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POLL TAX 296 POLO Professor of Common Law (1884). Be- side "Spinoza; his Life and Philosophy" (1880), he published, among other valu- able legal works: "Principles of Con- tract" (1875); "Digest of the Law of Partnership" (1877); "Law of Torts" (1887); and "Oxford Lectures" (1891). His younger brother, Walter Herries Pollock, born Feb. 21, 1850, and like- wise educated at Eton and Trinity, was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1874, and 10 years later became editor of the "Saturday Review." He wrote 'Lectures on French Poets," "The Pic- ture's Secret," "Verses of Two Tongues," 'A Nine Men's Morrice," "Old and New," etc. George Frederick Pollock, born in 1821, third son of the first baronet, became a master of the Supreme Court of Judicature; and the fourth son. Sir Charles Edward, born in 1823, became a baron of Exchequer and judge of the High Court. Sir George Pollock, field-marshal; born in Westminster June 4, 1786, and entered the army of the East India Com- pany as lieutenant of artillery in 1803. He engaged in active warfare, in the battle and siege of Deig in Bhartpur (1804), at the siege of Bhartpur (1805), and in other operations against Holkar. Was in the Nepal (Goorkha) campaigns of 1814-1816, and in the first Burmese War (1824-1826), winning his colonelcy. In 1838 he reached the rank of major- general. After the massacre of General Elphinstone and his forces in the passes of Afghanistan the Indian government decided to send a force to the relief of Sir Robert Sale, who was shut up in Jelalabad. The command of the reliev- ing force was given to General Pollock. In April, 1842 (5th to 16th), he forced the Khyber Pass, and reached Sir Rob- ert Sale; then, after a few months' de- lay he pushed on to Kabul to rescue the British prisoners in the hands of Akbar Khan. He defeated the Afghan^ chief at Tezeen and recovered 135 British pris- oners. Then after being joined by the forces of General _Nott, he successfully conducted the united armies back to India. He was rewarded with a G. C. B. and a political appointment at Lucknow, He returned to England in 1846, was director of the East India Company for a couple of years (1854-1856), and was created a field-marshal in 1870, and a iaronet in 1872; in 1871 he was ap- pointed to the honorable office of con- stable of the Tower. He died Oct. 6, 1872, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. POLL TAX, a tax levied per head in proportion to the rank or fortune of the individual; a capitation tax. This tax was first levied in England in 1377 and 1380, to defray the expenses of the French War; its collection in 1381 led to the insurrection of Wat Tyler. In the United States a poll tax (varying from 25 cents to $3 annually) is levied in some of the States, in addition to the taxes on property. In some States its payment is a necessary prerequisite for voting. POLLUX, a celebrated hero of the Grecian mythology, and twin brother of Castor, after whose death he implored Jupiter to render him immortal. His prayer could not be entirely granted, but Jupiter divided immortality between the brothers, each living and dying alter- nately. In astronomy, one of the twins forming the constellation Gemini. Also the name of a star of the second magni- tude in the same constellation. In min- eralogy, a hydrated silicate of alumina, potash, and soda, remarkable for con- taining 34 per cent, of cassium. It is a rare mineral. POLO, an equestrian game, which may be shortly described as hockey on horse- back. It is of Oriental origin and of high antiquity; indeed, it has been claimed that it can be traced back to 600 B. C. Polo was first played by Euro- peans in 1863 in Calcutta. Almost the same game exists in Tibet; while native equestrian games more or less closely resembling polo are played in Japan and other parts of the East, Since 1871 many polo clubs have been started in Great Britain and, since 1876, in the United States, as well as wherever Britons are found in the East. The principal British club which makes the rules of the game, is at Hurlingham, near London. POLO, MARCO, a Venetian traveler of the 13th century, the son of a mer- chant, who, with his brother, had pene- trated to the court of Kublai, the great khan of the Tartars. This prince, be- ing highly entertained with their ac- count of Europe, made them his ambas- sadors to the Pope; on which they traveled back to Rome, and with two missionaries, once more visited Tartary, accompanied by the young^ Marco, who became a great favorite with the khan. Having acquired the different dialects of Tartary, he was employed on various embassies; and after a residence of 17 years, all the three Venetians returned to their own country in 1295, with im- mense wealth. Marco afterward served his country at sea against the Genoese, and, being taken prisoner, remained many years in confinement, where he wrote his "Travels." An English trans-