Travels Of Marco Polo: Eighty Six: Revenue of Great Khan

I will now tell you of the large revenue that the great Khan draws from this city, and the territory under its jurisdiction, which is the nineth part of Manji.[1] The salt of that country yields him eighty tomans [2]of gold. More sugar is produced here, bringing very large revenue.  Large taxes are also derived from the sale of wine.  Also taxes from the sale of rice, coal, and from twelve arts. Every article including silk is taxable.  The total annual revenue from all of these comes to 14,700,000 saiks. [3]

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1. Manji: Modern day Nanjing, 305 kilometres northwest of Shanghai.

2. A toman is equal to 10000 dinars or 3 pounds.

3. Saiks or Sak is equivalent to 1/4 of silver dinar.

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