— 14 — 



On the mountains is the district Lang-pi-ya (*), where the kmg fre- 

 quently goes to look at the sea. 



When at the surnmer-solstice a gnomon is erected of eight feet high, 

 the shadow (at noon) falls on the south side and is two feet fonr inches 

 (2V 10 ) long. 



During the period Chin-kwan (627 — 649) this country sent envoys to 

 bring tribute, together with those of Dva-ha-la and Dva-pa-tan (Bali) ( 2 ). 

 The Emperor favoured them with a reply under the great seal and as Dva- 

 ha-la asked for good horses , these, were given to them. 



In 674 the people of this country took as their ruler a wonian of 

 the name Sima ( 3 ). Her rule was most excellent, even things dropped on 

 the road were not taken up. The prince of the Arabs ( 4 ), hearing of this, 

 sent a bag with gold to be laid down within her frontiers: the people who 

 passed that road avoided it in walking and it remained there for three years. 

 Once the heir apparent stepped over that gold and Si-ma became so incensed 

 that she Avanted to kill him. Her ministers interceded and then Si-ma said : 

 //Your fault lies in your feet, therefore it will be sufficiënt to cut them off." 

 The ministers interceded again and she had his toes cut off, in order to gïve 

 an example to the whole nation. When the prince of Tazi heard this, be 

 became afraid and dared not attack her. 



Between the years 766 — 779 three envoys of Ka-ling arrivecl in China. 



In the year 813 they presented four slaves ( 5 ), parrots of different 

 colours , pïnka-birds ( 6 ) and other things. The Emperor honoured the envoy 

 with the title of Left Defensor of the Office of the Four Inner Gates ; the 

 envoy wanted to waive this title in favour of his younger brother , for which 

 the Emperor praised him and bestowed a title on both. 



o M % i? 



o m *n m ■* m m s. 



(") The Chinese text has ~t£ -tt Tazi, the ordinary name for Arabs in the Chinese 

 annals. It would seem however that Arab settlements existed on the western const of Sumatra at a 

 very early date and in consequence of this some CMnese writers confound this country with Arabia. 

 A later author gives the history of Mohamad as having oceurred in western Sumatra. The lang of 

 the Arabs, mentioned here, may have been tbcir chief in that island only. 



('') The text has Y|^ 7k& j&j£ , Sangchi slaves, a name which oreurs oflen aivd seems 

 to denote negroes. I do not know what may he the origin of tliis name. 



(°) /j/É| 'jÈl ,^ ! about these birds many an hypothesis is possible, but not one scems 

 satisfactory. 



