THE TRAVELS OF MARCO POLO (continued 2)

Lord Canning and Yule left Calcutta late in March, 1862; at Malta they parted never to meet again in this world. Lord Canning proceeded to England, and Yule joined his wife and child in Rome. Only a few weeks later, at Florence, came as a thunderclap the announcement of Lord Canning’s unexpected death in London, on 17th June. Well does the present writer remember the day that fatal news came, and Yule’s deep anguish, not assuredly for the loss of his prospects, but for the loss of a most noble and magnanimous friend, a statesman whose true greatness was, both then and since, most imperfectly realised by the country for which he had worn himself out.[50] Shortly after Yule went to England,[51] where he was cordially received by Lord Canning’s representatives, who gave him a touching remembrance of his lost friend, in the shape of the silver travelling candlesticks, which had habitually stood on Lord Canning’s writing-table.[52] But his offer to write Lord Canning’s Life had no result, as the relatives, following the then recent example of the Hastings family, in the case of another great Governor-General, refused to revive discussion by the publication of any Memoir.

Nor did Yule find any suitable opening for employment in England, so after two or three months spent in visiting old friends, he rejoined his family in the Black Forest, where he sought occupation in renewing his knowledge of German. But it must be confessed that his mood both then and for long after was neither happy nor wholesome. The winter of 1862 was spent somewhat listlessly, partly in Germany and partly at the Hôtel des Bergues, Geneva, where his old acquaintance Colonel Tronchin was hospitably ready to open all doors. The picturesque figure of John Ruskin also flits across the scene at this time. But Yule was unoccupied and restless, and could neither enjoy Mr. Ruskin’s criticism of his sketches nor the kindly hospitality of his Genevan hosts. Early in 1863 he made another fruitless visit to London, where he remained four or five months, but found no opening. Though unproductive of work, this year brought Yule official recognition of his services in the shape of the C.B., for which Lord Canning had long before recommended him.[53]

On rejoining his wife and child at Mornex in Savoy, Yule found the health of the former seriously impaired. During his absence, the kind and able English Doctor at Geneva had felt obliged to inform Mrs. Yule that she was suffering from disease of the heart, and that her life might end suddenly at any moment. Unwilling to add to Yule’s anxieties, she made all necessary arrangements, but did not communicate this intelligence until he had done all he wished and returned, when she broke it to him very gently. Up to this year Mrs. Yule, though not strong and often ailing, had not allowed herself to be considered an invalid, but from this date doctor’s orders left her no choice in the matter.[54]

About this time, Yule took in hand the first of his studies of mediæval travellers. His translation of the Travels of Friar Jordanus was probably commenced earlier; it was completed during the leisurely journey by carriage between Chambéry and Turin, and the Dedication to Sir Bartle Frere written during a brief halt at Genoa, from which place it is dated. Travelling slowly and pleasantly by vetturino along the Riviera di Levante, the family came to Spezzia, then little more than a quiet village. A chance encounter with agreeable residents disposed Yule favourably towards the place, and a few days later he opened negotiations for land to build a house! Most fortunately for himself and all concerned these fell through, and the family continued their journey to Tuscany, and settled for the winter in a long rambling house, with pleasant garden, at Pisa, where Yule was able to continue with advantage his researches into mediæval travel in the East. He paid frequent visits to Florence, where he had many pleasant acquaintances, not least among them Charles Lever (“Harry Lorrequer”), with whom acquaintance ripened into warm and enduring friendship. At Florence he also made the acquaintance of the celebrated Marchese Gino Capponi, and of many other Italian men of letters. To this winter of 1863–64 belongs also the commencement of a lasting friendship with the illustrious Italian historian, Villari, at that time holding an appointment at Pisa. Another agreeable acquaintance, though less intimate, was formed with John Ball, the well-known President of the Alpine Club, then resident at Pisa, and with many others, among whom the name of a very cultivated German scholar, H. Meyer, specially recurs to memory.

In the spring of 1864, Yule took a spacious and delightful old villa, situated in the highest part of the Bagni di Lucca,[55] and commanding lovely views over the surrounding chestnut-clad hills and winding river.

Here he wrote much of what ultimately took form in Cathay and the Way Thither. It was this summer, too, that Yule commenced his investigations among the Venetian archives, and also visited the province of Friuli in pursuit of materials for the history of one of his old travellers, the Beato Odorico. At Verona—then still Austrian—he had the amusing experience of being arrested for sketching too near the fortifications. However, his captors had all the usual Austrian bonhomie and courtesy, and Yule experienced no real inconvenience. He was much more disturbed when, a day or two later, the old mother of one of his Venetian acquaintances insisted on embracing him on account of his supposed likeness to Garibaldi!

As winter approached, a warmer climate became necessary for Mrs. Yule, and the family proceeded to Sicily, landing at Messina in October, 1864. From this point, Yule made a very interesting excursion to the then little known group of the Lipari Islands, in the company of that eminent geologist, the late Robert Mallet, F.R.S., a most agreeable companion.

On Martinmas Day, the Yules reached the beautiful capital of Sicily, Palermo, which, though they knew it not, was to be their home—a very happy one—for nearly eleven years.

During the ensuing winter and spring, Yule continued the preparation of Cathay, but his appetite for work not being satisfied by this, he, when in London in 1865, volunteered to make an Index to the third decade of the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, in exchange for a set of such volumes as he did not possess. That was long before any Index Society existed; but Yule had special and very strong views of his own as to what an Index should be, and he spared no labour to realise his ideal.[56] This proved a heavier task than he had anticipated, and he got very weary before the Index was completed.

In the spring of 1866, Cathay and the Way Thither appeared, and at once took the high place which it has ever since retained. In the autumn of the same year Yule’s attention was momentarily turned in a very different direction by a local insurrection, followed by severe reprisals, and the bombardment of Palermo by the Italian Fleet. His sick wife was for some time under rifle as well as shell fire; but cheerfully remarking that “every bullet has its billet,” she remained perfectly serene and undisturbed. It was the year of the last war with Austria, and also of the suppression of the Monastic Orders in Sicily; two events which probably helped to produce the outbreak, of which Yule contributed an account to The Times, and subsequently a more detailed one to the Quarterly Review.[57]

Yule had no more predilection for the Monastic Orders than most of his countrymen, but his sense of justice was shocked by the cruel incidence of the measure in many cases, and also by the harshness with which both it and the punishment of suspected insurgents was carried out. Cholera was prevalent in Italy that year, but Sicily, which had maintained stringent quarantine, entirely escaped until large bodies of troops were landed to quell the insurrection, when a devastating epidemic immediately ensued, and re-appeared in 1867. In after years, when serving on the Army Sanitary Committee at the India Office, Yule more than once quoted this experience as indicating that quarantine restrictions may, in some cases, have more value than British medical authority is usually willing to admit.

In 1867, on his return from London, Yule commenced systematic work on his long projected new edition of the Travels of Marco Polo. It was apparently in this year that the scheme first took definite form, but it had long been latent in his mind. The Public Libraries of Palermo afforded him much good material, whilst occasional visits to the Libraries of Venice, Florence, Paris, and London, opened other sources. But his most important channel of supply came from his very extensive private correspondence, extending to nearly all parts of Europe and many centres in Asia. His work brought him many new and valued friends, indeed too many to mention, but amongst whom, as belonging specially to this period, three honoured names must be recalled here: Commendatore (afterwards Baron) Cristoforo Negri, the large-hearted Founder and First President of the Geographical Society of Italy, from whom Yule received his first public recognition as a geographer, Commendatore Guglielmo Berchet (affectionately nicknamed il Bello e Buono), ever generous in learned help, who became a most dear and honoured friend, and the Hon. George P. Marsh, U.S. Envoy to the Court of Italy, a man, both as scholar and friend, unequalled in his nation, perhaps almost unique anywhere.

Those who only knew Yule in later years, may like some account of his daily life at this time. It was his custom to rise fairly early; in summer he sometimes went to bathe in the sea,[58] or for a walk before breakfast; more usually he would write until breakfast, which he preferred to have alone. After breakfast he looked through his notebooks, and before ten o’clock was usually walking rapidly to the library where his work lay. He would work there until two or three o’clock, when he returned home, read the Times, answered letters, received or paid visits, and then resumed work on his book, which he often continued long after the rest of the household were sleeping. Of course his family saw but little of him under these circumstances, but when he had got a chapter of Marco into shape, or struck out some new discovery of interest, he would carry it to his wife to read. She always took great interest in his work, and he had great faith in her literary instinct as a sound as well as sympathetic critic.

The first fruits of Yule’s Polo studies took the form of a review of Pauthier’s edition of Marco Polo, contributed to the Quarterly Review in 1868.

In 1870 the great work itself appeared, and received prompt generous recognition by the grant of the very beautiful gold medal of the Geographical Society of Italy,[59] followed in 1872 by the award of the Founder’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society, while the Geographical and Asiatic Societies of Paris, the Geographical Societies of Italy and Berlin, the Academy of Bologna, and other learned bodies, enrolled him as an Honorary Member.

Reverting to 1869, we may note that Yule, when passing through Paris early in the spring, became acquainted, through his friend M. Charles Maunoir, with the admirable work of exploration lately performed by Lieut. Francis Garnier of the French Navy. It was a time of much political excitement in France, the eve of the famous Plébiscite, and the importance of Garnier’s work was not then recognised by his countrymen. Yule saw its value, and on arrival in London went straight to Sir Roderick Murchison, laid the facts before him, and suggested that no other traveller of the year had so good a claim to one of the two gold medals of the R.G.S. as this French naval Lieutenant. Sir Roderick was propitious, and accordingly in May the Patron’s medal was assigned to Garnier, who was touchingly grateful to Yule; whilst the French Minister of Marine marked his appreciation of Yule’s good offices by presenting him with the magnificent volumes commemorating the expedition.[60]

Yule was in Paris in 1871, immediately after the suppression of the Commune, and his letters gave interesting accounts of the extraordinary state of affairs then prevailing. In August, he served as President of the Geographical Section of the British Association at its Edinburgh meeting.

On his return to Palermo, he devoted himself specially to the geography of the Oxus region, and the result appeared next year in his introduction and notes to Wood’s Journey. Soon after his return to Palermo, he became greatly interested in the plans, about which he was consulted, of an English church, the gift to the English community of two of its oldest members, Messrs Ingham and Whitaker. Yule’s share in the enterprise gradually expanded, until he became a sort of volunteer clerk of the works, to the great benefit of his health, as this occupation during the next three years, whilst adding to his interests, also kept him longer in the open air than would otherwise have been the case. It was a real misfortune to Yule (and one of which he was himself at times conscious) that he had no taste for any out-of-door pursuits, neither for any form of natural science, nor for gardening, nor for any kind of sport nor games. Nor did he willingly ride.[61] He was always restless away from his books. There can be no doubt that want of sufficient air and exercise, reacting on an impaired liver, had much to do with Yule’s unsatisfactory state of health and frequent extreme depression. There was no lack of agreeable and intelligent society at Palermo (society that the present writer recalls with cordial regard), to which every winter brought pleasant temporary additions, both English and foreign, the best of whom generally sought Yule’s acquaintance. Old friends too were not wanting; many found their way to Palermo, and when such came, he was willing to show them hospitality and to take them excursions, and occasionally enjoyed these. But though the beautiful city and surrounding country were full of charm and interest, Yule was too much pre-occupied by his own special engrossing pursuits ever really to get the good of his surroundings, of which indeed he often seemed only half conscious.

By this time Yule had obtained, without ever having sought it, a distinct and, in some respects, quite unique position in geographical science. Although his Essay on the Geography of the Oxus Region (1872) received comparatively little public attention at home, it had yet made its mark once for all,[62] and from this time, if not earlier, Yule’s high authority in all questions of Central Asian geography was generally recognised. He had long ere this, almost unconsciously, laid the broad foundations of that “Yule method,” of which Baron von Richthofen has written so eloquently, declaring that not only in his own land, “but also in the literatures of France, Italy, Germany, and other countries, the powerful stimulating influence of the Yule method is visible.”[63] More than one writer has indeed boldly compared Central Asia before Yule to Central Africa before Livingstone!

