There is a very high Mountain to the North-eastward of Malacca, that sends forth several Rivers, of which that of Malacca is one, and all of them have small Quantities of Gold Dust found in their Chanels. The inland Inhabitants called Monacaboes, are a barbarous savage People, whose greatest Pleasure is in doing Mischief to their Neighbours, which is the greatest Reason why the Peasants about Malacca sow no Grain but what is inclosed in Gardens with thick set prickly Hedges, or deep Ditches; for when their Grain is ripe in the open Plains, the Monacaboes never fail of putting Fire to it, in order to consume it. They are much whiter than their neighbouring Malayas who inhabit the low Grounds, and the Kings of Johore, whose Subjects they are, or at least ought to be, could never civilize them. 

Their Religion is a Complex of Mahometism and Paganism, and they have the Character of great Sorcerers, who by their Spells can tame wild Tigers, and make them carry them whither they order them, on their Backs. Once they had a Mind to try their Art on the Town of Malacca, but were unsuccessful in their Enterprize, according to common Report there. For one of their chief Wizards assured them that neither Gun, Sword, nor  Lance should have Power to hurt them, if they should attempt the Town, ~ whose Defence consists only in a slight Gate, with a little round Bastion, with five or six great Guns mounted on it. So on the Opinion of their Doctors Art, a great Number drew together, and being armed with Lance and Cress, their common Weapons, marched without Order or Fear towards the Gate. When they came near enough, the Gunner of the Bastion pointed some Guns, and set Fire to the Priming, but that flashed, and the Guns would not discharge, which discouraged the Guard of the Gate, but a Malaya Soldier, who understood some of the Monacaboes Art, called for a Piece of Pork, with which he besmear’d the Mouths of the Cannon, while the Gunner renewed the Priming, and Fire being put to them, the Cannon went off, and did good Execution, which so frightned the Monacaboes, that they betook themselves to Flight, and never attempted to disturb the Town since.

AND now I leave Aicheen, and pursue my Travels along the West Coast of Sumatra. Labon is the first Place noted for Gold Dust and Camphire, but has no Commerce with Strangers. Hog Island lies opposite to it, about ten Leagues off. This Island takes its Name from the great Numbers of wild Hogs on it, who are the only Inhabitants, as Cocoa Island, close to it, takes its Name from the great Numbers of Cocoanut Trees growing on it. 

Baros is the next Place that abounds in Gold, Camphire, and Benzoin, but admits of no foreign Commerce. It lies within the South End of Hog’s Island, about the same Distance from it that Labon is. This Place sets a Boundary to the Kingdom of Aicheen. 

Ayerbangie is the next Place of Notice. It produces Gold and Pepper, it lies about one Degree to. the Northward of the Equator, and has the Advantage of a good safe Harbour, but it is little frequented, because of the Treachery of the Natives, who make small Account of murdering Strangers, if they can but get the least Advantage by it. The Harbour lies in a small but deep Bay, and three small Islands lying before it, make it a most excellent Harbour; and the Chanels between the Islands, and between the Shore and the Islands, are clear of Danger. The North End of Pullo-nayas lies about twenty Leagues without it. The Inhabitants of that Island prove the best Slaves in India, and are sold at an higher Price in the Aicheen Market than any others. 

Padang is about twenty Leagues to the Southward of the Æquator, where the Dutch have a Colony, and a strong Fort to defend it from the Insults of the Natives. It cost the Dutch many Men, and much Treasure before they could force a Settlement there, tho’ at last they gained their Point, but being a Country that produces only Gold and Pepper, the Profits can hardly bear the Charge. The Island of Good Fortune lies about 20 Leagues without it. 

Indrapura is the next, and lies about fifty Leagues to the Southward of the Æquator. It was formerly an English Factory, but the Dutch insulted it in King William’s War with France, and it has made but a sorry Figure in Trade since. Its Commodity is only Pepper, but it affords great Plenty of it, and very cheap. The Island of Nasaw lies about 15 Leagues without it. 

