— 90 — 



In the year 1426 envoys came witli congratiilations and in 1430 the 

 Emperpr, seeing that the envoys of many outer barbarian countries did not 

 appear with tribute, sent Chêng Ho and Wang Ching-hung ( ! ) to go to 

 all these countries with the folio wing edict: //I have received the mandate 

 //of Heaven; I am carrying out the great task handed down to me by my 

 //illustrious ancestors and reign as sovereign over all countries. I have taken 

 //the benevolent way of my ancestors, spreading peace over the whole world 

 //and not seldom forgiving guilt. At the beginning of my reign I have adopted 

 //the style of Hsüan-tê. You, different barbarians, who live far away over the 

 //sea, perhaps have not yet heard of all this. I now send the eunuchs Chêng 

 //Ho and Wang Ching-hung, with an edict and orders, and I hope that you 

 //may follow the good path, treat your people well and enjoy together the 

 //happiness of universal peace." These envoys went to more than twenty 

 countries, amongst which was Sumatra. 



The next 3 ear this country sent envoys twice to bring tribute. In 

 the year 1433 they brought a tribute of dragonsblood. In the year 1434 

 the king's younger brother came to court and died in the capital. The 

 Emperor pitied him much, bestowed a posthumous title on him, appointed 

 an officer to take care of the funeral and gave one family to look after the 

 grave. At that time Wang Ching-hung had gone again to. that country and 

 the king sent another younger brother to go with him to the court ; he told 

 that the king was already old and could not manage the amiirs any more, 

 and now asked permission to cede the throne to his son, called A-pu-sai ( 2 ), 

 who was accordingly appointed king of the country. 



Erom this time their tribute became gradually more rare. In the 

 year 1486 envoys from this country came to Canton, but as the authorities 

 there found that they had no seal or token as a sign of their office, they 

 locked their letter in the treasury and told them to go back. The envoys 

 sent some of their people to the capital by a different way , bringing vaiïous 

 articles as tribute, but as the return presents were not many, no envoys of 

 them came any more. 



During the period Wan-li (1573 — 1619) the reigning family was twice 

 changed, and at last their king was a slave. At first the master of this slave 

 was one of the great dignitaries of the kingdom and commaiider of the 

 troops. The slave was treacherous and cunuing; first his master ordered him 