Yule had wrought from sheer love of the work and without expectation of public recognition, and it was therefore a great surprise as well as gratification to him, to find that the demand for his Marco Polo was such as to justify the appearance of a second edition only a few years after the first. The preparation of this enlarged edition, with much other miscellaneous work (see subjoined bibliography), and the superintendence of the building of the church already named, kept him fully occupied for the next three years.

Amongst the parerga and miscellaneous occupations of Yule’s leisure hours in the period 1869–74, may be mentioned an interesting correspondence with Professor W. W. Skeat on the subject of William of Palerne and Sicilian examples of the Werwolf; the skilful analysis and exposure of Klaproth’s false geography;[64] the purchase and despatch of Sicilian seeds and young trees for use in the Punjab, at the request of the Indian Forestry Department; translations (prepared for friends) of tracts on the cultivation of Sumach and the collection of Manna as practised in Sicily; also a number of small services rendered to the South Kensington Museum, at the request of the late Sir Henry Cole. These latter included obtaining Italian and Sicilian bibliographic contributions to the Science and Art Department’s Catalogue of Books on Art, selecting architectural subjects to be photographed;[65] negotiating the purchase of the original drawings illustrative of Padre B. Gravina’s great work on the Cathedral of Monreale; and superintending the execution of a copy in mosaic of the large mosaic picture (in the Norman Palatine Chapel, Palermo,) of the Entry of our Lord into Jerusalem.

In the spring of 1875, just after the publication of the second edition of Marco Polo, Yule had to mourn the loss of his noble wife. He was absent from Sicily at the time, but returned a few hours after her death on 30th April. She had suffered for many years from a severe form of heart disease, but her end was perfect peace. She was laid to rest, amid touching tokens of both public and private sympathy, in the beautiful camposanto on Monte Pellegrino. What her loss was to Yule only his oldest and closest friends were in a position to realise. Long years of suffering had impaired neither the soundness of her judgment nor the sweetness, and even gaiety, of her happy, unselfish disposition. And in spirit, as even in appearance, she retained to the very last much of the radiance of her youth. Nor were her intellectual gifts less remarkable. Few who had once conversed with her ever forgot her, and certainly no one who had once known her intimately ever ceased to love her.[66]

Shortly after this calamity, Yule removed to London, and on the retirement of his old friend, Sir William Baker, from the India Council early that autumn, Lord Salisbury at once selected him for the vacant seat. Nothing would ever have made him a party-man, but he always followed Lord Salisbury with conviction, and worked under him with steady confidence.

In 1877 Yule married, as his second wife, the daughter of an old friend,[67] a very amiable woman twenty years his junior, who made him very happy until her untimely death in 1881. From the time of his joining the India Council, his duties at the India Office of course occupied a great part of his time, but he also continued to do an immense amount of miscellaneous literary work, as may be seen by reference to the subjoined bibliography, (itself probably incomplete). In Council he invariably “showed his strong determination to endeavour to deal with questions on their own merits and not only by custom and precedent.”[68] Amongst subjects in which he took a strong line of his own in the discussions of the Council, may be specially instanced his action in the matter of the cotton duties (in which he defended native Indian manufactures as against hostile Manchester interests); the Vernacular Press Act, the necessity for which he fully recognised; and the retention of Kandahar, for which he recorded his vote in a strong minute. In all these three cases, which are typical of many others, his opinion was overruled, but having been carefully and deliberately formed, it remained unaffected by defeat.

In all matters connected with Central Asian affairs, Yule’s opinion always carried great weight; some of his most competent colleagues indeed preferred his authority in this field to that of even Sir Henry Rawlinson, possibly for the reason given by Sir M. Grant Duff, who has epigrammatically described the latter as good in Council but dangerous in counsel.[69]

Yule’s courageous independence and habit of looking at all public questions by the simple light of what appeared to him right, yet without fads or doctrinairism, earned for him the respect of the successive Secretaries of State under whom he served, and the warm regard and confidence of his other colleagues. The value attached to his services in Council was sufficiently shown by the fact that when the period of ten years (for which members are usually appointed), was about to expire, Lord Hartington (now Duke of Devonshire), caused Yule’s appointment to be renewed for life, under a special Act of Parliament passed for this purpose in 1885.

His work as a member of the Army Sanitary Committee, brought him into communication with Miss Florence Nightingale, a privilege which he greatly valued and enjoyed, though he used to say: “She is worse than a Royal Commission to answer, and, in the most gracious charming manner possible, immediately finds out all I don’t know!” Indeed his devotion to the “Lady-in-Chief” was scarcely less complete than Kinglake’s.

In 1880, Yule was appointed to the Board of Visitors of the Government Indian Engineering College at Cooper’s Hill, a post which added to his sphere of interests without materially increasing his work. In 1882, he was much gratified by being named an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, more especially as it was to fill one of the two vacancies created by the deaths of Thomas Carlyle and Dean Stanley.

Yule had been President of the Hakluyt Society from 1877, and in 1885 was elected President also of the Royal Asiatic Society. He would probably also have been President of the Royal Geographical Society, but for an untoward incident. Mention has already been made of his constant determination to judge all questions by the simple touchstone of what he believed to be right, irrespective of personal considerations. It was in pursuance of these principles that, at the cost of great pain to himself and some misrepresentation, he in 1878 sundered his long connection with the Royal Geographical Society, by resigning his seat on their Council, solely in consequence of their adoption of what he considered a wrong policy. This severance occurred just when it was intended to propose him as President. Some years later, at the personal request of the late Lord Aberdare, a President in all respects worthy of the best traditions of that great Society, Yule consented to rejoin the Council, which he re-entered as a Vice-President.

In 1883, the University of Edinburgh celebrated its Tercentenary, when Yule was selected as one of the recipients of the honorary degree of LL.D. His letters from Edinburgh, on this occasion, give a very pleasant and amusing account of the festivity and of the celebrities he met. Nor did he omit to chronicle the envious glances cast, as he alleged, by some British men of science on the splendours of foreign Academic attire, on the yellow robes of the Sorbonne, and the Palms of the Institute of France! Pasteur was, he wrote, the one most enthusiastically acclaimed of all who received degrees.

I think it was about the same time that M. Renan was in England, and called upon Sir Henry Maine, Yule, and others at the India Office. On meeting just after, the colleagues compared notes as to their distinguished but unwieldy visitor. “It seems that le style n’est pas l’homme même in this instance,” quoth “Ancient Law” to “Marco Polo.” And here it may be remarked that Yule so completely identified himself with his favourite traveller that he frequently signed contributions to the public press as Marcus Paulus Venetus or M.P.V. His more intimate friends also gave him the same sobriquet, and once, when calling on his old friend, Dr. John Brown (the beloved chronicler of Rab and his Friends), he was introduced by Dr. John to some lion-hunting American visitors as “our Marco Polo.” The visitors evidently took the statement in a literal sense, and scrutinised Yule closely.[70]

In 1886 Yule published his delightful Anglo-Indian Glossary, with the whimsical but felicitous sub-title of Hobson-Jobson (the name given by the rank and file of the British Army in India to the religious festival in celebration of Hassan and Husaïn).

This Glossary was an abiding interest to both Yule and the present writer. Contributions of illustrative quotations came from most diverse and unexpected sources, and the arrival of each new word or happy quotation was quite an event, and gave such pleasure to the recipients as can only be fully understood by those who have shared in such pursuits. The volume was dedicated in affecting terms to his elder brother, Sir George Yule, who, unhappily, did not survive to see it completed.

In July 1885, the two brothers had taken the last of many happy journeys together, proceeding to Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. A few months later, on 13th January 1886, the end came suddenly to the elder, from the effects of an accident at his own door.[71]

It may be doubted if Yule ever really got over the shock of this loss, though he went on with his work as usual, and served that year as a Royal Commissioner on the occasion of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition of 1886.

From 1878, when an accidental chill laid the foundations of an exhausting, though happily quite painless, malady, Yule’s strength had gradually failed, although for several years longer his general health and energies still appeared unimpaired to a casual observer. The condition of public affairs also, in some degree, affected his health injuriously. The general trend of political events from 1880 to 1886 caused him deep anxiety and distress, and his righteous wrath at what he considered the betrayal of his country’s honour in the cases of Frere, of Gordon, and of Ireland, found strong, and, in a noble sense, passionate expression in both prose and verse. He was never in any sense a party man, but he often called himself “one of Mr. Gladstone’s converts,” i.e. one whom Gladstonian methods had compelled to break with liberal tradition and prepossessions.

Nothing better expresses Yule’s feeling in the period referred to than the following letter, written in reference to the R. E. Gordon Memorial,[72] but of much wider application: “Will you allow me an inch or two of space to say to my brother officers, ‘Have nothing to do with the proposed Gordon Memorial.’

“That glorious memory is in no danger of perishing and needs no memorial. Sackcloth and silence are what it suggests to those who have guided the action of England; and Englishmen must bear the responsibility for that action and share its shame. It is too early for atoning memorials; nor is it possible for those who take part in them to dissociate themselves from a repulsive hypocrisy.

“Let every one who would fain bestow something in honour of the great victim, do, in silence, some act of help to our soldiers or their families, or to others who are poor and suffering.

“In later days our survivors or successors may look back with softened sorrow and pride to the part which men of our corps have played in these passing events, and Charles Gordon far in the front of all; and then they may set up our little tablets, or what not—not to preserve the memory of our heroes, but to maintain the integrity of our own record of the illustrious dead.”

Happily Yule lived to see the beginning of better times for his country. One of the first indications of that national awakening was the right spirit in which the public, for the most part, received Lord Wolseley’s stirring appeal at the close of 1888, and Yule was so much struck by the parallelism between Lord Wolseley’s warning and some words of his own contained in the pseudo-Polo fragment (see above, end of Preface), that he sent Lord Wolseley the very last copy of the 1875 edition of Marco Polo, with a vigorous expression of his sentiments.

That was probably Yule’s last utterance on a public question. The sands of life were now running low, and in the spring of 1889, he felt it right to resign his seat on the India Council, to which he had been appointed for life. On this occasion Lord Cross, then Secretary of State for India, successfully urged his acceptance of the K.C.S.I., which Yule had refused several years before.

In the House of Lords, Viscount Cross subsequently referred to his resignation in the following terms. He said: “A vacancy on the Council had unfortunately occurred through the resignation from ill-health of Sir Henry Yule, whose presence on the Council had been of enormous advantage to the natives of the country. A man of more kindly disposition, thorough intelligence, high-minded, upright, honourable character, he believed did not exist; and he would like to bear testimony to the estimation in which he was held, and to the services which he had rendered in the office he had so long filled.”[73]

This year the Hakluyt Society published the concluding volume of Yule’s last work of importance, the Diary of Sir William Hedges. He had for several years been collecting materials for a full memoir of his great predecessor in the domain of historical geography, the illustrious Rennell.[74] This work was well advanced as to preliminaries, but was not sufficiently developed for early publication at the time of Yule’s death, and ere it could be completed its place had been taken by a later enterprise.

