uttal i gin IMU VITE MU MummMUTITI VIILUTU NOSU in non O TUTDUD WU WWWWWWWWWWWMWWU JUNI TI minimum NUWUN OUILL unnin ANTONI MTUMUTUUM TUDDIN HU o Stories of Adventure Edward Everett Hale (mj tfoS.L sstswsr J- c- c THE GREAT CHAN OF CATHAY AT TABLE ories of A;* sfs told by / By Edward E. Hale Yew edition, revised, with illustrations Boston Little, Blown, and Company ■ I Stories of Adventure As told by Adventurers By Edward E. Hale New edition, revised, with illustrations Boston Little, Brown, and Company 1905 31*.^ i ? o t> HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY BEQUEST OF WINWARO PRESCOTT JANUARY 27, 1933 Copyright, 1881, By Roberts Brothers. Copyright, 1904, By Little, Brown, and Company. UNIVERSITY PRESS CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. v PREFACE. This volume, like the four others in the same series, was suggested at the Librarians' Congress in Boston. It has been prepared in the wish to teach boys and girls how to use themselves the treasures, now at their hands, in public libraries. The public spirit, the munificence often, with which these libraries have been sustained ought to be loyally followed up by the friends of young people by careful effort to give them good habits in finding and enjoying the books they contain. It is not reasonable to throw on the librarians the work of introducing these books to young readers; but it is the duty of all those who are in any way charged with the interests of education to show to such readers how they can choose for themselves. It will be seen, therefore, that my object is not to re- write the tales of adventure, here referred to, nor is it my wish to present them in such form as to satisfy the reader. Rather I have hoped that he may not be satisfied. I should be glad, as Sam Weller was, to make him wish for more, trusting that then, like Oliver Twist, he may go and ask for more. EDWARD E. HALE. CONTENTS. Page I. Marco Polo 7 II. Sir John Mandeville and the Crusades 31 III. Bertrandon in Palestine 45 IV. Geoffrey of Vinsauf 69 V. Hernando Cortes's Letters 101 VI. Fra Marco and Coronado 127 VII. The Jesuit Relations 141 VIII. Northern Discoveries 157 IX. Humboldt's Travels 184 X. A Young Man's Voyage 220 XI. The Northwest 253 XII. Siberia and Kamchatka 275 Index 311 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page The Great Chan of Cathay at Table . . . Frontispiece Galley Going Into Action 13 Marco Polo 18 Plain of Cambaluc 26 Damascus 50 Ruins of the Temples at Balbeck 66 King Henry II of England 72 Richard Coeur-de-Lion 89 Hernando Cortes 101 Cannon of Cortes' Time 104 The Great Temple of Mexico 109 Montezuma 116 An Indian Pueblo 128 Moqui Woman Grinding Corn 139 Hearne's Drawing of Prince of Wales Fort, Hudson's Bay 162 Baron Humboldt 198 8 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1880. cessive visits of one winter, — much as they had dug out the "Stories of War," in a visit they made to the colo- nel at Little Crastis, on the Rhode Island seashore, the summer before. After a summer and autumn crowded full with hair- breadth adventure, — stories of sea, indeed, and stories of land, though fortunately no worse stories of war than Blanche's encounter with a deaf conductor, and Bed- ford's somewhat doubtful encounters with quails and partridges at Quonochontaug, — the children gathered one dark afternoon at Col. Ingham's, with loud mutual felicitations, and with a cordial welcome from him. It was raining pitilessly out of doors; but rubber boots and gossamers had emancipated these girls, and the boys, of course, had to be out always, "weather or no." "No Blue Hills to-day," said Uncle Fritz, laughing, as Blanche and May rubbed their little hands in front of his hickory fire. "No," said Blanche, "the famous Alpine Club itself surrenders to this storm. And my sketch, Uncle Fritz, — what you called my grand study for a panorama, — will have to be finished with spring apple-blossoms on the right hand, to patch out the sombre chestnuts and oaks I had worked in so elaborately on the left hand; for we shall certainly have no more alpine clubs this fall." The young people are fond of calling themselves the Alpine Club when they go to the Quarries or the Blue Hills or Nahant or the Brewsters or the Middlesex Fells or the Waverley Oaks or any of the other nice places within an easy excursion from Boston. "Unless, indeed," said Col. Ingham, "unless we get a sleigh-ride some afternoon, and I send you up i88o. MARCO POLO. 9 to the top of the Blue Hills on snow-shoes. I did not know how many of you might be here. I am not jealous of Mr. Hale; but when I found you were all studying politics over at his house, I thought there might be no time for story-telling. Have you prepared your protocol for Russia, Blanche?" Blanche laughed. She said the more they read of one thing, the more they wanted to read of another; and that, for her part, she found no one of Uncle Fritz's rules so easy as that which bids her Confess Ignorance. Uncle Fritz's rules for talk are: — Tell the Truth, do not talk about your own affairs. Confess Ignorance. Talk to the Person who talks to You. Do not underrate Him. Be short.1 All the boys and girls agreed with Blanche, as, in- deed, they are apt to, for Blanche is as pleasant as she is sensible; and here are two qualities which do not always travel together. By this time almost all the "Alpine Club" had come. The waterproofs were hung to drip and dry in the back hall, under Flora Haggerty's care; and in a great semi- circle the young people sat round the hickory fire. It was something about the " Stories of the Sea," which had just been published by Little & Brown, which started them on travels; and how they would like to go to Tahiti and New Zealand and all the wonderful places! 1 "How to Do It," pp. 39-60. IO STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1880. Uncle Fritz told them of some college friends of his, who had planned landing in Arabia from Zanzibar, and then assuming Arab costumes, talking such Arabic as they could, and gradually making their way through Asia till they came out at Canton, on the eastern shore. They failed in this great plan only from the merest accident at the start. "We know, to this hour, curiously little of Central Asia," he said. "There are regions of which Marco Polo's account is the only account we have to this day; and that is six hundred years old." "And it was not true when it was new, was it?" asked Horace, laughing. Uncle Fritz said that that was an old scandal. He said that Mandeville and Marco Polo had long been called the princes of liars, while people did not follow their example of travel; but in our times, their reputa- tions are waking up to light again. In Marco Polo's case, he wrote almost wholly from memory, — from the mere fact that he wrote long after his return from the East; but later authorities have verified so much of his narrative that it is but fair to believe him when nothing can be proved against him. Bertha confessed that she mixed him up very badly with Marco Paul, who travelled in Mr. Abbott's books. They all laughed, because they knew what Bertha meant. "That was one of Jacob Abbott's quiet jokes. His books are wellnigh perfect in everything, and in nothing more perfect than in the choice of names. So he makes Marco Paul a traveller, on purpose that we may all remember the prince of the travellers of the Mid- dle Ages." 12 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1271-95. wanderings, they at length reached Bochara, in the Gulf of Persia, where