* ©©©, may also be read Kandari or Kandori.  We cannot identify this name, which soon disappears again, but the Chinese, who may know these things by uninterrupted tradition, all agree in saying this is the Palembang of modern times.  [This view is confirmed by P. A. van der Lith in the Notes to his edition of the “ Kitâb 'Ajâib el Hind,” p. 249.  See also M. d’ Hervey de St. Denys, 1 . 1 ., p. 452].  In Valentijn's “Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indien ” it is said that Sumatra was formerly called Andalus.  There is a place called Kendari on the eastern coast of Celebes at Vosmaer-bay, but even if it already bore this name, it is quite improbable that a Hindoo settlement has ever existed there. Dr Kern (see page 12 of his essay quoted on page 135) thinks that Kandali means Pulu Condore, near Saigon, but his assumption is untenable for various reasons:

(1) this island was already known to the Chinese under the name of K’un-lun ; (2) the native name is Kon-non, and Condore a foreign corruption, thus  the Chinese could never have transcribed it with Kandali ; (3) this small rocky island can never have been the seat of anything like a Hindoo kingdom.  Without being unduly positive, I prefer to follow my Chinese sources here.

† ©© ki-pa, sometimes, perhaps erroneously, written ©© ku-pa, is the transcription of the native word for cotton, which is now in Malay kapas or kapeh.  At that time the Chinese themselves had no cotton. [See p. 142, note §.] 

‡ ©©©©©© Nalinda is probably a transcription of the Sanscrit Narendra (king). See Kern, op. cit. pag. 12.

§ ©©©. 

║ ©©©©©©

skilful painter, he made a picture of the emperor’s face as he had seen it in his dream, adorning it with various colours. He then sent an envoy, accompanied by a painter, to carry a letter to the emperor and present precious stones and other things. When the envoys had arrived, they made a picture of the emperor, which they took home to their country, and, comparing it with the original drawing, it was found to be exactly the same. The king now mounted this picture on a precious frame, and honoured it more and more every day.*

“ Some time afterwards the king died, and his son Pi-ya-pa-mo † came to the throne. In 519 he sent a high official, called Pi-yen-pa-mo,‡ to present a letter of the following contents: ‘To the ever victorious emperor, who is world-honoured as the different Buddha’s, ever happy and quiet ; who possesses the six supernatural

talents and the three stages of wisdom, who is the most exalted on earth and is as Tathâgata himself. He takes care of the true light (Bôdhi) and of the relics of Buddha’s body, making pagodas and images all over his country, so that it looks imposing as the mountain Sumêru. His cities and villages are covered with houses ; the dwellings of his functionaries in towns and suburbs are as the palaces in Indra’s heaven. Numerous are his soldiers, and able to subdue all his enemies ; his country is quiet and happy, exempt from all disasters. His people are harmonious and good, they have been renovated by the true law, and the happiness resulting from this is pervading everywhere; just as a mountain covered with snow, of which the water flows down on all sides : fresh and clear, all the rivulets are filled with it, they meander in every direction, but dutifully bring it to the sea, all living creatures meanwhile enjoying it; of all countries in the world, China certainly must be named first.

“ ‘ The Son of Heaven, at Yang-chou, § in the great Liang country, overshadows the earth with his benevolence, and the influence

“ They make wine from flowers, cocoa-nuts, penang or honey, which are all intoxicating, though they use no leaven or yeast.

“ For their music they have a small guitar and small drums ; slaves from Pulu Condore* make music for them by tramping on the ground and singing.

“They write with Sanscrit characters, and the king uses his ring as a seal ; they know also Chinese characters, and when presenting letters with tribute they make use of them.†

“ They have made a fortified city with a wall of piled bricks, several tens of li ‡ in circumference, and they use palm leaves for covering their houses. The people live scattered outside the town, and do not pay any taxes. When they have a war, they at once select a chief to lead them, and everybody provides his own arms and provisions. With a favourable wind the distance from this country to Canton is twenty days.

“The king is styled Chan-pi, § and in his country there are many people whose names begin with Pu (lit. whose family name is Pu).

“ Towards the end of the T’ang dynasty, in the year 905, they sent tribute, and the envoy, who was chief of their capital, got from the emperor the title of the General who pacifies the Distant Countries.

