Anin or Aniu.-I have already pointed out that I seek this in the In relation to this M. Garnier territory about Lin-ngan and Homi. writes: "In starting from Muang Yong, or even if you prefer it from Xieng Hung (Kiang Hung of our maps). . . . it would be physically impossible in 25 days to get beyond the arc which I have laid down on your map. (viz., extending a few miles N.E. of Homi). There are scarcely any roads in those mountains, and easy lines of communication begin only after you have got to the Lin-ngan territory. In Marco Polo's days things were certainly not better, but the reverse. All that has been done of consequence in the way of roads, posts, and organization in the part of Yunnan between Lin-ngan and Xieng Hung, dates in some degree from the Yuen, but in a far greater degree from Kanghi." Hence, even with the Ramusian reading of the itinerary, we cannot place Anin much beyond the position indicated already.

Koloman. We have seen that the position of this region is probably near the western frontier of Kweichau. Adhering to Homi as the representative of Anin, and to the 8 days' journey of the text, the most probable position of Koloman would be about Lo-ping, which lies about 100 English miles in a straight line N. E. from Homi. The first character of the name here is again the same as the Lo of the Kolo tribes.

Beyond this point the difficulties of devising an interpretation, consistent at once with facts and with the text as it stands, become insuperable.

The narrative demands that from Koloman we should reach Fungul, a great and noble city, by travelling 12 days along a river, and that Fungul should be within 12 days' journey of Chingtufu, along the same river, or at least along rivers connected with it.

In advancing from the S.W., guided by the data afforded by the texts, we have not been able to carry the position of Fungul (Sinugul, or what not of G. T. and other MSS.) further north than Phungan. But it is impossible that Chingtufu should have been reached in 12 days from this point. Nor is it possible that a new post in a secluded position, like Phungan, could have merited to be described as "a great and noble city."

Baron v. Richthofen has favoured me with a note in which he shows that in reality the only place answering the more essential conditions of Fungul is Siuchau-fu at the union of the two great branches of the Yangtsze, viz. the Kinsha Kiang, and the Min Kiang from Chingtufu. (1) The distance from Siuchau to Chingtu by land travelling is just about 12 days, and the road is along a river. (2) In approaching "Fungul " from the south Polo met with a good many towns and villages. This would be the case along either of the navigable rivers that join the Yangtsze below Siuchau (or along that which joins above Siuchau, mentioned further on). (3) The large trade in silk up and down the river is a characteristic that could only apply to the Yangtsze.

These reasons are very strong; though some little doubt must sub

sist until we can explain the name (Fungul, or Sinugul) as applicable to Siuchau. And assuming Siuchau to be the city we must needs carry the position of Coloman considerably further north than Loping, and must presume the interval between Anin and Coloman to be greatly understated, through clerical or other error. With these assumptions we should place Polo's Coloman in the vicinity of Weining, one of the localities of Kolo tribes.

From a position near Weining it would be quite possible to reach Siuchau in 12 days, making use of the facilities afforded by one or other of the partially navigable rivers to which allusion has just been made.

"That one," says M. Garnier in a letter, "which enters the Kiang a little above Siu-chau-fu, the River of Lowatong, which was descended by our party, has

a branch to the eastward which is navigable up to about the latitude of Chao

tong. Is not

this probably Marco Polo's route? It is to this day a line much frequented, and one on which great works have been executed; among others two

iron suspen

the country in which we find them."

An extract from a Chinese Itinerary of this route, which M. Garnier has since communicated to me, shows that at a point 4 days from Weining the traveller may embark and continue his voyage to any point on the great Kiang.

We are obliged, indeed, to give up the attempt to keep to a line of communicating rivers throughout the whole 24 days. Nor do I see how it is possible to adhere to that condition literally without taking more material liberties with the text.

*Cuiju might be read Ciuju-representing Siuchau, but the difficulty about Fungul would remain.

VOL. II.

I

My theory of Polo's actual journey would be that he returned from Yunnanfu to Chingtufu through some part of the province of Kweichau, perhaps only its western extremity, but that he spoke of Caugigu, and probably of Anin, as he did of Bangala, from report only. And, in recapitulation, I would identify provisionally the localities spoken of in this difficult itinerary as follows: Caugigu with Kiang Hung; Anin with Homi; Coloman with the country about Weining in Western Kweichau; Fungul or Sinugul with Siuchau.

NOTE 7. Here the traveller gets back to the road-bifurcation near Juju, i.e. Chochau (ante p. 6), and thence commences to travel southward.

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London, John Murray, Albemarle Street

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