Bencolon is an English Colony, but the European Inhabitants not very numerous. About the Year 1690. the East-india Company built a Fort there, and called it York Fort, but Brick or Stone Walls in that Country cannot long continue firm, because Concussions of the Earth are so frequent by Earthquakes, that solid Walls are rent by the shaking of their Foundations. It has the Conveniency of a River to bring their Pepper out of the inland Countries, but great Inconveniencies in shipping it off on board the Ships, for there is a dangerous Bar at the River’s Mouth, which has proved fatal to many poor English Men. The Road for Shipping is also inconvenient; for in the South-west Monsoons, there being nothing to keep the great Swell of rolling Seas off them, but a small Island called Rat Island, the Ships are ever in a violent Motion while that Monsoon lasts. 

The inland Princes are often at Variance among themselves, and sometimes are troublesom to the Trade of our Colony, but as their Wars are short, the English are in little Danger by them. In the Year 1693. there was a great Mortality in the Colony, the Governor and his Council all died in a short Time after one another, and one Mr. Sowdon being the eldest Factor, had his Residence at Prayman, or Priaman, a subordinate Factory to Bencolon, being called to the Government of the Colony, but not very fit for that Charge, because of his intemperate drinking, it fortuned in his short Reign, that four Princes differed, and rather than run into Acts of Hostility, referred their Differences to the Arbitriment of the English Governor, and came to the Fort with their Plea. Mr. Sowdon soon determined their Differences in favours of the two that complained ; and because the others seem’d dissatisfied with his Determination, ordered both their Heads to be struck off, which ended their Disputes effectually, and made them afterwards to make up Differences among themselves, without troubling the English with their Contentions and impertinent Quarrels, but Governor Sowdon was sent for to Fort St. George, and another sent in his Place less sanguin. 

And ever since that Time there has been a Succession of moderate: Governors, and some have been guilty of as much Temerity the other Way. For in Anno 1719. the then Governor, having some Disputes with some of the Natives, was somewhat fearful of them. On a festival Day, in firing Guns, a Wad from one of them set Fire to an House thatcht with Reeds, and several others contiguous to it took Fire from it, so that it spread through the Market Place. The Governor believing it to be done maliciously by the Natives, left the Fort precipitantly, and got on board of a Ship in the Road, leaving some Chests of Money, and all the Artillery, Arms, Ammunition, and other Effects of his Masters, behind him, and his Garison, following their Leader, left their Posts, and got aboard also. 

The Natives being surprised with the sudden Departure of the English, went into the Fort, and took what they had most Occasion for; but some Chinese Merchants, who had settled at Bencolon, being also frightned, embarked on their Vessels, and dispersed themselves in Places where they thought they might be most secure. 

The chief Merchant of the Chinese, who is generally called the China Captain, in the Places where the Chinese have Trade, went to Batavia to some Relations he had there, but the Dutch, according to their wonted Hospitality in India, punished him as a Criminal, and taught him to make Lime and carry Stones the Remnant of his Days, for daring to settle among the English. Some of the Chinese 1 saw the same Year at Trangano in Johore, who gave me this Account. Wherever these poor Chinese came, in Places where the Dutch had Power, they were as heartily persecuted as a Poor Protestant is that takes Sanctuary in a Country where the holy, charitable, zealous Romish Clergy have Power. 

The Natives were almost ruined by the English Desertion. For as their Trade lay all on their Pepper, none came to buy it, and their Regret being known at Fort St. George, there was a new Governor sent back with a new Garison, to take Possession again of their own Fort. What the Company lost by that unaccountable Piece of Temerity, I know not, but they gained very little Credit by it. 

The Country above Bencolon is mountainous and woody, and I have heard that there are many Vulcanoes in this Island; but whatever may be the Cause, the Air is full of malignant Vapours, and the Mountains are continually clothed with thick heavy Clouds, that break out in Lightning, Thunder, Rain, and short-liv’d Storms. Their Food is not fit for every Stomach. Tame Buffalo may be had, but no Cow-beef. Poultry are scarce and dear, and so is Fish, but some Sorts of Fruits are pretty plentiful; however, the Gentlemen there live as merrily, tho’ not so long, as in other Places blest with Plenty, and so sociable, that they leave their Estates to the longest Liver. 