“ In the 9th month of the year 960 Si-ri-hu-ta-hia-li-t’an ║ sent an envoy to bring tribute, which he repeated in the summer of the next year. In the winter of the same year tribute was offered by

a king of the name Si-ri-wu-ya.¶

“In the spring of the year 962 the king Si-ri-wu-ya sent an embassy of three envoys to bring tribute. They brought back tails of the Yak (Bos grunniens or poephagus), white porcelain, silver utensils, silk thread, and two sets of saddle and bridle.

“ In the year 971 one of the former envoys was sent to present

crystals and lamp-oil; in the next year he came again, and in 974

they brought as tribute ivory, olibanum, rosewater, dates and flat

peaches, white sugar, crystal finger-rings, glass bottles and coraltrees.

The next year new envoys came, who were presented with

caps and girdles.

“In the year 980 their king, Ha-ch’i (Haji or Aji),* sent an

envoy, and in the same year it was reported from Clfiauchou, that

a foreign merchant from San-bo-tsai had arrived in that port with

a cargo of perfumes, medicines, drugs, rhinoceros-horns and ivory ;

as the wind had been adverse he had been sixty days coming to

Ch’au-chou. His perfumes and drugs were all carried to Canton.

f

“ In the year 983 their king, Ha-chi, J sent an envoy, who brought

a tribute of crystal, cotton-cloth, § rhinoceros-horns, perfumes and

drugs.

“ In the year 985 the master of a ship came and presented

products of his country.

“In 988 an envoy arrived for the purpose of bringing tribute,

and in the winter of 992 information was received from Canton

that this envoy, who had left the capital two years ago, had heard

in the south that his country was invaded by Java, and had therefore

remained a year. In the spring of 992 he had gone to

Champa with his ship, but hearing no good news there he came

back to ask for an imperial decree in order that his country might

follow his lead.

“ In the year 1003 the king Se-li-chu-la-wu-ni-fu-ma-tiau-hwa

||

sent two envoys to bring tribute ; they related that in their country

a Buddhist temple had been erected in order to pray for the long

life of the emperor, and that they wanted a name and bells for it,

by which the emperor would show that he appreciated their good

intentions. An edict was issued by which the temple received the

name of Ch’eng-t’ien-wan-shou,^[ and bells were cast to be given

to them. Moreover one of the envoys got the title of the General

who is attracted by Virtue, and the other that of the General who

cherishes Civilizing Influence.**<br>

<br>

“In the year 1008 the king Se-ri-ma-la-p’i # sent three envoys

to present tribute ; they were permitted to go to the T’ai-shanf

and to be with the emperor in the audience-hall. Ultimately they

were sent back with very liberal presents.

“In 1017 the king Ha-ch’i-su-wu-ch’a-p’u-mi J sent envoys with

a letter in golden characters, and tribute in the shape of pearls,

ivory, Sanscrit books folded between boards, § and slaves; by an

imperial edict they were permitted to see the emperor and to visit

some of the imperial buildings. When they went back an edict

was issued addressed to their king, accompanied by various

presents calculated to please him.

“In 1028, the 8th month, the king Si-li-tieh-hwa || sent envoys

to carry tribute. The custom was that envoys from distant

countries, who brought tribute, got a girdle adorned with gold and

silver, but this time girdles entirely of gold were given to them.

“In 1067 an envoy, who was one of their high chiefs, called

Ti-hwa-ka la,^[ arrived in China ; the title of Great General who

supports Obedience and cherishes Renovation, ## was given to him,

and he was favoured with an imperial edict of the following contents

:

‘ Our reputation and Our teachings overshadow all

countries, whether far or near, and if their people are only loyal

and dutiful, We always give them Chinese titles, favouring them

with fine names in order to distinguish their countries. You have

gladly obeyed Our high influence and come across the sea to bring

valuable articles as tribute ; We praise you for this, and have raised

your rank in order to give an encouragement to loyalty and dutifulness.’

“ During the period Yiian-fung (1078—1085) envoys came from

this country, again bringing silver, pearls, camphor-oil, olibanum

and other products of the country. The letter they brought was

first forwarded to the court from Canton, where they waited until

they were escorted to the capital. The emperor remembering that

they had come very far, gave them liberal presents, and then

allowed them to return. The next year he gave them 64,000 strings

of cash, 15,000 taels of silver, and favoured the two envoys who

had come with honorary titles. One of these envoys asked permission

to buy golden girdles, various things made of silver, purple<br>

dresses for Buddhist monks and official tablets,* all which was

given him according to his desire.

“In the year 1080 a foreigner from the south arrived at Canton;

he said that he had the direction of the affairs in his country, and

the daughter of the king sent a letter in Chinese characters to the

superintendent of trade, together with camphor-baros and cottoncloth.

