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Welcome to my journal... Vol.3
...just a few things found in books I've read
and places visited and thought were worth remembering...
From The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkein
J.R.R. Tolkein
"Three rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
--Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
--One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadow lie.
--One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
--One Ring to bring them all in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadow lie."
(from The Lord of the Rings)
Notes from The Two Towers
p.417 b.3 ch.2
But now all the land was empty, and there was a silence that did not seem to be the quiet of peace.
p.419 b.3 ch.2
...but in the waybread of the Elves he found all the sustenance that he needed, and he could sleep,
if sleep it could be called by Men, resting his mind in the strange paths of elvish dreams, even as he
walked open-eyed in the light of this world.
p.423 b.3 ch.2
Aragorn threw back his cloak. The elven-sheath glittered as he grasped it, and the bright blade of
Andúril shone like a sudden flame as he swept it oit. 'Elendil!' he cried. 'I am Aragorn son of Arathorn,
and am called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dúnadan, the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gpndor. Here is the Sword
that was Broken and is forged again! Will you aid me or thwart me? Choose swiftly!'
p.425 b.3 ch.2
'But when the great fall, the less must lead.'
p.466 b.3 ch.4
'...
When Winter comes, and singing ends; when darkness falls at last;
When broken is the barren bough, and light and labour past;
I'll look for thee, and wait for thee, until we meet again;
Together we will take the road beneath the bitter rain!
Together we will take the road that leads into the West,
And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest.'
p.481 b.3 ch.5
'... Few can foresee whither their road will lead then, till they come to its end.'
p.499 b.3 ch.6
(MC Note: This page contains the names of their weapons.)
p.535 b.3 ch.8
'Do you cut down groves of blooming trees in the springtime for firewood?' (MC Note: There is a time for
everything.)
p.541 b.3 ch.8
(MC Note: The story of the origin of Isengard.)
p.568 b.3 ch.10
'The treacherous are ever distasteful,' answered Galdalf wearily.
p.571 b.3 ch.10
'Often does hatred hurt itself!'
p.696 b.4 ch.8
'But that's a long tale, of course, and goes on past the happiness and into grief and beyond it - and the
Silmaril went on and came to Eärendil. And why, sir, I never thought of that before! We've got - you've
got some of the light of it in that star-glass that the Lady gave you! Why, to think of it, we're in the
same tale still! It's going on. Don't the great tales never end?'
'No, they don't end as tales,' said Frodo. 'But the people in then come, and go when their part's
ended. Our part will end later - or sooner.'
Other Quotes from The Lord of the Rings
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."
~ J. R. R. Tolkien
"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens."
~ J. R. R. Tolkien
"I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done since I grew old
and wary enough to detect its presence."
~ J. R. R. Tolkien
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
~ J. R. R. Tolkien
"The Hobbits are just rustic English people, made small in size because it reflects the generally
small reach of their imagination."
~ J. R. R. Tolkien
"Nearly all marriages, even happy ones, are mistakes: in the sense that almost certainly (in a more
perfect world, or even with a little more care in this very imperfect one) both partners might be
found more suitable mates. But the real soul-mate is the one you are actually married to."
~ J. R. R. Tolkien, Letter to Michael Tolkien, March 1941
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half
as well as you deserve."
~ J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
"It's a dangerous business going out your front door."
~ J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
"All that is gold does not glitter; not all those that wander are lost."
~ J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954
From A Room with a View by E. M. Forster
E. M. Forster
(MC Note: Lucy's discovery and pursuit of "liberty," "independence.")
p.9 ch.1
"It is so difficult -- at lease, I find it difficult -- to understand people who speak the truth."
p.12 ch.1
"About old Mr Emerson -- I hardly know. No, he is not tactful; yet, have you ever noticed that there are
people who do things which are most indelicate, and yet at the same time -- beautiful?"
"Beautiful?" said Miss Bartlett, puzzled at the word? "Are not beauty and delicacy the same?"
"So one would have thought," said the other helplessly. "But things are so difficult, I sometimes think."
(MC note: Oh, such simple minded.)
p.43 ch.4
Lucy does not stand for the mediaeval lady, who was rather an Angelico's "Coronation," Giotto's "Ascension of
St. John," serious. Nor has she any system of revolt. Here and there a restriction annoyed her partisularly,
and she would trangress it, and perhaps be sorry that she had done so. This afternoon she was peculiarly
restive. She would really like to do something of which her well-wishers disapproved. As she might not go on
the electric tram, she went to Alinari's shop.
There she bought a photograph of Botticelli's "Birth of Venus." Venus, being a pity, spoilt the picture,
otherwise so charming, and Miss Bartlett had persuaded her to do without it. (A pity in art of course
signified the nude.) Giorgione's "Tempèsta," the "Idolino," some of the Sistine frescoes and the Apoxyomenos
were added to it. She felt a little calmer then, and bought Fra Angelico's "Coronation," Giotta's "Ascension
on St John," some Della Robbia babies, and some Guido Reni Madonnas. For her taste was catholic, and she
extended uncritical approval to every well-known name.
But though she spent nearly seven lire, the gates of liberty seemed still unopened. She was conscious of her
discontent; it was new to her to be conscious of it. "The world," she thought, "is cetainly full of beautiful
things, if only I sould come across them."
p.47 ch.4
They were close to their pension. She stopped and leant her elbows against the parapet of the embankment.