Sillebar lies but four Leagues to the South-eastward of Bencolon, and has a fine convenient Harbour to shelter Shipping from all Dangers caused by Storms, but the fresh Water is bad, and if drunk any considerable Time, causes Grippings and Fluxes, but it wants a River to bring Pepper from the inland Countries. There is no Place of Commerce or Note between Sillebar and Lampoun Point, which is the Southwardmost Point on Sumatra, nor any Thing remarkable on the Sea-shore, but a small Village called Pissangen, which has a small low Island lying a little Way off it, and there is above 40 Fathoms deep within an English Mile of the Shore. And the Island of Engano lies in the Offing, about 20 Leagues from it. It is an Island about 3 Leagues long, uninhabited, very smooth, without Mountains, and may be seen nine or ten Leagues off. 

Lampoun lies twenty Leagues from the Point within the Streights of Sunda, at the Bottom of a deep Bay. The English had a good Pepper Factory there, but it being a Part of the King of Bantam’s Dominions, that Factory was lost when the Dutch compelled the English to leave Bantam, in Anno 1683. and what Lampoun produces, is carried to them at Bantam.

THERE are no Places of Note in that Part of the Sumatra Coast, till we come to  Pullambam, which lies opposite to the North-west Point of the Island of Banka, about four Leagues distant from it. Pullambam is a Dutch Factory that brings them great Quantities of Pepper, being under Contract with the King of Pullambam, and other inland Princes, to take off all their Pepper at a certain Price, I think it is for 10 Pieces of Eight, or 50 Shillings Ster. a Bahaar, of 400 Pounds English suttle Weight, one Half to be paid in Money, and the other Half in Cloth. The Cloth Part the Company pays at 70 per Cent. on the prime Cost; but all other Nations are debarr’d Commerce there, except the Chinese, and by their Means the English come in for a Share of their Pepper, as our Ships pass through the Streights of Banka. 

Pullambam lies about eight Leagues from the Sea, on the Banks of a large River, which divides it self into several Branches, and they disembogue at four Mouths into the Sea. The Dutch keep two small Sloops cruising about those Mouths of the River, to prevent Smuggling, but I and many others have found Ways and Means to lade our Ships full with Pepper, notwithstanding the strict Guard. An hundred Pounds to the King, and as much to the Dutch Chief, make a Cargo of a thousand Bahaars easily procur’d. 

The Pullambam Pepper is very foul, in so much that we seldom find less than 10 or 12 per Cent. Garblage, but then we buy it for nine Pieces of Eight a Bahaar. The Dutch lade off about 3000 Tuns per Annum, from this Place, and the Chinese and Natives lade off as much more. The Natives are obliged to carry theirs to Batavia, and sell to the Dutch Company, but if they meet with a Market by the Way, they'll embrace it; for the Company’s Payment being most in Cloth at high Rates, they are not fond of trading with them. 

The Dutch Company formerly drove a good Trade in Ophium, at Pullambam, which (like French Claret and Brandy) drew much ready Cash out of his Country, as those do out of ours, but in Anno 1708. the King ordered only the Importation of three Chests, each containing about 160 Pound Weight, and if Smugglers were detected, they paid their Goods and Lives for their Disobedience. 

The Island of Banka lying so near the Coast of Pullambam, I'll take a View of it as I pass along. It is about fifty Leagues long, and sixteen broad, some Places being broader, and some narrower. For about 30 Leagues it faces the Sumatra Coast, keeping between 3 and 6 Leagues distant. The Entrance from the Southward being farthest distant in the Streights of Banka, at the Mouth of which is the Island of Lucipara, a small barren Island, which sends forth Sand Banks almost three Leagues towards the Coast of Sumatra. And within a Mile of that Shore, where the Chanel is deepest, there are but four Fathoms and an half Water, but the Bottom is soft. 

About 12 Leagues from the North End is the Place of the King’s Residence. In 1710. a Son of the King of Pullambam was King, and a Fire accidentally happening in a Village, when the Fire was extinguished, they chanced to find much melted Metal under the Rubbish, which proved to be Tin. The King ordered his People to dig a little into the Ground, and they found Plenty of Ore, which he now reaps a good Advantage by. The Dutch sent from Batavia for Leave to settle a Factory there, but could not obtain that Favour, the King declaring that his Country should be free for all Nations to trade in. 

