Birch-bark tents and reindeer in the Siberian forests
Editorial contextThe note on the Kyrgyz lands of the upper Yenisei describes a forest people whose poor lived in tents of birch bark, loaded their goods on white deer (reindeer), drank deer milk, gathered pine nuts and roots, and hunted in winter on 'wooden horses' (skis). Nearby Qianzhou had a few thousand households of Mongols and Uighurs, and workshops of Chinese craftsmen moved there early in the dynasty.
The poor, who have no fixed property, all make their tents of birch bark and load their baggage on white deer. They take deer's milk, gather pine nuts and dig up the roots of mountain lilies and peonies for food. In winter they also ride 'wooden horses' (skis) to hunt... [In Qianzhou] the inhabitants, several thousand households, are all Mongols and Huihe (Uighurs); there are several workshops of craftsmen, who are Han Chinese moved there at the start of the dynasty.
Working translation
Original wording
貧民無恒産者皆以樺皮作廬帳以白鹿負其行裝取鹿乳採松實及斸山丹芍藥等根為食冬月亦乗木馬出獵…居民數千家悉蒙古囘紇人有工匠數局葢國初所徙漢人也
About Kyrgyz and forest peoples of Qianzhou (Kem River)
Keep in mind
Based on reports of the Yuan official Liu Haoli, sent there in 1270; the Siku copy re-spells the place names.
A ruined city on the upper Yenisei
Editorial contextUnder 'Kemtschyk' Strahlenberg notes the ruins of an ancient city where the Kemchik joins the upper Yenisei, and guesses that it was the place in Marco Polo where Kublai Khan's people went to meet the Venetian envoys. Elsewhere he says a Russian from Krasnoyarsk found old writings there, where a chapel once stood.
Kemtschyk, A River, which falls into the River Yenisei, near its Source, where formerly stood an ancient City, the Ruins of which are yet to be seen.
About unknown builders; Strahlenberg links it to Kublai Khan's time
Keep in mind
The link to Marco Polo is Strahlenberg's own conjecture.
A Yuan official teaches pottery, metalwork and boats
Editorial contextThe same note says that before the Yuan official Liu Haoli arrived, the local peoples made cups from willow wood and hollowed out logs as troughs to cross rivers, and did not know how to cast farm tools. Liu reported this to the court, which sent craftsmen to teach pottery, metal-casting and boat-building. It is a Chinese state view of 'civilising' the Siberian frontier.
Before this, the custom of these several tribes was to make their cups and dishes of willow and to hollow out logs as troughs for crossing water; they did not know how to cast farm tools. Haoli reported this to the court, which then sent craftsmen to teach them pottery, metal-casting and boats, and the local people found it convenient.
Working translation
Original wording
先是數部民俗皆以杞栁為杯皿刳木為槽以濟水不解鑄作農器好禮聞諸朝乃遣工匠教為陶冶舟楫土人便之
About Kyrgyz and neighbouring Siberian peoples
Keep in mind
Told from the point of view of the imperial administration.