He did likewise. There is at time a magic in identity of position; it is one things that have suggested to
us eternal comradeship.
p.96 ch.8
He had known Lucy for several years, but as a commonplace girl who happened to be musical. He coud still
remember his depression that afternoon in Rome, when she and her terrible cousin fell on him out of the blue,
and demanded to be taken to St Peter's. That day she seemed a typical toutist -- shrill, crude, and gaunt
with travel. But Italy worked some marvel in her. I gave her light, and -- which he held more precious -- it
gave her shadow. Soon he detected in her a wonderful reticence. She was like a woman of Leondardo di Vince's,
whom we love not so much for herself as for the things that she will not tell us. The things are assuredly not
of this life; no woman of Leondardo's could have anything so vulgar as a "story." She did develop most
wonderfully day by day.
p.108 ch.9
He smiled. There was indeed somehting rather incongruous in Lucy's moral outburst of Mr. Edger. It was as
if one should see the Leonardo on the ceiling of the Sistine. He longed to hint ot her that not here lay her
vocation; that a woman's power and charm reside in mystery, not in muscular rant. But possibly rant is a sign
of vitality; it mars the beautiful creature, but shows thatshe is alive. After a moment, hecontemplated her
flushed face and excited gestures with a certain approval. He forbore to repress the source of youth.
p.125 ch.1
"George Meredith's right -- The cause of Comedy and the cause of Truth are really the same..."
p.151 ch.13
"This isn't very kind of you two. You have each other and all these woods to walk in, so full of
beautifuk things; and poor Charlotte has only the water turned off and the plumbers. You are wrong, dears,
and however clever young people are, and however many books they read, they will never guess what it feels
like to grow old."
p.164 ch.15
"There is only a certain amount of kindness in the workd," said George, watching the sunlight flash on
the panels of the passing carriages.
"Yes!" exclaimed Mrs Honeychurch. "That's exactly what I say. Why all this twiddling and twaddling over
two Miss Alans?"
"There is a certain amount of kindness, just as there is a certain amoung of light," he continued in
measured tones. "We cast a shadow on somehting whereever we stand, and it is no good moving from place to
place to save things; because the shadow always follows. Choose a place where you son't do harm -- yes,
choose a place where you won't do very much harh , and stand in it for all you are worth, facing the
sunshine."
p.166 ch.15
For the only relationship which Cecil conceived was feudal; that of protector and protected. he had no
glimpse of the comradeship after which the girl's soul yearned.
p.167 ch.15
...as often happened, Cecil had paid no great attention to her remarks. Charm, not argument, was to be
her forte.
p.171 ch.15
"My father" -- he looked up at her (and he was a little flushed) -- "says that there is only one perfect
view -- the view of the sky straight over our heads, and that all these views on earth are but bungled
copies of it."
"I expect your father has been reading Dante," said Cecil, fingering the novel, which alone permitted
him to lead the coonversation.
"He told us another day that views are really crowds -- crowds of trees and houses and hills -- and are
bound to resemble each other, like human crowds -- and that the power they have over us is sometimes
supernatural, for the same reason."
Lucy's lips parted.
"For a crowd is more than the people who make it up. Something gets added to it -- no one knows how --
just as something had got added to those hills."
He pointed with his racquet to the South Downs.
"What a splendid idea!" she murmured. "I shall enjoy hearing your father talk again. I'm so sorry he's not
so well." (MC Note: The irony is Lucy did get to listed to him talk... p.219)
p.175 ch.16
... shibboleth ... Judges 12: 4-6 (MC Note: There is another reference earlier in an earlier chapter.)
p.186 ch.17
"But I love you, and I did think that you loved me."
"I did not," she said. "I thought I did at first. I am sorry, and ought to have refused you
this last time, too."
He began to walk up and down the room, and she grew more and more vexed at his dignified behavior. She
has counted on his being petty. It would have made things easier for her. By a cruel irony she was
drawing out all that was finest in his disposition.
"You don't love me, evidently. I dare say you are right not to. But it would hurt a little less if
I knew why."
"Because" -- a phrase came to her, and she accepted it -- "you're the sort who can't know any one
intimately."
A horrified look came into his eyes.
"I don't mean exactly that. But you will question me, though I beg you not to, and I must say somehting.
It is that, more or less. When we were only acquaintances, you let me be myself, but now you're always
protecting me." Her voice swelled. "I won't be protected. I will choose for myself what is ladylike
and right. To shield me is an insult. Can't I be trusted to face the truth but I must get it
second-hand from you? A woman's place! You despise my mother -- I know you do -- because she's
conventional and bothers over puddings; but, oh goodness!" -- she rose to her feet -- "conventional,
Cecil, you're that, for you may understand beautiful things, but you don't know how to use them; and
you wrap yourself up in art and books and music, and would try to wrap me up. I won't be stifled, not
by the most glorious music, for people are more glorious, and you hide then from me. That's why I break
off my engagement. You were all right as long as you kept to things, but when you came to people--" She
stopped.
There was a pause. Then Cecil said with great emotion:
"It is true."
"True on the whole," she corrected, full of some vague shame.
"True, every word. It is a revelation. It is -- I."
"Anyhow, those are my reasons for not being your wife."
He repeated: " 'The sort that can know no one imtimately.' It is true. I fell to pieces the very
first day we were engaged. I behaved like a cad to Beebe and to your brother. You are even greater
than I thought." She withdrew a step. "I'm not going to worry you. You are far too good for me. I
shall never forget your insight; and, dear, I only blame you for this; you might have warned me, and
so have given me a chance to improve. I have never known you till this evening. I have just used you
as a peg for my silly notions of what a woman should be. But this evening you are a different person:
new thoughts -- even a new voice--."
"What do you mean by a new voice?" she asked, sized with incontrollable anger.
"I mean that a new person seems speaking through you," said he.
Then she lost her balance. She cried: "If you think I am in love with someone else, you are very much
mistaken."
"Of course I don't think that. You are not tht kind, Lucy."