The Natives of the Island are, as most other Malayas, very treacherous, inhumane and inhospitable to Strangers, who have the Misfortune to be ship-wrackt on that Coast. I knew one Captain Pelling, who belonged to some Gentlemen of Aicheen, and had the Misfortune to be ship-wrackt there, and they cut him off and all his Crew, except two Boys who were made Slaves: But I know a very honest ingenious Gentleman now alive in England, who had better Fortune, for, after his Ship was lost in the Streights of Banka, he and his Men directed their Course to Pullambam, where a very hospitable Dutch Gentleman, who fortuned to be Chief of the Dutch Affairs at that Time, gave them a kind Reception, and procured them Passage for Batavia, where, some Years after, I was in Company with the Host and Guest together. 

Banka has a very foul Coast for 6 Leagues within Monapin Point, which is the North-west Capeland on the Island; and over that Cape there is an high Mountain called Monapin Hill. On the North-east Coast of the Island there are so many Banks and Rocks under Water, that Navigation is very precarious, and none but Panjalangs and Praws (small Vessels) venture to go that Tract; besides, there are no Places of Commerce on the North-east Side of Banka, to invite a Stranger by the Prospect of Gain, and so I return back to the Coast of Sumatra again, without taking Notice of the little Pepper and Dammar that are the Product of Banka. 

From Pullambam there are no Places of Commerce on the Coast, till we come to Jambee, which is about 100 English Miles. Here formerly the English had a Factory on an Island near its River’s Mouth, called Barella; but the Impediments their Trade met with from the Dutch, who had a Factory in the Country up the River, made the English Company withdraw. The Dutch kept a little Factory at Jambee till 1710. and then withdrew also. That Country produces only Pepper and Canes; and, by the Laziness of the Inhabitants, there is hardly any of them procurable. 

The Island Lingen lies under the Æquator, about 20 Leagues from Jambee, and as far from the River of Johore, and is a Part of the Johore Dominions. It is about twenty Leagues long, and ten broad. It is very mountainous within, and very low towards the Sea. Its Product is some Pepper and Canes, and it abounds in Porcupines, which affords them the valuable Porcupine Beazoar. Some of them I have seen as big as a Wall-nut, and of the same Shape, and pretty near in Colour, valued at 600 Pieces of Eight. Between Lingen and Sumatra are the Streights of Drions, where generally Ships pass that go from Malacca to Batavia. 

On the Sumatra Shore there are no Places of Commerce, till we come to the South Entrance of Andraghira River, and there lies Pattapan, a Town belonging to the Dominions of Johore, that affords Pepper and Gold. Off the Mouth of that River about ten Leagues ly the two Islands of Carimon, and between them and the Sumatra Shore, are the Streights of Labon. Upon the East Side of the great Carimon, is the Entrance of the Streights of Drions; and between the small Carimon and Tanjong-bellong on the Continent, is the Entrance of the Streights of Sincapure before mentioned, and also into the Streights of Governadore, the largest and easiest Passage into the China Seas. There are many Islands lying thick hereabout, all under the Dominions of Johore. 

The Dutch have also a Factory on the River of Andraghira, called Siack, but of no great Moment. It is so unhealthful, that incorrigible Sots, and other Lumber of the active World, are sent thither to expiate their Offences against Nature, and very seldom any return back to give an Account of the Salubrity of the Country. The Reason may be, that yearly there are vast Numbers of Fish called Shades, about the Bigness of a large Haddock, full of Bones, and Rows about one third of their own Magnitude, which come into that River to spawn, and great Numbers of People resort thither in that Season to catch them, for the sake of their Rows, and throw away the rest of the Fish, which so corrupts the Air, that few can hold out one Year, but are relieved every six Months, except those who are sent for Sacrifices to Pluto. 

