Marco Polo: Description of Hangzhou

Glossary

• bezants gold coins
• Cathay in Marco Polo’s time, northern China
• Chagan ancient imperial capital of China; eastern terminus of the Silk Road
• chaunted chanted
• demesne the palace grounds
• eminence a natural elevation
• francolins birds in the pheasant family
• Ganfu ancient name for Canton but here meant to designate a port of Kinsay
• Great Kaan Kublai Khan
• Manzi in Marco Polo’s time, southern China
• Ocean Sea the South China Sea
• Venice groat of silver a thick silver coin issued by Venice in the thirteenth century
• women of the town prostitutes