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supposed to dwell. Afterwards on the lake-side a l you have travelled those fifteen days through such palm tree grew up, which only appeared during the l& difficult country as I have described, in which day, sinking into the earth at twilight. One morn- travellers have to carry provision for the road being a rash pilgrim seated himself upon the tree-top, cause there are no inhabitants, then you arrive at and was borne into the skies, where the flames of the capital city of this province of Mien, and it also the sun consumed him. The palm then shrivelled is called Amien and is a very great and noble city." into dust, and in its place appeared an image of the -(Yule's Marco Polo, II., 45, 52, 70-2.) This passpirit of the lake, which is worshipped under the sage has presented considerable difficulty to Col. name of Taroba. Formerly at the call of pilgrims, Yule in his admirable commentary, because, as it all necessary vessels rose from the lake, and after seems to us, he has erroneously counted the 174 being used were washed and returned to the waters. days' journey from Yungchan. Col. Yule is thus But at last one evil-minded man took those he had driven to the supposition that Marco Polo descended received to his home; they quickly vanished, and from Yungchan to the Shweli tributary of the Irafrom that day the mystic provision wholly ceased. wadi, and performed the rest of the distance by In quiet nights the country-folk still hear faint water. There are many difficulties in the way of sounds of drum and trumpet passing round the lake. this supposition, a supposition however which is "She is not dead, she has no grave,
rendered necessary on the assumption that Marco She lives beneath Lough Ullin's water,
Polo's distances are to be calculated from Yungehinn. And in the murmur of each wave,
But it will be observed that Marco Polo speaks Methinks I catch the songs I taught her."
of leaving the province merely and not the town. The old men say that in one dry year, when the This province is called Kardandan, a name however waters sank low, golden pinnacles of the fairy tem- which is probably only used to designate a portion ple were seen glittering in the depths.
of Karazan, a word which Dr. Anderson would con" On Lough Neagh's banks as the fisherman strays,
nect with the Kananzan mountains north-east of MoOn a cold calm eve's declining,
mien, and which probably included most of the He sees the round towers of other days,
country which now goes by the name of Yunan. Of In the waves beneath him shining."
Marco Polo's descent of 24 days' journey Dr. AnderThe lake is much visited, especially during the son writes: "I do not know of any more correct months of December and January; and the rites description that could be given of the descent from of the god are performed by a Gond. Wives seek the Shan states over the Kakhyen hills to Burmah. its waters for their supposed virtue in causing fer- ... Starting from the Shan-Chinese town of tility, and sick persons for health. Fish in the lake Manwyne at the eastern end of the Sanda valley, grow to a large size, the skeleton of one which was where the descent begins, the journey occupies exstranded some years ago measuring 8 feet in length. actly two days and a half. So closely does Marco
Polo's account of the route to Burmah coincide with MARCO POLO'S ROUTE FROM YUNAN.
the two roads that follow the valley of the Tapeng In his report on Western Yunan Dr. Anderson
over which I travelled, that I cannot but concludo seeks to identify the route traversed by the expedi
that it referred to one of them ; but his description tion from Bhamo to Momein with that described by
being devoid of details, it is impossible to say which Marco Polo as having been taken by him on his
of the two routes he had 'in view." Dr. Anderson journey from the Court of the Great Khan to the
would further fix the market referred to at Old Bhacapital of Mien or Burmah. So far as any conclusions can be drawn from so fragmentary a narrative
mno, which he says, is distant from the capital of as that of the famous old traveller, the supposition
Mien or New Pagan in a straight line about 250
miles. Dr. Anderson endeavours to strengthen his seems probable enough. Marco Polo's route seems to have been from Yunan (Karazan) ten days jour
position by a reference to certain curious customs
which are mentioned by Marco Polo and of which ney to Talifu (Yachi); and thence five days journey to Yungchan (Vochang). After leaving this
he found traces in the Shan states. Such customs province, Marco Polo goes on to say, " you come
are the use of tallies, the consultation of persons to a great descent ; in fact you ride for two days
supposed to be possessed of a devil, the docking and a half continually down hill. On all this de
of horses' tails, and the relative values of gold and scent there is nothing worthy of mention except only
silver. But after the lapse of six centuries, we are that there is a large place there where occasionally
not inclined to attach much weight to mero coina great market is held. . After you have cidences of this nature, at any rate in determining ridden those two days and a half down hill, you find the line of direction of any particular route. All yourself in a province towards the south which is ! that can be said is that Dr. Anderson's supposition pretty near to India, and this province is called is as probable as any other-he found traces of Amein. You travel therein for fifteen days through a substantial bridged road the whole way from a very unfrequented country and through great Bhamo to Momien and more probable than that woods abounding in elephants and unicorns and advanced by Col. Yule. We have no doubt that that numbers of other wild beasta. . And when eminent sávant will find much in Dr. Anderson's
