YALENTYN'S DESCRIPTION OF MALACCA. 65' 



Lingga ( x ) (on the South of Malakka ), or in Sumatra, are also 

 called Malays, but always with the addition of the name of the 

 country where they come from, as for instance : Malayu-Djohor, 

 Malayu-Patani, &c, &c. 



Now, this is that famous far-renowned country considered by 

 many ancients and even by many people now-a-days, to be that 

 k very ancient Ofir, the country from where King Solomon got 

 the gold and the other Indian curiosities, mentioned in the H. 

 Scriptures, and consequently called by the ancients "lieglo Auri- 

 feraf i e., the gold coast, the gold region. 



It is certain that, leaving Ezion Geber and passing through the 

 Red Sea and so along the shores of Arabia and Persia and from 

 there again along the Coasts of Malabar, Coromandel and Bengal, 

 and so on, skirting along the coast, from one shore to the other 

 and finally along the Kingdoms of Arracan, Pegu, Slam and 

 Tenasserim, till the Malay Coast, this could be done without a 

 compass ; but we have amply shown in our first volume and in 

 other places, that it was not this Coast, which was meant by that 

 Ofir, but that it must have been very likely the island of Ceylon. 



The Malays, after having remained at that place for some time, 

 built there their first town, calling it Slngapura, and a small 

 sound on the South side of the same town still carries that name. 



The King of Madjapahit (an empire of Java) was in those clays 

 one of the most powerful Princes in those quarters. He was not 

 only feared on the island of Java, but he had conquered also many 

 places in Java Minor and in Sumatra and had extended his do= 

 minion over several other provinces. ( 2 ) 



Madjapahit then being one of the first and most celebrated cities, 

 not only of Java, but of the surrounding islands too, the ambition 

 of its Prince induced him to drive this new people out of their 

 country, and consequently to attach a new pearl to his crown. 

 He attacked them several times with large forces and thus forced 

 them to fortify their place more and more. 



Sriii Toeri Bowana died in 1203, after having ruled them as a 

 brave Prince during 48 years, and was succeeded by Padoeka 



( i ) On this island is Daek, the seat of the Johor sovereign after the aban- 

 donment of Johor Lama. The occurrence of the names Bintam Lingga and 

 Bintang Lingga together, would suggest perhaps accidental repetitions, rather 

 than the inference that Bintam was for Batam, the latter not being well 

 known, while Bentan was in connection with Lingga. This is evidently the 

 case from what appears on p. 65. 



( 2 ) And had had communication with China after defeating a Chinese 

 expedition sent against him. 



