— 85 — 



We therefore come at once to the beginning of the 15th century , when this 

 country was visited by the Chinese embassy of which we spoke on p. 45 , and two 

 of its members , the same to whom we are already indebted for very interesting 

 accounts of other countries , have also left us a description of this, to which they give 

 the name of Suraatra. 



Sumatra 0). 

 Ying-yai Shêng-lan (1416). 



This country is situated on the great roacl of western trade. When 

 a ship leaves Malacca for the west and goes with a fair eastern wind for 

 five days and nights, it first comes to a village on the sea-coast called Ta- 

 lu-man ( 2 ) ; anchoring here and going south-east for about ten li (3 miles) one 

 arrivés at the said place. 



This country lias no walled city. There is a large brook running out 

 into the sea , with two tides every day ; the waves at the mouth of it are 

 very high and ships continually founder there. 



To the south of this place , at a distance of more than a hundred li, 

 are high and wild mountains; to the north is the sea and on the east are 

 also high mountains, extending as far as the territory of Aru. Due west, on 

 the sea-coast, are two small countries: the first is the territory of the king 

 of Nakur ( 3 ) and the next that of the king of Litai ( 4 ). 



The king of Sumatra was formerly attacked by the king of Nakur 

 and killed by a poisoned arrow ; he left one infant son, who could not avenge 

 bis father, and therefore the king's wife made a public oath, saying: //Whoever 

 can avenge the death of my husband and recover his land, I am ready to 

 marry him and to reign together with him." When she had said this, there 

 was an old fisherman , who roused himself and said : //I am able to avenge 

 him." Thereupon he led the army, defeated and killed the king of Nakur 



(1 ) M PI & M sometimes written M 3c M 'SB. 



( 2 ) Jds, ^ /^ Ta-lu-man or Ta-ru-ban. It may be interesting to compare with 



this the account of Ibn Batuta, who visited this place in 1346. We quote front the translation by 

 S. Lee. p. 200. //When we had arrived at the shores of this place, we put into the port, which 

 is a small village in which there are some houses, as well as magazines for the merchants, and 

 from this the city of Sumatra is at the distance of four miles, at that place resides the king." 



<•> m m %. 



