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National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 |
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Citation Information
i
ti i
392
MARCO POLO 1300x III.
AS
R
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able that both these stories must be referred to those extensive expeditions to the western countries with the object of restoring Chinese influence which were despatched by the Ming Emperor Ch'éng-Tsu (or Yung-lo), about 1406, and one of which seems actually to have brought Ceylon under a partial subjection to China, which endured half a century. (See Tennent, I. 623 sego. ; and Letter of P. Gaubil in/ A. sér. II. torn. x. pp. 327-328.) [" So that at this day there is great memory of them in the ilands Philippinas, and on the cost of Coromande, which is the cost against the kingdome of Norsinga towards the sea of Cengala : whereas is a towne called unto this day the soile of the Chinos, for that they did reedifie and make the same. The like notice and memory is there in the kingdom of Calicut, whereas be many trees and fruits, that the naturals of that countrie do say, were brought thither by the ' Chinos, when that they were lords and gouernours of that countrie." (Alendoza, Parke's trans/. p. 71. )] De Barros says that the famous city of Diu was built by one of the Kings of Guzerat whom he calls in one place Dariar Khan, and in another Peruxiah, in memory of victory in a sea-fight with the Chinese who then frequented the Indian shores. It is difficult to identify this King, though he is represented as the father of the famous toxiccphagous Sultan Mahrraid Begara (14591511). De Barros has many other allusions to Chinese settlements and conquests in India which it is not very easy to account for. Whatever basis of facts there is must probably refer to the expeditions of Ch'éng-Tsu, but not a little probably grew out of the confusion of Jainas and Chinas already alluded to ; and to this I incline to refer Correa's " sumptuous idol-temples."
There must have been some revival of Chinese trade in the last century, if P. Paolino is correct in speaking of Chinese vessels frequenting Travancore ports for pepper. (De Barros, Dec. II. Liv. ii. cap. 9, and Dec. IV. Liv. v. cap. 3 ; Paolino,
P. 74.)
CHATTER XXVI.
CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF GOZURAT.
GOZURAT is a great kingdom. The people are Idolaters
and have a peculiar language, and a king of their own,
and are tributary to no one. It lies towards the west,
and the North Star is here still more conspicuous,
showing itself at an altitude of about 6 cubits.'
The people are the most desperate pirates in exist-
ence, and one of their atrocious practices is this. When
they have taken a merchant-vessel they force the
merchants to swallow a stuff called Tama7indi mixed in
sea-water, which produces a violent purging.2 This is
done in case the merchants, on seeing their danger,
b
should have swallowed their most valuable stones and
pearls. And in this way the pirates secure the whole.
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