they resided for three years. While here, there arrived an ambassador from one of the infe- rior Tartar powers, on his way to the court of the Great Khan. Finding that the two brothers were well ac- quainted with the Tartar tongue, he prevailed upon them to accompany him. After a march of several months, being delayed by snows and inundations, they arrived at the court of Cublai, otherwise called the Great Khan, which signifies king of kings, being the sovereign potentate of the Tartars. This magnificent prince received them with great distinction. He made inquiries about the countries and princes of the West, their civil and military government, and the manners and customs of the Latin nations. After one return to the Levant they took a second journey, and this time took Marco Polo with them. He was gone twenty-four years. On their return, when they arrived at Venice, they were known by nobody. So many years had elapsed since their departure, with- out any tidings of them, that they were either forgotten or considered dead. They repaired to their own house, which was a noble palace, afterwards known by the name of la Corte de la Milione. They found several of their relatives still inhabiting it; but they were slow in recollecting the travellers, not knowing of their wealth, and probably considering them poor adventurers, returned to be a charge upon their families. The Polos, however, took an effectual mode of quickening the memories of their friends, and ensuring themselves a loving reception. They invited them all to a grand banquet. The guests o g o 1295-98. MARCO POLO'S TREASURE. 13 were lost in astonishment, and could not comprehend the meaning of this masquerade, when, having dis- missed all the attendants, Marco Polo brought forth the coarse Tartar dresses in which they had arrived. Slashing them in several places with a knife, and ripping open the seams and linings, there tumbled forth a vast quantity of precious jewels, such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds. The whole table glittered with inestimable wealth, which they had acquired from the munificence of the Grand Khan, and which they had conveyed in this portable form through the perils of their long journey. The company, observes Ramusio, were out of their wits with amazement, and now clearly perceived what they had at first doubted, that these in very truth were those honored and valiant gentlemen, the Polos, and accordingly paid them great respect and reverence. Some months after their return, Lampo Doria, com- mander of the Genoese navy, appeared in the vicinity of the island of Cuzzola, with seventy galleys. Andrea Dandolo, the Venetian admiral, was sent against him. Marco Polo commanded a galley of the fleet. His usual good fortune deserted him. Advancing the first in the line with his galley, and not being properly sec- onded, he was taken prisoner, and thrown in irons, and carried to Genoa. Here he was detained for a long time in prison, and all offers of ransom rejected. His imprisonment gave great uneasiness to his father and uncle, fearing that he might never return. Seeing them- selves in this unhappy state, with so much treasure, and no heirs, they consulted together. They were both very old men; but Nicolo, observes Ramusio, was of a gal- 14 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1298. Hard complexion. It was determined he should take a wife, and he did so. In the meanwhile, the fame of Marco Polo's travels had circulated in Genoa. His prison was daily crowded with the nobility, and he was supplied with everything that could cheer him in his confinement. A Genoese gentleman, who visited him every day, at length prevailed on him to write an account of what he had seen. He had his papers and journals sent to him from Venice, and with the assistance of his friend produced the book which afterwards made such noise throughout the world. "So, you see," said Uncle Fritz, "that the poor rich man wrote in prison, far away from home, and with such journals and notes as had escaped wars, shipwrecks, and travel." Bedford and two of the girls seized on one volume of Col. Yule's book, — which is a good edition of "Marco Polo," — and Laura and two of the boys seized on an- other. There are very amusing and instructive pictures; and the young people were delighted as they turned from chapter to chapter. Meanwhile, Uncle Fritz was questioning the others about their summer travels; and all the talk was running on adventure. "This is a very good day for ' Marco Polo,'" said he; "for what with Oregon, and Colorado Springs, and the Saguenay River, you have travelled about as far this summer as the Venetian gentlemen did in all those years. Bedford, have you found nothing you can read to us?" And, after a minute's conference, Bedford selected and read — 1298. MARK SENT ON AN EMBASSY. 15 HOW THE EMPEROR SENT MARK ON AN EMBASSY. Now it came to pass that Marco, the son of Messef Nicolo, sped wondrously in learning the customs of the Tartars as well as their language, their manner of writ- ing, and their practice of war, — in fact, he came in brief space to know several languages, and four sundry writ- ten characters; and he was discreet and prudent in every way, insomuch that the emperor held him in great esteem. And so, when he discerned Mark to have so much sense, and to conduct himself so well and beseem- ingly, he sent him on an ambassage of his to a country which was a good six months' journey distant. The young gallant executed his commission well, and with discretion. Now, he had taken note on several occasions that, when the prince's ambassadors returned from differ- ent parts of the world, they were able to tell him about nothing except the business on which they had gone; and the prince, in consequence, held them for no better than fools and dolts, and would say, "I had far liever hearken about the strange things and the manners of the different countries you have seen than merely be told of the business you went upon," — for he took great delight in hearing of the affairs of strange countries. Mark, therefore, as he went and returned, took great pains to learn about all kinds of different matters in the countries which he visited, in order to be able to tell about them to the Great Kaan. When Mark returned from his ambassage, he pre- sented himself before the emperor; and, after making his report of the business with which he was charged, and its successful accomplishment, he went on to give 16 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1271-95. an account, in a pleasant and intelligent manner, of all the novelties and strange things that he had seen and heard, insomuch that the emperor and all such as heard his story were surprised, and said, "If this young man live, he will assuredly come to be a person of great worth and ability." And so, from that time forward, he was always entitled Messer Marco Polo; and thus we shall style him henceforth in this book of ours, as is but right. Then Bedford turned over to a place where Mary Long had put in a mark, and read — OF THE GREAT COUNTRY OF PERSIA, WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE THREE KINGS. Persia is a great country, which was in old times very illustrious and powerful; but now the Tartars have wasted and destroyed it. In Persia is the city of Saba, from which the three magi set out, when they went to worship Jesus Christ; and in this city they are buried, in three very large and beautiful monuments, side by side. And above them there is a square building carefully kept. The bodies are still entire, with the hair and beard remaining. One of these was called Jasper, the second Melchoir, and the third Balthasar. Messer Marco Polo asked a great many questions of the people of that city as to those three magi; but never one could he find that knew aught of the matter, except that these were three kings, who were buried there in days of old. However, at a place three days' journey distant, he heard of what I am going to tell you. He found a village there which goes by the name of Cala Ataperistan, which is as much 1271-95- PERSIA AND THE THREE KINGS. 