The superintendent dared not receive this, and he reported

it to the throne, whereupon he was ordered to pay the estimated

value of the goods ; the said functionary then bought silks for the

amount and gave these to them.

“In 1082 three envoys from this country came to have an

audience from the emperor, and brought golden lotus-flowers

containing pearls, camphor-baros and sa-tien ;f they all received

honorary titles, according to their rank. The third envoy died in

China after he had left the capital, and the government gave a

present of fifty pieces of silk for his burial.

“In 1083 three other envoys came, who all received honorary

titles, according to their rank.

“In the period Shau-sheng (1094—1097) they made their

appearance once again.

“In the year 1156 the king Si-li-ma-ha-la-sha t sent envoys to

bring tribute. The Emperor said :

‘ When distant people feel

themselves attracted by our civilizing influence, their discernment

must be praised. It is therefore that I rejoice in it, but not

because I want to benefit by the products of their country.’ On

this occasion the king had also sent pearls to be presented to one

of the ministers, who had however died in the meantime ; the

emperor gave orders to receive them, and to pay in return the

estimated value.<br>

“In the year 1178 they again sent envoys to bring as tribute

products of the country: on this occasion the emperor issued an

edict ordering that they should not come to court any more, but

make an establishment at Ch’iian-chou in the province of Fukien.”

The above account does not teach us much about the country

it treats of, but still we have thought it advisable to translate it in

extenso, as it contains much information on the intercourse which

was carried on between China and the countries of these parts

during the time. What we said above, on p. 129, about the tribute

of which the Chinese always speak, is fully carried out by the

details given here. The ceremony of bringing tribute to the

emperor was only a pretext to gain facilities for the trade, and the<br>

pi-cloth, # blankets of woollen cloth,f and many other articles.

The emperor ordered to give them a copy of the imperial calendar,

and pieces of silk according to their rank. At the same time the

Board of Revenue reported that a vessel with merchandize,

belonging to them, had arrived at Ch’iian-chou and wanted to

make it pay duties, but the emperor gave orders not to let it

pay- £

“ In the year 1373 the king Tan-ma*sa-na-ho§ sent envoys to

bring tribute, with a separate letter of congratulation for the next

new year.

“ At that time there were three kings in this country.

“ In 1374 the king Ma-na-ha-pau-lin-pang j] sent envoys to

bring tribute, which was repeated in the first month of the next

year.

“ In the ninth month of the year 1375 a king called Sang-kaliet-

yii-lan^[ sent envoys to present tribute; these envoys came to

court following an imperial envoy who returned from a mission to

another country.

“ In the year 1376 the king Tan-ma-sa-na-ho died and his son,

Ma-la-cha Wu-li ## succeeded him; the next year the latter sent a

tribute of rhinoceros-horns, cassowaries, white monkeys, black

and green parrots, tortoise-shell, cloves, camphor-baros and other

articles. 'The envoys said that the son dared not ascend the

throne on his own authority, and therefore asked the permission of

the Imperial court. The emperor praised his sense of duty and

ordered envoys to bring him a seal and a commission as king of

San-bo-tsai.

“At that time however San-bo-tsai had already been conquered

by Java, and the king of this country, hearing that the emperor

had appointed a king over San-bo-tsai, became very angry and

sent men who waylaid and killed the imperial envoys. The

emperor did not think it right to punish him on this account.<br>

holy instructions ; though it is smaller than those countries, it

ventures to be obstinate and so will cause its own ruin.

“ £ As you, Siam, reverently observe the duties of a subject, so

that the government ordained by heaven has great regard for

you, it has been entrusted to you to inform Java that it must

speak to San-bo-tsai about its duties, and if this latter country

changes its evil ways, it will be received kindly as before.’

“ At that time Java had completely conquered San-bo-tsai and

changed its name to Ku-kangA When San-bo-tsai went down

the whole country was disturbed, and the Javanese could not keep

ali the land ; for this reason the Chinese, who were established

there, stood up for themselves, and a man fromNan-hai (Namhoi)

in Canton, called Liang Tau-ming,f who had lived there a long

time and roamed over the sea, followed by several thousand men

from Fukien and Canton, was taken by them as their chief. He

reigned as master of a part of the country, and his son, who once

met an imperial envoy sent on a mission out of China, was taken

by the latter to the court.

