Travels Of Marco Polo: Forty Two: The Astrologers of Kambalu

In the city of Kambalu, lives Christians, Saracens, the natives, astrologers and sooth sayers and all of them receive food and clothing from the Emperor, as do the poor families and they are either preaching or practising their art. They have astrolabes [1] on which are delineated the planetary signs, the hours of passing the meridian, and their successive aspects during the whole year. The astrologers of each separate sect annually examine their respective tables to ascertain therefrom the course of heavenly bodies, and their relative position for every lunation. [2]  From the paths of the configuration of the planets in the several signs, they foretell the state of the weather and the peculiar phenomenon which are to occur in a month.  For example, as per one sign there will be an earthquake, and as per another there will be thunder storm, still another will show rain and floods, and the fourth one will show, pestilence [3] The astrologers may say that this may or may not happen according to the will of God.

Their annual forecast is written on a small square called Takuini which are sold at a moderate. Those whose forecast happens appears nearly correct is bound to draw more clients and more honour.

The Tartars compute time by a circle of twelve years, the first of which they name Lion, the second ox, then dragon, dog, and so on. Thus a person may be born in the sign of Lion or dog.  When anyone wishes to undertake any new projects, or a long journey he approaches the astrologer to find out the auspicious time to start it. The astrologer, based on the client's sign of birth, the day, the month and the year of birth find out whether the celestial bodies are in his favour. Based on this he forecasts whether the enterprise will win or lose.

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1. Astrolabe: A medieval instrument that was used to determine the altitude of Sun or other celestial bodies. It enabled the astronomers to calculate the position of sun and prominent stars with respect to horizen and the meridian. The astrologers of each separate sects annually examine their respective tables 

2. Lunation: The time that elapses between successive new moons averaging 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes.

3. These forecasts may sometimes come true. And the person who makes this forecast will become very famous. This can be regarded as an ancient knowledge. But we have scientific method in certain areas. But here also elements of forecasting exists.