Marco Polo in Central Asia: 38: The Province of Succiur

When you have departed from the province now described you go ten days in the same direction. In all that there are few habitations, nor does anything occurs worth mentioning. Then you find a district called Succiur [1] with a capital of the same name.  The people are Christians and idolaters, and under the great Khan.  All the provinces last described belonged to the general one, named Tangut.  Through all its mountains rhubarb is found in abundance, which the merchants buy and carry to other parts.  The merchants cannot take the road to the mountains with animals, because a poisonous plant grows on the way, which if eaten by the animals causes their hoofs to drop off. But the native animals, having learned its dangerous quality, carefully avoid it.  The people live by the fruits of earth, but attend little to merchandise.  Now I must tell you of another city.

Notes:- 

1. Succiur: Likely, the city of Suzhou west of Shanghai. It is known for its canals, bridges, and classical gardens. It is around 110 kilometres west of Shanghai, by the Taihu Lake 

End of the Section 

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