758 



CHRONOLOGICAL ARRANGEMENT 



from China, M. decumanus was aboriginally though perhaps unintentionally introduced throughout 

 the islands of the Pacific ; left behind in some instances after the disappearance of human inhabitants, 

 as on Gardner's and Enderby's coral-islands in the Phoenix Group. At a comparatively modern period, 

 M. decumanus was introduced into Greece and Europe ; was seen in Egypt by Baumgarten iii. 5, and 

 so far as I could judge without close examination, by myself. By European colonists, was uninten- 

 tionally carried across the Atlantic to Northeast America, where it has become frequent. 



At"Cascar" (Cashgar) in Central Asia, Marco Polo 51 and 152 found " hermites, abaii et 

 monester asez de lor foi " (Lamaism, or perhaps pure Budhism) ; and though so far North, "banbaxe " 

 or cotton was cultivated: He also speaks of " Kesimur " (Cashmere); and of (the lofty table-land 

 of) " Pamier." 



In the North, Marco Polo 213 and 71 mentions " Rosie " (Russia), and islands in that direction 

 where "jerfaus " or falcons are procured (Iceland). But the country North of the '-Altai " as far as 

 the ocean, is described as subject to the Great khan, and inhabited by " sauvaje jens " called " Mecri ; " 

 who " ne ont blef ne vin " have neither corn nor wine, live on animal food, "chavauchent les cerf " 

 use the reindeer for horses, and follow the usages and customs of the Tartars. He also mentions the 

 great traffic in furs in that region, the black fox j "gibellines" (Mustela zibellina) the sable; the 

 "crmi/i" (Mustela erminea) ; " orses toutes blances " the white or Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) ; 

 and even do^-sledges (hardly in use nearer than Kamtschatka). 



On reaching China, Marco Polo 85 found at Canbalu (Peking) a great bell sounding at night to 

 confine the citizens to their houses. Black stones, "pieres noires qe se cavent des montaingnes " 

 (coat) used for fuel. From Canbalu, a great canal leading South. And in other Chinese cities, many 

 sagacious merchants, and men of all professions, philosophers, naturalists, " grant filosofe e grant mire 

 naturel qe mout stuent bien nature '' (1. c. 102, 14K, and 151). 



By government, paper-money was issued, redeemable for special purposes in uncoined silver and 

 gold. While in other countries of Central and Southeastern Asia, Marco Polo 96 and 118 found 

 ''porcelaine blance celle qe se trovent en la mer" cowries (Cypraea monetas) used for money, in addi- 

 tion to silver and gold. — Cowries for money are mentioned also by Ebn-Arabschah in his history of 

 Timour (De Sacy chrest. note to Makriz.). 



Calamus rudentum of Tropical Eastern Asia. The common rattan, and clearly the split 

 " canne " of which the rope for towing vessels on the river " Ouian" was made, according to Marco 

 Polo 147 : — Chinese near Macao making ropes of split rattan are mentioned by G. Bennet wand. 

 (Royle) ; " rattan cables," by Dampier; and the cable of Chinese junks was observed by myself to 

 consist of rattans twisted together: the living C. rudentum is termed " p.rlma juncus albens " by 

 Rumphius v. pi. 53 ; and was observed by Loureiro 260 in Anam. Westward, by Graham " in gar- 

 dens " only near Bombay : boxes and bales of merchandise secured with rattans may have been 

 brought at an early period to Egypt, but in Europe these stems continued so little known that one is 

 figured by C. Bauhin (ed. Matthiol. 5.S). 



" 12S5, Apr. 2d" (Alst., and Nicul.j, Martinus II. succeeded by cardinal Giacomo Savelli, now 

 Honorius IV., thirty-fourth pope. 



" The same year" (rudim. chron. Lond.), in England, the court of king's bench instituted. And 

 the abbey church of Westminster completed. 



" The same year" (Alst.), end of the chronicle of Martinus Polus. 



" 1286 A. D."(Nicol.), a synod at Naumburg. Against " those who imprisoned bishops and clerks." 



" In this year" (Humb. cosm. v.), charts, astrolabes, and the compass mentioned by Raimundus 

 Lullius maravill. orb. as in use among the Barcelonians. — He died " in 13 15 " (Pouchet). 



'• July 8th " (Nicol.), a s\ nod at Ravenna. The practice introduced by the laity of inviting jong- 

 leurs and buffoons at weddings or when knighted, was condemned. 



"The same year" (Pauth.), by the mandarins of Fou-kien, the ships visiting one of the ports of 

 Southern China stated to have come from ''more than ninety foreign kingdoms." 



" In this year (=6S5 A. H." of Ferisht. Elph.), Bulbun succeeded by his grandson Kei Kobad, 

 now tenth sultan of Delhi. 



The Persian poet Saadi writing. — He died " in 1291." 



Tulipa Gesneriana of the Uralian plains. Called in Britain tulip, by old writers "tulipan" the 

 Turkish word for turban, in Persian "dulbend" (Prior), in Hindustanee " lala " or "shaqaik" 

 (D'roz.) : the "tulipe" of the gardens is mentioned by Saadi — (Babour-nameh, and Klapr. mem. ii. 

 155) : T. Gesneriana was observed by Pallas trav. i. 384 abounding on the Yaik ; was brought from 

 Constantinople in or about 1554 (Balbin., and Beckm.) probably by Busbecke, and became at once a fa- 

 vourite garden flower throughout Europe ; is described by Camerarius ; was observed by Rauwolf under 

 cultivation on Lebanon ; is known to occur seemingly wild in Thrace, Cappadocia, and Russia 

 (Pers., and Spreng.) ; and Hindustanee names indicate its presence in Northern Hindustan. By 

 European colonists, was carried to Northeast America, where it continues in wardens. 



