the various readings which
that Editor lays before us,--I then compared the translation with the
Geographic Text, and transferred from the latter not only all items of
real substance that had been omitted, but also all expressions of special
interest and character, and occasionally a greater fulness of phraseology
where condensation in Pauthier's text seemed to have been carried too far.
And finally I introduced _between brackets_ everything peculiar to
Ramusio's version that seemed to me to have a just claim to be reckoned
authentic, and that could be so introduced without harshness or
mutilation. Many passages from the same source which were of interest in
themselves, but failed to meet one or other of these conditions, have been
given in the notes.[1]

[Sidenote: Mode of rendering proper names.]

91. As regards the reading of proper names and foreign words, in which
there is so much variation in the different MSS. and editions, I have done
my best to select what seemed to be the true reading from the G. T. and
Pauthier's three MSS., only in some rare instances transgressing this
limit.

Where the MSS. in the repetition of a name afforded a choice of forms, I
have selected that which came nearest the real name when known. Thus the
G. T. affords _Baldasciain, Badascian, Badasciam, Badausiam, Balasian_. I
adopt BADASCIAN, or in English spelling BADASHAN, because it is closest to
the real name _Badakhshan_. Another place appears as COBINAN, _Cabanat,
Cobian_. I adopt the first because it is the truest expression of the real
name _Koh-benan_. In chapters 23, 24 of Book I., we have in the G. T.
_Asisim, Asciscin, Asescin_, and in Pauthier's MSS. _Hasisins, Harsisins_,
etc. I adopt ASCISCIN, or in English spelling ASHISHIN, for the same
reason as before. So with _Creman, Crerman, Crermain_, QUERMAN, Anglice
KERMAN; Cormos, HORMOS, and many more.[2]

In two or three cases I have adopted a reading which I cannot show
_literatim_ in any authority, but because such a form appears to be the
just resultant from the variety of readings which are presented; as in
surveying one takes the mean of a number of observations when no one can
claim an absolute preference.

Polo's proper names, even in the French Texts, are _in the main_ formed on
an Italian fashion of spelling.[3] I see no object in preserving such
spelling in an English book, so after selecting the best reading of the
name I express it in English spelling, printing