Travels Of Marco Polo: Sixty Three: The Province of Kangigu

Kangigu [1] is a province towards east, subject to a king; the people are all idolators; have a language of their own; they pay annual tribute to Khan. The king is so lucky to have three hundred wives, for as soon as he hears of a beautiful woman he takes her to himself.  The people have gold many precious spices; but being far from the sea their commodities do not bring attractive prices. They have many elephants and beasts of various other kinds.  All the men and women paint their bodies, the colours being worked in with the claws of lions, dragons, and eagles, and thus never effaced.  In this manner they stain their neck, breasts, hands, limbs, and indeed their whole persons.  This is considered extremely genteel, and the more anyone is painted, the higher is his rank considered.  Now let us tell you of another province named Amu.
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1. The route here evidently lies accross Modern day Assam, and Kashgar or Kashi, a city in Tarim Basin region of China, located near the country's boarder with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.  Exact location is not identified.

End of the Section 

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