And when the Great Kaan sits at table on any great court occasion, it is

in this fashion
And when the Great Kaan sits at table on any great court occasion, it is
in this fashion. His table is elevated a good deal above the others, and
he sits at the north end of the hall, looking towards the south, with his
chief wife beside him on the left. On his right sit his sons and his
nephews, and other kinsmen of the Blood Imperial, but lower, so that their
heads are on a level with the Emperor”s feet. And then the other Barons
sit at other tables lower still. So also with the women; for all the wives
of the Lord”s sons, and of his nephews and other kinsmen, sit at the lower
table to his right; and below them again the ladies of the other Barons
and Knights, each in the place assigned by the Lord”s orders. The tables
are so disposed that the Emperor can see the whole of them from end to
end, many as they are.[NOTE 1] [Further, you are not to suppose that
everybody sits at table; on the contrary, the greater part of the soldiers
and their officers sit at their meal in the hall on the carpets.] Outside
the hall will be found more than 40,000 people; for there is a great
concourse of folk bringing presents to the Lord, or come from foreign
countries with curiosities.