The Nāṣirī Generations 288.2.7

288.2.7

This new capital, “Kay-ping-Fu,” afterwards “Shang-tu,” is apparently the Shandu, and Ciandu of Polo, “Xandu” in Ramusio, and “Ions” of Hayton. “It stood,” it is stated, “in the country of Karchin on the river “Shan-tu,” N.N.E. of Pekin, and “seems to be,” says a writer in Astley’s “Collection,” “Chau-nayman-suma, which is one of three ruins marked in the Missioners’ map, on the river Shangtu.” Hayton calls it Ions. “Passing out of the gate, Hi-fong-kew in Pe-che-li, you find yourself in Karchin, Ohan, Naman [Naeman], and Korchin. It is divided into ten standards; and the country of the Mughals of Korchin extends to the Sira Mūr-ān — the great river Sira. Mūr-ān in the Mughal language signifies a great river, and Pīrah a smaller one.” To continue the Chinese accounts before returning to the Mughal records quoted by the Musalmān writers, in whose time the Mughals had to a considerable extent become Musalmāns likewise, they say that, in 1257 A.D. [the year 655 H. began on the 18th January, 1257 A.D.], “Mengko” sent orders to his generals in Se-chwen, Hu-quang, and Kyang-nan, to prepare to attack the Song [empire] on all sides, resolving to begin himself with the first, that is to say, Se-chwen, which therefore is equivalent with Tingnāsh [Ningyā-īsh] of the Musalmān writers, Mahā-Chīn of the Hindūs, and Manzi of the Chinese, as described by the Fanākatī and others.