"Oh, yes, you do think it. It's your old idea, the idea that has kept Europe back -- I mean the idea
that women are always thinking of men. If a girl breaks off her engagement, every one says: 'Oh, she
had some one else in her mind; she hopes to get some one else.' It's discusting, btural! As if a girl
can't break it off for sake of freedom."
He answered reverently: "I may have said that in the past. I shall never say it again. You have tahght
me better."
She began to redden, and pretended to examine the window again.
"Of course, there is no question of 'some one else' in this, no 'jilting' or any such nauseous stupidity.
I beg your pardon most humbly if my words suggest that there was. I only meant that there was a force in
you that I hadn't known of up till now."
"All right, Cecil, that will do. Don't apologize to me. It was my mistake."
"It is a question between ideals, yours and mine -- pure abstract ideals, and yours are the nobler. I
was bound up in the old vicious notions, and all the time you were splendid and new." His voice broke.
"I must actually thank you for what you have done -- for showing me what I really am. Solemnly, I thank you
for showing me a true woman. Will you shake hands?"
"Of course I will," said Lucy, twisting up her other hand in the curtains. "Good-night, Cecil. Good-bye.
That's all right. I'm sorry about it. thanks you very much for your gentleness."
"Let me light your candle, shall I?"
They went into the hall.
"Thank you. Good-night again. God bless you, Lucy!"
"Good-bye, Cecil."
p.189 ch.17
She could not marry. In the tumult of her soul, that stood firm. Cecil believed in her; she must someday
believe in herself. She must be one of the women whom she had praised so eloquently, who care for liberty
and not for men; she must forget that George loved her, that George had been thinking through her and
gained her this honourable release, that George had gone away into -- what was it? -- the darkness.
She put out the lamp.
It did not do to think, nor, for the matter of that to feel. She gave up trying to understand herself,
and joined the vast armies of the benighted, who follow neither the heart not the brain, and march to
their destiny by catch-words. The armies are full of pleasant and pious folk. But they have yielded
to the only enemy that matters -- the enemy within. They have sinned against passion and truth, and vain
will be their strife after virtue. As the years pass, they are censured. Their pleasantry and their
piety show cracks, their wit becomes cynicism, their unselfishness hypocracy; they feel and produce
discomfort wherever they go. They have sinned against Eros and against Pallas Athene, and not by any
heavenly intervention, but by the ordinary course of nature, those allied dieties will be avenged.
Lucy entered this army when she pretended to George that she did not love him, and pretended to Cecil
that she loved no one. The night received her, as it had received Miss Bartlett thirty years before.
(MC Note: The name of the chapter is "Lying to Cecil." Lucy's reasons for her devious actions are not the
truths and ideas she is espousing. She is not as honorable as she would have everyone believe.)
p.210 ch.19
She disliked confidences, for they might lead to self-knowledge and to that king of terrors -- Light. Ever
since that last evening at Florence she had deemed it unwise to reveal her soul.
p.219 ch.17
... Somehow it was impossible to cheat this old man........ to p.223 -- the end of the chapter.
The Four Loves
The Four Loves: A Study - #
C. S. Lewis - #
Storge - this is affection; familial love; the love for family and things...brothers and sisters,
our colleagues or our possessions perhaps.
Philia - the love for people who share a hobby, point of view, or others interests with ourselves...a friendship.
Eros - is not actually meant to be sensual love, as some would define it, but rather a romantic
love or passionate feelings. C. S. Lewis calls sensual love "Venus", but it is not really thought
of as being love at all. This is because sensual/sexual feelings do not require love for them to
exist. They are physical (of the body) and not emotional (of the heart). Eros is the only one of
the four loves which can become possessive, when it becomes an impossible love.
Agape -- spiritual love, the charitable, unmerited, mercy love as God's love for us.
Further defining the loves...
If affection is jealous but undiscriminating, and friendship is discriminating but not jealous, eros is
both discriminating and jealous
The descriptions of the four loves are flimsy in that most relationships contain mixtures of all these
different loves in various ratios, so they are difficult to pinpoint. Perhaps this mixture of these
different loves explains why we can perhaps love one of our children more than another - or have "best"
friends - or friendships that could develop into romantic love or in rare instances a romantic love that
becomes a close friendship. There exists degreed of love as in degrees of friendships - casual, special
and best friends. It's puzzling, to say the least, trying to unravel the mysteries of love.
While romance is an exclusive passion between two people and initially directed toward each other,
friendship is a relationship between two people who share passions for the same interests or hobbies.
Young romantic relationships must develop friendships in order not to smother each other and to continue
when the infatuation passes.
From The Travels of Marco Polo edited by Manual Komroff
Marco Polo - Biography - #
The Making of Marco Polo - the Movie
HyperHistory.com - World Maps - Mongol Empires
Islam, Muhammad (Mahomet), the Qur'an, the Caliphate, etc
Terms & Definitions:
Saracenes
King Darius
The Mohometan law
Marco Polo was born in Venice, Italy in 1254. His father, Nicolo, and uncle, Maffeo, were merchants
who had seats on the great council and were enrolled with the noblemen of Venice. The first journey
of the Polos began in 1260 with a trading expedition that began in Constantinople going on to Crimea
and ultimately to the court of the Great Kublai Kahn. Hearing about the traveler's native lands and
Christianity the Great Kahn sent them back to the Pope as his ambassadors with a message of peace and
a request for a hundred educated missionaries to come to China and convert them all to Christianity.
The Kahn's motives were not wholly religious as other plans were behind the charge.
The merchants returned to their homeland and remained in Venice for two years. The Pope had died during
their travel and a new Pope had not been named. They decided to return to the Kahn and explain the
reason for their failure. Large profits from trade with these distant lands also, no doubt, promoted
the brothers to return; and on this journey they took Marco with them.
