MARCO POLO AND WHITE HORSES 121 



flourished towards the end of the thirteenth 

 and in the beginning of the fourteenth centuries 

 — namely, Marco Polo. His remarks about the 

 superstitions that were prevalent in his time are 

 exceptionally instructive. 



Writing of the city of Chandu which was founded 

 by Kublai and that gave the name to the river 

 known now as Shanortu, Polo tells us to re- 

 member that the Kaan owned an immense stud 

 of white horses and mares, some 10,000 in all, 

 ''and not one with a speck or blemish visible." 

 The milk of these mares was reserved for the 

 Kaan and his family, "and they drank a great 

 deal of it," the rest being given to some of the 

 more distant relatives of the tribe. 



Upon occasions, however, a tribe named 

 Horiad was allowed to drink of the milk of 

 the mares, "the privilege being granted them," 

 as Polo says, "by Chinghas Kaan on account of 

 a certain victory they long ago helped him to win." 



Elsewhere Polo describes what may be termed 

 the etiquette it was essential the traveller should 

 observe who chanced to come upon the herd of 

 white mares when they were travelling. 



" Be he the greatest lord in the land," he tells 

 us, "he must not presume to pass until the mares 

 have gone by, but must either tarry where he is, 

 or go half-a-day's journey round, if need so be, 

 so as not to come nigh them, for they are to be 

 treated with the greatest respect." 



