FALCONRY. 19 
The Emperor after residing the usual time in China,- 
always proceeded to enjoy the field sports in the plains of 
Tartary, attended by full ten thousand falconers, who carried 
with them a vast number of gerfalcons, peregrine falcons 
and sakers. He has also with him ten thousand men who are 
called taskaol, distributed all over the country, whose busi- 
ness it is to watch the hawks, assist them when necessary, 
and secure the falcon when he has captured the game. 
Marco tells us, that the Grand Khan takes his wives and the 
ladies of the court with him on these expeditions, who have 
their own hawks and join in the sport. These with their 
attendants, physicians, astrologers, courtiers, slaves and fal- 
coners formed an immense retinue. Dividing up into par- 
ties of one hundred and two hundred, they proceed to the 
lakes and river, where they capture great numbers of storks, 
herons, swans, ducks and smaller game. Each bird belong- 
ing to his Majesty, or to any of his nobles, has a small silver 
label fastened to his leg, on which is engraved the name of 
the owner and the name of the keeper so that it can be 
readily restored. The manner of taking the prey shows 
great skill and sagacity, the falconer usually carries his 
hawk to the field on his fist protected by a glove, and on 
seeing game, removes the head-gear (a hood to cover the 
head and eyes of the bird) and casts the bird off with a loud 
whoop to encourage her. If the bird flushed is a duck, 
partridge, pheasant, or any bird that does not soar high, 
the hawk quickly strikes and brings it down, but if it is a 
heron, or some bird strong on the wing, it will attempt to 
keep above the hawk. Now comes the tug of war, each 
trying to mount above the other until nearly out of sight, 
when the faleon by performing a succession of spiral eircles 
rises above the game, and darts down upon it with all her 
force and velocity, when both tumble from the sky together, 
the sportsman hastening to the spot with all possible dis- 
patch assists the hawk in her struggle with the prey. Marco 
informs us that "the Emperor had reclaimed eagles which 
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