On this second journey young Marco kept manuscripts which later became the basis of the book describing
the adventures of the travelers.
p.ix
...the new Pope, Gregory X, was able to supply the Emperor of the Tartars with only two Dominicans Friars.
p.ix
From this point [Balkh, in what is not northern Afghanistan] they ascended to the plateau of Pamir,
often referred to the top of the world. This land was wholly unknown to Europe and the name Pamir unheard
until it was described by Marco Polo; and for many hundreds of years this and other regions further east
towards Kashgar and Yarland, remain almost entirely closed to our knowledge. In fact, parts of it still
remain uncharted.
p.x
Kublai Khan was born in 1216 and was therefore fifty-nine years old when young Marco arrived in his court.
p.x
With the downfall of the degenerate Sung dynasty, after the fifty years war, the Mongols became lords of
the East. The decided battle was fought a year after Maro Polo arrived in China. But "China is a sea that
salts all rivers that flow into it." Before the conquest was complete, before Kublai has founded his Mongol
dynasty, sympotms of decline were evident. Discontent and revolt were brewing; a certain social twitching
and uneasiness were already apparent. The decline had begun before the height had been reached. The vast
domain that stretched from the sea westward into Europe and from Artic lands south to India, Berma and Siam
was now falling apart, bit by bit, while on the throne Kublai, more powerful than any other Emperor the world
had ever seen, surrounded by great splendour and pomp, still dreamed of further conquest.
p.xi
..."The deepest wells are sometimes dry, and the hardest stone is sometimes broken; why should we
cling to thee?"
p.xiv
Mangu died in 1259 and his brother, Kuhlai, assumed throne. He is considered the founder of the Mongol
dynasty, because he gave the finishing stroke to the defeat of the House of Sung.
p.xv
Europe was just awakening from a long, barbaric sleep, while China was already cultured in many fields.
Marco Polo came to exchange merchandise, while a hundred cultured man would have returned to exchange ideas.
It is the exchange of ideas that is of greater profit to humanity.
p.5 bk. 1 ch. 1
... Leaving that place, and advancing still further, they crossed the Tigris [Volga], one of the four
rivers of Paradise...
p.8 bk. 1 ch. 1
... thoroughly acquainted with the principles of the Christian religion, as well as with the seven arts...
Footnote: The seven arts of the time were: Rhetoric, Logic, Grammar, Arithmetric, Astronomy, Music and
Geometry.
p.30 bk. 1 ch. 6
The story "Of the Great City of Baudas ~ Anciently caalled Babylon ~ and of the various scienced studies
in that city and how it was taken"
Baudas (Baghdad) is a large city, heretofore the residences of the Calif or Pontiff of all the Saracens, as
the Pope os of the Christians.
p.30 bk. 1 ch. 6
The Mohometan law is here regularly studied, as are also magic, physics, astronomy, geomacy, and
physiognomy. It is the noblest and most estensive city to be found in this part of the world.
p.36 bk. 1 ch. 11
The Mahometan inhabitants are treacherous and unprincipled. According totheir doctrine, whatever is stolen
or plundered from others of a different faith, is properly taken, and the theft is no crime; whilst those who
suffer death or injury by the hands of Christians, are considered as martyrs. If, therefore, they were not
prohibited and restrained by the powers who now govern them, they would commit many outrages. These
principles are common to all the Saracens. (MC Note: see p.40 bk. 1 ch. 15 and p.59 bk. 1 ch. 28 for additional
descriptions of the "trecherous, bloodthirsty, and savage" nature of the Mahometans Marco Polo encountered.)
p.38 bk. 1 ch. 14
The story of the 3 Magi and what befell them when they returned to their own country after visiting the
Christ child and how they came to worship fire. Per footnote some small sect continues this practice today.
p.47 bk. 1 ch. 19
The stort "Of the city of Ormus ~ of its commercial importance ~ and of the Hot Wind that blows there"
p.49 bk. 1 ch. 19
"Upon the death of men of rank, their wives loudly bewail them, once in the course of each day, during four
successive weeks; and there are also people to be found here who make such lamentaitons a profession, and
are paid for uttering them over the corpses of pesone of whom they are not related." Per footnore
professionals mourners are still employed ny nay Eastern races today.
p.53 bk. 1 ch. 22
The province of Timochain on the northern confines of Persia... "The people are of the Mahometan religion.
They are in general a handsome race, especially the women, who, in my opinion, are the most beautiful in
all the world." ...
p.53-56 bk. 1 ch. 23 & 24
The story "of the old man of the mointain ~ of his palace and gardens" ...Paradice and assassins... See
footnore on pg.56.
p.63 bk. 1 ch. 31
"Kesmur (Kashmir) is a province distant from Basica seven days' journey. Its inhabitants also havetheir own
peculiar language. They are adepts beyond all others in the art of magic; insomuch that they can compel their
idols, although ny nature dumb and deaf, to speak...... Per footnote Tibetian Buddhism...
p.72-74 bk. 1 ch. 39
The story "of the town of Lop ~ of the vast desert in its vicinity ~ and of the strange noises heard by
those who pass over the latter" Per foornote "...The sound of musical instruments and drums, however, is a
phenomenon produced among sandhills when the sand is disturbed..."
p.78-79 bk. 1 ch. 41
The story "of the district of Kamul ~ and of some peculiar customs respecting the entertainment of strangers."
