of porcelain, salt and sugar, looks as if he had before him modern
    information as to the place.  He likewise observes, “All the moderns
    note the port of Zaiton between Canton and Liampo.”  Yet I know no
    other modern allusion except Giovanni d’Empoli’s; and that was printed
    only a few years ago. (Botero, Relazione Universale, pp. 97,
    228.)

[3] Martini says of Ganhai (’An-Hai or Ngan-Hai), “Ingens hic mercium ac
    Sinensium navium copia est ... ex his (’Anhai and Amoy) in totam
    Indiam merces avehuntur.”

[4] Dr. Douglas assures me that the cut at p. 245 is an excellent
    view of the entrance to the S. channel of the Chang-chau River,
    though I derived it from a professed view of the mouth of the
    Chinchew River.  I find he is quite right; see List of
    Illustrations.

[5] In a modern Chinese geographical work abstracted by Mr. Laidlay, we
    are told that the great river of Tsim-lo, or Siam, “penetrates
    to a branch of the Hwang-Ho.” (J.A.S.B. XVII.  Pt.  I. 157.)

[6] CHINESE-ENGLISH DICTIONARY of the Vernacular or Spoken language of
    Amoy, with the principal variations of the Chang-chew and Chin-chew
    Dialects; by the Rev. Carstairs Douglas, M.A., LL.D.,
    Glasg., Missionary of the Presb.  Church in England. (Truebner, 1873.)
    I must note that I have not access to the book itself, but condense
    these remarks from extracts and abstracts made by a friend at my
    request.

BOOK THIRD.

JAPAN, THE ARCHIPELAGO, SOUTHERN INDIA, AND THE COASTS AND ISLANDS OF THE
INDIAN SEA

[Illustration:  The Kaan’s Fleet passing through the Indian Archipelago

“Fist aparoiller xiv nes, lesquels avoit chascune iv arbres, et maintes foies aloient a xii voiles ... et najeient bien iii mois tant k’il vendrent a bre Asie qui es ver midi”]

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE MERCHANT SHIPS OF MANZI THAT SAIL UPON THE INDIAN SEAS.

Having finished our discourse concerning those countries wherewith our Book hath been occupied thus far, we are now about to enter on the subject of INDIA, and to tell you of all the wonders thereof.

And first let us speak of the ships in which merchants go to and fro amongst the Isles of India.

These ships, you must know, are of fir timber.[NOTE 1] They have but one deck, though each of them contains some 50 or 60 cabins, wherein the merchants abide greatly at their ease, every man having one to himself.  The ship hath but one rudder, but it hath four masts; and sometimes they have two additional masts, which they ship and unship at pleasure.[NOTE 2]