widely spread over the East
with the meaning of customs-duty or custom-house. In Low Greek it
appeared as [Greek: kommerkion] and [Greek: koumerkion], now [Greek:
komerki]; in Arabic and Turkish as [Arabic] and [Turkish] (kumruk and
gyumruk), still in use; in Romance dialects as comerchio, comerho,
comergio, etc.
NOTE 4. - The word in Pauthier's text which I have rendered pieces of
gold is pois, probably equivalent to saggi or miskals.[2] The G.T.
has "is well worth 1000 bezants of gold," no doubt meaning daily,
though not saying so. Ramusio has "100 bezants daily." The term Bezant may
be taken as synonymous with Dinar, and the statement in the text would
make the daily receipt of custom upwards of 500l., that in Ramusio
upwards of 50l. only.
NOTE 5. - I have recast this passage, which has got muddled, probably in
the original dictation, for it runs in the G. text: "Et de ceste cite se
part l'en et chevauche cinq jornee por plain et por valee, et treve-l'en
castiaus et casaus assez. Les homes vivent dou profit qu'il traient de la
terre. Il hi a bestes sauvajes assez, lions et orses et autres bestes.
Il vivent d'ars: car il hi se laborent des biaus sendal et autres dras.
Il sunt de Sindu meisme." I take it that in speaking of Ch'eng-tu fu,
Marco has forgotten to fill up his usual formula as to the occupation of
the inhabitants; he is reminded of this when he speaks of the occupation
of the peasantry on the way to Tibet, and reverts to the citizens in the
words which I have quoted in Italics.