"When strangers arrive, and desire to havelodging and accommodations at hteir houses, it affords then the
highest gratifications. They give positive orders to their wives, daughters, sisters and other female relations,
to indulge their guests in every wish, whilst they themselves leave their homes and retire to the city, and the
stranger lives in the house with the females as if they were his own wives... It happened that when Mangu Kaan
held his court in this province, that the above scandulous custom coming tohis knowledge, he issued an edict
strictky commanding the people of Kamul to relinquish a practice so disgraceful to them, and forbidding
individuals to furnish lodging ot strangers, but to provide hostelries to travellers. ... Summary...the
inhabitants obeyed but when misfortune fell upon the people and their families they begged the Mangu Kaan to
let then return to a custom that had been handed down fro mtheir ancestors. Begrudgingly the Kaan let them
return to their shameful way of living. (Read the story).
p.88 bk. 1 ch. 51
The story "of the successive empherors of the Tartars ~ and of the ceremonies that take place when they are
carried for interment to the Mountain of Altai"
"To Chinghis Kaan succeeded Cuy Kaan; the third was Batuy Kaan, the forth Alacou Kaan, the fifth Mongou Kaan,
the sixth Kublai Kaan, who became greater and more powerful than all the others who went before him; in fact,
if you were to take all those five together, they would not be so powerful as he. Nay, I will yet say more;
for if you put together all the Christians in the world, with their Emperors and their Kings, the whole of
these Christians, - aye, and throw in the Saracens to boot, - would not have such power, or be able to do so
much as this Kublai, who was Lord of all the Tartars in the world, those of the Levant and of the Ponent
included. For these are all his Liegman and subjects."
"The title of Kahn or Kaan, is equivalent to emperor in our language. It has been an invariable custom, that
all the Great Khans, and dhiefs of the reac of Chinghis, theire first Lord, should be carried for interment
to a certain lofty mountaind named Altai, and in whatever place they may hapen to die, although it should be
at thedistance of a hundred days' journey, they are nevertheless conveyed thither."
"It is likewise the custom, during the progress of removing the bodies of these Princes, for those who form
the escort to sacrifice such persons as they chance to meet on the road, saying to them, "Depart for the next
world, and there attend upon yuour deceased Lord," being impressed with the belief that allwhom they thus
slay do actually become his servants inthe next life. They do the same also with respect to horses, killing
the best stud, in order that he may have the use of them. When the corpse of Mongou Kaan was transported to
this mountain, the horsemen who accompanied ir, slew upwards of twenty thousand persons who fell in their way."
p.93 bk. 1 ch. 54
The story "concerning the Tartar customs of war ~ of their atns and obedience to their Leaders"
(Read the story).
p.99-100 bk. 1 ch. 57
"The story "of the Kingdom of Erginul ~ adjoining to that of Campicho ~ and of the province of Sinju ~ and
of the customs of that country ~ and the beaury of the women"
"In this country it is that the finest and most valuable musk is produced. The animal shich yields it is a
kind of Gazelle. Its coat is like that of the larger kind of deer: its feel nd tail are those of the antelope,
but it has not the norns. It is provided with four projecting teeth or tusks, three inches in length, two in
the upper jaw pointing downwards, and two in the lower jaw pointing upwards; small in proportionto their length,
and white as ivory. Upon the whole it is a handsome creature. The musk is bained in the following manner. At the
time when the moon is at the full, a bag or skin of coagulated blood forms itself about the umbilical region,
and those whose occupation it is to take the animal avail thenselves of the moonlight for that purpose, they
cut off the membrane, and afterwards dri it, with its contents, in the sun. It proves tha finest musk that
produces that powerful perfume. Great numbers are caught, and the flesh is esteemed good to eat. Marco Polo
brought with him to Venice the head and feet of one of then dried.
p.100 bk. 1 ch. 57
Ditto...
The inhabitants areidolaters. In person they are inclined to be fat, and their noses aresmall. Their hair
is black and they have scarcely any beard, or only a few scattered hairs on the chin. The women of the superior
class are in like manner free of superfluous hair; their skins are fair, and they are well formed. The men
are much devoted to demail society; and, according to their laws and customs, thay may have as many wives as
that please, provided they are able to maintain them.
p.100 bk. 2 ch. 5
The story of "How the Great Kahn caused Nayan to be put to death."
"On the account of the derisions (caused by Nayan's actions) the Christians were compelled to lay their
complaints before the Great Kahn, who ordered the former (the Jews and the Saracens - See foornote) to appear
before him, and sharply rebuked them. "If the Cross of Christ," (which Nayan carried as a banner) he said, "has
not proved advantageous to the party of Nayan, the effect has been consistent with reason and justice, inasmuch
as he was a Rebel against his Lord, and to such wretches it could not afford ites protection. Let none therefore
presume to charge with injustice the God of the Christians, who is Himself the perfection of goodness and of
justice."
p.120-121 bk. 2 ch. 6
The story "of the return of the Great Kahn to the City of Kanbalu after his victory ~ and of the honour he
confers on the Christians and hte Jews ~ and other subjects"
"The Great Kahn, having obtained this signal victory, returned with great pomp and triumph to the capital
city of Kanbalu (Peking). This took place in teh Monto of November, and he racontinued to reside there
during the months of February and March, in whichlatter was our festival of Easter. Being aware that this
was one of our principal solemnities, he commended all the Christians toattend him, and to bring with then
their Book, which contains the four Gospels of the Evangelists."
"After causing it to be repeatedly perfumed wth incense, in a ceremonious manner, he devoutly kissed it, and
directed that the same should be done by all his nobles who were present. This was his usual practice upon
each of the proncipal Christian festivals, such as Easter and Christmas; and he observed the same at the
festivals of the Saracenes, Jews and idolaters."
"Upon being asked his motives for this conduct, he said: "There are four grat Prophets who are reverended
and worshipped by the different classes of mankind. The Christians regard Jesus Christ as their divinity;
the Saracens, Mahomet; the Jews, Moses; and the idolaters, Sogomombar-kan, the most eninent amongst the idols.
