e for an attempt to realise
the scene.

[5] At first sight this fantastic tradition seems to have little
verisimilitude; but when we regard it in the light of genuine Mongol
custom, such as is quoted from Rubruquis, at p. 389 of this volume, we
shall be disposed to look on the whole story with respect.

[6] This curious statement is confirmed by a passage in the records of the
Great Council, which, on a late visit to Venice, I was enabled to
extract, through an obliging communication from Professor Minotto.
(See below, p. 67.)

[7] This rather preposterous skit at the Genoese dialect naturally excites
a remonstrance from the Abate Spotorno. (_Storia Letteraria della
Liguria_, II. 217.)

[8] _Jackdaws_, I believe, in spite of some doubt from the imbecility of
ordinary dictionaries in such matters.

They are under this name made the object of a similitude by Dante
(surely a most unhappy one) in reference to the resplendent spirits
flitting on the celestial stairs in the sphere of Saturn:--

"E come per lo natural costume
_Le Pole_ insieme, al cominciar del giorno,
Si muovono a scaldar le fredde piume:
Poi altre vanno via senza ritorno,
Altre rivolgon se, onde son mosse,
Ed altre roteando fan soggiorno."--_Parad._ XXI. 34.

There is some difference among authorities as to the details of the
Polo blazon. According to a MS. concerning the genealogies of Venetian
families written by Marco Barbaro in 1566, and of which there is a
copy in the Museo Civico, the field is _gules_, the bend _or_. And
this I have followed in the cut. But a note by S. Stefani of Venice,
with which I have been favoured since the cut was made, informs me
that a fine 15th-century MS. in his possession gives the field as
_argent_, with no _bend_, and the three birds _sable_ with beaks
_gules_, disposed thus ***.

[Illustration: Arms of the Polo[A]]

[A] [This coat of arms is reproduced from the Genealogies of
Priuli, Archivio di Stato, Venice.--H. C.]

[9] Marco Antonio Trevisano was elected Doge, 4th June, 1553, but died on
the 31st of May following. We do not here notice Ramusio's numerous
errors, which will be corrected in the sequel. [See p. 78.]

II. SKETCH OF THE STATE OF THE EAST AT THE TIME OF THE JOURNEYS OF THE
POLO FAMILY.

9. The story of the travels of the Polo fami