hem at any
game that comes in the way. No one dare come within a stones throw of the
chariot in which the emperor rides, except those who are expressly
appointed. The number of his own followers, and of those who attend the
empress, and on his eldest son, would appear quite incredible to any person
who had not seen the same, and is therefore omitted. The whole empire is
divided into twelve great provinces, one only of which has 2000 great
cities within its bounds; and the whole is so extensive, that one may
travel continually for six months in any one direction, besides the islands
under his dominion, which are at least 5000 in number.

[1] In the plates of La Monarchie Francaise, by Pere Montfaucon, the French
ladies of the fourteenth century are represented as wearing conical
caps on their heads, at least one third of their own height.--E.

[2] One hundred and forty millions of florins, as the value of the dresses
of the nobles of the imperial court! It seems that most writers
concerning China are apt entirely to forget the power of numbers, in
the fervour of their admiration.--E.

[3] Odericus, or his Bolandist biographer, seems to have forgot that
thirty-three tomans make 330,000 useless ministers of luxury and
folly. I strongly suspect the Minorites, for the honour of Oderic,
have ignorantly borrowed and exaggerated from Marco Polo, to decorate
the legend of the favourite Saint of Udina.--E.

SECTION XV.

_Of the Inns established over the whole Empire, for the use of Travellers_.

That travellers may have all things necessary throughout the whole empire,
the emperor has caused certain inns to be provided in sundry places upon
the highways, where all kinds of provisions are in continual readiness.
When any intelligence is to be communicated to him, his messengers ride
post on horses or dromedaries; and when themselves and their beasts are
weary, they blow their horns, and the people at the next inn provide a man
and horse in readiness to carry forward the dispatch. By this means,
intelligence, which would take thirty days in the ordinary way of
travelling, is transmitted in one day, and he is consequently immediately
informed of any important matter which may occur in the most distant parts
of his dominions.

About twenty days journey from Cambalu, there is a forest of six days
journey in circuit, containing an incredible number of different kinds of
beasts and birds,