Marco Polo in Central Asia: 29: City of Samarcan [1]

Samarcan is a very great and noble city, lying to the south, inhabited by Christians and Saracens.  The people are governed by the nephew of the great Khan, who however is not his friend but in open hostility.  I have to tell you a great wonder which happened in this city.  I must tell you that very not long ago, Ciagatai, brother to the great Khan, became a Christian, and was lord of that and of many other countries.  The believers of Samarcan rejoiced greatly at his conversion, and erected a large church in honour of it, hearing the name of St John the Baptist.  They took a large fine stone belonging to the Saracens, and made it the base of a column, which rose in the middle of the edifice, and supported the whole roof.  Now it came to pass that Ciagatai died, whereupon the Mohammedans, having been much enraged at this stone being taken for the use of the church, consulted each other how to recover it by force.  This they could now easily do, being ten to one their adversaries. Several of their elders went and told the Christians that they wished to receive the slab, which had been formerly theirs.  The latter said that they would willingly restore it, but for the injury it would do to their building, and offered to pay a fair price for it. The others said that they wished neither gold nor treasure, but must have their stone.  The government now belonged to the nephew of great Khan, who commanded that within two days it should be restored.  When the Christians received that order they were much grieved, and knew not what to do.  They went, however, and with many tears implored John the Baptist to relieve them in this tribulation.  On the morning of the day the stone was to be returned, the pillar, by the power of our lord, rose up at least three palms, and supported itself as well as when the stone was within it, and has continued to do so till this day.  This was and still is accounted one of the greatest miracle, that ever happened in the world.  Now, let me tell you of the province Yarcan.

Notes:-
1 Samarcan: Samarkand in Uzbekistan. It is lying around 750 miles northwest of Kashgar, his previous station. Either he was telling from his memory or that he had not visited. As it is known that his prison mate Rustichello wrote the document on behalf of him. Also recollect that Marco was born in the absence of his father and uncle, and his mother died before their return. It is a wonder that the boy had survived his infancy without the care of his mother and the protection of his father.
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