Marco Polo in Central Asia: 28: The Province of Cascar [1]

Caskar was an ancient kingdom, but now is under the dominion of the great Khan.  The cities and castles of Caskar are situated between north and east.  The people are idolators, who subsist by merchandise and manufactures.  There are fine gardens of vine yards and orchards. There is good supply of silk.  The merchants of the city go round the world as a part of carrying on their trade, but they are sordid and covetous.  Some Nestorian Christians reside here, observing their own customs and laws.  The people have a language of their own, and the province extends five days journey. Now let us leave it, and speak of Samarcan.

Note:-
1. Kashgar: Or as the Chinese call it Kashi was a city in the Tarim Basin region of China. Marco Polo's previous station was Belore (modern day Balochistan). Doubts may arise in the mind of readers whether he visited these places or he had been making use of some other accounts.  He is always picking some cities in the south and then some other on the opposite direction.  It may be recalled here that he related these to his prison mate Rustichello da Pisa, and the latter is writing this on behalf of Marco Polo.  Rustichello had written this under his pen name, Rusticiano.  Marco must have related this from his memory and it must have contents of which he had first hand knowledge as well as hearsay from other people. Marco's account might have served as a manual for merchants.
End of the Section 

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