During the summer of 1889, Yule occupied much of his leisure by collecting and revising for re-issue many of his miscellaneous writings. Although not able to do much at a time, this desultory work kept him occupied and interested, and gave him much pleasure during many months. It was, however, never completed. Yule went to the seaside for a few weeks in the early summer, and subsequently many pleasant days were spent by him among the Surrey hills, as the guest of his old friends Sir Joseph and Lady Hooker. Of their constant and unwearied kindness, he always spoke with most affectionate gratitude. That autumn he took a great dislike to the English climate; he hankered after sunshine, and formed many plans, eager though indefinite, for wintering at Cintra, a place whose perfect beauty had fascinated him in early youth. But increasing weakness made a journey to Portugal, or even the South of France, an alternative of which he also spoke, very inexpedient, if not absolutely impracticable. Moreover, he would certainly have missed abroad the many friends and multifarious interests which still surrounded him at home. He continued to take drives, and occasionally called on friends, up to the end of November, and it was not until the middle of December that increasing weakness obliged him to take to his bed. He was still, however, able to enjoy seeing his friends—some to the very end, and he had a constant stream of visitors, mostly old friends, but also a few newer ones, who were scarcely less welcome. He also kept up his correspondence to the last, three attached brother R.E.’s, General Collinson, General Maclagan, and Major W. Broadfoot, taking it in turn with the present writer to act as his amanuensis.

On Friday, 27th December, Yule received a telegram from Paris, announcing his nomination that day as Corresponding Member of the Institute of France (Académie des Inscriptions), one of the few distinctions of any kind of which it can still be said that it has at no time lost any of its exalted dignity.

An honour of a different kind that came about the same time, and was scarcely less prized by him, was a very beautiful letter of farewell and benediction from Miss Florence Nightingale,[75] which he kept under his pillow and read many times. On the 28th, he dictated to the present writer his acknowledgment, also by telegraph, of the great honour done him by the Institute. The message was in the following words: “Reddo gratias, Illustrissimi Domini, ob honores tanto nimios quanto immeritos! Mihi robora deficiunt, vita collabitur, accipiatis voluntatem pro facto. Cum corde pleno et gratissimo moriturus vos, Illustrissimi Domini, saluto. Yule.”

Sunday, 29th December, was a day of the most dense black fog, and he felt its oppression, but was much cheered by a visit from his ever faithful friend, Collinson, who, with his usual unselfishness, came to him that day at very great personal inconvenience.

On Monday, 30th December, the day was clearer, and Henry Yule awoke much refreshed, and in a peculiarly happy and even cheerful frame of mind. He said he felt so comfortable. He spoke of his intended book, and bade his daughter write about the inevitable delay to his publisher: “Go and write to John Murray,” were indeed his last words to her. During the morning he saw some friends and relations, but as noon approached his strength flagged, and after a period of unconsciousness, he passed peacefully away in the presence of his daughter and of an old friend, who had come from Edinburgh to see him, but arrived too late for recognition. Almost at the same time that Yule fell asleep, his “stately message,”[76] was being read under the great Dome in Paris. Some two hours after Yule had passed away, F.-M. Lord Napier of Magdala, called on an errand of friendship, and at his desire was admitted to see the last of his early friend. When Lord Napier came out, he said to the present writer, in his own reflective way: “He looks as if he had just settled to some great work.” With these suggestive words of the great soldier, who was so soon, alas, to follow his old friend to the work of another world, this sketch may fitly close.

The following excellent verses (of unknown authorship) on Yule’s death, subsequently appeared in the Academy:[77]

The same idea had been previously embodied, in very felicitous language, by the late General Sir William Lockhart, in a letter which that noble soldier addressed to the present writer a few days after Yule’s death. And Yule himself would have taken pleasure in the idea of those meetings with his old travellers, which seemed so certain to his surviving friends.[78]

He rests in the old cemetery at Tunbridge Wells, with his second wife, as he had directed. A great gathering of friends attended the first part of the burial service which was held in London on 3rd January, 1890. Amongst those present were witnesses of every stage of his career, from his boyish days at the High School of Edinburgh downwards. His daughter, of course, was there, led by the faithful, peerless friend who was so soon to follow him into the Undiscovered Country.[79] She and his youngest nephew, with two cousins and a few old friends, followed his remains over the snow to the graveside. The epitaph subsequently inscribed on the tomb was penned by Yule himself, but is by no means representative of his powers in a kind of composition in which he had so often excelled in the service of others. As a composer of epitaphs and other monumental inscriptions few of our time have surpassed, if any have equalled him, in his best efforts.

SIR GEORGE UDNY YULE, C.B., K.C.S.I.[80]

George Udny Yule, born at Inveresk in 1813, passed through Haileybury into the Bengal Civil Service, which he entered at the age of 18 years. For twenty-five years his work lay in Eastern Bengal. He gradually became known to the Government for his activity and good sense, but won a far wider reputation as a mighty hunter, alike with hog-spear and double barrel. By 1856 the roll of his slain tigers exceeded four hundred, some of them of special fame; after that he continued slaying his tigers, but ceased to count them. For some years he and a few friends used annually to visit the plains of the Brahmaputra, near the Garrow Hills—an entirely virgin country then, and swarming with large game. Yule used to describe his once seeing seven rhinoceroses at once on the great plain, besides herds of wild buffalo and deer of several kinds. One of the party started the theory that Noah’s Ark had been shipwrecked there! In those days George Yule was the only man to whom the Maharajah of Nepaul, Sir Jung Bahadur, conceded leave to shoot within his frontier.

Yule was first called from his useful obscurity in 1856. The year before, the Sonthals in insurrection disturbed the long unbroken peace of the Delta. These were a numerous non-Aryan, uncivilised, but industrious race, driven wild by local mismanagement, and the oppressions of Hindoo usurers acting through the regulation courts. After the suppression of their rising, Yule was selected by Sir F. Halliday, who knew his man, to be Commissioner of the Bhagulpoor Division, containing some six million souls, and embracing the hill country of the Sonthals. He obtained sanction to a code for the latter, which removed these people entirely from the Court system, and its tribe of leeches, and abolished all intermediaries between the Sahib and the Sonthal peasant. Through these measures, and his personal influence, aided by picked assistants, he was able to effect, with extraordinary rapidity, not only their entire pacification, but such a beneficial change in their material condition, that they have risen from a state of barbarous penury to comparative prosperity and comfort.

George Yule was thus engaged when the Mutiny broke out, and it soon made itself felt in the districts under him. To its suppression within his limits, he addressed himself with characteristic vigour. Thoroughly trusted by every class—by his Government, by those under him, by planters and by Zemindars—he organised a little force, comprising a small detachment of the 5th Regiment, a party of British sailors, mounted volunteers from the districts, etc., and of this he became practically the captain. Elephants were collected from all quarters to spare the legs of his infantry and sailors; while dog-carts were turned into limbers for the small three-pounders of the seamen. And with this little army George Yule scoured the Trans-Gangetic districts, leading it against bodies of the Mutineers, routing them upon more than one occasion, and out-manœuvring them by his astonishing marches, till he succeeded in driving them across the Nepaul frontier. No part of Bengal was at any time in such danger, and nowhere was the danger more speedily and completely averted.

After this Yule served for two or three years as Chief Commissioner of Oudh, where in 1862 he married Miss Pemberton, the daughter of a very able father, and the niece of Sir Donald MacLeod, of honoured and beloved memory. Then for four or five years he was Resident at Hyderabad, where he won the enduring friendship of Sir Salar Jung. “Everywhere he showed the same characteristic firm but benignant justice. Everywhere he gained the lasting attachment of all with whom he had intimate dealings—except tigers and scoundrels.”

Many years later, indignant at the then apparently supine attitude of the British Government in the matter of the Abyssinian captives, George Yule wrote a letter (necessarily published without his name, as he was then on the Governor-General’s Council), to the editor of an influential Indian paper, proposing a private expedition should be organised for their delivery from King Theodore, and inviting the editor (Dr. George Smith) to open a list of subscriptions in his paper for this purpose, to which Yule offered to contribute £2000 by way of beginning. Although impracticable in itself, it is probable that, as in other cases, the existence of such a project may have helped to force the Government into action. The particulars of the above incident were printed by Dr. Smith in his Memoir of the Rev. John Wilson, but are given here from memory.

From Hyderabad he was promoted in 1867 to the Governor-General’s Council, but his health broke down under the sedentary life, and he retired and came home in 1869.

After some years of country life in Scotland, where he bought a small property, he settled near his brother in London, where he was a principal instrument in enabling Sir George Birdwood to establish the celebration of Primrose Day (for he also was “one of Mr. Gladstone’s converts”). Sir George Yule never sought ‘London Society’ or public employment, but in 1877 he was offered and refused the post of Financial Adviser to the Khedive under the Dual control. When his feelings were stirred he made useful contributions to the public press, which, after his escape from official trammels, were always signed. The very last of these (St. James Gazette, 24th February 1885) was a spirited protest against the snub administered by the late Lord Derby, as Secretary of State, to the Colonies, when they had generously offered assistance in the Soudan campaign. He lived a quiet, happy, and useful life in London, where he was the friend and unwearied helper of all who needed help. He found his chief interests in books and flowers, and in giving others pleasure. Of rare unselfishness and sweet nature, single in mind and motive, fearing God and knowing no other fear, he was regarded by a large number of people with admiring affection. He met his death by a fall on the frosty pavement at his door, in the very act of doing a kindness. An interesting sketch of Sir George Yule’s Indian career, by one who knew him thoroughly, is to be found in Sir Edward Braddon’s Thirty Years of Shikar. An account of his share in the origin of Primrose Day appeared in the St. James’ Gazette during 1891.

A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SIR HENRY YULE’S WRITINGS

COMPILED BY H. CORDIER AND A. F. YULE[1]

1842 Notes on the Iron of the Kasia Hills. (Jour. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, XI. Part II. July–Dec. 1842, pp. 853–857.) Reprinted in Proceedings of the Museum of Economic Geology, 1852.

1844 Notes on the Kasia Hills and People. By Lieut. H. Yule. (Jour. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, XII. Part II. July–Dec. 1844, pp. 612–631.)

1846 A Canal Act of the Emperor Akbar, with some notes and remarks on the History of the Western Jumna Canals. By Lieut. Yule. (Jour. Asiatic Society Bengal, XV. 1846, pp. 213–223.)

1850 The African Squadron vindicated. By Lieut. H. Yule. Second Edition. London, J. Ridgway, 1850, 8vo, pp. 41. Had several editions. Reprinted in the Colonial Magazine of March, 1850.

—— L’Escadre Africaine vengée. Par le lieutenant H. Yule. Traduit du Colonial Magazine de Mars, 1850. (Revue Coloniale, Mai, 1850.)

1851 Fortification for Officers of the Army and Students of Military History, with Illustrations and Notes. By Lieut. H. Yule, Blackwood, MDCCCLI. 8vo, pp. xxii.–210. (There had been a previous edition privately printed.)

—— La Fortification mise à la portée des Officiers de l’Armée et des personnes qui se livrent à l’étude de l’histoire militaire (avec Atlas). Par H. Yule. Traduit de l’Anglais par M. Sapia, Chef de Bataillon d’Artillerie de Marine et M. Masselin, Capitaine du Génie. Paris, J. Corréard, 1858, 8vo, pp. iii.–263, and Atlas.

1851 The Loss of the Birkenhead (Verses). (Edinburgh Courant, Dec. 1851.) Republished in Henley’s Lyra Heroica, a Book of Verse for Boys. London, D. Nutt, 1890.

1852 Tibet. (Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, 1852.)

1856 Narrative of Major Phayre’s Mission to the Court of Ava, with Notices of the Country, Government, and People. Compiled by Capt. H. Yule. Printed for submission to the Government of India. Calcutta, J. Thomas, ... 1856, 4to, pp. xxix. + 1 f. n. ch. p. l. er. + pp. 315 + pp. cxiv. + pp. iv. and pp. 70. The last pp. iv.–70 contain: Notes on the Geological features of the banks of the River Irawadee and on the Country north of the Amarapoora, by Thomas Oldham ... Calcutta, 1856.

—— A Narrative of the Mission sent by the Governor-General of India to the Court of Ava in 1855, with Notices of the Country, Government, and People. By Capt. H. Yule. With Numerous Illustrations. London, Smith, Elder & Co., 1858, 4to.