The Dutch have another Factory right opposite to Malacca, on the Side of a large River, called Bankalis. Whether that be a Branch of Andraghira River I know not, but I believe it is. The Company vends a great Deal of Cloth and Ophium there, and brings Gold-dust in Return. That beneficial Trade was not known to the Dutch before 1685. that one Mr. Lucas, a Factor in the Company’s Service at Malacca, was advised by a Malaya to send some Surat Baftaes dyed blue, and some Berams dyed red, which are both coarse Cotton Cloth much worn in that Country; and Ophium is as much in Request there, as Tea is with us. In 10 Years that he kept that Trade wholly to himself, tho’ in other Mens Names, he got an Estate of 10 or 12 Tuns of Gold, or about 100000 Pounds English, and then revealed the Secret to the Company, who took that Trade altogether into their own Hands. 

There are prodigious Numbers of wild Swine about Bankalis, and, in the Months of December and January, their Flesh is very sweet and fat. In those Months great Numbers of People resort thither in small Praws. Some go into the Woods, and drive them towards the River, while others are ready with Dogs to drive them into it, and when one goes, all the Herd follows. Others are ready with Lances in their Praws, to pursue them in the Water, and lance them, and so many as are lanced, drop down on the other Shore, and they are immediately carried to Places appointed, where there are many Fires made of Brush-wood and Leaves of Trees, which the Woods afford in great Plenty, and, in those light Flames, they singe the Hair off, and take out the Intrails, and cut them up in proper Pieces, and salt them in the Praws; and every Praw has a Share proportionable to the Number of Men it brings. After it has lien three or four Days in Salt, they wash the Pork, and hang it in Smoke, and then put it into Casks, which they have ready for their Purpose, with some dry Salt, and sell it by the Cask to the best Bidder. And I think it is the most savoury salt Pork that ever I tasted. 

Those Fish Rows caught at Siak, they pickle up in Salt and Tamarinds, and then dry them in Smoke, and when dry enough, put them up in large Leaves of Trees, and transport them to all the Countries about, from Atcheen to Siam. It is called, when dried, Turbow, and of Pork and Turbow they drive a good Trade, which, I think, far exceeds Caviar. 

There is no other Place on the Sumatra Coast, between Bankalis and Atcheen, that admits of Commerce with Strangers, tho’ there are several large Rivers, at least, by their Outlets to the Sea, they appear to be so. There is one called Delley, that lies 5 Leagues within Pullo Verera, a small uninhabited Island, that affords nothing but fresh Water and Wood. The Inhabitants on that Part of Sumatra, are said to be Canibals. Diamond Point lies about 20 Leagues to the North-west of Pullo Verera, that sends dangerous Rocks above a League off Shore. The Inhabitants are uncivilized, murdering all whom they can surprise or master. And at Pissang, about 10 Leagues to the Westward of Diamond Point, there is a fine deep River, but not frequented, because of the Treachery and bloody Disposition of the Natives. Twelve Leagues farther West lies Pedier. It has the Benefit of a good River, but being but eight Leagues from Aicheen, it has no Trade.

<br>

princes of the eastern coast of Sumatra largely availed themselves

of it, for this tribute was brought by them many times more than

is recorded in the account translated by us, where only those

instances are mentioned on which the historian had something

remarkable to tell ; but in the biographies of the different emperors

we meet also with a careful record of other visits, which have not

found a place here. It appears also that at last the Chinese began

to find these compliments rather expensive, and relegated their

foreign friends to Ch’iian-chou, to trade there in the ordinary

way.

In transcribing the names of the different kings, the old Mandarin

pronunciation has been followed, because these names were

written down at court and not carried to China by merchants from

southern China ; we are however but very insufficiently acquainted

with the pronunciation of that period, and so our transcription may

often not be quite correct. This is perhaps one of the causes

why many of these names look so strange, and cannot be brought

back to their original native sound. For the same reason we have

omitted the names of the different envoys, which are all given in

the Chinese text ; as they could not be identified they were of no

use, and would only have bewildered the reader.

The house of Sung was driven from the throne of China by the

Mongols who reigned under the name of Yiian, but it seems that

these did not occupy themselves any more with the southern

countries after their unsuccessful expedition against Java; the

history of this dynasty says nothing of the other islands, and it was

only after its expulsion from China that the former official intercourse

was resumed again.<br>

<br>

History of the Ming Dynasty (1368—1643). Book 324.<br>

“ San-bo-tsai, # formerly called Kandali, for the first time sent

envoys with tribute in the reign of the emperor Hsiau-wu of the

former Sung dynasty (454—464) ; during the reign of the emperor

Wu of the Liang dynasty (502—549) they came repeatedly, and in

the time of the second Sung (960—1279) they brought tribute

without interruption.