17 as to say, " The Castle of the Fire-worshippers "; and the name is rightly applied, for the people there do wor- ship fire, and I will tell you why. They relate that, in old times, three kings of that country went away to wor- ship a prophet that was born; and they carried with them three manner of offerings, — gold and frankin- cense and myrrh, — in order to ascertain whether that prophet were God or an earthly king or a physician. "For," said they, "if he take the gold, then he is an earthly king; if he take the incense, he is God; if he take the myrrh, he is a physician." So it came to pass, when they had come to the place where the Child was born, the youngest of the three kings went in first, and found the Child apparently just of his own age; so he went forth again, marvelling greatly. The middle one entered next, and, like the first, he found the Child seem- ingly of his own age; so he also went forth again, and marvelled greatly. Lastly, the eldest went in, and as it had befallen the other two, so it befel him; and he went forth very pensive. And when the three had rejoined one another, each told what he had seen; and then they all marvelled the more. So they all agreed to go in all three together; and on doing so, they beheld the Child with the appear- ance of its actual age, — to wit, some thirteen days. Then they adored, and presented their gold and incense and myrrh; and the Child took all the three offerings, and then gave them a small closed box : whereupon the kings departed to return into their own land. And when they had ridden many days they said they would see what the Child had given them. So they opened the little box; and inside it they found a stone. On seeing this they began to wonder what this 18 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1271-95. might be that the Child had given them, and what was the import thereof. Now the signification was this: when they presented their offerings, the Child accepted all three; and when they saw that, they had said within themselves that he was the True God, and the True King, and the True Physician. And what the gift of the stone implied was that this Faith which had begun in them should abide firm as a rock. For he well knew what was in their thoughts. Howbeit they had no un- derstanding at all of this signification of the gift of the stone, so they cast it into a well. Then straightway a fire from heaven descended into that well wherein the stone had been cast. And when the Three Kings be- held this marvel they were sore amazed, and it greatly repented them that they had cast away the stone; for well they then perceived that it had a great and holy meaning. So they took of that fire, and carried it into their own country, and placed it in a rich and beautiful church. And there the people keep it continually burn- ing, and worship it as a god; and all the sacrifices they offer are kindled with that fire. And if ever the fire becomes extinct they go to other cities round about, where the same faith is held, and obtain of that fire from them, and carry it to the church. And this is the reason why the people of this country worship fire. They will often go ten days' journey to get of that fire. The children were highly edified by finding this echo of the story of the wise men of the Bible, brought from the East, and asked Uncle Fritz if they might believe it, ever so little. He told them that, till Mahomet's time, all these countries were more or less under the rule MARCO POLO 1286. MOW NAYAN WAS BEATEN. 19 of Christian faith, though it were but limp faith, and stupid. It was quite possible that Messer Marco Polo might have found some legends there which he repeated here. "But I think," said Uncle Fritz, "that if you are go- ing to dip, before reading, you had better begin on Cublay Khan himself." "Cublay Khan!" cried Fergus. "Are we to hear about Cublay Khan?" "Why, what do you know about Cublay Khan?" cried Mary Long. "Do you not remember, —' Mustapha, Rubadub, Cu- blay Khan'?" "I do not think you say it right. But hush! Horace is going to begin." So Horace began: — HOW NAYAN WAS BEATEN. Now am I come to that part of our book in which I shall tell you of the great and wonderful magnificence of the Great Kaan now reigning, by name Cublay Kaan, — Kaan being a title which signifieth "the Great Lord of Lords," or Emperor. And of a surety he hath good right to such a title; for all men know for a cer- tain truth that he is the most potent man, as regards forces and lands and treasure, that existeth in the world, or ever hath existed, from the time of our First Father, Adam, until this day. "That was probably true," interrupted Col. Ing- ham. All this I will make clear to you for truth, in this book of ours, so that every one shall be fain to acknowledge 20 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1286. that he is the greatest lord that is now in the world, or ever hath been. And now, ye shall hear how and wherefore. There was a great Tartar chief, whose name was Nayan, a young man of thirty, lord over many lands and many provinces; and he was uncle to the Emperor Cublay Kaan, of whom we are speaking. And when he found himself in authority, this Nayan waxed proud in the in- solence of his youth and his great power; for indeed he could bring into the field three hundred thousand horse- men, though all the time he was liegeman to his nephew, the Great Kaan Cublay, as was right and reason. Seeing, then, what great power he had, he took it into his head that he would be the Great Kaan's vassal no longer: nay, more, he would fain wrest his empire from him, if he could. So this Nayan sent envoys to another Tartar prince, called Caidu, also a great and potent lord, who was a kinsman of his, and who was a nephew of the Great Kaan, and his lawful liegeman also, though he was in rebellion, and at bitter enmity with his sovereign lord and uncle. Now, the message that Nayan sent was this: that he himself was making ready to march against the Great Kaan with all his forces, which were great, and he begged Caidu to do likewise from his side, so that by attacking Cublay on two sides at once with such great forces they would be able to wrest his dominion from him. And when Caidu heard the message of Nayan, he was right glad thereat, and thought the time was come at last to gain his object; so he sent back an- swer that he would do as requested, and got ready his host, which mustered a good hundred thousand horse- men. 1286. HOW NAY AN WAS BEATEN. 