1857 On the Geography of Burma and its Tributary States, in illustration of a New Map of those Regions. (Journal, R.G.S., XXVII. 1857, pp. 54–108.)

—— Notes on the Geography of Burma, in illustration of a Map of that Country. (Proceedings R.G.S., vol. i. 1857, pp. 269–273.)

1857 An Account of the Ancient Buddhist Remains at Pagân on the Iráwadi. By Capt. H. Yule. (Jour. Asiatic Society, Bengal, XXVI. 1857, pp. 1–51.)

1861 A few notes on Antiquities near Jubbulpoor. By Lieut.-Col. H. Yule. (Journal Asiatic Society, Bengal, XXX. 1861, pp. 211–215.)

—— Memorandum on the Countries between Thibet, Yunân, and Burmah. By the Very Rev. Thomine D’Mazure (sic), communicated by Lieut.-Col. A. P. Phayre (with notes and a comment by Lieut.-Col. H. Yule). With a Map of the N. E. Frontier, prepared in the Office of the Surveyor-Gen. of India, Calcutta, Aug. 1861. (Jour. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, XXX. 1861, pp. 367–383.)

1862 Notes of a brief Visit to some of the Indian Remains in Java. By Lieut.-Col. H. Yule. (Jour. Asiatic Society, Bengal, XXXI. 1862, pp. 16–31.)

—— Sketches of Java. A Lecture delivered at the Meeting of the Bethune Society, Calcutta, 13th Feb. 1862.

—— Fragments of Unprofessional Papers gathered from an Engineer’s portfolio after twenty-three years of service. Calcutta, 1862. Ten copies printed for private circulation.

1863 Mirabilia descripta. The Wonders of the East. By Friar Jordanus, of the Order of Preachers and Bishop of Columbum in India the Greater (circa 1330). Translated from the Latin original, as published at Paris in 1839, in the Recueil de Voyages et de Mémoires, of the Society of Geography, with the addition of a Commentary, by Col. H. Yule, London. Printed for the Hakluyt Society, M.DCCC.LXIII, 8vo, p. iv.–xvii.–68.

—— Report on the Passes between Arakan and Burma [written in 1853]. (Papers on Indian Civil Engineering, vol. i. Roorkee.)

1866 Notices of Cathay. (Proceedings, R.G.S., X. 1866, pp. 270–278.)

—— Cathay and the Way Thither, being a Collection of Mediæval Notices of China. Translated and Edited by Col. H. Yule. With a Preliminary Essay on the Intercourse between China and the Western Nations previous to the Discovery of the Cape route. London, printed for the Hakluyt Society. M.DCCC.LXVI. 2 vols. 8vo.

1866 The Insurrection at Palermo. (Times, 29th Sep., 1866.)

—— Lake People. (The Athenæum, No. 2042, 15th Dec. 1866, p. 804.) Letter dated Palermo, 3rd Dec. 1866.

1867 General Index to the third ten Volumes of the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society. Compiled by Col. H. Yule. London, John Murray, M.DCCCLXVII, 8vo, pp. 228.

—— A Week’s Republic at Palermo. (Quarterly Review, Jan. 1867.)

—— On the Cultivation of Sumach (Rhus coriaria), in the Vicinity of Colli, near Palermo. By Prof. Inzenga. Translated by Col. H. Yule. Communicated by Dr. Cleghorn. From the Trans. Bot. Society, vol. ix., 1867–68, ppt. 8vo, p. 15. Original first published in the Annali di Agricoltura Siciliana, redatti per l’Istituzione del Principe di Castelnuovo. Palermo, 1852.

1868 Marco Polo and his Recent Editors. (Quarterly Review, vol. 125, July and Oct. 1868, pp. 133 and 166.)

1870 An Endeavour to Elucidate Rashiduddin’s Geographical Notices of India. (Journal R. Asiatic Society, N.S. iv. 1870, pp. 340–356.)

—— Some Account of the Senbyú Pagoda at Mengún, near the Burmese Capital, in a Memorandum by Capt. E. H. Sladen, Political Agent at Mandalé; with Remarks on the Subject, by Col. H. Yule. (Ibid. pp. 406–429.)

—— Notes on Analogies of Manners between the Indo-Chinese and the Races of the Malay Archipelago. (Report Fortieth Meeting British Association, Liverpool, Sept. 1870, p. 178.)

1871 The Book of Ser Marco Polo, the Venetian, Concerning the Kingdoms and Marvels of the East. Newly translated and edited with notes. By Col. H. Yule. In two volumes. With Maps and other Illustrations. London, John Murray, 1871, 2 vols. 8vo.

—— The Book of Ser Marco Polo, the Venetian, concerning the Kingdoms and Marvels of the East. Newly translated and edited, with Notes, Maps, and other Illustrations. By Col. H. Yule. Second edition. London, John Murray, 1875, 2 vols. 8vo.

1871 Address by Col. H. Yule (Report Forty-First Meeting British Association, Edinburgh, Aug. 1871, pp. 162–174.)

1872 A Journey to the Source of the River Oxus. By Captain John Wood, Indian Navy. New edition, edited by his Son. With an Essay on the Geography of the Valley of the Oxus. By Col. H. Yule. With maps. London, John Murray, 1872. In–8, pp. xc.–280.

—— Papers connected with the Upper Oxus Regions. (Journal, xlii. 1872, pp. 438–481.)

—— Letter [on Yule’s edition of Wood’s Oxus]. (Ocean Highways, Feb. 1874, p. 475.) Palermo, 9th Jan. 1874.

1873 Letter [about the route of M. Polo through Southern Kerman]. (Ocean Highways, March, 1873, p. 385.) Palermo, 11th Jan. 1873.

—— On Northern Sumatra and especially Achin. (Ocean Highways, Aug. 1873, pp. 177–183.)

—— Notes on Hwen Thsang’s Account of the Principalities of Tokharistan, in which some previous Geographical Identifications are reconsidered. (Jour. Royal Asiatic Society, N.S. vi. 1873, pp. 92–120 and p. 278.)

1874 Francis Garnier (In Memoriam). (Ocean Highways, pp. 487–491.) March, 1874.

—— Remarks on Mr. Phillips’s Paper [Notices of Southern Mangi]. (Journal, XLIV. 1874, pp. 103–112.) Palermo, 22nd Feb. 1874.

—— [Sir Frederic Goldsmid’s] “Telegraph and Travel.” (Geographical Magazine, April, 1874, p. 34; Oct. 1874, pp. 300–303.)

—— Geographical Notes on the Basins of the Oxus and the Zarafshán. By the late Alexis Fedchenko. (Geog. Mag., May, 1874, pp. 46–54.)

—— [Mr. Ashton Dilke on the Valley of the Ili.] (Geog. Mag., June, 1874, p. 123.) Palermo, 16th May, 1874.

—— The Atlas Sinensis and other Sinensiana. (Geog. Mag., 1st July, 1847, pp. 147–148.)

—— Letter [on Belasaghun]. (Geog. Mag., 1st July, 1874, p. 167; Ibid. 1st Sept. 1874, p. 254.) Palermo, 17th June, 1874; 8th Aug. 1874.

1874 Bala Sagun and Karakorum. By Eugene Schuyler. With note by Col. Yule. (Geog. Mag., 1st Dec. 1874, p. 389.)

—— M. Khanikoff’s Identifications of Names in Clavijo. (Ibid. pp. 389–390.)

1875 Notes [to the translation by Eugene Schuyler of Palladius’s version of The Journey of the Chinese Traveller, Chang Fe-hui]. (Geog. Mag., 1st Jan. 1875, pp. 7–11.)

—— Some Unscientific Notes on the History of Plants. (Geog. Mag., 1st Feb. 1875, pp. 49–51.)

—— Trade Routes to Western China. (Geog. Mag., April, 1875, pp. 97–101.)

—— Garden of Transmigrated Souls [Friar Odoric]. (Geog. Mag., 1st May, 1875, pp. 137–138.)

—— A Glance at the Results of the Expedition to Hissar. By Herr P. Lerch. (Geog. Mag., 1st Nov. 1875, pp. 334–339.)

—— Kathay or Cathay. (Johnson’s American Cyclopædia.)

—— Achín. (Encycl. Brit. 9th edition, 1875, I. pp. 95–97.)

—— Afghânistân. (Ibid. pp. 227–241.)

—— Andaman Islands. (Ibid. II. 1875, pp. 11–13.)

—— India [Ancient]. (Map No. 31, 1874, in An Atlas of Ancient Geography, edited by William Smith and George Grove. London, John Murray, 1875.)

1876 Mongolia, the Tangut Country, and the Solitudes of Northern Tibet, being a Narrative of Three Years’ Travel in Eastern High Asia. By Lieut.-Col. N. Prejevalsky, of the Russian Staff Corps; Mem. of the Imp. Russ. Geog. Soc. Translated by E. Delmar Morgan, F.R.G.S. With Introduction and Notes by Col. H. Yule. With Maps and Illustrations. London, Sampson Low, 1876, 8vo.

—— Tibet ... Edited by C. R. Markham. Notice of. (Times, 1876, ——?)

—— Eastern Persia. Letter. (The Athenæum, No. 2559, 11th Nov. 1876.)

—— Review of H. Howorth’s History of the Mongols, Part I. (The Athenæum, No. 2560, 18th Nov. 1876, pp. 654–656.) Correspondence. (Ibid. No. 2561, 25th Nov. 1876.)

—— Review of T. E. Gordon’s Roof of the World. (The Academy, 15th July, 1876, pp. 49–50.)

1876 Cambodia. (Encycl. Brit. IV. 1876, pp. 723–726.)

1877 Champa. (Geog. Mag., 1st March, 1877, pp. 66–67.) Article written for the Encycl. Brit. 9th edition, but omitted for reasons which the writer did not clearly understand.

—— Quid, si Mundus evolvatur? (Spectator, 24th March, 1877.) Written in 1875.—Signed Marcus Paulus Venetus.

—— On Louis de Backer’s L’Extrême-Orient au Moyen-Age. (The Athenæum, No. 2598, 11th Aug. 1877, pp. 174–175.)

—— On P. Dabry de Thiersant’s Catholicisme en Chine. (The Athenæum, No. 2599, 18th Aug. 1877, pp. 209–210.)

—— Review of Thomas de Quincey, His Life and Writings. By H. A. Page. (Times, 27th Aug. 1877.)

—— Companions of Faust. Letter on the Claims of P. Castaldi. (Times, Sept. 1877.)

1878 The late Col. T. G. Montgomerie, R.E. (Bengal). (R. E. Journal, April, 1878.) 8vo, pp. 8.

—— Mr. Henry M. Stanley and the Royal Geographical Society; being the Record of a Protest. By Col. H. Yule and H. M. Hyndman B.A., F.R.G.S. London: Bickers and Son, 1878, 8vo, pp. 48.

—— Review of Burma, Past and Present; with Personal Reminiscences of the Country. By Lieut.-Gen. Albert Fytche. (The Athenæum, No. 2634, 20th April, 1878, pp. 499–500.)

—— Kayal. (The Athenæum, No. 2634, 20th April, 1878, p. 515.) Letter dated April, 1878.

—— Missions in Southern India. (Letter to Pall Mall Gazette, 20th June, 1878.)

—— Mr. Stanley and his Letters of 1875. (Letter to Pall Mall Gazette, 30th Jan. 1878.)

—— Review of Richthofen’s China, Bd. I. (The Academy, 13th April, 1878, pp. 315–316.)

—— [A foreshadowing of the Phonograph.] (The Athenæum, No. 2636, 4th May, 1878.)

1879 A Memorial of the Life and Services of Maj.-Gen. W. W. H. Greathed, C.B., Royal Engineers (Bengal), (1826–1878). Compiled by a Friend and Brother Officer. London, printed for private circulation, 1879, 8vo, pp. 57.

