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Marco Polo, Rustichello of Pisa - The Travels of Marco Polo, 1
The third of these corresponds closely with Polo's etymology of "knights devoted to their lord," but
perhaps either the first or the last may afford the real derivation.
In spite of the different initials ([Arabic] instead of [Arabic]), it can scarcely be doubted that the
Kalchi and Kalakchi of Timur's Institutes are mere mistranscriptions of the same word, e.g.:
"I ordered that 12,000 Kalchi, men of the sword completely armed, should be cantoned in the
Palace; to the right and to the left, to the front, and in the rear of the imperial diwan; thus, that 1000 of
those 12,000 should be every night upon guard," etc. The translator's note says of Kalchi, "A
Mogul word supposed to mean guards." We see that even the traditional number of 12,000, and
its division into four brigades, are maintained. (See Timour's Inst., pp. 299 and 235, 237.)
I must add that Professor Vambery does not assent to the form Keshikan, on the ground that this
Persian plural is impossible in an old Tartar dialect, and he supposes the true word to be Kechilan
or Kechiklen, "the night-watchers," from Kiche or Kichek (Chag. and Uighur), =
"night."
I believe, however, that Persian was the colloquial language of foreigners at the Kaan's court, who would
not scruple to make a Persian plural when wanted; whilst Rashid has exemplified the actual use of this
one.
(D'Ohsson, IV. 410; Gold. Horde, 228, 238; Ilch. II. 184; Q. R. pp.
308-309; Ayeen Akb. I. 270, and Blochmann's, p. 115; J. As. ser. IV. tom. xix.
276; Olearius, ed. 1659, I. 656; Cathay, 135; De Mailla, ix. 106; Gaubil,
p. 6; Pallas, Samml. I. 35.)
["By Keshican in Colonel Yule's Marco Polo, Keshikten is evidently meant. This
is a general Mongol term to designate the Khan's lifeguard. It is derived from the word Keshik,
meaning a guard by turns; a corps on tour of duty. Keshik is one of the archaisms of the Mongol
language, for now this word has another meaning in Mongol. Colonel Yule has brought together several
explanations of the term. It seems to me that among his suppositions the following is the most consistent
with the ancient meaning of the word: -
"We find Kishik still used at the court of Hindustan, under the great kings of Timur's House, for
the corps on tour of duty at the palace.... The royal guards in Persia, who watch the King's person at
night, are termed Keshikchi."
"The Keshikten was divided into a day-watch called Turgaut and a night-watch Kebteul.
The Kebte-ul consisted of pure Mongols, whilst the Turgaut was composed of the sons of the vassal
princes and governors of the provinces, and of hostages. The watch of the Khan was changed every three
days, and contained 400 men. In 1330 it was reduced to 100 men." (Palladius, 42-43.) Mr. E. H.
Parker writes in the China Review, XVIII. p. 262, that they "are evidently the 'body guards' of the
modern viceroys, now pronounced Kashiha, but, evidently, originally Keshigha." - H. C.]
[1] One of the nearest readings is that of the Brandenburg Latin collated
by Mueller, which has Quaesicam.
CHAPTER XIII. THE FASHION OF THE GREAT KAAN'S TABLE AT HIS HIGH
FEASTS.
And when the Great Kaan sits at table on any great court occasion, it is in this fashion. His table is
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