I do not think that we are to regard Marco as having held at any time the important post of Governor-General of Kiang-ché. The expressions in the G. T. are: “_Meser Marc Pol meisme, celui de cui trate ceste livre, seingneurie ceste cité por trois anz._” Pauthier’s MS. A. appears to read: “_Et ot seigneurie, Marc Pol, en ceste cité, trois ans._” These expressions probably point to the government of the _Lu_ or circuit of Yang-chau, just as we find in ch. lxxiii. another Christian, Mar Sarghis, mentioned as Governor of Chin-kiang fu for the same term of years, that city being also the head of a _Lu_. It is remarkable that in Pauthier’s MS. C., which often contains readings of peculiar value, the passage runs (and also in the Bern MS.): “_Et si vous dy que ledit Messire Marc Pol, cellui meisme de qui nostre livre parle_, sejourna, _en ceste cité de Janguy_ .iii. _ans accompliz, par le commandement du Grant Kaan_,” in which the nature of his employment is not indicated at all (though _séjourna_ may be an error for _seigneura_). The impression of his having been Governor-General is mainly due to the Ramusian version, which says distinctly indeed that “_M. Marco Polo di commissione del Gran Can n’ebbe il governo tre anni continui_ in luogo di un dei detti Baroni,” but it is very probable that this is a gloss of the translator. I should conjecture his rule at Yang-chau to have been between 1282, when we know he was at the capital (vol. i. p. 422), and 1287–1288, when he must have gone on his first expedition to the Indian Seas. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] The _Lu_ or Circuit was an administrative division under the Mongols, intermediate between the _Sing_ and the _Fu_, or department. There were 185 _lu_ in all China under Kúblái. (_Pauth._ 333). [_Mr. E. L. Oxenham, Hist. Atlas Chin. Emp._, reckons 10 provinces or _sheng_, 39 _fu_ cities, 316 _chau_, 188 _lu_, 12 military governorships.—H. C.] CHAPTER LXIX. CONCERNING THE CITY OF NANGHIN. Nanghin is a very noble Province towards the west. The people are Idolaters (and so forth) and live by trade and manufactures. They have silk in great abundance, and they weave many fine tissues of silk and gold. They have all sorts of corn and victuals very cheap, for the province is a most productive one. Game also is abundant, and lions too are found there. The merchants are great and opulent, and the Emperor draws a large revenue from them, in the shape of duties on the goods which they buy and sell.{1} And now I will tell you of the very noble city of Saianfu, which well deserves a place in our book, for there is a matter of great moment to tell about it.