—— Review of Gaur: its Ruins and Inscriptions. By John Henry Ravenshaw. (The Athenæum, No. 2672, 11th Jan. 1879, pp. 42–44.)

—— Wellington College. (Letter to Pall Mall Gazette, 14th April, 1879.)

—— Dr. Holub’s Travels. (The Athenæum, No. 2710, 4th Oct. 1879, pp. 436–437.)

—— Letter to Comm. Berchet, dated 2nd Dec. 1878. (Archivio Veneto XVII. 1879, pp. 360–362.) Regarding some documents discovered by the Ab. Cav. V. Zanetti.

—— Gaur. (Encyclop. Brit. X. 1879, pp. 112–116.)

—— Ghazni. (Ibid. pp. 559–562.)

—— Gilgit. (Ibid. pp. 596–599.)

—— Singular Coincidences. (The Athenæum, No. 2719, 6th Dec. 1879.)

1880 [Brief Obituary Notice of] General W. C. Macleod. (Pall Mall Gazette, 10th April, 1880.)

—— [Obituary Notice of] Gen. W. C. Macleod. (Proc. R. Geog. Soc., June, 1880.)

—— An Ode in Brown Pig. Suggested by reading Mr. Lang’s Ballades in Blue China. [Signed Marcus Paulus Venetus.] (St. James’ Gazette, 17th July, 1880.)

—— Notes on Analogies of Manners between the Indo-Chinese Races and the Races of the Indian Archipelago. By Col. Yule (Journ. Anthrop. Inst. of Great Britain and Ireland, vol. ix., 1880, pp. 290–301.)

—— Sketches of Asia in the Thirteenth Century and of Marco Polo’s Travels, delivered at Royal Engineer Institute, 18th Nov. 1880. [This Lecture, with slight modification, was also delivered on other occasions both before and after. Doubtful if ever fully reported.]

—— Dr. Holub’s Collections. (The Athenæum, No. 2724, 10th Jan. 1880.)

—— Prof. Max Müller’s Paper at the Royal Asiatic Society. (The Athenæum, No. 2731, 28th Feb. 1880, p. 285.)

—— The Temple of Buddha Gaya. (Review of Dr. Rajendralála Mitra’s Buddha Gaya.) (Sat. Rev., 27th March, 1870.)

—— Mr. Gladstone and Count Karolyi. (Letter to The Examiner, 22nd May, 1880, signed Tristram Shandy.)

—— Stupa of Barhut. [Review of Cunningham’s work.] (Sat. Rev., 5th June, 1880.)

—— From Africa: Southampton, Fifth October, 1880. [Verses to Sir Bartle Frere.] (Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, Nov. 1880.)

—— Review of H. Howorth’s History of the Mongols, Part II. (The Athenæum, No. 2762, 2nd Oct. 1880, pp. 425–427.)

—— Verboten ist, a Rhineland Rhapsody. (Printed for private circulation only.)

—— Hindú-Kúsh. (Encyclop. Brit. XI. 1880, pp. 837–839.)

—— The River of Golden Sand, the Narrative of a Journey through China and Eastern Tibet to Burmah, With Illustrations and ten Maps from Original Surveys. By Capt. W. Gill, Royal Engineers. With an Introductory Essay. By Col. H. Yule, London, John Murray, ... 1880, 2 vols. 8vo, pp. 95–420, 11–453.

—— The River of Golden Sand: Being the Narrative of a Journey through China and Eastern Tibet to Burmah. By the late Capt. W. Gill, R.E. Condensed by Edward Colborne Baber, Chinese Secretary to H.M.’s Legation at Peking. Edited, with a Memoir and Introductory Essay, by Col. H. Yule. With Portrait, Map, and Woodcuts. London, John Murray, 1883, 8vo., pp. 141–332.

—— Memoir of Captain W. Gill, R.E., and Introductory Essay as prefixed to the New Edition of the “River of Golden Sand.” By Col. H. Yule. London, John Murray, ... 1884, 8vo. [Paged 19–141.]

1881 [Notice on William Yule] in Persian Manuscripts in the British Museum. By Sir F. J. Goldsmid. (The Athenæum, No. 2813, 24th Sept. 1881, pp. 401–403.)

—— Il Beato Odorico di Pordenone, ed i suoi Viaggi: Cenni dettati dal Col. Enrico Yule, quando s’inaugurava in Pordenone il Busto di Odorico il giorno, 23° Settembre, MDCCCLXXXI, 8vo. pp. 8.

—— Hwen T’sang. (Encyclop. Brit. XII. 1881, pp. 418–419.)

—— Ibn Batuta. (Ibid. pp. 607–609.)

—— Kâfiristân. (Ibid. XIII. 1881, pp. 820–823.)

—— Major James Rennell, F.R.S., of the Bengal Engineers. [Reprinted from the Royal Engineers’ Journal], 8vo., pp. 16. (Dated 7th Dec. 1881.)

1881 Notice of Sir William E. Baker. (St. James’ Gazette, 27th Dec. 1881.)

—— Parallels [Matthew Arnold and de Barros]. (The Athenæum, No. 2790, 16th April, 1881, pp. 536.)

1882 Memoir of Gen. Sir William Erskine Baker, K.C.B., Royal Engineers (Bengal). Compiled by two old friends, brother officers and pupils. London. Printed for private circulation, 1882, 8vo., pp. 67. By H. Y[ule] and R. M. [Gen. R. Maclagan].

—— Etymological Notes. (The Athenæum, No. 2837, 11th March, 1882; No. 2840, 1st April, 1882, p. 413.)

—— Lhása. (Encyclop. Brit. XIV. 1882, pp. 496–503.)

—— Wadono. (The Athenæum, No. 2846, 13th May, 1882, p. 602.)

—— Dr. John Brown. (The Athenæum, No. 2847, 20th May, 1882, pp. 635–636.)

—— A Manuscript of Marco Polo. (The Athenæum, No. 2851, 17th June, 1882, pp. 765–766.) [About Baron Nordenskiöld’s Facsimile Edition.]

—— Review of Ancient India as described by Ktesias the Knidian, etc. By J. W. M’Crindle. (The Athenæum, No. 2860, 19th Aug. 1882, pp. 237–238.)

—— The Silver Coinage of Thibet. (Review of Terrien de Lacouperie’s Paper.) (The Academy, 19th Aug. 1882, pp 140–141.)

—— Review of The Indian Balhara and the Arabian Intercourse with India. By Edward Thomas. (The Athenæum, No. 2866, 30th Sept. 1882, pp. 428–429.)

—— The Expedition of Professor Palmer, Capt. Gill, and Lieut. Charrington. (Letter in The Times, 16th Oct. 1882.)

—— Obituary Notice of Dr. Arthur Burnell. (Times, 20th Oct. 1882.)

—— Capt. William Gill, R.E. [Notice of]. (The Times, 31st Oct. 1882.) See supra, first col. of this page.

—— Notes on the Oldest Records of the Sea Route to China from Western Asia. By Col. Yule. Proc. of the Royal Geographical Society, and Monthly Record of Geography, Nov. No. 1882, 8vo. Proceedings, N.S. IV. 1882, pp. 649–660. Read at the Geographical Section, Brit. Assoc., Southampton Meeting, augmented and revised by the author.

1883 Lord Lawrence. [Review of Life of Lord Lawrence. By R. Bosworth Smith.] (Quarterly Review, vol. 155, April, 1883, pp. 289–326.)

—— Review of Across Chrysé. By A. R. Colquhoun. (The Athenæum, No. 2900, 26th May, 1883, pp. 663–665.)

—— La Terra del Fuoco e Carlo Darwin. (Extract from Letter published by the Fanfulla, Rome 2nd June, 1883.)

—— How was the Trireme rowed? (The Academy, 6th Oct. 1883, p. 237.)

—— Across Chrysé. (The Athenæum, No. 2922, 27th Oct. 1883.)

—— Political Fellowship in the India Council. (Letter in The Times, 15th Dec. 1883.) [Heading was not Yule’s.]

—— Maldive Islands. (Encyclop. Brit. XV. 1883, pp. 327–332.)

—— Mandeville. (Ibid. pp. 473–475.)

1884 A Sketch of the Career of Gen. John Reid Becher, C.B., Royal Engineers (Bengal). By an old friend and brother officer. Printed for private circulation, 1884, 8vo, pp. 40.

—— Ruc Quills. (The Academy, No. 620, 22nd March, 1884, pp. 204–205.) Reprinted in present ed. of Marco Polo, vol. ii. p. 596.

—— Lord Canning. (Letter in The Times, 2nd April, 1884.)

—— Sir Bartle Frere [Letter respecting Memorial of]. (St. James’ Gazette, 27th July, 1884.)

—— Odoric. (Encyclop. Brit. XVIII. 1884, pp. 728–729.)

—— Ormus. (Ibid. pp. 856–858.)

1885 Memorials of Gen. Sir Edward Harris Greathed, K.C.B. Compiled by the late Lieut.-Gen. Alex. Cunningham Robertson, C.B. Printed for private circulation. (With a prefatory notice of the compiler.) London, Harrison & Sons, ... 1885, 8vo, pp. 95. The Prefatory Notice of Gen. A. C. Robertson is by H. Yule, June, 1885, p. iii.–viii.

—— Anglo-Indianisms. (Letter in the St. James’ Gazette, 30th July, 1885.)

—— Obituary Notice of Col. Grant Allan, Madras Army. (From the Army and Navy Gazette, 22nd Aug. 1885.)

—— Shameless Advertisements. (Letter in The Times, 28th Oct. 1885.)

1886 Marco Polo. (Encyclop. Brit. XIX. 1885, pp. 404–409.)

—— Prester John. (Ibid. pp. 714–718.)

—— Brief Notice of Sir Edward Clive Bayley. Pages ix.–xiv. [Prefixed to The History of India as told by its own Historians: Gujarat. By the late Sir Edward Clive Bayley.] London, Allen, 1886, 8vo.

—— Sir George Udny Yule. In Memoriam (St. James’ Gazette, 18th Jan. 1886.)

—— Cacothanasia. [Political Verse, Signed Μηνιν ἈΕΙΔΕ.] (St. James’ Gazette, 1st Feb. 1886.)

—— William Kay, D.D. [Notice of]. (Letter to The Guardian, 3rd Feb. 1886.)

—— Col. George Thomson, C.B., R.E. (Royal Engineers’ Journal, 1886.)

—— Col. George Thomson, C.B. [Note]. (St. James’ Gazette, 16th Feb. 1886.)

—— Hidden Virtues [A Satire on W. E. Gladstone]. (Letter to the St. James’ Gazette, 21st March, 1886. Signed M. P. V.)

—— Burma, Past and Present. (Quart. Rev. vol. 162, Jan. and April, 1886, pp. 210–238.)

—— Errors of Facts, in two well-known Pictures. (The Athenæum, No. 3059, 12th June, 1886, p. 788.)

—— [Obituary Notice of] Lieut.-Gen. Sir Arthur Phayre, C.B., K.C.S.I., G.C.M.G. (Proc. R.G.S., N.S. 1886, VIII. pp. 103–112.)

—— “Lines suggested by a Portrait in the Millais Exhibition.” Privately printed and (though never published) widely circulated. These powerful verses on Gladstone are those several times referred to by Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff, in his published Diaries.

—— Introductory Remarks on The Rock-Cut Caves and Statues of Bamian. By Capt. the Hon. M. G. Talbot. (Journ. R. As. Soc. N.S. XVIII. 1886, pp. 323–329.)

—— Opening Address. (Ibid. pp. i.–v.)

—— Opening Address. (Ibid. xix. pp. i.–iii.)

—— Hobson-Jobsoniana. By H. Yule (Asiatic Quarterly Review, vol. i. 1886, pp. 119–140.)

