— 96 — 



In the year 1412 Chêng Ho visited their country as an imperial 

 envoy. 



In the year 1419 the king's son, Tuan A-la-sa (*), sent envoys to 

 bring tribute, which was repeated in 1421 and 1423. In 1431 , when Chêng 

 Ho went to the different barbarian countries , presents were sent also to this 

 land, but afterwards their tribute-bearers did not come any more. 



The name of the country , mentioned above, still survives in the Aru-islands , 

 but from the desciïption it clearly follows that not these were meant, but a place on 

 the coast of Sumatra. It is however probable that the Aru-islands belonged to it 

 and either are indebted to it for their name, or that it was called after them; we 

 think therefore that it was that part of the coast which is nearest to them, about 

 the mouth of the Burumon-river. 



When the Europeans arrived in these parts , Aru still existed as a separate 

 kingdom , and in the first war of the Portuguese with Atjeh , we fmd the king of 

 Aru amongst their allies. 



On its western frontier this country bordered on the territory of Suma- 

 tra , which has been treated already , and we may therefore proceed at once to the 

 western side of the latter state, where three other countries were visited by the Chi- 

 nese envoys. 



Nakur. 

 Ying-yai Shêng-lan (1416). 



The king of Nakur ( 2 ) is also called the king of the Tattooed Faces. 

 His country is situated at the west of Sumatra and consists only of one 

 mountain-village ; his people tattoo their faces with three pointed green figures 

 and for this reason he is called the king of the Tattooed Faces. 



The country is not large and has only about a thousand families. 

 The arable land is small with regard to the population; they make dry rice- 

 fields, but the product is not very abundant. 



Pigs, goats, fowls and ducks are all found. 



Their language, manners and customs are the same as in Sumatra, 

 but there are no articles of export, the country being so small. 



O f§ NT M ï^,Tuan Arsa (?) 

 O M E IE, Na-hi-ërli. 



