58 MAPS AND THEIR MAKERS 



could scarcely have been taken directly from a chart drawn 

 by a practical navigator. 



To the east of the Bay of Bengal is a very large Sumatra, 

 the first time that name appears unequivocally on a map. To 

 the north of it, and somewhat squeezed together by the limit 

 of the map are many islands. As Fra Mauro states that in this 

 region lack of space had compelled him to omit many islands, it 

 no doubt also obliged him to alter their orientation drastically. 

 A long legend here gives some illuminating details on the 

 trafiic in spices and pepper. 



"Java minor, a very fertile island, in which there are 

 eight kingdoms, is surrounded by eight islands in which 

 grows the 'sotil specie'. And in the said Java grow ginger 

 and other fine spices in great quantities, and all the crop 

 from this and the other (islands) is carried to Java major, 

 where it is divided into three parts, one for Zaiton (Chang- 

 chow) and Cathay, the other by the sea of India for Ormuz, 

 Jidda, and Mecca, and the third northwards by the Sea of 

 Cathay. In this island according to the testimony of those 

 who sail this sea, the Antarctic Pole star is seen elevated at 

 the height of un brazo.^^ (This term has never been satis- 

 factorily explained.) 



Java major is said to be especially associated with Cathay: 



"Java major, a very noble island, placed in the east in 

 the furthest part of the world in the direction of Cin, belong- 

 ing to Cathay, and of the gulf or port of Zaiton, is 3,000 

 miles in circumference and has 1,111 kingdoms; the people 

 are idolatrous, sorcerers, and evil. But the island is all 

 delightful and very fertile, producing many things such as 

 gold in great quantities, aloes wood, spices, and other 

 marvels. And from the Cavo del ver southwards there is a 

 port called Randan, fine, large, and safe: in the vicinity is 

 the very noble city Java, of which many wonders are told." 



The islands south of Java minor doubtless represent the 

 Moluccas, as on the Genoese map. There is one tantalizing 