—— Hobson-Jobson: Being a Glossary of Anglo-Indian Colloquial Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms; etymological, historical, geographical, and discursive. By Col. H. Yule, and the late Arthur Coke Burnell, Ph.D., C.I.E., author of “The Elements of South Indian Palaeography,” etc., London, John Murray, 1886. (All rights reserved), 8vo, p. xliii.–870. Preface, etc. A new edition is in preparation under the editorship of Mr. William Crooke (1902).

1886 John Bunyan. (Letter in St. James’ Gazette, circa 31st Dec. 1886. Signed M. P. V.)

—— Rennell. (Encyclop. Brit. XX. 1886, pp. 398–401.)

—— Rubruquis (Ibid. XXI. 1886, pp. 46–47.)

1887 Lieut.-Gen. W. A. Crommelen, C.B., R.E. (Royal Engineers’ Journal, 1887.)

—— [Obituary Notice] Col. Sir J. U. Bateman Champain. (Times, 2nd Feb. 1887).

—— “Pulping Public Records.” (Notes and Queries, 19th March, 1887.)

—— A Filial Remonstrance (Political Verses). Signed M. P. V. (St. James’ Gazette, 8th Aug. 1887.)

—— Memoir of Major-Gen. J. T. Boileau, R.E., F.R.S. By C. R. Low, I.N., F.R.G.S. With a Preface by Col. H. Yule, C.B., London, Allen, 1887.

—— The Diary of William Hedges, Esq. (afterwards Sir William Hedges), during his Agency in Bengal; as well as on his voyage out and return overland (1681–1687). Transcribed for the Press, with Introductory Notes, etc., by R. Barlow, Esq., and illustrated by copious extracts from unpublished records, etc., by Col. H. Yule. Pub. for Hakluyt Society. London, 1887–1889, 3 vols. 8vo.

1888 Concerning some little known Travellers in the East. (Asiatic Quarterly Review, V. 1888, pp. 312–335.) No. I.—George Strachan.

—— Concerning some little known Travellers in the East. (Asiatic Quarterly Review, VI. 1888, pp. 382–398.) No. II.—William, Earl of Denbigh; Sir Henry Skipwith; and others.

—— Notes on the St. James’s of the 6th Jan. [A Budget of Miscellaneous interesting criticism.] (Letter to St. James’ Gazette, 9th Jan. 1888.)

—— Deflections of the Nile. (Letter in The Times, 15th Oct. 1888.)

—— The History of the Pitt Diamond, being an excerpt from Documentary Contributions to a Biography of Thomas Pitt, prepared for issue [in Hedges’ Diary] by the Hakluyt Society. London, 1888, 8vo. pp. 23. Fifty Copies printed for private circulation.

1889 The Remains of Pagan. By H. Yule. (Trübner’s Record, 3rd ser. vol. i. pt. i. 1889, p. 2.) To introduce notes by Dr. E Forchammer.

—— A Coincident Idiom. By H. Yule. (Trübner’s Record, 3rd ser. vol. i. pt. iii. pp. 84–85.)

—— The Indian Congress [a Disclaimer]. (Letter to The Times, 1st Jan. 1889.)

—— Arrowsmith, the Friend of Thomas Poole. (Letter in The Academy, 9th Feb. 1889, p. 96.)

Biographies of Sir Henry Yule.

—— Colonel Sir Henry Yule, K.C.S.I., C.B., LL.D., R.E. By General Robert Maclagan, R.E. (Proceed. Roy. Geog. Soc. XII. 1890, pp. 108–113.)

—— Colonel Sir Henry Yule, K.C.S.I., C.B., LL.D., R.E., etc. (With a Portrait). By E. Delmar Morgan. (Scottish Geographical Magazine, VI. 1890, pp. 93–98.) Contains a very good Bibliography.

—— Col. Sir H. Yule, R.E., C.B., K.C.S.I., by Maj.-Gen. T. B. Collinson, R.E., Royal Engineers’ Journal, March, 1890. [This is the best of the Notices of Yule which appeared at the time of his death.]

—— Sir Henry Yule, K.C.S.I, C.B., LL.D., R.E., by E. H. Giglioli. Roma, 1890, ppt. 8vo, pp. 8. Estratto dal Bollettino della Società Geografica Italiana, Marzo, 1890.

—— Sir Henry Yule. By J. S. C[otton]. (The Academy, 11th Jan. 1890, No. 923, pp. 26–27.)

—— Sir Henry Yule. (The Athenæum, No. 3245, 4th Jan. 1900, p. 17; No. 3246, 11th Jan. p. 53; No. 3247, 18th Jan. p. 88.)

—— In Memoriam. Sir Henry Yule. By D. M. (The Academy, 29th March, 1890, p. 222.) See end of Memoir in present work.

—— Le Colonel Sir Henry Yule. Par M. Henri Cordier. Extrait du Journal Asiatique. Paris, Imprimerie nationale, MDCCCXC, in–8, pp. 26.

—— The same, Bulletin de la Société de Géographie. Par M. Henri Cordier. 1890, 8vo, pp. 4. Meeting 17th Jan. 1890.

1889 Baron F. von Richthofen. (Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Erdkunde zu Berlin, xvii. 2.)

—— Colonel Sir Henry Yule, R.E., C.B., K.C.S.I. Memoir by General R. Maclagan, Journ. R. Asiatic Society, 1890.

—— Memoir of Colonel Sir Henry Yule, R.E., C.B., K.C.S.I., LL.D., etc. By Coutts Trotter. (Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1891. p. xliii. to p. lvi.)

1889 Sir Henry Yule (1820–1889). By Coutts Trotter. (Dict. of National Biography, lxiii. pp. 405–407.)

1903 Memoir of Colonel Sir Henry Yule, R.E., C.B., K.C.S.I., Corr. Inst. France, by his daughter, Amy Frances Yule, L.A. Soc. Ant. Scot., etc. Written for third edition of Yule’s Marco Polo. Reprinted for private circulation only.

SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS.

MARCO POLO AND HIS BOOK.

INTRODUCTORY NOTICES.

Page

I. Obscurities in the History of his Life and Book. Ramusio’s Statements 1

§ 1. Obscurities, etc. 2. Ramusio his earliest Biographer; his Account of Polo. 3. He vindicates Polo’s Geography. 4. Compares him with Columbus. 5. Recounts a Tradition of the Traveller’s Return to Venice. 6. Recounts Marco’s Capture by the Genoese. 7. His statements about Marco’s liberation and marriage. 8. His account of the Family Polo and its termination.

II. Sketch of the State of the East at the Time of the Journeys of the Polo Family 8

§ 9. State of the Levant. 10. The various Mongol Sovereignties in Asia and Eastern Europe. 11. China. 12. India and Indo-China.

III. The Polo Family. Personal History of the Travellers till their final Return from the East 13

§ 13. Alleged origin of the Polos. 14. Claims to Nobility. 15. The Elder Marco Polo. 16. Nicolo and Maffeo Polo commence their Travels. 17. Their intercourse with Kúblái Kaan. 18. Their return home, and Marco’s appearance on the scene. 19. Second Journey of the Polo Brothers, accompanied by Marco. (See App. L. 1.) 20. Marco’s Employment by Kúblái Kaan; and his Journeys. 21. Circumstances of the departure of the Polos from the Kaan’s Court. 22. They pass by Persia to Venice. Their relations there.

IV. Digression concerning the Mansion of the Polo Family at S. Giovanni Grisostomo 26

§ 23. Probable period of their establishment at S. Giovanni Grisostomo. 24. Relics of the Casa Polo in the Corte Sabbionera. 24a. Recent corroboration as to traditional site of the Casa Polo.

V. Digression concerning the War-Galleys of the Mediterranean States in the Middle Ages 31

§ 25. Arrangement of the Rowers in Mediæval Galleys; a separate Oar to every Man. 26. Change of System in 16th Century. 27. Some details of 13th-Century Galleys. 28. Fighting Arrangements. 29. Crew of a Galley and Staff of a Fleet. 30. Music and miscellaneous particulars.

VI. The Jealousies and Naval Wars of Venice and Genoa. Lamba Doria’s Expedition to the Adriatic; Battle of Curzola; and Imprisonment of Marco Polo by the Genoese 41

§ 31. Growing Jealousies and Outbreaks between the Republics. 32. Battle in Bay of Ayas in 1294. 33. Lamba Doria’s Expedition to the Adriatic. 34. The Fleets come in sight of each other at Curzola. 35. The Venetians defeated, and Marco Polo a Prisoner. 36. Marco Polo in Prison dictates his Book to Rusticiano of Pisa. Release of Venetian Prisoners. 37. Grounds on which the story of Marco Polo’s capture at Curzola rests.

VII. Rusticiano or Rustichello of Pisa, Marco Polo’s Fellow-Prisoner at Genoa, the Scribe who wrote down the Travels 55

§ 38. Rusticiano, perhaps a Prisoner from Meloria. 39. A Person known from other sources. 40. Character of his Romance Compilations. 41. Identity of the Romance Compiler with Polo’s Fellow-Prisoner. 42. Further particulars regarding Rusticiano.

VIII. Notices of Marco Polo’s History after the Termination of his Imprisonment at Genoa 64

§ 43. Death of Marco’s Father before 1300. Will of his Brother Maffeo. 44. Documentary Notices of Polo at this time. The Sobriquet of Milione. 45. Polo’s relations with Thibault de Cepoy. 46. His Marriage, and his Daughters. Marco as a Merchant. 47. His Last Will; and Death. 48. Place of Sepulture. Professed Portraits of Polo. 49. Further History of the Polo Family. 49 bis. Reliques of Marco Polo.

IX. Marco Polo’s Book; and the Language in which it was first written 80

§ 50. General Statement of what the Book contains. 51. Language of the original Work. 52. Old French Text of the Société de Géographie. 53. Conclusive proof that the Old French Text is the source of all the others. 54. Greatly diffused employment of French in that age.

X. Various Types of Text of Marco Polo’s Book 90

§ 55. Four Principal Types of Text. First, that of the Geographic or Oldest French. 56. Second, the Remodelled French Text; followed by Pauthier. 57. The Bern MS. and two others form a sub-class of this type. 58. Third, Friar Pipino’s Latin. 59. The Latin of Grynæus, a Translation at Fifth Hand. 60. Fourth, Ramusio’s Italian. 61. Injudicious Tamperings in Ramusio. 62. Genuine Statements peculiar to Ramusio. 63. Hypothesis of the Sources of the Ramusian Version. 64. Summary in regard to Text of Polo. 65. Notice of a curious Irish Version.

XI. Some Estimate of the Character of Polo and His Book 104

§ 66. Grounds of Polo’s Pre-eminence among Mediæval Travellers. 67. His true claims to glory. 68. His personal attributes seen but dimly. 69. Absence of scientific notions. 70. Map constructed on Polo’s data. 71. Singular omissions of Polo in regard to China; historical inaccuracies. 72. Was Polo’s Book materially affected by the Scribe Rusticiano? 73. Marco’s reading embraced the Alexandrian Romances. Examples. 74. Injustice long done to Polo. Singular Modern Example.

XII. Contemporary Recognition of Polo and his Book 116

§ 75. How far was there diffusion of his Book in his own day? 76. Contemporary References to Polo. T. de Cepoy; Pipino; Jacopo d’Acqui; Giov. Villani. 77. Pietro d’Abano; Jean le Long of Ypres. 78. Curious borrowings from Polo in the Romance of Bauduin de Sebourc. 78 bis. Chaucer and Marco Polo.

XIII. Nature of Polo’s Influence on Geographical Knowledge 129

§ 79. Tardy operation, and causes thereof. 80. General characteristics of Mediæval Cosmography. 81. Roger Bacon as a Geographer. 82. Arab Geography. 83. Marino Sanudo the Elder. 84. The Catalan Map of 1375, the most complete mediæval embodiment of Polo’s Geography. 85. Fra Mauro’s Map. Confusions in Cartography of the 16th Century from the endeavour to combine new and old information. 86. Gradual disappearance of Polo’s nomenclature. 87. Alleged introduction of Block-printed Books into Europe by Marco Polo in connexion with the fiction of the invention of Printing by Castaldi of Feltre. 88. Frequent opportunities for such introduction in the Age following Polo’s.