I do honour and show respect to all four, and invoke to my aid shichever amongst then is in truth Supreme in
Heaven." But from the manner in which his majesty acted towards them, it is evident that he regarded the faith
of the Christians as the truest and the best; nothing, as he observed, being enjoined to its professors that
was not filled with virtue and holiness."
p.138 bk. 2 ch. 13
The story of the bad omen of stepping on the threshold of the grand hall or whatever part he Great Kahn
happens to be in and how it is not strictly enforced when the guests are "affected by the liquor."
(Read the story)
p.139 bk. 2 ch. 14
The birthday of the Great Kahn - twenty-eighth day of the month of September.
p.141-142 bk. 2 ch. 14
The story "ofthe White Feast held on New Year's Day ~ and of the number of presents then brought"
(Read the story)
p.152-153 bk. 2 ch. 22
The story "concerning the City of Kanbalu ! of the multitude of its inahbitants ! ad the commerce of the place"
(Read the Story)
p.156-158 bk. 2 ch. 1
The story of "the oppressions of Achmath the Bailo ~ and tof the plot that was formed against him."
(Read the story and the footnotes)
"These circumstances called the Kahn's attention to the accursed docutrines of the Sect of the Saracens, which
excused every crime, yea, even murder itself, when committed on such as are not of their religion. And seeing
that his doctrine has led the accursed Achmath and his sons to act as tehy did without any sense of guilt,
the Kahn was led to entertain the greatest disgust and abomination fort it. So he summoned the Saracens and
prohibited their doing many things shich there religion enjoined. Thus, he ordered them to regulate their
marriages by Tartar Law, and prohibited their cutting the throats of animals killed for food, ordering them
to rip the stomach in the Tartar way."
p.161-163 bk. 2 ch. 25
The story "of the council of twelve barons appointed for the affairs of the army ~ and of the twelve others
for the general concerns of the empire"...
The Thai Tribunal and Sing Tribunal respectivey.
p.163 bk. 2 ch. 26
The story "of the places establishing on all the great roadsfor supplying psot-horses ~ of the counriers on
foot ~ and of themode in which expense is defrayed"
The Khan's "Pony Express" and other forms of postal correspondence.
p.164 bk. 2 ch. 26
Ditto
"In his dominion no fewer than two hundred thousand horses arethusemployed in the department of the post,
and ten thousand buildings, with suitable furniture, are kept up. It is indeed so wonderful a system, and
so effective in its operation, as it is scarcelt possible to describe. If it be questioned how the
population of the country can supply sufficient numbers of these duties, and by what means they can be
supported, we may answer, that all the Idolaters, and likewise the Saracens, keep six, eight, or ten women,
according to their circumstances, by whom they have a prodigious number of children. Some of them have as
many as thirty sons capable of following their fathers in arms; whereas with us a man has only one wife,
and even although she should probe barren, he is obligated to pass his life with her, and is by that means
deprived of thechance for raising a family. Hince if is that our populatin is so much inferior to theirs.
p.169 bk. 2 ch. 28
"...the Grat Khan is the more disposed to plat trees because astrologers tell him that those who plant trees
are rewarded with long life.
p.170 bk. 2 ch. 29
The story "of the kind of wine made in the province of Cathay"
"The greater part of the inhabitants of the province of Cathay dring a sort of wine made with rice mixed
with a variety of spices and drugs. The beverage, or wine as it may be termed, is so good and well flavored
that they do not wish for better. It is clear, bright, and pleasant to taste, and being taken very hot, has
the quality of making one drunk sooner than any other eise."
(See also p.199 bk.1 ch.50)
p.188 bk. 2 ch. 45
The story "of the province of Thebeth" (Tibet)
"A scandalous custom, which could only proceed from the blindness of idolatry, prevails amongst the people of
these parts, who are disinclined to marry young women so long as they are in their virgin state, but require,
on the contrary, that they should have had previous commerce with many of the other sex. This, they assert, is
pleasing to their deities, and believe that a woman who has not had the company of men is worhtless."
(Se also p. 195 bk 2 Ch. 49)
p.189 bk. 2 ch. 45
Ditto
"These idolatrous people are treacherous and cruel, and holding that it is no crime to rob, are hte greatest
brigands in the world. They subsist by the chase and be fowling, as well as upon the fruits of the earth."
p.189-190 bk. 2 ch. 45
Ditto
"Here are found the animals that produce the musk, and such is the quantity, that the scent of it is diffused
over the whole country. Once in every month the secretion takes place, and it forms itself, as has already been
said, into a sort of imposthume, or boil full of blood, hear the navel. Throughout every oartof this region the
animal abounds, and the odour generally prevails. (Per foornote French perfumery houses have sent agengs to upper
yangtze to by this product in great supply.)
p.190 bk. 2 ch. 45
Ditto
Salt is used as their currency.
p.191 bk. 2 ch. 47
The story "of the province of Kain-Du"
The inhabitants of this dostrict are in the snameful and odious habit of considering it no mark of disgrace
that those who travel through the country should have connexion with their wives, daughters, or sisters; but,
on the contrary, when strangers arrive, each householder endeavours to conduct one of them home with him.
(Read the rest of the story)
p.195-1966 bk. 2 ch. 49
The story "of a further part of the province named Karazan"
They likewise use Porcelain shells in currency; which, however, are not found in this part of the world,
but broughtin from India."
"Here are found snakes and high serpents [crocodiles], ten paces in length, and ten spamd in the girt of
the body."