“In the year 1370 the emperor sent an envoy to command the

presence of this country; and in the next year the king, who was

called Maharaja Prabhu,f sent envoys with a letter written on a

golden leaf, and bringing a tribute of black bears, cassowaries,

peacocks, parrots of various colours, different kinds of perfumes,<br>

“ After this occurrence San-bo-tsai became gradually poorer,

and no tribute was brought from this country any more.

“ In 1397 the officers of the Board of Rites memorialized the

emperor, saying that the different barbarians had not brought

tribute long since.

‘‘The emperor replied as follows: 4 In the beginning of my

reign the different barbarians continually sent envoys with tribute;

amongst these were Annam, Champa, Camboja, Siam, Java,

Liukiu, San-bo-tsai, Bruni (northern coast of Borneo), Pahang

(on the Malay peninsula,), Sumatra (the northern coast of the

island), and many other countries ; but lately San-bo-tsai has

availed itself of the rebellion of Hu Wei-yung, and by deceitful

representations enticed our envoys to their country, and the king

of Java, having heard of this, sent men to point out to them

that they were misled, and sent them back with great politeness.

# Since that time the commercial intercourse has been

stopped.<br>

<br>

“ ‘The different countries are not of the same mind ; Annam.

Champa, Camboja, Siam and Liukiu appear at court and bring

tribute as before, and moreover Liukiu has sent young men to

study here. Whenever the barbarian countries send envoys, they

are always treated with politeness, and I am not at all indifferent

towards them ; but at present I do not know their mind.

“ ‘If we send messengers to Java now it is to be feared that

San-bo-tsai will stop them on their way. I understand thac this

San-bo-tsai was originally a country belonging to Java.

“ ‘ You now may take my views and communicate them to

Siam, with orders to bring them to the knowledge of Java.’

“On this the ministers of the Board sent a letter saying : ‘As

long as heaven and earth have been, the difference between ruler

and subject, between high and low, has existed. The countries

on all sides of China are united in one by our government, and

formerly the different barbarians from over the sea came regularly

to enjoy its influence ; but now San-bo-tsai has got bad intentions,

it has deceived our trusty envoys and made itself guilty of

treachery. Our holy emperor treats all the barbarians wTith the

same benevolence and justice, how dare they then be ungrateful

for these high favours and forget the duties of a subject towards

his prince ? If the wrath of the emperor is aroused, he may send

an army of a hundred thousand men to carry into execution the

punishment of heaven, as easily as turning his hand ; why do

not the barbarians recollect this ? Our holy emperor has said

that Annam, Champa, Camboja, Siam and Liukiu observe their

duties as subjects, but San-bo-tsai alone turns itself against his<br>

Chin-ch’ing to it

; a seal, a bat and girdle were given to him by

imperial command, and since that time tribute was brought repeatedly.

Though Chin-ch’ing had received a commission from

the emperor, he was at the same time subject to Java; his territory

was not large and could not be compared to the old Sanbo-

tsai.

“ In 1424 the son of Chin-ch’ing, called Shih Chi-sun,* reported

that his father had died, and asked permission to succeed him,

which was granted. In 1425 he sent envoys to bring tribute,

who stated that the old seal had been destroyed by fire, on which

the emperor ordered a new one to be given him. After this their

tribute gradually became more rare.

“ Towards the end of the period Chia-ching (1522 — 1566), the

famous Cantonese robber, Chang Lien,f made a disturbance, and

after some time the military officers reported that they had captured

him ; in the year 1577 traders who came to Ku-kang saw that this

man had there a large commercial establishment (lit. a row of

shops), and was chief of the native ships ; a large number of

Chinese from Fukien were attached to him, and he was like a

superintendent of trade in China.<br>

<br>

This country is a place of much importance for the trade of

the barbarians; it is situated at the west of Java, from where, with

a fair wind, the passage takes about eight days. The country is

divided into fifteen districts, the soil is fertile and fit for agriculture,

and there is a saying :

‘ If you plant rice one year, you have

gold for three,’ meaning that the harvest is abundant and may be

sold for much money.

