Chap. IL ' ^ of Marco Polo, . |9j 
SECT! ON XXL 
The curious and remarkable Voyages and Travels of Marco Polo 5 a Gentleman of Venice* 
who in the Middle of the XII Ith Century , pajjed through a great Part of Afia, all the 
Dominions of the Tartars, and returned home by Sea through the Iflands of the Eaft- 
Indies* 
Taken chiefly from the accurate Edition of Ramufio , compared with an original Manufcript in his P ruffian 
Majefty’s Library, and with mod of the Tranflations hitherto publifhed.- 
ie A fuccind Introduction to this Work. 2 . An Account of the Author from Ramufio, and other Writers » 
The fever at Editions and principal Tranfiations that have been publifhed of thefe Travels. 4. An Ac? 
' count of the Objetiions that have been raifed againft them. 5, The Characters given of this Performance 
by fever at eminent Criticks, 6. The Author" s introductory Account , containing -an Abridgment of his Tr a- 
vets to the Time of his Return to Venice. 7. A Defcription of Armenia the Lefler, of the Country of the 
Turks, of Armenia the Greater, of the Province of Zorzania, the Kingdom of Moful, of the City of 
Baldach, or Bagdat, of the City o f Tauris, with an Account of a remarkable Ear thquake. 8 . Of the Country 
of Pc rfia, the City of Jafdi, the City of Germam, of the Town of Camandu, and of the Country where Rhubarb 
grows . 9. Of fever al other Countries , and the principal Curiofties in them. 10. The Hiftory of the A/Jdf- 
fins, and of the Manner in which their Prince was killed , together with the Defcription of many other Coun- 
tries. 11. Of the City of Samarcand, the Town of Lop, and of the great Defart in its Neighbourhood, 
with other remarkable Pajfages. 12. Of the Province of Camul, and fever al other Countries to the City of 
Ezina s and another great Defart. 13 . Of the City of Caracarum, and of the Tartars, with a. conipleat 
Hiftory of that Nation , and of their Monarch s. 14. Of the vaft Countries' to the Northward of Tartary, 
and many other curious Particulars. 15. Of the great Power of Cublai Khan, of his Government , Fa- 
- mily. Dominions , &c. 16. Of his Palace in the City of Cambalu, a particular Defcription of that City i 
and other remarkable Obfervations. 17. Of the Magnificence of the Court of the Grand Khan , and of the 
Manners and Cufioms of his Subjells. 18. A copious Account of the Countries between the Place of his Refi - 
dence , and the Country of Thibet.. 19. A large Defcription of the lafi mentioned Province, and of, many 
others, with an Account of the Obfervations made by the Author in his Progrefs through them. 20. Of the 
Province o/’Mangi, and of the Manner in which it was reduced under the Power of the Tartars, toge- 
ther with an Account of the Provinces and Cities , afterwards reduced under their Dominion. 21. Of the 
noble City of Quinfai, and of the vafi Revenues drawn from thence by the Emperor of the Tartars, 
22. Of the Ifiand of Zipangri, and of the Attempts made by the Tartars to conquer it, and their Mif car- 
riage in them . 23. A large Account of various Countries, Provinces , Cities and Iflands in the Eafb-Indies. 
24. Of the great Ifiand of Ceylon, of the Kingdom of Malabar, and the State of other Countries vifiied by 
the Author. 25. Of the Kingdom of Murfili, the Diamond Mines there, and other Countries adjacent . 
26. Of the Ifiand of Madagafcar, the Country of Ethiopia, and other Parts of Africa. 27. Of the Pro- 
vince of Aden, and of fever al Countries reputed to be inaccefjible. 28. Many obfcure Pajfages in this 
Performance explained \ 29. Remarks and Obfervations. 
I, IT is with ancient Writers, as with ancient Coins, fuch fince found true Relations ; and the Difcourfes of Marco 
as underftand them value them above meafure, while Polo, that were rejected by the fupercilious Wits of his own 
fuch as will not be at fufficient Pains to examine them, not time have been raked out of the Duft of old Libraries, de- 
only delpife them, but alfo fuch as admire them. Thus none cyphered in a manner from the barbarous Latin of monkifh 
are more governed by Prejudice than thofe who declaim Tranflators, and brought into the Form we now have them 
againft it, and none greater Bigots than fuch as are attached by the indefatigable Pains of the learned Ramufio. 
to their own Opinions, from a Notion that they think A Man whofe Countenance alone might be fufficient to 
freely. Yet this Zeal for Freedom of Thought ought to give Credit to this, or any other Work, though from the 
foe amended rather than difcouraged, as being in itfelf com- Notes we have added, it will appear that there are in- 
mendable, though fometimes dangerous, by being mifap- trinfick Marks of its Value in the Performance itfelf: Yet 
plied. It may, and to fay the Truth, to many it does feem we owe to Ramufio the being able to difcover thefe, and 
a tedious and difagreeable Labour to look fa far back as therefore to him we willingly afcribe all the Glory that re- 
the firft Springs and Dawnings of Knowledge, yet, how- fults from the Vindication of this curious Piece, and the 
ever they may colour this with Pretences to refined Tafte, Honour of its illuftrious Author. To the fame excellent 
it is in fa£t no better than an Excufe for Idlenefs, and a Perfon is duo the Account we have received of fevera .1 Par,- 
Diflike to the taking that Pains which is requifite tofucceed ticulars relating to the perfonal Hiftory of Marco Polo and 
in fuch Enquiries. his Family, of which in as few Words as polfible we fhall 
The Travels of Marco Polo are indeed very old, and are give the Reader a Relation \ which, though not abfolutely 
come into our Hands with confiderable Defeats, but they neceffary, to the uqderftanding the Book, will be found 
are very valuable for all that, and very well worthy of our ufeful and entertaining. 
Attention. He was the Columbus of the Eajl-Indies, the 2. Signior Nicolo Polo, the Father of cur Author,' and 
firft that gave a certain and diftindt Account of the Sea be- his Brother Signior Maffio, began their Travels from Con* 
yond China , and of the free Pafiage thereby through all Jiantinople in the Year 1250, and having proceeded to the 
the Iflands of the Eaft- Indies, back into thofe Countries that Court of the Grand Khan of Part ary, refided there for 
were very well known. It is true, that a great Part of many Years, and returned, as the Reader will fee, to Venice , 
what he related, though delivered with much Solemnity, about the Year 1269, where they found the Wife of Sig- 
and confirmed by the ftrongeft Afleverations, was much nior Nicolo deceafed, and her Son, of whom ihe was left 
called in Queftion, and thought in fome meafure beyond big at the Time of their Departure, a well accompli (lied 
all Belief. But fubfequent Difcoveries have baniflied this Youth, of nineteen Years of Age. Him they carried back 
Incredulity, and what were once efteemed Fables have been with them to the Court of the Khan, and after having fpent 
Mi mb. XLL • ■- y M ■■ twenty- 