21 Now, let us go back to the Great Kaan, who had news of all this plot. When the Great Kaan heard what was afoot, he made his preparations in right good heart, like one who feared not the issue of an attempt so contrary to justice. Confident in his own conduct and prowess, he was in no degree disturbed, but vowed that he would never wear crown again if he brought not those two traitorous and disloyal Tartar chiefs to an ill end. So swiftly and secretly were his preparations made that no one knew of them but his privy council, and all were completed within ten or twelve days. In that time he had assembled good three hundred and sixty thousand horsemen and one hundred thousand footmen, — but a small force, in- deed, for him, and consisting only of those that were in the vicinity; for the rest of his vast and innumerable forces were too far off to answer so hasty a sum- mons, being engaged under orders from him on dis- tant expeditions to conquer divers countries and provinces. If he had waited to summon all his troops, the multitude assembled would have been beyond all belief; a multitude such as never was heard of, or told of, past all counting! In fact, those three hun- dred and sixty thousand horsemen that he got to- gether consisted merely of the falconers and whippers-in that were about the court! And when he got ready this handful, as it were, of his troops, he ordered his as- trologers to declare whether he should gain the battle, and get the better of his enemies. After they had made their observations they told him to go on boldly, for he would conquer and gain a glorious victory; whereat he greatly rejoiced. So he marched with his army; and after advancing for twenty days they arrived at a great plain, 22 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1286. where Nayan lay with all his host, amounting to some four hundred thousand horse. Now, the Great Kaan's forces arrived so fast and so suddenly that the others knew nothing of the matter; for the Kaan had caused such strict watch to be made in every direction for scouts that every one that appeared was instantly cap- tured. Thus Nayan had no warning of his coming, and was completely taken by surprise, insomuch that, when the Great Kaan's army came up, he was asleep; so thus you see why it was that the emperor equipped his force with such speed and secrecy. Of the battle which the Great Kaan fought with Nayan, what shall I say about it? When day had well broken, there was the Kaan, with all his host, upon a hill overlooking the plain where Nayan lay in his tent, in all security, without the slight- est thought of any one coming thither to do him hurt. In fact, this confidence of his was such that he kept no videttes, whether in front or in rear; for he knew nothing of the coming of the Great Kaan, owing to all the ap- proaches having been completely occupied, as I told you. Moreover, the place was in a remote wilderness, more than thirty marches from the court, — though the Kaan had made the distance in twenty, so eager was he to come to battle with Nayan. And what shall I tell you next? The Kaan was there on the hill, mounted on a great wooden bartizan, which was borne by four well-trained elephants; and over him was hoisted his standard, so high aloft that it could be seen from all sides. His troops were ordered in battles of thirty thousand men apiece, and a great part of the horsemen had each a foot-soldier, armed with a lance, set on the crupper behind him (for it was thus that the footmen were disposed of); and the 1286. VICTORY OF THE GREAT KAAN. 23 whole plain seemed to be covered with his forces. So it was thus that the Great Kaan's army was arrayed for bat- tle. When Nayan and his people saw what had happened, they were sorely confounded, and rushed in haste to arms. Nevertheless, they made them ready in good style, and formed their troops in an orderly manner. And when all were in battle array on both sides, as I have told you, and nothing remained but to fall to blows, then might you have heard a sound arise of many instruments of various music, and of the voices of the whole of the two hosts loudly singing. For this is a custom of the Tartars, that before they join battle they all unite in singing and playing on a certain two-stringed instrument of theirs, a thing right pleasant to hear, and so they continue in their array of battle, singing and playing in this pleasing manner, until the great Naccara of the prince is heard to sound. As soon as that begins to sound the fight also begins on both sides; and in no case before the prince's Naccara sounds dare any commence fighting. So, then, as they were thus singing and playing, though ordered and ready for battle, the great Naccara of the Great Kaan began to sound, and that of Nayan also began to sound, and thenceforward the din of battle began to be heard loudlyfrom this side and from that, and they rushed to work so doughtily with their bows and their maces, with their lances and swords, and with the arblests of the footmen, that it was a wondrous sight to see. Now might you behold such flights of arrows from this side and from that, that the whole heaven was canopied with them, and they fell like rain. Now might you see on this side and on that full many a cavalier and man-at- arms fall slain, insomuch that the whole field seemed 24 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1286. covered wjth them. - From this side and from that such cries arose from the crowds of the wounded and dying that had God thundered you would not have heard Him. For fierce and furious was the battle, and quarter there was none given; but why should I make a long story of it? You must know that it was the most parlous and fierce and fearful battle that has ever been fought in our day. Nor have there ever been such forces in the field in actual fight, especially of horsemen, as were then engaged; for, taking both sides, there were not fewer than seven hundred and sixty thousand horse- men,— a mighty force! — and that without reckoning the footmen, who were also very numerous. The battle endured with various fortune on this side and on that from morning till noon; but at last, by God's pleasure and the right that was on his side, the Great Kaan had the victory, and Nayan lost the battle and was utterly routed. For the army of the Great Kaan performed such feats of arms that Nayan and his host could stand against them no longer, so they turned and fled; but this availed nothing for Nayan, for he and all the barons with him were taken prisoners and had to surrender to the Kaan with all their arms. Now you must know that Nayan was a baptized Chris- tian, and bore the Cross on his banner, but this nought availed him, seeing how grievously he had done amiss in rebelling against his lord. For he was the Great Kaan's liegeman, and was bound to hold his lands of him like all his ancestors before him. The scale of this fighting satisfied even Bedford, who is notorious for his passion for a good fight. Uncle Fritz told them that if they would look further they 1286. THE CHRISTIANS' CROSS. 