XIV. Explanations regarding the Basis adopted for the Present Translation 141

§ 89. Texts followed by Marsden and by Pauthier. 90. Eclectic Formation of the English Text of this Translation. 91. Mode of rendering Proper Names.

THE BOOK OF MARCO POLO.

PROLOGUE.

Chap. Page

Preliminary Address of Rusticiano of Pisa 1

I. —How the Two Brothers Polo set forth from Constantinople to traverse the World 2

Notes.—1. Chronology. 2. “The Great Sea.” The Port of Soldaia.

II. —How the Two Brothers went on beyond Soldaia 4

Notes.—1. Site and Ruins of Sarai. 2. City of Bolghar. 3. Alau Lord of the Levant (i.e. Hulaku). 4. Ucaca on the Volga. 5. River Tigeri.

III. —How the Two Brothers, after crossing a Desert, came to the City of Bocara, and fell in with certain Envoys there 9

Notes.—1. “Bocara a City of Persia.” 2. The Great Kaan’s Envoys.

IV. —How the Two Brothers took the Envoys’ counsel, and went to the Court of the Great Kaan 11

V. —How the Two Brothers arrived at the Court of the Great Kaan 11

VI. —How the Great Kaan asked all about the manners of the Christians, and particularly about the Pope of Rome 12

Note.—Apostoille. The name Tartar.

VII. —How the Great Kaan sent the two Brothers as his Envoys to the Pope 13

Notes.—1. The Great Kaan’s Letter. 2. The Seven Arts. 3. Religious Indifference of the Mongol Princes.

VIII. —How the Great Kaan gave them a Tablet of Gold, Bearing his Orders in their behalf 15

Notes.—1. The Tablet. 2. The Port of Ayas.

IX. —How the Two Brothers came to the City of Acre; and thence to Venice 17

Notes.—1. Names of the deceased Pope and of the Legate. 2. Negropont. 3. Mark’s age.

X. —How the Two Brothers again departed from Venice, on their Way back to the Great Kaan, and took with them Mark, the Son of Messer Nicolo 19

Note.—Oil from the Holy Sepulchre.

XI. —How the Two Brothers set out from Acre, and Mark along with them 20

Note.—Pope Gregory X. and his Election.

XII. —How the Two Brothers presented themselves before the new Pope 22

Notes.—1. William of Tripoli. 2. Powers conceded to Missionary Friars. 3. Bundúḳdár and his Invasion of Armenia; his character. 4. The Templars in Cilician Armenia.

XIII. —How Messer Nicolo and Messer Maffeo Polo, accompanied by Mark, travelled to the Court of the Great Kaan 25

Note.—The City of Kemenfu, Summer Residence of Kúblái.

XIV. —How Messer Nicolo and Messer Maffeo Polo and Marco presented themselves before the Great Kaan 26

Notes.—1. Verbal. 2. “Vostre Homme.”

XV. —How the Lord sent Mark on an Embassy of his 27

Notes.—1. The four Characters learned by Marco, what? 2. Ramusio’s addition. 3. Nature of Marco’s employment.

XVI. —How Mark returned from the Mission whereon he had been sent 30

XVII. —How Messer Nicolo, Messer Maffeo, and Messer Marco, asked Leave of the Great Kaan to go their way 31

Notes.—1. Risks to Foreigners on a change of Sovereign. 2. The Lady Bolgana. 3. Passage from Ramusio.

XVIII. —How the Two Brothers and Messer Marco took Leave of the Great Kaan, and returned to their own Country 34

Notes.—1. Mongol Royal Messengers. 2. Mongol communication with the King of England. 3. Mediæval Ships of China. 4. Passage from China to Sumatra. 5. Mortality among the party. 6. The Lady Cocachin in Persian History. 7. Death of the Kaan. 8. The Princess of Manzi.

BOOK FIRST.

Account of Regions Visited or heard of on the Journey from the Lesser Armenia to the Court of the Great Kaan at Chandu.

Chap. Page

I. —Here the Book begins; and first it speaks of the Lesser Hermenia 41

Notes.—1. Little Armenia. 2. Meaning of Chasteaux. 3. Sickliness of Cilician Coast. 4. The phrase “fra terre.”

II. —Concerning the Province of Turcomania 43

Notes.—1. Brutality of the people. 2. Application of name Turcomania. Turcoman Hordes.

III. —Description of the Greater Hermenia 45

Notes.—1. Erzingan. Buckrams, what were they? 2. Erzrum. 3. Baiburt. 4. Ararat. 5. Oil wells of Baku.

IV. —Of Georgiania and the Kings thereof 50

Notes.—1. Georgian Kings. 2. The Georgians. 3. The Iron Gates and Wall of Alexander. 4. Box forests. 5. Goshawks. 6. Fish Miracle. 7. Sea of Ghel or Ghelan. Names ending in -án. 8. Names of the Caspian, and navigation thereon. 9. Fish in the Caspian.

V. —Of the Kingdom of Mausul 60

Notes.—1. Atabeks of Mosul. 2. Nestorian and Jacobite Christians. 3. Mosolins. 4. The Kurds. 5. Mush and Mardin.

VI. —Of the Great City of Baudas, and how it was taken 63

Notes.—1. Baudas, or Baghdad. 2. Island of Kish. 3. Basra. 4. Baldachins and other silk textures; Animal patterns. 5, 6. Hulákú’s Expedition. 7. The Death of the Khalíf Mosta’sim. 8. Froissart.

VII. —How the Calif of Baudas took counsel to slay all the Christians in his Land 68

Notes.—1. Chronology. 2. “Ses Regisles et ses Casses.”

VIII. —How the Christians were in great dismay because of what the Calif had said 70

Note.—The word “cralantur.”

IX. —How the One-eyed Cobler was desired to pray for the Christians 71

X. —How the Prayer of the One-eyed Cobler caused the Mountain to move 72

Note.—The Mountain Miracle.

XI. —Of the Noble City of Tauris 74

Notes.—1. Tabriz. 2. Cremesor. 3. Traffic at Tabriz. 4. The Torizi. 5. Character of City and People.

XII. —Of the Monastery of Saint Barsamo on the Borders of Tauris 77

Note.—The Monastery of Barsauma.

XIII. —Of the Great Country of Persia; with some account of the Three Kings 78

Notes.—1. Kala’ Atishparastán. 2. The Three Kings.

XIV. —How the Three Kings returned to their own Country 79

Notes.—1. The three mystic Gifts. 2. The Worshipped Fire. 3. Sávah and Ávah. The Legend in Mas’udi. Embellishments of the Story of the Magi.

XV. —Of the Eight Kingdoms of Persia, and how they are named 83

Notes.—1. The Eight Kingdoms. 2. Export of Horses, and Prices. 3. Persian Brigands. 4. Persian wine.

XVI. —Concerning the Great City of Yasdi 88

Notes.—1. Yezd. 2. Yezd to Kerman. The Woods spoken of.

XVII. —Concerning the Kingdom of Kerman 90

Notes.—1. City and Province of Kerman. 2. Turquoises. 3. Ondanique or Indian Steel. 4. Manufactures of Kerman. 5. Falcons.

XVIII. —Of the City of Camadi and its Ruins; also touching the Carauna Robbers 97

Notes.—1. Products of the warmer plains. 2. Humped oxen and fat-tailed sheep. 3. Scarani. 4. The Karaunahs and Nigudarian Bands. 5. Canosalmi.

XIX. —Of the Descent to the City of Hormos 107

Notes.—1. Site of Old Hormuz and Geography of the route from Kerman to Hormuz. 2. Dates and Fish Diet. 3. Stitched Vessels. “One rudder,” why noticed as peculiar. 4. Great heat at Hormuz. 5. The Simúm. 6. History of Hormuz, and Polo’s Ruomedan Acomat. 7. Second Route between Hormuz and Kerman.

XX. —Of the Wearisome and Desert Road that has now to be Travelled 123

Notes.—1. Kerman to Kúbenán. 2. Desert of Lút. 3. Subterraneous Canals.

XXI. —Concerning the City of Cobinan and the things that are made there 125

Notes.—1. Kuh-Banán. 2. Production of Tútíá.

XXII. —Of a certain Desert that continues for eight days’ Journey 127

Notes.—1. Deserts of Khorasan. 2. The Arbre Sol or Arbre Sec.

XXIII. —Concerning the Old Man of the Mountain 139

Note.—The Assassins, Hashíshîn, or Muláhidah.

XXIV. —How the Old Man used to train his Assassins 142

Notes.—1. The story widely spread. Notable murders by the Sectaries. 2. Their different branches.

XXV. —How the Old Man came by His End 145

Note.—History of the apparent Destruction of the Sect by Hulákú; its survival to the present time. Castles of Alamut and Girdkuh.

XXVI. —Concerning the City of Sapurgan 149

Note.—Shibrgân, and the route followed. Dried Melons.

XXVII. —Of the City of Balc 151

Notes.—1. Balkh. 2. Country meant by Dogana. 3. Lions in the Oxus Valley.

XXVIII. —Of Taican, and the Mountains of Salt. Also of the Province of Casem 153

Notes.—1. Talikan. 2. Mines of Rock-salt. 3. Ethnological characteristics. 4. Kishm. 5. Porcupines. 6. Cave dwellings. 7. Old and New Capitals of Badakhshan.

XXIX. —Of the Province of Badashan 157

Notes.—1. Dialects of Badakhshan. Alexandrian lineage of the Princes. 2. Badakhshan and the Balas Ruby. 3. Azure Mines. 4. Horses of Badakhshan. 5. Naked Barley. 6. Wild sheep. 7. Scenery of Badakhshan. 8. Repeated devastation of the Country from War. 9. Amplitude of feminine garments.

XXX. —Of the Province of Pashai. 164

Note.—On the country intended by this name.

XXXI. —Of the Province of Keshimur 166

Notes.—1. Kashmir language. 2. Kashmir Conjurers. (See App. L. 2.) 3. Importance of Kashmir in History of Buddhism. 4. Character of the People. 5. Vicissitudes of Buddhism in Kashmir. 6. Buddhist practice as to slaughter of animals. 7. Coral.

XXXII. —Of the Great River of Badashan; and Plain of Pamier 170

Notes.—1. The Upper Oxus and Wakhan. The title Nono. (See App. L. 3.) 2. The Plateau of Pamir. (See App. L. 4 and 5.) The Great Wild Sheep. Fire at great altitudes. 3. Bolor.

XXXIII. —Of the Kingdom of Cascar 180

Note.—Kashgar.

XXXIV. —Of the Great City of Samarcan 183

Notes.—1. Christians in Samarkand. 2. Chagatai’s relation to Kúblái mis-stated. 3. The Miracle of the Stone.

XXXV. —Of the Province of Yarcan 187

Note.—Yarkand. Goître prevalent there.

XXXVI. —Of a Province called Cotan 188

Notes.—1. Government. 2. “Adoration of Mahommet.” 3. Khotan.

XXXVII. —Of the Province of Pein 191

Notes.—1. Position of Pein (App. L. 6.) 2. The Yu or Jade. 3. Temporary marriages.

XXXVIII. —Of the Province of Charchan 194

Note.—Position of Charchan and Lop.

XXXIX. —Of the City of Lop, and the Great Desert 196

Notes.—1. Geographical discrepancy. 2. Superstitions as to Deserts: their wide diffusion. The Sound of Drums on certain sandy acclivities. 3. Sha-chau to Lob-nor.

XL. —Concerning the Great Province of Tangut 203

Notes.—1. Tangut. 2. Buddhism encountered here. 3. Kalmak superstition, the “Heaven’s Ram.” 4. Chinese customs described here. 5. Mongol disposal of the Dead. 6. Superstitious practice of avoiding to carry out the dead by the house-door; its wide diffusion.