(Read the story of how they trap and kill them)
(The meat is used for food and the gall is a highly values medicine)
"In cases of the bite of a mad dog, a pennyweight of it, dissolved in wine, is administered. It is also
useful in accelerating delivery, when labour pains of a woman have come on. A small quantity of it being
applied to carbuncles, pustules, or other eruptions on teh bode, they are presently dispersed; and it is
efficacious in many other complaints."
p.197 bk. 2 ch. 49
Ditto
"I was assured, as a certain fact, that many persons, and especially those who harbour bad design, always
carry poison with them, with the intention of swollowing it, in the event of theor being captured, and exposed
to torture. Rather than suffer it, the effect theor own distruction. But their rulers, who are aware of this
practice, are always provided with the dung of dogs, which they obidge the accused to swollow, causing a
vomiting of hte poison. Thus the antidote is ready against the arts of these wertches."
p.198 bk. 2 ch. 50
The story "of the province of Kandandan and the city of Vochang"
Gold plated teeth and tattoos...(Read the story)
p.199 bk. 2 ch. 50
Ditto
"These people have the following singular usage. As soon as a woman has been delivered, and, rising from
her bed, has washed and swathed the infant, her husband immediately takes the place she has left, has the
child laid eside him, and nurses it for forty days. In the meantime, the friends and relations of the family
pay to him their visits of congratulations; whilst thewoman attends to the business of the house, carries
victuals and dring to the husband in his bed, and suckles the infant at his side.
(Per the footnote this is a well docuent and common practice referred to as hatching)
p.200-202 bk. 2 ch. 50
Ditto
(Read the story - sorcers are called when a persone has a medical need)
p.207 & 208 bk. 2 ch. 54 & 55
As evidenced in htes chapters Marco Polo visited the Berma and Bengal.
p.215-218 bk. 2 ch. 62-66
Read the story of the magnifince of the port and commerce cities in the Cathay and Manji provinces)
p.222-223 bk. 2 ch. 68
The story "of the cirties of Tin-Gui and Chin-Gui ~ of the ciry of Yan-Gui ~ of which Marco Polo held the
government"
"The city is the place of residence of one of the twelve nobles before spoken of, who are appointed by his
Majesty tothe government of the provinces; and in the place of one of thes, Marco Polo, byspecial order of
the Great Khan, acted as governr for this city during thespace of three years."
p.225 bk. 2 ch. 70
Nicolo and Maffeo Polo build "war machines" (catapults) for the Great Khan.
(Read the story)
p.231-239 bk. 2 ch. 76
The story "of the noble and magnificent city of Kin-Sai" (The Celestial City)
Urban development, foods, wanton arts, etc.
(Read the story)
p.255-256 bk. 2 ch. 82
The story "of the city and port of Sai-Tun ~ and the city if Tin-Gui"
"Of this place there is nothing further to be observed, than that cups or bowls and dishes of porcelainware
are there manufactured. The process was explained to be as follows. Thet collect a certain kind of earth, as
it were, from a mind, and laying it in a great heap, sufferit to be exposed to thewind, the rain, and the sun,
for thirty or forty years, during which time it is never disturbed. By this it becomes refined and fit for
being wrought into the vessles above mentioned. Such colours as may be thought proper are then laid on, and
the ware is afterwards baked in ovens or furnaces. Those persons, therefore, who cause the earth to be dug,
collect it for their children and grandchildren. Great quantities of the manufacture aresold in theciry, and
for a Venetian Groat you may ourchase eight porcelain cups.
(See footmore)
p.264 bk. 3 ch. 2
The story "of the island of Zipangu ~ and the great Khan;s attackagainst it"
Japan...
p.270 bk. 3 ch. 5
The story "of the country of Zaimba ~ of the king of that country ~ and of his becoming tributary
to the Great Khan"
Indo-China
p.274 bk. 3 ch. 9
The story "of the island of Java Minor"
Java the esser is Sumata
p.276 bk. 3 ch. 9
Ditto
The island has a small monkey that is captures, shaved and created for sell as pigmies - to those that
will fall for the scam.
p.279 bk. 3 ch. 11
The story "of the kingdoms named Lambri and Fanfur"
"In this kingdon are found men with tails, a span in length, likethse ofthe dog, but not covered with hair"
(See foornote)
p.283 bk. 3 ch. 15
The story of "The history of Sogomon Barchan ~ and the beginning of idolatry"
"In the island of Zeilan [Ceylon] there is a very high mountain, so rocky and persipitous that the ascent
to the top is impracticable, as it is said, excepting by the assistance of iron chains employed for that
purpose. By meansof these some persons attain the summit, where the tomb of Adam, our present parent, is
reported to be found. uch is the account given by the Saracens. But the idolaters assert that it contains
the bode of Sogomon Barchan [Buddha], the founder of their religious system, and whom they revere as the
great saint.
p.285 bk. 3 ch. 16
The story "of the province of Maabar"
India
p.286 bk. 3 ch. 17
The story "continues to speak ofthe province of Maabar:
(Read the story of unusual customs in this land)
p.295 bk. 3 ch. 18
The story "of the place where leith the holy bode of St. Thomas ~ and the miracles thereof"
(Read the story)
p.298 bk. 3 ch. 20
The story "of the province of Lac ~ Loac ~ or Lar"
"These are the best and most honourable merchants that can be found. No consideration whatever can induce
them to speakan untruth, even though their lives should depend upon it. They have also a hatred for cheating
and of taking the goods of othe persons. They are likewise remarkable for the virtue of being satisfied with
the possession of one wife."
