NOTE 1.—The history of the city on the site of Peking goes back to very old times, for it had been the capital of the kingdom of Yen previous to B.C. 222, when it was captured by the Prince of the Thsin Dynasty. It became one of the capitals of the Khitans in A.D. 936, and of the Kin sovereigns in 1125. Under the name of Yenking it has

a conspicuous place in the wars of Chinghiz against the latter dynasty. He captured it in 1215. In 1264 Kublai adopted it as his chief residence, and founded the new city of TATU ("Great Court"), called by the Mongols TAIDU or DAITU (see Bk. I. ch. Ixi. note 1), at a little distance-Odoric says half a mile-to the north-east of the old Yenking. Tatu was completed in the summer of 1267. The river that ran between the old and new city must have been the little river Yu, which still runs through the modern Tartar city, and fills the city ditches.

Old Yenking had, when occupied by the Kin, a circuit of 27 li (commonly estimated at 9 miles, but in early works the li is not more than of a mile), afterwards increased to 30 li. But there was some kind of outer wall about the city and its suburbs, the circuit of which is called 75 li. (Lockhart; and see Amyot, II. 553.)

Polo correctly explains the name Cambaluc, i.e. Kaan-baligh, "The City of the Kaan.”

NOTE 2. This height is from Pauthier's Text; the G. Text has, "twenty paces," i. e. 100 feet. A recent French paper states the dimensions of the existing walls as 14 mètres (45 feet) high, and 1450 (47 feet) thick, "the top forming a paved promenade, unique of its kind, and recalling the legendary walls of Thebes and Babylon." (Ann. d'Hygienne Publique, 2nd s. tom. xxxii. for 1869, p. 21.)

NOTE 3.-Our attempted plan of Cambaluc, as in 1290, differs considerably from this description, but there is no getting over certain existing facts.

The existing Tartar city of Peking (technically Neiching, "The Interior City," or King-ching, "City of the Court") stands on the site. of Taidu, and represents it. After the expulsion of the Mongols (1368) the new native Dynasty of Ming established their capital at Nanking. But this was found so inconvenient that the second sovereign of the dynasty re-occupied Taidu or Cambaluc, the repairs of which began in 1409. He reduced it in size by cutting off nearly a third part of the city at the north end. The remains of the original north wall are however still in existence, varying from 10 to 20 feet in height; the traces are much less perfect on the east and west. This old wall is called by the Chinese The Wall of the Yuen (i.e. the Mongol Dynasty), and it is laid down in the Russian Survey. The existing walls were built, or restored rather (the north wall being in any case, of course, entirely new), in 1437. There seems to be no doubt that the present south front of the Tartar city was the south front of Taidu. The whole outline of Taidu is therefore still extant, and easily measur

able. If the scale on the War Office edition of the Russian Survey be correct, the long sides measure close upon 5 miles and 500 yards; the short sides, 3 miles and 1200 yards. Hence the whole perimeter was just about 18 English miles, or less than 16 Italian miles. If, however, a pair of compasses be run round Taidu and Yenking (as we have laid the latter down from such data as could be had) together, the circuit will be something like 24 Italian miles, and this may have to do with Polo's error.

Polo, again, says that there were 12 gates-3 to every side. Both Gaubil and Martini also say that there were 12 gates. But I believe that both are trusting to Marco. There are 9 gates in the present Tartar city-viz., 3 on the south side and 2 on each of the other sides. The old Chinese accounts say there were 11 gates in Taidu (see Amyot. Mem. II. 553). I have in my plan, therefore, assumed that one gate on the east and one on the west were obliterated in the reduction of the enceinte by the Ming. But I must observe that Mr. Lockhart tells me he did not find the traces of gates in those positions, whilst the two gates on the north side of the old Mongol rampart are quite distinct, with the barbicans in front, and the old Mongol bridge over the ditch still serving for the public thoroughfare.

When the Ming established themselves on the old Mongol site, population seems to have gathered close about the southern wall, probably using material from the remains of Yenking. This excrescence

was enclosed by a new wall in 1554, and was called the "Outer Town." It is what is called by Europeans the Chinese City. Its western wall exhibits in the base sculptured stones, which seem to have belonged to the old palace of Yenking. Some traces of Yenking still existed in Gaubil's time; the only relic of it now pointed out is a pagoda outside of the Kwang-An-Măn, or western gate of the Outer City, marked in the War Office edition of the Russian Map as "Tower." (Information from Dr. Lockhart.)

The "Great Palaces" over the gates and at the corner bastions are no doubt well illustrated by the buildings which still occupy those positions. There are two such lofty buildings at each of the gates of the modern city, the outer one forming an elevated redoubt. (See cut on next page.)

NOTE 4.-The French writer cited under Note 2 says of the city as it stands: "La ville est de la sorte coupée en échiquier à peu près regulier dont les quadres circonscrits par des larges avenues sont percés eux-mêmes d'une multitude de rues et ruelles . . . qui toutes à peu près sont orientées N. et S., E. et O. Une seule volonté a evidemment présidé à ce plan, et jamais edilité n'a eu à exécuter d'un seul coup aussi vaste entreprise."

NOTE 5.-Martini speaks of the public clock-towers in the Chinese cities, which in his time were furnished with water-clocks. A watchman

struck the hour on a great gong, at the same time exhibiting the hour in large characters. The same person watched for fires, and summoned the public with his gong to aid in extinguishing them.