XLI. —Of the Province of Camul 209

Notes.—1. Kamul. 2. Character of the people. 3. Shameless custom. 4. Parallel.

XLII. —Of the Province of Chingintalas 212

Notes.—1. The Country intended. 2. Ondanique. 3. Asbestos Mountain. 4. The four elements. 5 and 6. The Story of the Salamander. Asbestos fabrics.

XLIII. —Of the Province of Sukchur 217

Notes.—1. Explanatory. 2. The City of Suhchau. 3. Rhubarb country. 4. Poisonous pasture.

XLIV. —Of the City of Campichu 219

Notes.—1. The City of Kanchau. 2. Recumbent Buddhas. 3. Buddhist Days of Special Worship. 4. Matrimonial Customs. 5. Textual.

XLV. —Of the City of Etzina 223

Notes.—1. Position of Yetsina. 2. Textual. 3. The Wild Ass of Mongolia.

XLVI. —Of the City of Caracoron 226

Notes.—1. Karakorum. 2. Tartar. 3. Chorcha. 4. Prester John.

XLVII. —Of Chinghis, and how he became the First Kaan of the Tartars 238

Notes.—1. Chronology. 2. Relations between Chinghiz and Aung Khan, the Prester John of Polo.

XLVIII. —How Chinghis mustered his People to march against Prester John 240

XLIX. —How Prester John marched to meet Chinghis 241

Notes.—1. Plain of Tanduc. 2. Divination by Twigs and Arrows.

L. —The Battle between Chinghis Kaan and Prester John. Death of Chinghis 244

Note.—Real circumstances and date of the Death of Chinghiz.

LI. —Of Those who did Reign after Chinghis Kaan, and of the Customs of the Tartars 245

Notes.—1. Origin of the Cambuscan of Chaucer. 2. Historical Errors. 3. The Place of Sepulture of Chinghiz. 4. Barbarous Funeral Superstition.

LII. —Concerning the Customs of the Tartars 251

Notes.—1. Tartar Huts. 2. Tartar Waggons. 3. Pharaoh’s Rat. 4. Chastity of the Women. 5. Polygamy and Marriage Customs.

LIII. —Concerning the God of the Tartars 256

Notes.—1. The old Tartar idols. 2. Kumiz.

LIV. —Concerning the Tartar Customs of War 260

Notes.—1. Tartar Arms. 2. The Decimal Division of their Troops. 3. Textual. 4. Blood-drinking. 5. Kurút, or Tartar Curd. 6. The Mongol military rapidity and terrorism. 7. Corruption of their Nomade simplicity.

LV. —Concerning the Administering of Justice among the Tartars 266

Notes.—1. The Cudgel. 2. Punishment of Theft. 3. Marriage of the Dead. 4. Textual.

LVI. —Sundry Particulars on the Plain beyond Caracoron 269

Notes.—1. Textual. 2. Bargu, the Mecrit, the Reindeer, and Chase of Water-fowl. 3. The bird Barguerlac, the Syrrhaptes. 4. Gerfalcons.

LVII. —Of the Kingdom of Erguiul, and Province of Sinju 274

Notes.—1. Erguiul. 2. Siningfu. 3. The Yak. 4. The Musk Deer. 5. Reeves’s Pheasant.

LVIII. —Of the Kingdom of Egrigaia 281

Notes.—1. Egrigaia. 2. Calachan. 3. White Camels, and Camlets: Siclatoun.

LIX. —Concerning the Province of Tenduc, and the Descendants of Prester John 284

Notes.—1. The name and place Tenduc. King George. 2. Standing Marriage Compact. The title Gurgán. 3. Azure. 4. The terms Argon and Guasmul. The Dungens. 5. The Rampart of Gog and Magog. 6. Tartary cloths. 7. Siuen-hwa fu.

LX. —Concerning the Kaan’s Palace of Chagannor 296

Notes.—1. Palace. 2. The word Sesnes. 3. Chagan-nor. 4. The five species of Crane described by Polo. 5. The word Cator.

LXI. —Of the City of Chandu, and the Kaan’s Palace there 298

Notes.—1. Two Roads. 2. Chandu, properly Shangtu. 3. Leopards. 4. The Bamboo Palace. Uses of the Bamboo. 5. Kúblái’s Annual Migration to Shangtu. 6. The White Horses. The Oirad Tribe. 7. The Mare’s Milk Festival. 8. Weather Conjuring. 9. Ascription of Cannibalism to Tibetans, etc. 10. The term Bacsi. 11. Magical Feats ascribed to the Lamas. 12. Lamas. 13. Vast extent of Lama Convents. 14. Married Lamas. 15. Bran. 16. Patarins. 17. The Ascetics called Sensin. 18. Textual. 19. Tao-sze Idols.

BOOK SECOND.

PART I.

Chap. Page

I. —Of Cublay Kaan, the Great Kaan now reigning, and of his Great Puissance 331

Note.—Eulogies of Kúblái.

II. —Concerning the Revolt of Nayan, who was Uncle to the Great Kaan Cublay 332

Notes.—1. Chronology. 2. Kúblái’s Age. 3. His Wars. 4. Nayan and his true relationship to Kúblái.

III. —How the Great Kaan marched against Nayan 335

Note.—Addition from Ramusio.

IV. —Of the Battle that the Great Kaan fought with Nayan 336

Notes.—1. The word Bretesche. 2. Explanatory. 3. The Nakkára. 4. Parallel Passages. 5. Verbal. 6. The Story of Nayan. (See App. L. 7.)

V. —How the Great Kaan caused Nayan to be put to Death 343

Notes.—1. The Shedding of Royal blood avoided. 2. Chorcha, Kaoli, Barskul, Sikintinju. 3. Jews in China.

VI. —How the Great Kaan went back to the City of Cambaluc 348

Note.—Passage from Ramusio respecting the Kaan’s views of Religion. Remarks.

VII. —How the Kaan rewarded the Valour of his Captains 350

Notes.—1. Parallel from Sanang Setzen. 2. The Golden Honorary Tablets or Paizah of the Mongols. 3. Umbrellas. 4. The Gerfalcon Tablets.

VIII. —Concerning the Person of the Great Kaan 356

Notes.—1. Colour of his Eyes. 2. His Wives. 3. The Kungurat Tribe. Competitive Examination in Beauty.

IX. —Concerning the Great Kaan’s Sons 359

Notes.—1. Kúblái’s intended Heir. 2. His other Sons.

X. —Concerning the Palace of the Great Kaan 362

Notes.—1. Palace Wall. 2. The word Tarcasci. 3. Towers. 4. Arsenals of the Palace. 5. The Gates. 6. Various Readings. 7. Barracks. 8. Wide diffusion of the kind of Palace here described. 9. Parallel description. 10. “Divine” Park. 11. Modern account of the Lake, etc. 12. “Roze de l’açur.” 13. The Green Mount. 14. Textual. 15. Bridge.

XI. —Concerning the City of Cambaluc 374

Notes.—1. Chronology, etc., of Peking. 2. The City Wall. 3. Changes in the Extent of the City. 4. Its ground plan. 5. Aspect. 6. Public Towers. 7. Addition from Ramusio.

XII. —How the Great Kaan maintains a Guard of Twelve Thousand Horse, which are called Keshican 379

Note.—The term Quescican.

XIII. —The Fashion of the Great Kaan’s Table at his High Feasts 381

Notes.—1. Order of the Tables. 2. The word Vernique. 3. The Buffet of Liquors. 4. The superstition of the Threshold. 5. Chinese Etiquettes. 6. Jugglers at the Banquet.

XIV. —Concerning the Great Feast held by the Grand Kaan every year on his Birthday 386

Notes.—1. The Chinese Year. 2. “Beaten Gold.” 3. Textual. Festal changes of costume. 4. Festivals.

XV. —Of the Great Festival which the Kaan holds on New Year’s Day 390

Notes.—1. The White Month. 2. Mystic value of the number 9. 3. Elephants at Peking. 4. Adoration of Tablets. K’o-tow.

XVI. —Concerning the Twelve Thousand Barons who receive Robes of Cloth of Gold from the Emperor on the Great Festivals, thirteen changes a-piece 394

Notes.—1. Textual. 2. The words Camut and Borgal. 3. Tame Lions.

XVII. —How the Great Kaan enjoineth his People to supply him with Game 396

Note.—Parallel Passage.

XVIII. —Of the Lions and Leopards and Wolves that the Kaan keeps for the Chase 397

Notes.—1. The Cheeta or Hunting Leopard. 2. Lynxes. 3. The Tiger, termed Lion by Polo. 4. The Búrgút Eagle.

XIX. —Concerning the Two Brothers who have charge of the Kaan’s Hounds 400

Note.—The Masters of the Hounds, and their title.

XX. —How the Emperor goes on a Hunting Expedition 402

Notes.—1. Direction of the Tour. 2. Hawking Establishments. 3. The word Tosḳáúl. 4. The word Bularguchi. 5. Kúblái’s Litter. 6. Kachar Modun. 7. The Kaan’s Great Tents. 8. The Sable and Ermine. 9. Pétis de la Croix.

XXI. —How the Great Kaan, on returning from his Hunting Expedition, holds a Great Court and Entertainment 410

Note.—This chapter peculiar to the 2nd Type of MSS.

XXII. —Concerning the City of Cambaluc, and its Great Traffic and Population 412

Notes.—1. Suburbs of Peking. 2. The word Fondaco.

XXIII. —[Concerning the Oppressions of Achmath the Bailo, and the Plot that was formed against Him] 415

Notes.—1. Chapter peculiar to Ramusio. 2. Kúblái’s Administration. The Rise of Ahmad. 3. The term Bailo. 4. The Conspiracy against Ahmad as related by Gaubil from the Chinese. 5. Marco’s presence and upright conduct commemorated in the Chinese Annals. The Kaan’s prejudice against Mahomedans.

XXIV. —How the Great Kaan causeth the Bark of Trees, made into something like Paper, to pass for Money over all his Country 423

Note.—Chinese Paper Currency.

XXV. —Concerning the Twelve Barons who are set over all the Affairs of the Great Kaan 430

Note.—The Ministers of the Mongol Dynasty. The term Sing.

XXVI. —How the Kaan’s Posts and Runners are sped through many Lands and Provinces 433

Notes.—1. Textual. 2. The word Yam. 3. Government Hostelries. 4. Digression from Ramusio. 5. Posts Extraordinary. 6. Discipline of the Posts. 7. Antiquity of Posts in China, etc.

XXVII. —How the Emperor bestows Help on his People, when they are afflicted with Dearth or Murrain 439

Note.—Kúblái’s remissions, and justice.

XXVIII. —How the Great Kaan causes Trees to be Planted by the Highways 440

Note.—Kúblái’s Avenues.

XXIX. —Concerning the Rice-Wine drunk by the People of Cathay 441

Note.—Rice-wine.

XXX. —Concerning the Black Stones that are dug in Cathay, and are burnt for Fuel 442

Note.—Distribution and Consumption of Coal in China.

XXXI. —How the Great Kaan causes Stores of Corn to be made, to help his People withal in time of Dearth 443

Note.—The Chinese Public Granaries.

XXXII. —Of the Charity of the Emperor to the Poor 444

Note.—Buddhist influence, and Chinese Charities.

XXXIII. —[Concerning the Astrologers in the City of Cambaluc] 446

Notes.—1. The word Tacuin.—The Chinese Almanacs. The Observatory. 2. The Chinese and Mongol Cycle.

XXXIV. —[Concerning the Religion of the Cathayans; their views as to the Soul; and their Customs] 456

Notes.—1. Textual. 2. Do. 3. Exceptions to the general charge of Irreligion brought against the Chinese. 4. Politeness. 5. Filial Piety. 6. Pocket Spitoons.