his brothers, supported by many of the great officers and members of his family. Previously to his ascending the throne he had served as a volunteer in the army, and endeavoured to take a share in every enterprise. Not only was he brave and daring in action, but in point of judgment and military skill he was considered to be the most able and successful commander that ever led the Tartars to battle. From that period, however, he ceased to take the field in person, and entrusted the conduct of expeditions to his sons and captains, excepting in one instance, the occasion of which was as follows":—
The reader will kindly remember that I am not quoting Marco Polo in full, but extracting certain passages and piecing them together. To enter into minutiæ would occupy a volume.
"A young chief named Nayon, who was kinsman to Kublai, had succeeded to the dominion of many cities and provinces, which enabled him to bring into the field an army of four hundred thousand horse. Actuated by youthful vanity, upon finding himself at the head of so great a force, he formed in the year 1286 the design of throwing off his allegiance and usurping the sovereignty. With this view he privately despatched messengers to Kaidu, another powerful chief, whose territories lay towards Turkestan, who, although a nephew of the Grand Khan, was in rebellion against him. To Kaidu the propositions made by Nayon were highly satisfactory, and he promised to bring to his assistance an army of a hundred thousand horse.
"The assembly of the rebel force could not be effected
