The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-07
WHAT MARCO POLO SAW.
His Description Of the Great Palace
of Kublai Khan.
Noah Brooks, in St. Nicholas.

Noah Brooks, in St. Nicholas.
You must know that for three months OF
the year. to wit, December. January ana
February, the great khan resides I'm the
capital city of Cathay. which is called Cam
baluc, and which is at the northeastern ex-
tremity of the country. In that city stands
his great palace, and now / will tell you
what it is like.
1t is inclosed all around by a great wall
forming a square, each side of which is a
mile in length, that is to say, the whole
compass thereof is four miles. 1t is also
very thick and good ten PAGES in height,
whitewashed and loopholed all around. AT
each angle of the wall there is a very fine
and rich palace, in which the war harness
of the emperor is kept such as bows and
quivers, saddles and brides. and bowstrlngs
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
great king 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 saddles, third
with brides and so on in succession right
around.
The great wall has five gates on its.south-
ern face. the middle one being the great
gate, which is never opened on any. occa-
sion except when the great khan himself
of this great gate is a smaller one by which
all other people pass, and then toward each
angle is another great gate, also open 10
people In general; SO that on that side there
are five gates in all.
Inside of this wall there is a second in
closing space that is somewhere greater
in length than in breadth. This Enclosure
also has eight palaces corresponding 20
those of the outer wall and stored like
them with the kings harness of war This
wall also has five gates the southern
face, corresponding TO those in the outer
WALL and hath one gate on each side of the
other faces as the outer wall hath also In
the middle of the second Enclosure is the
kings great palace and / will tell you
what it is like.
You must know that it is the greatest
palace that ever was. Toward the north il
is in contact with the outer wall. while to-
ward the south there is vacant space
which the barons and the soldiers are con-
no upper story, but is ell on the ground
floor, only the basement Is raised some ten
palms above the surrounding soil. and this
raised to the level of the pavement, two
PAGES in width. and projecting beyond the
base of the palace so as to form kind OF
terrace walk. by which people can pass
round the building and which is exposed
to view. whilst 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 are all covered with gold and
silver. They are also adorned with repre-
sensations OF dragons Sculptured and gilt,
beasts and birds. Knights and idols and sun
dry 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 leading TO the
top of the marble wall and forming the
approach to the palace.
The hall of the palace is so large that IL
could easily dine six thousand people: and
it is quite marvel to see how many rooms
there are beside The building is altogether
SO vast, so rich and so beautiful that no
man on earth could design anything SUI
perior to il. The outside of the roof also
is all colored with vermilion and yellow
and green and blue and other hues. which
are fixed with Varnish fine and ex-
quisite that they shine like crystal and lend
a respondent luster to the palace as seen
for q great way round. The roof is made,
too. with such strength and solidity that
it is fit to last forever.
On the interior side of the palace are large
buildings with halls and chambers where
the Emperor's private property is placed.
such as his trea of gold. silver gems,
pearls, and gold plate. and in which reside
the ladies of the court.