25 would see that military rockets were used in this battle, or something which resembled rockets more than cannon. While they were talking, Horace and Fred looked further, and when there was a lull read — And after the Great Kaan had conquered Nayan, as you have heard, it came to pass that the different kinds of people who were present, Saracens and idolaters and Jews, and many others that believed not in God, did gibe those that were Christians because of the Cross that Nayan had borne on his standard, and that so grievously that there was no bearing it. Thus they would say to the Christians: "See now what precious help this God's Cross of yours hath rendered Nayan, who was a Christian and a worshipper thereof." And such a din arose about the matter that it reached the Great Kaan's own ears. When it did so, he sharply rebuked those who cast these gibes at the Christians, and he also bade the Christians be of good heart, "for if the Cross had rendered no help to Nayan, in that It had done right well, nor could that which was good, as It was, have done otherwise; for Nayan was a disloyal and traitorous rebel against his lord, and well deserved that which had befallen him. Wherefore the Cross of your God did well in that It gave him no help against the right." And this he said so loud that everybody heard him. The Christians then replied to the Great Kaan: "Great King, you say the truth indeed, for our Cross can render no one help in wrong-doing, and there- fore it was that It aided not Nayan, who was guilty of crime and disloyalty, for It would take no part in his evil deeds." And so thenceforward no more was heard of the floutings of the unbelievers against the Christians; 26 STORIES OF ADVENTURE, 128& for they heard very well what the sovereign said to the latter about the Cross on Nayan's banner, and Its giving him no help. POST HOUSES. Now you must know that from this city of Cambaluc proceed many roads and highways leading to a variety of provinces, one to one province, another to another, and each road receives the name of the province to which it leads; and it is a very sensible plan, and the messengers of the emperor in travelling from Cambaluc, be the road whichsoever they will, find at every twenty- five miles of the journey a station which they call "Yamb," or, as we should say, the "Horse-Post-House." And at each of those stations used by the messengers there is a large and handsome building for them to put up at, in which they find all the rooms furnished with fine beds and all other necessary articles in rich silk, and where they are provided with everything they can want. If even a king were to arrive at one of these he would find himself well lodged. At some of these stations, moreover, there shall be posted some four hundred horses standing ready for the use of the messengers; at others there shall be two hun- dred, according to the requirements, and to what the em- peror has established in each case. At every twenty-five miles, as I said, or anyhow at every thirty miles, you find one of these stations on all the principal highways leading to the different provincial governments, and the same is the case throughout all the chief provinces subject to the Great Kaan ; even when the messengers have to pass through a roadless tract where neither house nor hostel exists, still there the station-houses have been estab- 1286. POST HOUSES. 2"J lished just the same, excepting that the intervals are somewhat greater, and the day's journey is fixed at thirty-five to forty-five miles, instead of twenty-five to thirty. But they are provided with horses and all the other necessaries just like those we have described, so that the emperor's messengers, come they from what region they may, find everything ready for them. And in sooth this is a thing done on the greatest scale of magnificence that ever was seen. Never had emperor, king, or lord such wealth as this manifests! For it is a fact that on all these posts taken together there are more than three hundred thousand horses kept up specially for the use of the messengers. And the great buildings that I have mentioned are more than ten thousand in number, all richly furnished as I told you. The thing is on a scale so wonderful and costly that it is hard to bring one's self to describe it. But now I will tell you another thing that I had forgot- ten, but which ought to be told whilst I am on this subject. You must know that by the Great Kaan's orders there has been established between those post-houses, at every in- terval of three miles, a little fort, with some forty houses round about it, in which dwell the people who act as the emperor's foot-runners. Every one of those runners wears a great wide belt, set all over with bells, so that as they run the three miles from post to post their bells are heard jingling a long way off. And thus on reaching the post the runner finds another man similarly equipt, and all ready to take his place, who instantly takes over whatsoever he has in charge, and with it receives a slip of paper from the clerk, who is always at hand for the purpose; and so the new man sets off and runs his three miles. At the next station he finds his relief ready in 28 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1286. like manner; and so the post proceeds, with a change at every three miles. And in this way the emperor, who has an immense number of these runners, receives despatches with news from places ten days' journey off in one day and night; or, if need be, news from a hun- dred days off in ten days and nights, and that is no small matter! In fact, in the fruit season, many a time fruit shall be gathered one morning in Cambaluc, and the evening of the next day it shall reach the Great Kaan at Chandu, a distance of ten days' journey. The clerk at each of the posts notes the time of each courier's arrival and departure; and there are often other officers, whose business it is to make monthly visi- tations of all the posts, and to punish those runners who have been slack in their work. The emperor exempts these men from all tribute, and pays them beside. Moreover, there are also at those stations other men, equipt similarly with girdles hung with bells, who are employed for expresses when there is a call for great haste in sending despatches to any governor of a prov- ince, or to give news when any baron has revolted, or in other such emergencies; and these men travel a good two hundred or two hundred and fifty miles in the day, and as much in the night. I '11 tell you how it stands. They take a horse from those at the station, which are standing ready saddled, all fresh and in wind, and mount and go at full speed, as hard as they can ride, in fact. And when those at the next post hear the bells, they get ready another horse and a man equipt in the same way, and he takes over the letter or whatever it be, and is off full speed to the third station, where again a fresh horse is found all ready, and so the 1286. POST HOUSES. 29 despatch speeds along from post to post, always at full gallop, with regular change of horses. And the speed at which they go is marvellous* By night, however, they cannot go so fast as by day, because they have to be accompanied by footmen with torches, who could not keep up with them at full speed. Those men are highly prized; and they could never do it did they not bind hard the stomach, chest, and head with strong bands. And each of them carries with him a gerfalcon tablet, in sign that he is bound on an urgent express; so that if perchance his horse break down, or he meet with other mishap, whomsoever he may fall in with on the road, he is empowered to make him dismount and give up his horse. Nobody dares refuse in such a case; so that the courier hath always a good fresh nag to carry him. Now all these numbers of post-horses cost the emper- or nothing at all; and I will tell you the how and the why. Every city, or village, or hamlet that stands near one of these post-stations has a fixed demand made on it for as many horses as it can supply, and these it must furnish to the post. And in this way are provided all the posts of the cities, as well as the towns and villages round about them; only in uninhabited tracts the horses are furnished at the expense of the emperor himself. How far all this was true, the children were then eager to know. But Uncle Fritz told them that, as to that, they must look at Col. Yule's very interesting notes. And while they clustered around him and Laura, who had the second volume, all looking at the maps and pictures, Ellen Mahony came in and said that tea was on the table. 