Marco Polo: The Half Has Never Been Told
Many years ago, around the time that Marco Polo was born, people knew very little about the world around them. There was no internet, no google-maps and no aeroplanes. Apart from Egypt, many Europeans knew nothing of Africa.
Europeans also knew nothing of North America, nothing of South America, and nothing of Australia, — -the continent down under.
And what about Asia?
Well, the Bible mentioned some stories about Asia; stories like that of the wise men from the East who had come to visit Baby Jesus. This revealed to Europeans that the East had people, — there was some life in the East, at least Jesus was born there.
While they knew something about Asia, it was only a tiny bit. Asia was still like a dream in the minds of people.
Marco Polo was born in Venice, a prominent city in Italy. Venice was at the centre of European business and learning. Born among businessmen, Marco Polo’s father became a businessman. They were doing business as far as Turkey, many miles away from Venice.
One time Marco Polo’s father and his uncle went on business trip to Turkey, to the city which is now known as Istanbul. Long time ago, it was known as Constantinople. On reaching Istanbul, they crossed the black sea to the Crimea.
After finishing their business, they started the return-trip back to Venice.
But they found it impossible to travel back on the road they had used. There was serious fighting around the area. They were trapped in a foreign land!
“What will we do now?” They asked themselves, frustrated and upset.
As they could not go back, they went forward, travelling through hostile weather and hostile terrain to eventually find themselves in a vast country called China!
But China was then known as Cathay. It was ruled by an emperor called Kublai Khan. Emperor Kublai Khan warmly welcomed the two European visitors.
“So, how is Europe?”
“Which plants do you grow?”
“How are your cities built?”
The Emperor wanted to know more about Europe. He also wanted to know more about Christianity and more about ancient city of Rome.
After some months, Emperor Khan sent the two European visitors back to Europe with a message to the Pope. He wanted the pope to send 100 Christian missionaries to China to help convert the Chinese to Christianity.
Marco Polo’s father and uncle returned to Europe with a promise to come back to China later on. They were very excited to tell the stories about their trip to China.
But Marco Polo’s father was met with devastating news.
Marco Polo’s mother had passed away while he was in China!
Marco Polo, now a teenager, was under the care of an uncle. Nevertheless, Marco Polo was excited to see his father after such a long time.
The pope had also just died. They could not get the 100 missionaries that Emperor Khan had requested for. But they were determined to return to China.
On the return trip to China, the father did not leave the son behind.
Marco Polo saw many interesting things on his travel to China.
He saw big, beautiful cities with straight streets and handsome houses. The streets of the main city had shady trees planted on both sides of the street forming a beautiful canopy. Where there were no trees, shiny stones were placed on both sides of the street.
Many towns had massive walls all around them.
Marco Polo went on to describe how the Chinese used paper money for buying and selling. In Europe at this time, money was still in the form of heavy metal coins.
And the Chinese were using stones as lamps!
Marco Polo described how the Chinese were digging up these shiny, black stones from the sides of the mountains. When lighted, these black stones burned like charcoal and retained fire even better than wood!
In fact, these black stones could burn continually through the night without going out! Though the black stones did not give out bright, orange flames, they provided more than enough light.
And what did he find on the dinner tables of the Chinese?
He found that the Chinese had a rich supply of food. They also had a rich variety. However, rice and millet was almost always served on the table.
Unlike in Europe, Marco Polo found that the Chinese rarely ate bread and wheat always yielded only a poor, measly harvest.
And just like in Europe, the Chinese made wine in plenty. But Marco polo found that they used rice to make wine, and not grapes! The rice was mixed with various spices.
But the hunting life of the Chinese was even more strange.
We think that dogs are the only hunters but in China, people trained leopards to help them hunt deer, antelopes and gazelles.
Yes, Leopards!
But that is not all.
Chinese lions were of a different kind. They were larger and more handsome. Their beautiful skins were streaked with white, black and red stripes.
And the Chinese also used lions in hunting! The lions were put in the company of dogs.
Emperor Khan also had trained eagles. These strong eagles seized animals as large as wolves!
The Chinese had many celebrations as well.
One of the greatest ceremonies was the white festival. All the Chinese sent to the emperor some valuable presents. On this day, the emperor’s elephants, five thousand in number, were all dressed in white. Food was served in plenty and music was played. Towards the end of the ceremony, a lion was conducted into the presence of the emperor.
But the lion had been tamed that it was taught to lie down like a pussy cat at the emperor’s feet!
Marco Polo stayed in China for 17 years. When they came back to Venice, people could not recognize them.
Soon after returning, war broke out in Venice. Marco Polo was captured. While in prison, Marco Polo dictated his story to a writer who was in the same prison. The writer was called Rustichello.
Marco Polo’s book caused a stir in Europe. Many people wanted to read stories about China; about funny animals, a strange king and strange money.
But many people also doubted.
“Did he even go to China?” They sneered.
They called his book, “The Million Lies.”
When Marco Polo was on his deathbed in 1324, visitors urged him to admit the book was fiction, to which he famously proclaimed, “I have not told half of what I saw.”
Those are the same words which the queen of Sheba said when he visited King Solomon. She had heard of the wisdom of Solomon. Yet when she finally met King Solomon, she realized that what she had been told about King Solomon was only a half.
Could it also be true that what we have read about the love of Jesus is only one half?
Yes!
The other half has never been told!