“ The rich people are much given to sensuality.

“ 'Fhe inhabitants of this country are skilled in fighting on the

water, and therefore their neighbours fear them.

“ The country is rich in water ; only the chiefs live on the

land, whilst the common people dwell on the river ; for this

purpose they build their houses on rafts, which are fastened

to poles in such a way that, when the tide rises, the rafts are

lifted up without being flooded. When they want to remove

to another place they have only to pull up the poles, which

does not cost much money or labour. 1

“ The lower classes call their superiors by the title of Chan-pi,j

which means the same as sovereign of the country. Afterwards

the place where their first chief lived, was called Chan-pi

(Jambi) also.<br>

“ The country has changed its old capital for Ku-kang (Palembang)

; formerly it was a rich country, but since the conquest

by Java it has gradually become poorer, and few trading-vessels

go there. Its customs and products have been described in the

history of the Sung Dynasty.”

In the beginning of the 15th century the eastern coast of

Sumatra was also visited by the famous imperial envoy Cheng-

Ho (s. above, p. 167), and one of his followers (s. above, p. 170)

has given us the following account of the country, which has

evidently been used also by the authors of the history of the

Ming dynasty.<br>

Ying-yai Sheng-lan (1416).<br>

“ Ku-kang is the same country which was formerly called Sanbo-

tsai ;

it is also called Palembang,# and is under the supremacy

of Java. It borders on Java at the east and on Malacca at the

west, in the south are large mountains, and in the north it extends

to the sea. From whatever place ships come they enter the

Strait of Banka f at the Fresh-water river,! and near a place with

many pagodas built of bricks, after which the merchants go up the

river in smaller craft, and so arrive at the capital.

“ A large number of the inhabitants are people from Canton,

Cbang-chou and Ch’iian-chou,§ who have run away and established

themselves here. The people of this country are very

rich, the soil being most fertile, and there is a proverb saying :

‘ when one sows for one year, he can recolt for three/ which is

not at all exaggerated.

“ The country is not large. The people exercise themselves

much in fighting on the water, and as there is more water than

land only the houses of the chiefs stand on shore, whilst the rest

of the people build their houses on rafts, which are attached to

piles, so that they rise with the water and cannot be flooded.

When they want to go and live in another place they pull up the

piles and remove with their whole house, which is very convenient.

. .

“ The river has two flood-tides every day.

“ The manners and customs, the marriage and burial ceremonies,

as well as the language, are all about the same as in Java.<br>

of the 6th century as Kandali, which name has since been lost and

is not found anywhere else.

In the ioth century the Chinese speak of it as San-bo-tsai,

which is the Sarbaza of the Arabian travellers who visited the

country a hundred years before ; the latter inform us that it was a

dependency of java in their time already, and it would seem that

in this, as well as in other instances, these Javanese conquerors

settled there and soon made themselves independent from their

mother-country, for the Chinese speak of a new invasion about 990

and another conquest about 1377 (v. above p. 189, 161 and 193).

With this last conquest the name of San-bo-tsai disappears, the

new conquerors establishing their capital at Palembang.

We are not told at what particular place San-bo-tsai was situated.,

but only see on page 195 that it was apart from Palembang. It is

probable, however, that it was on the same river, in the first place,

because it was the largest stream of the coast, and therefore the

best accessible place for foreign trade, and secondly, on account of

the Chinese name which was given to Palembang and its river

after the conquest of 1377. They called itKu-kang, ‘‘the OldRiver,”

to distinguish it from Jambi, where probably the princes of Sanbo-

tsai established their capital, after they had been driven away

from the old one by the Javanese ; this name, “ the Old River,”

