Marco Polo's Voyage to Indian Seas: 49: The End of Acomat

There was a grand old Tartar baron, who felt much pity for the prisoner and bethought him how wicked it was to keep their lord in this condition.  He resolved to attempt his deliverance.  He talked about this to many other chiefs, who were convinced of his point, and found it wise way.  Then Boga, from whom the proposal came, together with other chiefs went to the prisoner. Boga, the eldest spoke to him thus, "Noble prince, we are now fully sensible of having acted wickedly towards you, and have determined to seek a right path.  We will therefore deliver and own you as justly our liege lord." Argon thought they were mocking him, said, "My lords! You have done wrong enough in seizing your sovereign and making him a captive. Pray depart, and do not make him a subject of mockery."

"Illustrious prince, said Boga, "We speak the truth, and will make oath to it according to our law." Then all the barons swore that they would obey him as their lord, while he in return bound himself in no degree to resent the past wrongs, but hold each of them as dear as Abaga, his father.  They then freed him from his chains and paid homage to him. He now ordered them to discharge the arrows against the tent of the melic, and that the chief named Sodan, who was the first after Acomat, and the commander of the whole host, was quickly slain.

Finding himself thus lord of all, he gave orders to march to the court, and was instantly obeyed. After this, one day, when Acomat was holding a splendid festival in his palace, a messenger came to him and said, "Sire, I bring you with regret unwelcome tidings, the barons had delivered Argon, owned him as lord, and killed Soldan, your faithful friend. They are coming now, with utmost speed to take you and slay you." He was then silent, but the other was completely amazed and terrified.  However, as a bold and brave man, he ordered the messenger not to say a word to a living creature; then mounting on horseback, set out with a few trusty servants, to seek refuge with the Sultan of Babylon, leaving all in ignorance as to where he had gone.  After marching six days, he came to the only pass by which he could penetrate.  The commander who guarded it knew him, and seeing him fleeing with only a few adherents, determined to seize him. Acomat entreated for mercy, and offered a great treasure as the price of liberty, but the other being greatly attached to Argon, and replied that the wealth of whole world would not prevent his placing him in his master's hands.  He prepared a large company, and set out with his captive, and took care that he remains under his guard.  They rode to the court where Argon had arrived 
only three days before.  He was vexed to see that his uncle had escaped.  When the guardian of the pass brought the fugitive before his presence he felt very much happy.  He received Acomat sternly, and commanded him to be led forth and slain.  This mandate was speedily executed and the body was thrown into an unidentified place.

End of the Section 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

( 16 )CHARLES DICKENS: DAVID COPPERFIELD: CHAPTER 16: I AM A NEW BOY IN MORE SENSES THAN ONE

Next morning, after breakfast, I entered on school life again.  I went, accompanied by Mr Wickfield to the scene of my future studies- a grave building in a courtyard, with a learned air about it that suited very well to the stray rooks and jackdaws who came down from the Cathedral tower to walk with a clerkly bearing on the grass plot - and was introduced to my new master, Doctor Strong. Doctor Strong looked almost as rusty, to my thinking, as the tall iron rails and gates outside the house; and almost as stiff and heavy as the great stone urn that flanked them, and were set up, on the top of red brick wall, at regular distances all round the court, like sublimated skittles for Time to play at.  Doctor Strong was in his library, with his clothes not particularly well brushed, and his hair not particularly combed, his knee-small unbraced, his long black gaiters unbuttoned, and his shoes  yawning like two caverns on the hearth-rug.  Turning upon me a lustreless eye, t...
Read more

Sailing Around Erethraean Sea: Three

Updated 29/11/2024 Below the Calf-Eaters there is a little market-town on the shore after sailing about four thousand stadia from Berenice, called Ptolemais of Hunts, from which the hunters started for the interior under the dynasty of Ptolemies. This market town has true land to rtoise in small quantities; it is white and smaller in the shells. And here also is found a little ivory, like that of Adulis. But the place has no harbour, and is reached by small boats. 1. Calf-Eaters: Cattle rearing nomadic tribes. 2. Stadia is the plural of stadion. Ten  stadia= one mile. 3. Ptolemais of Hunts: Ptolemies Theron is the exact Greek term,  located at the Bay of Anfile or Amphila Bay on the coast of Eritrea. Facing the bay is Hando island. It is, in fact, a double bay, an inner bay within, between promontories M'edr and Lelisa. End of the Section 
Read more

Sailing Around Erythraean Sea: Seven

In Section six the unknown sailor was at Zula (ancient Adulis). He had been giving an account of imports and exports to Zula and other ports he covered earlier. From this place the Arabian Gulf trends toward the east and become narrow just before the Gulf of Avalites.  After about four thousand stadia [about four hundred miles or six hundred and forty kilometres] for those sailing eastward along the same coast there are other Berber market-towns, known as the "far-side ports; lying at intervals one after the other without harbours but having roadsteads where ships can anchor and lie in good weather. The first is called Avalites; to this place the voyage from Arabia to far-side coast is shortest. Here there is a small market-town called Avalites, which must be reached by boats and rafts. There are imported into this place, flint glass assorted, juice of sour grapes from Diospolis,  dressed cloth assorted, made for the Berbers; wheat, wine and a little tin. There are exported f...
Read more