MISCELLANEA.
JUNE 7, 1872.]
supposed to dwell. Afterwards on the lake-side a palm tree grew up, which only appeared during the day, sinking into the earth at twilight. One morn ing a rash pilgrim seated himself upon the tree-top, and was borne into the skies, where the flames of
the sun consumed him. The palm then shrivelled into dust, and in its place appeared an image of the spirit of the lake, which is worshipped under the name of Taroba. Formerly at the call of pilgrims, all necessary vessels rose from the lake, and after being used were washed and returned to the waters. But at last one evil-minded man took those he had
received to his home ; they quickly vanished, and from that day the mystic provision wholly ceased. In quiet nights the country-folk still hear faint sounds of drum and trumpet passing round the lake. “She is not dead, she has no grave, She lives beneath Lough Ullin's water,
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you have travelled those fifteen days through such a difficult country as I have described, in which travellers have to carry provision for the road be cause there are no inhabitants, then you arrive at the capital city of this province of Mien, and it also is called Amien and is a very great and noble city.” —(Yule's Marco Polo, II., 45, 52, 70-2.) This pas sage has presented considerable difficulty to Col. Yule in his admirable commentary, because, as it seems to us, he has erroneously counted the 17; days’ journey from Yungchan. Col. Yule is thus driven to the supposition that Marco Polo descended from Yungchan to the Shweli tributary of the Ira wadi, and performed the rest of the distance by water. There are many difficulties in the way of this supposition, a supposition however which is rendered necessary on the assumption that Marco Polo's distances are to be calculated from Yungchan.
And in the murmur of each wave,
But it will be observed that Marco Polo speaks
Methinks I catch the songs I taught her.”
of leaving the province merely and not the town. This province is called Kardandan, a name however which is probably only used to designate a portion of Karazan, a word which Dr. Anderson would con
The old men say that in one dry year, when the waters sank low, golden pinnacles of the fairy tem ple were seen glittering in the depths.
nect with the Kananzan mountains north-east of Mo
“On Lough Neagh's banks as the fisherman strays, On a cold calm eve's declining, He sees the round towers of other days, In the waves beneath him shining.”
The lake is much visited, especially during the months of December and January ; and the rites of the god are performed by a Gond. Wives seek its waters for their supposed virtue in causing fer tility, and sick persons for health. Fish in the lake grow to a large size, the skeleton of one which was stranded some years ago measuring 8 feet in length.
mien, and which probably included most of the country which now goes by the name of Yunan. Of Marco Polo's descent of 24 days’ journey Dr. Ander son writes:– “I do not know of any more correct
description that could be given of the descent from the Shan states over the Kakhyen hills to Burmah.
- * * Starting from the Shan-Chinese town of
Manwyne at the eastern end of the Sanda valley, where the descent begins, the journey occupies ex actly two days and a half. So closely does Marco Polo's account of the route to Burmah coincide with
MARCO POLO'S ROUTE FROM YUNAN.
IN his report on Western Yunan Dr. Anderson seeks to identify the route traversed by the expedi tion from Bhamo to Momein with that described by Marco Polo as having been taken by him on his journey from the Court of the Great Khan to the capital of Mien or Burmah. So far as any conclu sions can be drawn from so fragmentary a narrative as that of the famous old traveller, the supposition seems probable enough. Marco Polo's route seems to have been from Yunan (Karazan) ten days jour ney to Talifu (Yachi); and thence five days jour ney to Yungchan (Vochang). After leaving this province, Marco Polo goes on to say, “ you come to a great descent ; in fact you ride for two days and a half continually down hill. On all this de scent there is nothing worthy of mention except only that there is a large place there where occasionally a great market is held. * * * After you have ridden those two days and a half down hill, you find
yourself in a province towards the south which is pretty near to India, and this province is called
the two roads that follow the valley of the Tapeng over which I travelled, that I cannot but conclude that it referred to one of them ; but his description being devoid of details, it is impossible to say which of the two routes he had in view." Dr. Anderson would further fix the market referred to at Old Bha
mo, which he says, is distant from the capital of Mien or New Pagan in a straight line about 250 miles. Dr. Anderson endeavours to strengthen his position by a reference to certain curious customs which are mentioned by Marco Polo and of which he found traces in the Shan states.
Such customs
are the use of tallies, the consultation of persons supposed to be possessed of a devil, the docking of horses' tails, and the relative values of gold and silver. But after the lapse of six centuries, we are not inclined to attach much weight to mere coin
cidences of this nature, at any rate in determining the line of direction of any particular route. All that can be said is that Dr. Anderson's supposition
is as probable as any other—he found traces of
woods abounding in elephants and unicorns and
a substantial bridged road the whole way from Bhamo to Momien –and more probable than that advanced by Col. Yule. We have no doubt that that
numbers of other wild beasts.
eminent sávant will find much in Dr. Anderson's
Amein.
You travel therein for fifteen days through
a very unfrequented country and through great
And when
