The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-01-21
KUBLAI kHAN'S PALACE.
Marco Po1o's Description of the
Famous Building of the King.

Famous Building of the King.
You must know that for three months
of the year, to wit, December, January
and February, the Great Kaan resides
in the capital city Of Cathay, which is
called Cambaluc, and which is at the
northeastern extremity o. The country.
In that city stands his great palace,
and now l will tell you what II is like.
1t is enclosed all AROUND by 4 great
wall forming a square, each side of
which is a mile in length, that is TO say,
the whole compass thereof IS fur miles.
1t is also very thick and a good ten
PAGES in height, whitewashed and loop
holed all round. At each angie of the
wall there is a very fine aud rich palace
in which the W~ar-harness Of the Emper-
or is kept, such as bows and quivers,
saddles and brides, and bowstrings,
and everything needful for an army.
Also midway between every two of
these Corner Palaces there is another
of the like, so that taking The whole
compass of the enclosure you find eight
vast palaces stored with the Great
Kings harness of war. And you must
understand that each palace is assigned
to only one kind of article; thus, one is
stored with bows, a second with sad
dies, a third with brides, and SO on in
succession right round.
The great wall has five gates on its
southern face, the middle one being the
great gate which is never opened on
any occasion except when the Great
Kaan himself goes forth or enters.
Close Oh either side of this great gate is
q smaller one by which all other people
pass; and then towards each angle is
another great gate, also open to people
in general; so that ON that side there
are five gates in all.
Inside of this wall there is a second,
enclosing Il space that is somewhat
greater in length thar in breadth. This
enclosure also has eight palaces CORE
spending to those of the outer wall, and
stored like them with the Kings har-
ness of war. This wall also has five
gates IN the southern face, correspond
ing to those in the outer wall, and hath
n gate or each side Of the other faces
as the outer wall hath also. In the mid
die of the second enclosure is the Kings
Great Palace, and 1 will tell you what
it is like.
You must know that it is the greatest
palace that V was. Toward the
north it is in contact with the outer
wall, while toward the south there is a
vacant space which the barons and the
soldiers are constantly trayersing. The
palace itself hath no upper story, but
is all OF the ground floor, only the base
ment is raised some ten palms about the
surrounding soil, and this elevation is
retained by a wall OF marble raised to
the level of the pavement, two PAGES in
width, and projecting beyond the base
of the palace so as to form a kind of
~terrace-walk, by which people al pass
round the building, and which is eX-
posed to view, while on the outer edge
of the wall there is a very fine pillared
balustrade; and up to this the people are
allowed to come. The roof is very lofty,
and the walls of the palace Ire all COW
cred with gold and silver. They are
also adorned with representations of
dragons, sculptured and gilt, beasts and
birds, knights and idols, and sundry
other subjects. And on the ceiling, too,
you see nothing but gold and silver and
painting. On each of the four sides
there is a great marble staircase lead
ing to the top of the marble wall, and
forming the approach to the palace.
The hall of the palace is so large that
it could easily dine 5000 people; and it
is quite a marvel to see how many
rooms there are besides. The building
is altogether so vast, so rich, and so
beautiful, that no man on earth could
design anything superior to it. The out
side of the roof also is all colored with
vermilion and yellow and green and
blue and other hues, which are fixed
with a varnish so fine and exquisite that
they shine like crystal, and lend a re-
splendent lustre to the palace as seen
for a great way round. The roof is
made, too, with such strength and solid
ity that it is fit to last forever.
On the interior side of the palace are
large buildings with halls and cham
bers, where the Emperor's private prop
erty Is placed, such as his treasures Of
gold, silver, gems, pearls and gold plate,
and in which reside the ladies of the
court.-St. Nicholas.