favourite wife the Khatun Bulughán; and, mourning her sorely, took
steps to fulfil her dying injunction that her place should be filled
only by a lady of her own kin, the Mongol Tribe of Bayaut. Ambassadors
were despatched to the Court of Kaan-baligh to seek such a bride. The
message was courteously received, and the choice fell on the lady
Kokáchin, a maiden of 17, “_moult bele dame et avenant_.” The overland
road from Peking to Tabriz was not only of portentous length for such
a tender charge, but was imperilled by war, so the envoys desired to
return by sea. Tartars in general were strangers to all navigation; and
the envoys, much taken with the Venetians, and eager to profit by their
experience, especially as Marco had just then returned from his Indian
mission, begged the Kaan as a favour to send the three _Firinghis_
in their company. He consented with reluctance, but, having done so,
fitted the party out nobly for the voyage, charging the Polos with
friendly messages for the potentates of Europe, including the King of
England. They appear to have sailed from the port of Zayton (as the
Westerns called T’swan-chau or Chin-cheu in Fo-kien) in the beginning
of 1292. It was an ill-starred voyage, involving long detentions on
the coast of Sumatra, and in the South of India, to which, however,
we are indebted for some of the best chapters in the book; and two
years or upwards passed before they arrived at their destination in
Persia.[19] The three hardy Venetians survived all perils, and so did
the lady, who had come to look on them with filial regard; but two of
the three envoys, and a vast proportion of the suite, had perished by
the way.[20] Arghún Khan too had been dead even before they quitted
China;[21] his brother Kaikhátú reigned in his stead; and his son
Gházán succeeded to the lady’s hand. We are told by one who knew both
the princes well that Arghún was one of the handsomest men of his time,
whilst Gházán was, among all his host, one of the most insignificant in
appearance. But in other respects the lady’s change was for the better.
Gházán had some of the highest qualities of a soldier, a legislator and
a king, adorned by many and varied accomplishments; though his reign
was too short for the full development of his fame.
[Sidenote: They pass by Persia to Venice. Their relations there.]