The Travels of Marco Polo

Kaidu proves to be a successful warrior and makes war on another of the Great Khan's sons, Nomogan, at Karakorum. The battle is savage and features a great many men: “their numbers were about equal—neither exceeding sixty thousand horsemen well armed with bows and arrows, and each with a sword, mace, and shield” (4444-45). Polo includes a description of a nacar, a sort of drum, that Mongols must hear before they are allowed to begin a battle. The two sides grind each other down, but neither army gives ground. Kaidu breaks off the attack when he finds out that his uncle has sent an army against him.

The Great Khan has said that if Kaidu “had not been his nephew, he should not have escaped a dark death” (4467-68). The Great Khan breaks off the assault he had ordered against Kaidu.

Kaidu had a daughter who wanted to choose her own mate: “This damsel was so strong that there was no young man in the whole kingdom who could overcome her” (4472-73). She put out a challenge that any men who could physically defeat her could have her. None did. The daughter accompanied her father into battle.

Abaga, described as “the Lord of the East” (4496), owned many lands, including some neighboring those ruled by Kaidu, who had been ravaging many lands, including some owned by Abaga. The two went into battle against each other, Kaidu through his brother, Barac, and Ababa through his son, Arghun. The result was that “the army of Barac was overpowered, and pushed with great slaughter over the river” (4501).

Arghun had defeated Barac, but Arghun's father, Ababa, had died. Arghun then had to turn back a succession challenge from his uncle, Acomat Soldan, who seized control of the kingdom first.

The two men and their armies come to blows. Polo includes speeches by the two leaders, to their respective followers. Then, the fierce fighting begins:

Arghun himself displayed extraordinary valor and set an example to all his men, it was in vain, for fortune turned against him and his men were compelled to fly, closely pursued by Acomat and his men, who worked havoc upon them (4555-57).

Acomat has his nephew confined but not killed.

A prominent baron persuades his fellow barons to help free the dead king's son. Arghun commands his loyal men to kill Acomat's chief lieutenant. Fearful, Acomat flees. He has few men with him and is easily captured. When he is taken as a captive before Arghun and the roles are reversed, Acomat does not get the same treatment that he gave Arghun; rather, Arghun orders his uncle killed. Arghun then rules for six years and dies.

Arghun's uncle, Kiacatu, seizes the throne; Arghun's son, Casan, is determined to take it. Kiacatu is “carried off my poison” (4597). Kiacatau's uncle, Baidu, then takes the throne. The two armies fight, and Casan is victorious, after which he finally ascends to the throne.

Kaidu, of the Great Khan's blood, is the king who rules the Far North: “Their king and his armies do not live in castles or strong places, or even in towns; but at all times remain in the open plains, valleys, or woods, in which this region [Siberia] abounds” (4612-14).

Exotic animals are common, such as white bears and black foxes. The area is vast and at times barren and frozen. Those traveling across the frozen ground often use a sleigh called a tragula.

These lands are named thus because sunlight doesn't shine for many weeks. The people have little of their own making in winter and so make a habit of robbing others. In summer, the people conduct much trade, taking furs from animals they catch as far away as Russia.

Polo states:

Russia is an exceedingly cold region and I have been assured that it extends even as far as the Northern Ocean where, as has been mentioned in a preceding part of the work, falcons are taken in vast numbers, and from there carried to various parts of the world (4657-59).

The country has silver mines, and production is great. The fur trade is strong. Polo mentions the Greek Orthodox element of these people's Christianity. He includes a few details about the people, such as that the women wear their hair long. 

This chapter is not much more than a list of names of great kings and rulers. One of the rulers in the West was Barka.

This chapter details the struggle between the leader of the Western Mongols and the leader of the Eastern Mongols. The object of their quarrel was a province that bordered both of their lands:“They defied each other, each declaring that he would take it, and would see who dared stop him” (4672-73). The war drums sounded, the armies let loose their arrows, and then the hand-to-hand fighting commenced. Barka fled near day's end and was killed. 

The chapter title refers to only the first two sentences in the chapter, which is a series of struggles to assume overall control in the west. As in the previous chapter, contenders solve their dilemma on the field of battle.

Polo includes a brief review of what he has talked about and fills in some blanks. He references the difficulty that he and his father and uncle had in getting the Great Khan's permission to leave his service, and he refers to “the lucky chance that led to our departure” (4722). Polo says he and his family got back “in order that people might learn about the things that the world contains” (4723-24).