§ 79. Tardy operation, and causes thereof. 80. General characteristics of Mediæval Cosmography. 81. Roger Bacon as a Geographer. 82. Arab Geography. 83. Marino Sanudo the Elder. 84. The Catalan Map of 1375, the most complete mediæval embodiment of Polo’s Geography. 85. Fra Mauro’s Map. Confusions in Cartography of the 16th Century from the endeavour to combine new and old information. 86. Gradual disappearance of Polo’s nomenclature. 87. Alleged introduction of Block-printed Books into Europe by Marco Polo in connexion with the fiction of the invention of Printing by Castaldi of Feltre. 88. Frequent opportunities for such introduction in the Age following Polo’s. XIV. EXPLANATIONS REGARDING THE BASIS ADOPTED FOR THE PRESENT TRANSLATION _141_ § 89. Texts followed by Marsden and by Pauthier. 90. Eclectic Formation of the English Text of this Translation. 91. Mode of rendering Proper Names. THE BOOK OF MARCO POLO. PROLOGUE. CHAP. PAGE PRELIMINARY ADDRESS OF RUSTICIANO OF PISA 1 I.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS POLO SET FORTH FROM CONSTANTINOPLE TO TRAVERSE THE WORLD 2 NOTES.—1. _Chronology._ 2. “_The Great Sea._” _The Port of Soldaia._ II.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS WENT ON BEYOND SOLDAIA 4 NOTES.—1. _Site and Ruins of Sarai._ 2. _City of Bolghar._ 3. _Alau Lord of the Levant (i.e. |Hulaku|)._ 4. _Ucaca on the Volga._ 5. _River Tigeri._ III.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS, AFTER CROSSING A DESERT, CAME TO THE CITY OF BOCARA, AND FELL IN WITH CERTAIN ENVOYS THERE 9 NOTES.—1. “_Bocara a City of Persia._” 2. _The Great Kaan’s Envoys._ IV.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS TOOK THE ENVOYS’ COUNSEL, AND WENT TO THE COURT OF THE GREAT KAAN 11 V.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS ARRIVED AT THE COURT OF THE GREAT KAAN 11 VI.—HOW THE GREAT KAAN ASKED ALL ABOUT THE MANNERS OF THE CHRISTIANS, AND PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE POPE OF ROME 12 NOTE.—_Apostoille._ _The name |Tartar|._ VII.—HOW THE GREAT KAAN SENT THE TWO BROTHERS AS HIS ENVOYS TO THE POPE 13 NOTES.—1. _The Great Kaan’s Letter._ 2. _The Seven Arts._ 3. _Religious Indifference of the Mongol Princes._ VIII.—HOW THE GREAT KAAN GAVE THEM A TABLET OF GOLD, BEARING HIS ORDERS IN THEIR BEHALF 15 NOTES.—1. _The Tablet._ 2. _The Port of Ayas._ IX.—HOW THE TWO BROTHERS CAME TO THE CITY OF ACRE; AND THENCE TO VENICE 17