File:The book of Ser Marco Polo - the Venetian concerning the kingdoms and marvels of the East (1903) (14582916119).jpg

Identifier: bookofsermarcopo00polo (find matches)
Title: The book of Ser Marco Polo : the Venetian concerning the kingdoms and marvels of the East
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Polo, Marco, 1254-1323? Cordier, Henri, 1849-1925 Yule, Amy Frances Yule, Henry, Sir, 1820-1889
Subjects: Polo, Marco, 1254-1323? Yule, Henry, Sir, 1820-1889 Genghis Khan, 1162-1227 Polo family Inscriptions, Chinese Early maps Mongols Voyages and travels
Publisher: London : John Murray
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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Ponent, because that the defile was so narrow andperilous, the sea lying on the one hand, and on the otherlofty mountains impassable to horsemen. The straitextends like this for four leagues, and a handful ofpeople might hold it against all the world. Alexandercaused a very strong tower to be built there, to preventthe people beyond from passing to attack him, and thisgot the name of the Iron Gate. This is the place thatthe Book of Alexander speaks of, when it tells us how heshut up the Tartars between two mountains ; not thatthey were really Tartars, however, for there were noTartars in those days, but they consisted of a race ofpeople called Comanians and many besides.3 (In this province all the forests are of box-wood.4)There are numerous towns and villages, and silk is pro-duced in great abundance. They also weave cloths ofgold, and all kinds of very fine silk stuffs. The countryproduces the best goshawks in the world (which arecalled Avigi)* It has indeed no lack of anything, and
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VOL. I I) 2 52 MARCO POLO Book I. the people live by trade and handicrafts. Tis a very-mountainous region, and full of strait defiles and olfortresses, insomuch that the Tartars have never beenable to subdue it out and out. There is in this country a certain Convent of Nunscalled St. Leonards, about which I have to tell you avery wonderful circumstance. Near the church inquestion there is a great lake at the foot of a mountain,and in this lake are found no fish, great or small,throughout the year till Lent come. On the first day ofLent they find in it the finest fish in the world, and greatstore too thereof; and these continue to be found tillEaster Eve. After that they are found no more tillLent come round again ; and so tis every year. Tisreally a passing great miracle !6 That sea whereof I spoke as coming so near themountains is called the Sea of Ghel or Ghelan, andextends about 700 miles.7 It is twelve days journeydistant from any other sea, and into it flows the greatRiver Euphra

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