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Marco Polo, Rustichello of Pisa - The Travels of Marco Polo, 1
And whan hem liketh, voideth it anon."
- The Franklin's Tale, II. 454.
Performances of this kind at Chinese festivities have already been spoken of in note 9 to ch. lxi. of Book
I. Shah Rukh's people, Odoric, Ysbrandt Ides, etc., describe them also. The practice of introducing
such artistes into the dining-hall after dinner seems in that age to have been usual also in Europe.
See, for example, Wright's Domestic Manners, pp. 165-166, and the Court of the Emperor
Frederic II., in Kington's Life of that prince, I. 470. (See also N. et E. XIV. 410;
Cathay, 143; Ysb. Ides, p. 95.)
CHAPTER XIV. CONCERNING THE GREAT FEAST HELD BY THE GRAND KAAN EVERY
YEAR ON HIS BIRTHDAY.
You must know that the Tartars keep high festival yearly on their birthdays. And the Great Kaan was
born on the 28th day of the September moon, so on that day is held the greatest feast of the year at the
Kaan's Court, always excepting that which he holds on New Year's Day, of which I shall tell you
afterwards.[NOTE 1]
Now, on his birthday, the Great Kaan dresses in the best of his robes, all wrought with beaten
gold;[NOTE 2] and full 12,000 Barons and Knights on that day come forth dressed in robes of the same
colour, and precisely like those of the Great Kaan, except that they are not so costly; but still they are all
of the same colour as his, and are also of silk and gold. Every man so clothed has also a girdle of gold;
and this as well as the dress is given him by the Sovereign. And I will aver that there are some of these
suits decked with so many pearls and precious stones that a single suit shall be worth full 10,000 golden
bezants.
And of such raiment there are several sets. For you must know that the Great Kaan, thirteen times in the
year, presents to his Barons and Knights such suits of raiment as I am speaking of.[NOTE 3] And on
each occasion they wear the same colour that he does, a different colour being assigned to each festival.
Hence you may see what a huge business it is, and that there is no prince in the world but he alone who
could keep up such customs as these.
On his birthday also, all the Tartars in the world, and all the countries and governments that owe
allegiance to the Kaan, offer him great presents according to their several ability, and as prescription or
orders have fixed the amount. And many other persons also come with great presents to the Kaan, in
order to beg for some employment from him. And the Great Kaan has chosen twelve Barons on whom is
laid the charge of assigning to each of these supplicants a suitable answer.
On this day likewise all the Idolaters, all the Saracens, and all the Christians and other descriptions of
people make great and solemn devotions, with much chaunting and lighting of lamps and burning of
incense, each to the God whom he doth worship, praying that He would save the Emperor, and grant him
long life and health and happiness.
And thus, as I have related, is celebrated the joyous feast of the Kaan's birthday.[NOTE 4]
Now I will tell you of another festival which the Kaan holds at the New Year, and which is called the
White Feast.
NOTE 1. - The Chinese Year commences, according to Duhalde, with the New Moon nearest to the Sun's
Passage of the middle point of Aquarius; according to Pauthier, with the New Moon immediately
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