given by them to the river of Palembang, implies that they were

familiar with it long since, and that it had been visited by them

during their previous trade, which we know had always been

carried on at San-bo-tsai.<br>

It is not to be supposed that Jambi and Palembang were new

places altogether ; they probably existed before, and only rose to

higher importance by these political changes. We see on page 193

that previous to the conquest of Java, there were three different

kings in the country, and the names of Jambi and Palembang

occur also before this event, coupled with the names of those kings

(v. above p. 188 and 193). The explanation of the name Jambi,

given in the history of the Ming dynasty on page 196, does not

seem reliable, but rather to have no other authority than the fancy

of the writer.<br>

INDRAGIRI.<br>

This country, situated on the eastern coast of Sumatra, a little

to the north of Jambi, is mentioned for the first time in the<br>

History of the Ming Dynasty (1368—1643). Book 325.<br>

“ Indragiri* is a country under the control of java ; its circum-<br>

Hsing-ch’a Sheng-lan (1436). The Island Kau-lan.*<br>

“Going from the Sacred Mountain in Champa, with a fair wind,

one may arrive here in ten days. The island is high and covered

with trees ; rattan, bamboo, material for rudders, spars, masts,

yards and sails are all to be found here.

“ When, in the time of the Yiian dynasty, the imperial generals

Kau Hsing and Shih-pi went to attack Java with numerous

soldiers and large ships, they were driven by a storm on this

island, and many of their ships were lost ; therefore they landed

and constructed a hundred vessels, after which they continued

their expedition against Java, captured the chief of the country

and brought him to China. Amongst the present inhabitants are

still Chinese, for about a hundred sick soldiers were left behind

and settled here.

“ The weather is always hot, and little rice is produced; the

people live chiefly from hunting.

“ Men and women have their hair in a knot ; they wear a short

jacket and a sarong.

“Articles of export are skins of leopards, bears and deer, and

also tortoise-shell ; articles of import are rice, glass beads of all

colours, green cloth, copper articles, green earthenware, etc.<br>

BANKA.<br>

On page 197 we have seen the strait of Banka mentioned in

order to determine the situation of Palembang, but nowhere the

island itself is described under this name. We think, however,

that the following account applies to Banka, or at least to its

eastern coast.<br>

Hsing-ch’a Sheng-lan (1436).<br>

“ Ma-yi-tung f is situated at the west of the island of Billiton

Kaulan), in the southern ocean. It has high mountains and flat

land intersected by small rivers.

“ The people live together in villages. The climate is rather

warm. Men and women have their hair in a knot, wear long

dresses and sarongs of different colours. The fields are very

fertile and produce more than in any other country.

“ They highly value chastity, and when a husband dies his wife<br>

cuts her hair, lacerates her face and does not eat for seven days,

sleeping all the time together with the dead body of her husband.

Many die during this time, but if one survives after seven days,

her relations exhort her to eat ; she may then live, but never

marries again. On the day that the husband is burned, many

wives throw themselves into the fire and die also.

“ Salt is boiled out of sea-water, and wine fermented from

sugar-cane.

“ Products of the country are cotton, yellow wax, tortoise-shell,

areca-nuts and flowered cotton-cloth.

“ Articles of import are copper-pots, unwrought iron, cottoncloth,

silks of different colours, etc.”<br>

LINGGA.<br>

Hsing-ch’a Sheng-lan (1436).<br>

“The Strait of Lingga* is situated to the north-west of Palembang

(San-bo-tsai) ; high mountains face each other as the teeth

of a dragon, and between these the ships pass.

“ The soil is barren and yields only little rice ; the climate is

warm, and in the 4th and 5th month there are heavy rains.

“ Men and women have their hair in a knot, and wear a short

jacket with a sarong of striped stuff. They chiefly live from piracy,

and when they see native vessels they go out with many hundreds

of small boats to attack them ; when there is a favourable

wind these ships may escape, but otherwise they are plundered

and the crew killed. Therefore ships are very careful in this

neighbourhood.”<br>

Northern Coast of Sumatra.<br>

POLI.<br>

History of the Liang Dynasty (502—556). Book 54.<br>

The kingdom of Polif is situated to the south-east of Canton,

on an island in the sea ; the distance from Canton is two months,

travelling daily. From east to west the country is fifty days broad,

and from north to south it is twenty days ; there are one hundred

and thirty-six villages in it. The climate is warm, just as the

summer in China ; rice ripens twice a year, and plants and trees

are very luxuriant, The sea produces spotted conches and<br>