Marco Polo in Central Asia: 37: The Province of Ginghintalas [1]

Ginghintalas is a province near to Lop Nur desert, sixteen days journey in extend.  The province is under great Khan. There are cities and castles in the province.  The inhabitants are of three kinds: the idolaters, Nestorian Christians and the adorers of Mohammed.  On the boarders of it, towards north is a mountain containing very abundant vein of copper and antimony.  There is also one from which is made salamander, but do not suppose this is the animal so called, for no creature can live in the fire, because it is compounded of the four elements.  It is only through the ignorance that the salamander [2] is called an animal.  A Turk named Zurficar, who was very learned, and governor of this province for three years under the great Khan, being much employed in the working of the mines gave me an account of it.  When this ore is taken from the mountain, and is broken, it strings together and forms a thread like wool, it forms cloth, which is dingy in colour at first, but when placed in the fire and left there for some time, it becomes white as snow, without dirt or stain.  This is the truth of salamander, and everything else said about it on the fable.  I can tell you too, that at Rome there is a cloth which great Khan sent to the Pope as a costly present, and the sudarium [3] of our Lord was placed within it. Now, let us tell you of other provinces to the south-east and east.

1. Ginghintalas: Modern day Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in Northwest China.  It is an autonomous region for the Hui people, one of the 56 officially recognised nationalities of China.

2. Salamander is a mythical animal that was able to withstand fire. But here it refers to a kind of fire resistant asbestos 
 
3. Sudarium: The cloth that was used to cover the face of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion.  It is currently housed in the Cathedral of San Salvador in Oviedo, Spain.

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