— 131 — 



was afraid of being detained by them, that he wished to send a report but 

 had nobody who could write it, and that he had ordered them therefore to 

 avail themselves of a tribute-vessel from Sumatra, to go and bring this com- 

 munication. The Emperor sent them back to their country in the ships of 

 Chêng Ho, to whom a decree was given for the king of Siam, ordering 

 him to live in good harmony with his neighbours and not to act against 

 the orders of the court. When these three envoys arrived they brought 

 nothing as tribute, and the officers of the Board of Rites submitted that, 

 according to the rule, they should not get any presents; but the Emperor 

 replied: //These men have come many thousands of miles to complain of an 

 injustice; it would not do to give them nothing." Accordingly dresses and 

 silks were given to them, just as to other tribute-bearers. 



In the year 1433 the king came to court with his wife , his son and 

 his ministers. When he arrived at Nanking, the weather was already cold; 

 the Emperor ordered him to wait till spring before coming up to the cap- 

 ital and moreover sent a letter in praise of the king and his wife. When 

 they came to the capital, the Emperor entertained them and gave them pres- 

 ents as customary, and when they returned an officer was charged to pro- 

 vide a vessel for them. 



Afterwards the king again sent his younger brother to bring as trib- 

 ute camels, horses and products of the country; at that time the emperor 

 Ying-tsung had already ascended the throne (1435), and as the king was 

 still in Canton, he sent him a laudatory letter and ordered the Governor 

 to let him go back to his country. As this officer was just sending back 

 the envoys of Champa, Kalikut and nine other countries, the king returned 

 along with these. 



In the year 1445 envoys arrived, who asked that the king Sri Pa- 

 mi-si-wa-r-tiu-pa-sha (*) niight obtain a commission for ruling the country, a 

 dress embroidered with snakes and an umbrella, in order that he might 

 govern the people of his land. They also said that the king intended to 

 come himself, but that his suite was very numerous and therefore he asked 

 for a large vessel, in order to be able to make the sea-voyage. The Em- 

 peror granted all their requests. 



In the year 1456 Sulthan Wu-ta-fu-na-sha ( 2 ) sent as tribute horses 



o M Ü Am 'A % % m A tfr", 



o m f « M % # * £!>\ 



9* 