The tower indicated by Marco appears still to exist. It occupies the place which I have marked as Alarm Tower in the plan of Taidu. It was erected in 1272, but probably rebuilt on the Ming occupation of the city. In the Court of the Old Observatory at Peking there is preserved, with a few other ancient instruments, which I believe date from the Mongol era, a very elaborate water-clock, provided with 4 copper basins embedded in brickwork, and rising in steps one above the other. A cut of this court-yard, with its instruments and aged trees, also ascribed to the Mongol time, will be inserted below, in Chapter xxxiii. The instruments on the terrace of the Observatory are those supplied in later years under the supervision of the Jesuits. (Atlas Sinensis, p. 10; Magaillans, 149-151; Chine Moderne, p. 26; Tour du Monde for 1864, vol. ii. p. 34.)

NOTE 6.-"Nevertheless," adds the Ramusian, "there does exist I know not what uneasiness about the people of Cathay."

CHAPTER XII.

HOW THE GREAT KAAN MAINTAINS A GUARD OF TWELVE THOUSAND HORSE, WHICH ARE CALLED KESHICAN.

You must know that the Great Kaan, to maintain his state, hath a guard of twelve thousand horsemen, who are styled KESHICAN, which is as much as to say "Knights devoted to their Lord." Not that he keeps these for fear of any man whatever, but merely because of his own exalted dignity. These 12,000 men have four captains, each of whom is in command of 3000; and each body of 3000 takes a turn of three days and nights to guard the palace, where they also take their meals. After the expiration of three days and nights they are relieved by another 3000, who mount guard for the same space of time, and then another body takes its turn, so that there are always 3000 on guard. Thus it goes until the whole 12,000, who are styled (as I said) Keshican, have been on duty; and then the tour begins again, and so runs on from year's end to year's end.'

NOTE 1.—I have deduced a reading for the word Quescican (Keshican), which is not found precisely in any text. Pauthier reads Questiau and Quesitau; the G. Text has Quesitam and Quecitain; the Crusca Questi Tan; Ramusio, Casitan; the Riccardiana, Quescitam. Recollecting the constant clerical confusion between c and t, what follows will leave no doubt I think that the true reading to which all these variations point is Quescican.*

In the Institutes of Ghazan Khan, we find established among other formalities for the authentication of the royal orders, that they should be stamped on the back, in black ink, with the seals of the Four Com manders of the Four Kiziks, or Corps of the Life Guard.

Wassáf also, in detailing the different classes of the great dignitaries of the Mongol monarchy, names (1) the Noyans of the Ulus, or princes of the blood; (2) the great chiefs of the tribes; (3) the Amirs of the Four Keshik, or Corps of the Body Guard; (4) the officers of the army, commanding ten thousands, thousands, and so on.

* One of the nearest readings is that of the Brandenburg Latin collated by Muller, which has Quaesicam.

Moreover, in Rashiduddin, we find the identical plural form used by our author. He says that, after the sack of Baghdad, Hulaku, who had escaped from the polluted atmosphere of the city, sent "Ilká Noyán and Karábúgá, with 3000 Moghul horse, into Baghdad, in order to have the buildings repaired, and to put things generally in order. These chiefs posted sentries from the KISHIKAN (U), and from their own followings in the different quarters of the town, had the carcases of beasts removed from the streets, and caused the bazaars to be rebuilt."

We find Kishik still used at the court of Hindustan, under the great kings of Timur's House, for the corps on tour of duty at the palace; and even for the sets of matchlocks and sabres, which were changed weekly from Akbar's armoury for the royal use. The royal guards in Persia, who watch the king's person at night, are termed Keshikchi, and their captain Keshikchi Bashi.

Friar Odoric speaks of the four barons who kept watch by the Great Kaan's side as the Cuthe, which probably represents the Chinese form Kiesie (as in Demailla), or Kuesie (as in Gaubil). The latter applies the term to four devoted champions of Chinghiz, and their descendants, who were always attached to the Kaan's body guard, and he identifies them with the Quesitan of Polo, or rather with the captains of the latter; adding expressly that the word Kuesie is Mongol.

I see Kishik is a proper name among the Kalmuk chiefs, but I have not succeeded in ascertaining its interpretation. In Kovalevsky, however, I find the following:

(No. 2459) "Keshik, grace, favour, bounty, benefit, good fortune, charity."

(No. 2461) "Keshikten, fortunate, happy, blessed."

(No. 2541) "Kichyeku, to be zealous, assiduous, devoted."

(No. 2588) "Kushiku, to hinder, to bar the way to," &c.

The third of these corresponds closely with Polo's etymology of "knights devoted to their lord," but perhaps either the first or the last may afford the real derivation.

In spite of the different initials ( instead of J), it can scarcely be doubted that the Kalchi and Kalakchi of Timur's Institutes are mere mistranscriptions of the same word, e.g.: "I ordered that 12,000 Kalchi, men of the sword completely armed, should be cantoned in the Palace; to the right and to the left, to the front, and in the rear of the imperial diwán; thus, that 1000 of those 12,000 should be every night upon guard," &c. The translator's note says of Ķalchi, "A Mogul word supposed to mean guards." We see that even the traditional number of 12,000, and its division into four brigades, are maintained (see Timour's Inst., p. 299 and 235, 237).

I must add that Professor Vámbéry does not assent to the form Keshikán, on the ground that this Persian plural is impossible in an old Tartar dialect, and he supposes the true word to be Kechilan or