— 18 — 



After a voyage of sixty days they arrived at the district Ting-hai (island 

 of Chusan), where the superintendent of trade first sent a messenger to inform 

 the Emperor. The envoys were dressed in a similar way as those of Persia ( 1 ), 

 who had bron glit tribute before. With the assistance of an interpreter the 

 envoy told that a Chinese frorn Kien-khi ( 2 ), who was owner of niany vessels 

 and a great merchant , had come many times to his country and that he now 

 availed himself of his guidance to come to court and bring tribute. He also told 

 that his king was called Adji Ma-ra-ya ( 3 ), the kings concubines were Lo-kien- 

 sa-p'o-li C 1 ) and that in his country they had regular officials. In his language 

 the superintendent of trading vessels was called Po-ho ( 5 ) and the wife of 

 the king was styled Po-ho-pi-ni ( 6 ). 



In their vessel there was a woman (or: were women), whom thy called 

 Mei-chu ; she wore her hair in a knot and had no hairpins or such ornaments. 

 She had a garment of native cloth wrapped round her body and was very 

 black ; nobody could understand her talk and in saluting she prosterned herself 

 j ust as the men. There was also a child, who wore a golden chain with a 

 lock round his neck and had golden bracelets on his hands, which were 

 fastened with a string of silk. He was called A-lu. 



The envoy related that his country was in enmity with San-bo-tsai 

 (East coast of Sumatra, Palembang) and that they were always fighting together. 

 He also told the folio wing story: //in our country there are many monkeys 

 on the mountains and they are not afraid of men ; when they are called with 

 the sound siau-siau, they come forward and if any fruit are thrown to them, 

 tAvo large monkeys advance first; these are called by the natives the kings 

 or the chiefs of the monkeys and it is only when they have finished eating, 

 that the others take what remains." 



When this envoy arrived at the capital, the emperor gave orders to 

 some of his officers to treat him well ; he remained some time and, when he 

 left, he was presented with large quantities of gold and silk and also with 

 good horses and military arms, according to what he had asked. 



o m. m. 



(') Jï üi <l§ HÜ -$t . A<1 J' Maradja ul ' Maharadja. 



('•) ,jfê£ 111 |p£ ^ 7Jï|j, This and fche Iwo following names remain unexplained. 



o m $n j=k a. 