30 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1286. Col. Yule's edition of Marco Polo was published by Murray, in London, in 1875. As has been said above, it should be in every public library which means to provide for intelligent readers. II. SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE AND THE CRUSADES. COL. INGHAM was well pleased, when his boys and girls clustered round him the next Saturday, to find how many copies of "Marco Polo " they had found in different libraries, and how much of it they had read, in one reading-circle and another. They found in it manifold illustrations of the "Arabian Nights," which, in its best form, — Lane's translation, — is a favorite book in our little circle. They began to understand what Uncle Fritz had meant, when he said that Marco Polo seemed accurate when he described what he saw, and that his exaggera- tions, or what people called his lies, came in when he was repeating stories which other people had told. Esther asked him who Mandeville was, of whom he had said the same thing. "Mandeville was an Englishman, — Sir John Mande- ville, — who went to Constantinople, Egypt, Palestine, Armenia, and other countries of Western Asia a little less than two hundred years before Columbus sailed for America. The exact limits of his absence are said to be the years 1322 and 1356. It was as dark a time as there was in the Dark Ages. He was in the military service of one of the Eastern princes, and had a chance to see 32 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1322-56. travellers from all lands, and to hear their stories. Peo- ple told stories in the East then, just as they do now, and as I sometimes hope they will, one day, do hear again. "For my part, when I am sitting in the rather dingy reading-room of a third-rate inn, in a fourth-rate town, waiting for my train, which is not to come till eleven at night, I should be very glad if a good story-teller would come in and sit down on a mat, and tell me either the story of Sindbad the Sailor or of Hiawatha and the Arrow-maker, or of his adventures in the Rebellion. When he passed his hat round, I should put in my five- cent piece much more willingly than I give it for the Torra-worra Tell-tale, which only gives me in brief the same news which I read in the Big Bow-wow the same morning. "Well, Sir John Mandeville heard these stories told by story-tellers, just as you may hear them to-day in Cairo or in Damascus. Whether he wrote them down at once, I do not know; but at some time or other he wrote them down, and now the whole is mixed up to- gether, — what he saw himself with what travellers told him and with what story-tellers told him. "So you may find bits of 'Arabian Nights ' in Sir John Mandeville. "There is so much of this that there came to be a time when people thought he had rather lie than to tell the truth. "Indeed," said Uncle Fritz, "I can remember that at one time his name was spelled Man-Devil, as if he were quite outside of human nature; but I believe there is now no doubt that this was his real name." Esther said she remembered, in Catlin's "Indians," that he told of some chiefs who had been taken all 1322-56. SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE. 33 through the great cities, that they might understand the power of the whites, and, when they came back, were wholly disgraced and degraded, because they told such large stories that nobody could believe they were true. Uncle Fritz was well pleased with Esther's good memory, and said it was just so with Sir John Mande- ville. Bob Edmeston brought the book, which is in a very handy form.1 In Bohn's Library, it is included with many other early journeys to Palestine. The young people knew the Antiquarian Library already. And it may be said to other young people, who have a little money to spend for books, that in Bohn's various " Li- braries" they get as much for their money — if they find the book they want in the catalogue — as they can find anywhere. But the little book did not look as fascinating as the elegant, large pages crowded with illustrations of Marco Polo. Uncle Fritz told Bob that when he was a man, and had travelled all through Asia, he might edit an edition of Sir John Mandeville, as elegant as Col. Yule's of Marco Polo. "You will have to be satisfied now," said he, "by look- ing for my pencil-marks. Or turn to the end. See what I have noticed on the last page." So they turned to the last page, and found that Uncle Fritz had made an index of the things he liked in the book. This is always a good thing to do, — if the book is your own, of course. They read aloud the headings, and came to " The Lady changed into a Dragon." 1 "Early Travels in Palestine." In Bohn's Antiquarian Library. 3 34 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1322-56. "That is the story in Morris's 'Earthly Paradise,'" said Uncle Fritz. "Look a little further." Esther read on, and he told her to turn back to the book, and read to them, when she found — HOW ROSES FIRST CAME INTO THE WORLD. From Hebron we proceed to Bethlehem in half a day, for it is but five miles; and it is a very fair way, by pleasant plains and woods. Bethlehem is a little city, long and narrow and well-walled, and on each side enclosed with good ditches. It was formerly called Ephrata, as Holy Writ says, "Lo, we heard of it at Ephrata." And towards the east end of the city is a very fair and handsome church, with many towers, pinnacles, and corners, strongly and curiously made, and within are forty-four great and fair pillars of marble; and between the city and the church is the Field Floridus,—that is to say, the field flourish-ed. For a fair maiden was blamed with wrong, and slandered, for which cause she was con- demned to be burned in that place ; and as the fire began to burn about her, she made her prayers to our Lord that, as truly as she was not guilty, he would by his merciful grace help her, and make it known to all men. And when she had thus said she entered into the fire, and immediately the fire was extinguished, and the fagots that were burning became red rose-bushes, and those that were not kindled became white rose-bushes, full of roses; and these were the first rose-trees and roses, both white and red, that ever any man saw. And thus was this maiden saved by the grace of God; and therefore is that field called the field that God flourished, for it was full of roses. 1322-56. THE THIRD ROYAL MENDICANT. 35 Then Esther turned to another place which had struck her eye, and read — OF THE ROCKS OF ADAMANT. In that island are ships without nails of iron or brass, on account of the rocks of adamant (loadstones). For they are all abundant thereabout in that sea, that it is marvellous to speak of; and if a ship passed there that had either iron bands or iron nails, it would perish; for the adamant, by its nature, draws iron to it, and so it would draw it to the ship, because of the iron, that it should never depart from it. "That," cried Bob Edmerton, "was what happened to Sindbad." "Oh, no j not to Sindbad !" said all the others. Uncle Fritz confessed that he thought it was to Sindbad. This was a great triumph for the little troop. "To think," said Tom Rising, "that we should bowl out Uncle Fritz on the 'Arabian Nights'! I thought he knew the ' Arabian Nights ' by heart." So the " Arabian Nights" (in Lane's version) was sent for, and Tom Rising read aloud from the story of "The Third Royal Mendicant." "A royal mendicant," said Uncle Fritz, "is what was called a 'calendar,' when I was a boy." THE STORY OF THE THIRD ROYAL MENDICANT. So he went aloft, and when he had come down he said to the captain, "I saw, on my right hand, fish floating upon the surface of the water, and, looking towards the 36 STORIES OF ADVENTURE.. 