ABSTRACT
According to the Description of the World the three Italians travelled southwards following the Mongol Khan's court into China, to 'Seres', the land of silk, which lay to the eastern edge of the world; and here they were truly pioneering European travellers. The new ruler of China, Qubilai Khan, impressed the Polos enormously. Like many later travellers to China, Marco Polo described concubinage in great detail. Like his contemporaries, Marco Polo was greatly impressed by the military power of the Mongols. Overwhelmed by the banquets, official audiences, hunting parties, and thousands of guards and palace servants, the Polos appear not to have done any trading during the years they spent in China. In fact from the Prologue to the Description of the World, it would appear that Marco Polo would have had little time for salt administration, since he spent the great part of his time travelling enormous distances on the Khan's business.