(Read more...)
p.299-300 bk. 3 ch. 20
Ditto
"Amongst the natives of this region there is a class particularly devoted to a religious life, who are
named Chughi [Jogi], and who in honour of their divinities lead must austere lives. They go perfectly
naked, not concealing any part of their bodies, and say thare can be no shame in tht state of nudity in
which they came into the world. Wit hrespect to what are called the parts of shame, they observe that,
not being conscious of thesins of the flesh, they haveno reason to clush at their exposure."
p.303 bk. 3 ch. 22
The story "of the kongdom of Koulam"
"All the people, both male and female, are black, and, with the exception of a small piece of cloth attached
to the front ot their bodies, they bo quite naked. There manners are extremely sensual, and they take as wives
their relations by blood, their cousins, and the widows of theor deceased brothers. But this, as I have been
informed,is the state of morals in every part pf India."
...
p.307 bk. 3 ch. 27
The story "of the kingdom of Kanan"
Bombay
p.309 bk. 3 ch. 31
The storey "of the island of males and of females ~ and why they are so called"
"Distant from Kesmacoran about five hundred miles toward the south, in the ocean,there are two islands
within about thirty miles from each other. One of these is inhabited my men, without the company of women,
and is called tie Island of Males; and the other by women, without men, which is called the Island of
Females. The inhabitants of both are of the same race, and are baptized Christians, but hold to the law
of the Old Testament. The men visit the Island of Females,and remain with them for three successive months,
namely, March, April, and May, each man occupying a separate habitation along with his wife. They then
return to the male island, where they live the rest of hte year withoyt the society of any female.
(Read the rest of the story)
p.305, 306, 311 bk. 3 ch. 25, 26 & 32
Pirate life in this area.
p.310 bk. 3 ch. 32
The story "of the island of Soccotera"
Whaling (See foornote with a quote form Moby Dick)..
p.313 bk. 3 ch. 33
The story "of the island of Madagascar"
Read the story - Sea currents, the island of Zenzibar, the rukh which is a very large bird that can pick up
and elephant, etc, see footnote)
p.316 bk. 3 ch. 34
The story "of the island of Zenzibar"
More about India and the Indian seas...
p.316 bk. 3 ch. 35
The story "treating of the greatprovince named Abascia ~ or Middle India"
Abyssinia
p.319 bk. 3 ch. 36
The story "of the province of Aden
"The prvince of Aden is governed by a king, who bears the title of Soldan [sultan]. The inhabitants
are all Saracens, and utterly detest the Christians.
(Read the story...read the secion on Aden in the ch. 35 and how it was destroyed in revenge for an
insult to the bishop of Abyssinian.)
p.324 bk. 3 ch. 40
The story "of Ormus"
Middle India is Ehiopia.
p.347 bk. 4 ch. 20
The story "concerning theking of the Tartars who rules the far north:
Dog sleds, animal's instinct of direction.
p.348 bk. 3 ch. 22
The story "of the province of Russia ~ and its people"
Russia
From The Bonfires of the Vanaties by Tom Wolfe
Bio Tom Wolfe
p.35 ch. Gibraltar
...Eighty-first Street and Central Park West. He liked to walk across to Central Park n Seventy-seventh Street
and walk up to Eighty-first Street because that took him past the Museum of Natural History. It was a beautiful
block, the most beautiful block on the West side, to Kramer's way of thinking, like a street scene is Paris; not
that he had ever been to Paris.
p.265 ch. The Words on the Floor
Now, its alright to be a white newspaper - what would be more pure white then the Times? -
but it's quite another thing to pick up that reputation.
p.356 ch. The Masque of the Red Death
"...it was a sigh of social failure for one spouse tp be reduced to joining the another in a conversatonal
cluster."
p.369-71 ch. The Masque of the Red Death
poems and poets...
p.443 ch. Calls from Above
"That was the greatest year there ever was for Armagnac, 1934. It's very smooth. ... $1,200 a bottle."
p.511 ch. Inside the Cavity
"The Bororo Indians, a primative tribe who live along the Vermelho River in the Amazon jungles of Brazil,
believe that htere is no such thing as a private self. The Bororo regard the mind as an open cavity, like a
cave or a tunnel or an arcade, if you will, in which the entire vilage dwells and the jungle grows. In 1969
Jose M. R. Delgado, the eminent Spahish brain physiologist, pronounded the Bororos correct. For nearly
three millennia, Western philosophers had viewed the self as something unique, something encased inside
each person's skull, so to speak. This inner self had to deal with and learn from the outside world, of
course, and it might prove incompetent in doing so. Nevertheless, at the core of one's self there was
presumed to be something irreducible and inviolate. Not so, said Delgado. "Each persone is a transitory
composite of materials borrowed from the environment." The important word was transitory, and he
was talking not about years but about hours. He cited exteriments in which heanthy college students lying
on beds in well-lit but soundproofed chambers, wearing gloves to reduce the senses of thocu and translucent
goggles to block out specific sights, began to hallucinate within hours. Without the entire village,
the whole jungle, occuoying the cavity, they had no mind left."
(MC Note: Blah blah blah but makes an interesting story and something to investigate.)
p.579 ch. Hero of the Hive
"The press. I'm amused by all the sour-searching these...insects do. 'Are we too aggressive, too
cold-blooded, too heartless?' - as if the press were a rapacious beast, a tiger. I thinkthey'd loke to be
thought of as bloodthirsty. That's what I call praise by faint damnation. They've got the wrong animal. In
fact, they're fruit flies. Once they get the scent, they hover, they swarm. If you swing your hand at them
they don't bite it, they dart for cover, and as soon as your head is turned, they're back again. They're
fruit flies. Butr I'm sure I don't have th teoo you that."
p.579 ch. Hero of the Hive
"...a liberal is a conservative who has been arrested."
p.618 ch. The Rendezvous
"... But didn't I say she wasn't the cautious type. She's a gambler. She's not the type to play it safe.
She likes to mix it up, and her game is - well, its men. Your game is law, mine is investments,
hers is men.
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