1322-56. midst of the sea, I perceived something looming in the distance, — sometimes black and sometimes white." When the captain heard this report of the watch, he threw his turban on the deck, and plucked his beard, and said to those who were with him, " Receive warning of our destruction, which will befall all of us: not one will escape." So saying, he began to weep; and all of us, in like manner, bewailed our lot. I desired him to in- form us of that which the watch had seen. The watch said, "To-morrow we shall arrive at a mountain of black stone, called loadstone: the current is now bearing us violently toward it, and the ship will fall in pieces; for God hath given to the loadstone a secret property, by virtue of which everything of iron is attracted toward it. On that mountain is such a quantity of iron as no one knoweth but God, whose name be exalted ! for from times of old great numbers of ships have been destroyed by the influence of that mountain." On the following morning we drew near to the moun- tain; the current carried us toward it with violence, and when the ships were almost close to it, they fell asunder, and all the nails, and everything else that was of iron, flew from them toward the loadstone. It was near the close of the day when the ship fell in pieces. Some of us were drowned, and some escaped; but the greater number were drowned, and of those who saved their lives, none knew what became of the others, so stupefied were they by the waves and the boisterous wind. After they had looked up the other passages, which are somewhat like this, in the Fifth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor, they came back to Sir John Mandeville. They 38 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1322-56. and the hill are many trees bearing divers fruits. And all about that hill are great and deep ditches, and beside them are great fish-ponds on both sides; and there is a very fair bridge to pass over the ditches. And in these fish-ponds are an extraordinary number of wild geese and ganders, and wild ducks and swans and herons. And all about these ditches and fish-ponds is the great garden, full of wild beasts, so that when the Great chan will have any sport, to take any of the wild beasts or the fowls, he will cause them to be driven, and take them at the windows, without going out of his chamber. Within the palace, in the hall, there are twenty-four pillars of fine gold; and all the walls are covered within with red skins of animals called pan- thers, fair beasts and well-smelling j so that for the sweet odor of the skins, no evil air may enter into the palace. The skins are as red as blood, and shine so bright against the sun that a man may scarcely look at them. And many people worship the beasts when they meet them first in a morning, for their great virtue and for the good smell that they have; and the skins they value more than if they were plates of fine gold. And in the middle of the palace is the mountour1 of the Great chan, all wrought of gold and of precious stones and of great pearls; and at the four corners are four serpents of gold; and all about there are made large nets of silk and gold, and great pearls hanging all about it. And under the mountour are conduits of beverage that they drink in the emperor's court. And beside the conduits are many vessels of gold, with which 'Mountour,—an old English rendering of the French mountagnttte, meaning a raised platform. 1322-56. THE GREAT CHAN OF CATHAY. 39 they that are of the household drink at the conduit. The hall of the palace is full nobly arrayed, and full marvellously attired on all parts in all things that men apparel any hall with. And first, at the head of the hall, is the emperor's throne, very high, where he sits at meat. It is of fine precious stones, bordered all about with purified gold and precious stones and great pearls. And the steps up to the table are of precious stones, mixed with gold. And at the left side of the emperor's seat is the seat of his first wife, one step lower than the emperor; and it is of jasper bordered with gold, and the seat of his second wife is lower than his first wife, and is also of jasper bor- dered with gold, as that other is. And the seat of the third wife is still lower by a step than the second wife's, for he has always three wives with him, wherever he is. And after his wives, on the same side, sit the ladies of his lineage, still lower, according to their ranks. And all those that are married have a counterfeit, made like a man's foot, upon their heads, a cubit long, all wrought with great, fine, and orient pearls, and above made with peacock's feathers, and of other shining feathers; and that stands upon their heads like a crest, in token that they are under man's foot, and under subjection of man. But the other ladies, that are unmarried, have none such. And after, at the right side of the emperor, first sits his eldest son, who shall reign after him, one step lower than the emperor, in such manner of seats as do the empresses; and after him, other great lords of his lineage, each of them a step lower than the other, according to their rank. The emperor has his table alone by himself, and each of his wives has also her table by herself. And his eldest son, and the other 40 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1322, lords also, and the ladies, and all that sit with the em- peror, have very rich tables, alone by themselves. And under the emperor's table sit four clerks, who write all that the emperor says, be it good or evil; for all that he says must be held good; for he may not change his word nor revoke it. At great feasts men bring, before the emperor's table, great tables of gold, and thereon are peacocks of gold, and many other kinds of different fowls, all of gold, and richly wrought and enamelled; and they make them dance and sing, clapping their wings together, and mak- ing great noise; and whether it be by craft or by necro- mancy I know not, but it is a goodly sight to behold. But I have the less marvel because they are the most skilful men in the world in all sciences and in all crafts; for in subtilty, malice, and forethought they surpass all men under heaven; and, therefore, they say themselves that they see with two eyes, and Christians see with but one, because they are more subtle than they. . . . Nevertheless the truth is this, — that Tartars, and they that dwell in Greater Asia, came of Cham, but the emperor of Cathay was called not Cham, but Chan; and I shall tell you how. It is but little more than eight score years since all Tartary was in subjection and servage to other nations about; for they were but herdsmen, and did nothing but keep beasts, and lead them to pastures. But among them they had seven principal nations that were sovereigns of them all, of which the first nation or lineage was called Tartar; and that is the most noble and the most praised. The second lineage is called Tanghot; the third, Eurache; the fourth, Valair; the fifth, Semoche; the sixth, Megly; the seventh, Coboghe. Now it befell that of the first 1322. ORIGIN OF TARTARS. 