Galangal was much used as a spice in the Middle Ages. In a syrup for a capon, _temp._ Rich. II., we find ground-ginger, cloves, cinnamon and _galingale_. “Galingale” appears also as a growth in old English gardens, but this is believed to have been _Cyperus Longus_, the tubers of which were substituted for the real article under the name of English Galingale. The name appears to be a modification of the Arabic _Kulíjan_, Pers. _Kholinján_, and these from the Sanskrit _Kulanjana_. (_Mr. Hanbury; China Comm.-Guide_, 120; _Eng. Cycl.; Garcia_, f. 63; _Wright_, p. 352.) NOTE 6.—The cat in question is no doubt the fleecy Persian. These fowls,—but white,—are mentioned by Odoric at Fu-chau; and Mr. G. Phillips in a MS. note says that they are still abundant in Fo-kien, where he has often seen them; all that he saw or heard of were _white_. The Chinese call them “velvet-hair fowls.” I believe they are well known to poultry-fanciers in Europe. [_Gallus Lanatus_, Temm. See note, p. 286, of my edition of Odoric.—H. C.] NOTE 7.—The _times_ assigned in this chapter as we have given them, after the G. Text, appear very short; but I have followed that text because it is perfectly consistent and clear. Starting from the last city of Kinsay government, the traveller goes six days south-east; _three_ out of those six days bring him to Kelinfu; he goes on the other three days and at the 15th mile of the 3rd day reaches Unken; 15 miles further bring him to Fuju. This is interesting as showing that Polo reckoned his day at 30 miles. In Pauthier’s text again we find: “_Sachiez que quand on est alé_ six journées, après ces trois que je vous ay dit,” not having mentioned _trois_ at all “_on treuve la cité de Quelifu_.” And on leaving Quelinfu: “_Sachiez que_ es autres trois journées oultre et plus xv. milles _treuve l’en une cité qui a nom Vuguen_.” This seems to mean from Cugui to Kelinfu six days, and thence to Vuguen (or Unken) three and a half days more. But evidently there has been bungling in the transcript, for the _es autre trois journées_ belongs to the same conception of the distance as that in the G. T. Pauthier’s text does not say how far it is from Unken to Fuju. Ramusio makes six days to Kelinfu, three days more to Unguem, and then 15 miles more to Fuju (which he has erroneously as _Cãgiu_ here, though previously given right, _Fugiu_). The latter scheme looks probable certainly, but the times in the G. T. are quite admissible, if we suppose that water conveyance was adopted where possible.