“ In the year 1405 the emperor sent a messenger, who was from

the same town as Liang Tau-ming, with an order summoning him

to court. Tau-ming and his confederate, Cheng Po-k’o, J followed

this envoy and brought as tribute products of the country. They

returned bestowed with many presents.

“ In 1406 the (Chinese) chief of Ku-kang, called Ch’en Tsu-i. §

sent his son, whilst Tau-ming sent his nephew, to go to court

together. Tsu-i was also a man from Canton, and though he sent

tribute to court, he carried on piracy at the same time, and the

envoys from other countries who brought tribute to China,

suffered much at his hands.<br>

<br>

“In 1407, when the imperial envoyChengHo came backfrom the

west, he sent a messenger to call him ; Tsu-i feigned obedience but

secretly made plans to rob him too. Another Chinese, of the name

Shih Chin-ch’ing,|| informed Cheng Ho of this, and when Tsu-i

came to attack him, he was made a prisoner, brought to the capital

and executed there. At the same time Chin-ch’ing sent his sonin-

law to bring tribute, on which the emperor gave an order to

institute the office of Pacificator of Ku-kang, and appointed<br>

“Formerly, in the period Hung-wu (1368—1398), a Cantonese

called Ch’en Tsu-i, along with some others, ran away with his

whole family to this place, where he set up as a chief, and being

of a very bad disposition he plundered all the merchant-ships

passing there. In 1407 the government envoy, Cheng Ho, arrived

here with a fleet, and another Cantonese, called Shih Chin-ch’ing,

came to give information about the wicked intentions of Ch’en

Tsu-i ; the envoy thereupon took the latter alive and sent him to

the capital, where he was punished by death. Shih Chin-ch’ing

got a cap and a girdle, and was allowed to go back as the chief of

Ku-kang and to rule the country ; when he died he had no son,

so his daughter came in his place, and rewards, punishments, depositions

and appointments were all made by her.*

“ The products of the country are lignum-aloes in different qualities,

yellow wax, benzoe and other articles, all of them not found

in China. Benzoe looks as if it were inlaid with silver ; it has the

appearance of dark glue, with white wax inside, the better sorts

having much white and little black ; when it is burned the smell

is very strong, and the natives, as well as the men from Soli,+ like

it very much.

“ There is a bird from which the so-called crane-crests are taken

;

it is as large as a goose, with black feathers, a long neck and a

pointed bill. Its skull is about an inch thick, outside red and

inside like yellow wax ;

it has a very fine appearance and is called

crane-crest ; J they use it for the handles and scabbards of their

swords, and for different other purposes.

“Here also is found the cassowary, § which is as large as a

crane ; it has a round body and a thin neck, longer than that of<br>

the crane ; its soft red crest is like a red cap, and begins on both

sides of the neck ; the beak is sharp and the whole body is

covered with hair as of a goat ; sparse, long, and of a greenish

colour. It has long legs, with hard, black claws, which are very

sharp, so that it can rip open a man’s belly until the entrails come

out and death follows. It likes to eat burning coals, whence its

name. It is impossible to kill it with a stick.

“ In the mountains of this country a supernatural animal is

found, called the divine stag. # It looks like a large pig, and is

about three feet high ; the forepart of the body is black, the hind

part white, and the hair is sleek, short and very fine. The mouth

is like that of a pig, but not flat in front ; the hoofs have three

grooves and it only eats plants, not other animals.

“ The cattle, goats, pigs, dogs, fowls and ducks, gourds and

fruit, are the same as in Java.

“The people of this country are much given to gambling; they

play pa-kui, chess, or fight cocks, in all cases staking money.

“ In trading they take Chinese copper coin and cotton-cloth f

They also send to China tribute of the products of their country.”

On the trade of Palembang and Jambi in the 16th century we

find the following notice in the<br>

Tung Hsi Yang K’au (1618). Book 3.<br>

“When a ship arrives at Ku-kang (Palembang), a present of

fruit and silk is offered to the king, for which there is a fixed

quantity.

“ When the men of Jambi bargain for goods, the price is

agreed upon in gold, but they pay only with pepper ; e.g. if something

costs two taels of gold, they pay a hundred picols of pepper,

or thereabout. They like to buy outside women, and girls from

other countries are often brought here and sold for pepper.

“ They use money made of lead.

“ San-bo-tsai was formerly known as a rich place, but since it

was conquered by Java, the capital had been deserted and few

traders go there now.”J

From the different extracts translated by us, and treating of the

eastern coast of Sumatra, we see that it was known to the Chinese<br>