41 lineage succeeded an old worthy man, and was not rich, who was called Changuys. This man lay one night in bed, and he saw in a vision that there came before him a knight, armed all in white, and he sat upon a white horse, and said to him, "Chan, sleepest thou? The immortal God hath sent me to thee; and it is his will that thou go to the seven lineages, and say to them that thou shalt be their emperor; for thou shalt conquer the lands and the countries that are about; and they that march upon you shall be under your subjection, as you have been under theirs; for that is God's immortal will." Changuys arose, and went to the seven lineages and told them what the white knight had said. And they scorned him, and said that he was a fool; and so he departed from them, all ashamed. And the night fol- lowing, this white knight came to the seven lineages and commanded them, on behalf of the immortal God, that they should make this Changuys their emperor, and they should be out of subjection, and they should hold all other regions about them in servage, as they had been to them before. And next day they chose him to be their emperor, and set him upon a black chest, and after that lifted him up with great solemnity, and set him in a chair of gold, and did him all manner of reverence; and they called him Chan, as the white knight called him. And when he was thus chosen, he would make trial if he must trust in them or not, and whether they would be obedient to him; and then he made many statutes and ordinances, that they call Ysya Chan. The first statute was, that they should believe in and obey immortal God, who is almighty, and who would cast them out of servage; and they should at all 42 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1322. times call to him for help in time of need. The second statute was that all manner of men that might bear arms should be numbered, and to every ten should be a master, and to every hundred a master, and to every thousand a master, and to every ten thousand a master. After, he commanded the principals of the seven line- ages to leave and forsake all they had in goods and heritage, and from thenceforth to be satisfied with what he would give them of his grace. And they did so immediately. After this he commanded the princi- pals of the seven lineages, that each should bring his eldest son before him, and with their own hands smite off their heads without delay. And immediately his command was performed. And when the Chan saw that they made no obstacle to perform his commandment, then he thought that he might well trust in them; and he commanded them presently to make them ready, and to follow his banner. And after this, the Chan put in subjection all the lands about him. Afterwards it befel on a day, that the Chan rode with a few companies to behold the strength of the country that he had won, and a great multitude of his enemies met with him; and to give good example of bravery to his people, he was the first that fought, and rushed into the midst of his enemies, and there was thrown from his horse, and his horse slain. And when his people saw him on the earth, they were all discour- aged, and thought he had been dead, and fled every one; and their enemies pursued them, but they knew not that the emperor was there. And when they were returned from the pursuit, they sought the woods, if any of them had been hid in them; and many they found and slew. 1322-56. PARADISE. 43 So it happened that as they went searching toward the place where the emperor was, they saw an owl sitting on a tree above him; and then they said amongst them that there was no man there, because they saw the bird there, and so they went their way; and thus the emper- or escaped death. And then he went secretly by night, till he came to his people, who were very glad of his coming, and gave great thanks to immortal God, and to that bird by which their lord was saved; and, therefore, above all fowls of the world, they worship the owl; and when they have any of its feathers, they keep them full preciously instead of relics, and bear them upon their heads with great reverence; and they hold themselves blessed, and safe from all perils, while they have these feathers on them, and therefore they bear them upon their heads. After all this the Chan assembled his people, and went against those who had assailed him before, and destroyed them, and put them in subjec- tion and servage. At this moment in the reading supper was announced; but Clem begged them to wait a minute, while he read why Sir John Mandeville did not tell about Paradise. Blanche said that there was no need of explaining that; but Clem persevered. "Of Paradise I cannot speak properly, for I was not there." "That," said Horace, is like Cousin: 'I say nothing of Buddhism, because I know nothing about it.'" "If only everybody would be as thoughtful!" said Uncle Fritz. And Clem continued, though he was already losing his audience : — "It is far beyond, and I repent not going there, but 44 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1322-56. I was not worthy." "I should think not," interrupted Blanche. "But as I have heard say of wise men be- yond, I shall tell you with good will. Terrestrial Para- dise, as wise men say, is the highest place of the earth, and it is so high that it nearly touches the circle of the moon there, as the moon makes her turn. For it is so high that the flood of Noah might not come to it that would have covered all the earth of the world all about, and above and beneath, except Paradise. And this Paradise is inclosed all about with a wall, and men know not whereof it is; for the wall is covered all over with moss, as it seems, and it seems not that the wall is natural stone. And that wall stretches from the south to the north; and it has but one entry, which is closed with burning fire, so that no man that is mortal dare enter." "So they were well rid of Mandeville," said Blanche, laughing; and she and Clem went in to their supper. m. BERTRANDON IN PALESTINE. WHEN the children met him the next week, Uncle Fritz said that as they had gone so far east in their two afternoons, they would do well to look over some of the accounts of the Crusaders' expeditions. The boys were well pleased at this suggestion. Some of them knew Froissart, and all of them had read "Ivanhoe," and "The Talisman," and "Count Robert of Paris." So Uncle Fritz sent again for the "Travels in Pales- tine," in the same volume of Bohn's Antiquarian Library, and Bedford first, and Esther afterward, read the ex- tracts he had marked for them from BERTRANDON DE LA BROCQUIERE. To animate and inflame the hearts of such noble men as may be desirous of seeing the world, and by the order and command of the most high, most powerful, and my most redoubted lord, Philip, by the grace of God Duke of Burgundy, Lorraine, Brabant, and Lim- bourg, Count of Flanders, Artois, and Burgundy, Palatine of Hainault, Holland, Zealand, and Namur, Marquis of the Holy Empire, lord of Friesland, Salines, and Mech- lin, I, Bertrandon de la Brocquiere, a native of the duchy of Guienne, lord of Vieux-Chateau, counsellor and first 46 STORIES OF ADVENTURE. 1432-33- esquire-carver to my aforesaid most redoubted lord, after bringing to my recollection every event, in addition to what I had made an abridgment of in a small book by way of memorandums, have fairly written out this ac- count of my short travels, in order that if any king or Christian prince should wish to make the conquest of Jerusalem, and lead thither an army overland,