[1] I formerly supposed Al-Ramni, the oldest Arabic name of
    Sumatra, to be a corruption of Lambri; but this is more probably of
    Hindu origin.  One of the Dvipas of the ocean mentioned in the
    Puranas is called Ramaniyaka, “delightfulness.” (Williams’s
    Skt.  Dict.)

[2] Van der Tuuk says positively, I find:  “Fantsur was the ancient name of
    Barus.” (J.R.A.S. n.s.  II. 232.) [Professor Schlegel writes
    also (Geog.  Notes, XVI. p. 9):  “At all events, Fansur or
    Pantsur can be naught but Baros.”—­H.C.]

[3] Liquidambar Altingiana.

[4] The Californian and Australian giants of 400 feet were not then known.

CHAPTER XII.

CONCERNING THE ISLAND OF NECUVERAN.

When you leave the Island of Java (the less) and the kingdom of Lambri, you sail north about 150 miles, and then you come to two Islands, one of which is called NECUVERAN.  In this Island they have no king nor chief, but live like beasts.  And I tell you they go all naked, both men and women, and do not use the slightest covering of any kind.  They are Idolaters.  Their woods are all of noble and valuable kinds of trees; such as Red Sanders and Indian-nut and Cloves and Brazil and sundry other good spices. [NOTE 1]

There is nothing else worth relating; so we will go on, and I will tell you of an Island called Angamanain.

NOTE 1.—­The end of the last chapter and the commencement of this I have taken from the G. Text.  There has been some confusion in the notes of the original dictation which that represents, and corrections have made it worse.  Thus Pauthier’s text runs:  “I will tell you of two small Islands, one called Gauenispola and the other Necouran,” and then:  “You sail north about 150 miles and find two Islands, one called Necouran and the other Gauenispola.”  Ramusio does not mention Gauenispola, but says in the former passage:  “I will tell you of a small Island called Nocueran”—­and then:  “You find two islands, one called Nocueran and the other Angaman.”

Knowing the position of Gauenispola there is no difficulty in seeing how the passage should be explained.  Something has interrupted the dictation after the last chapter.  Polo asks Rusticiano, “Where were we?” “Leaving the Great Island.”  Polo forgets the “very small Island called Gauenispola,” and passes to the north, where he has to tell us of two islands, “one called Necuveran and the other Angamanain.”  So, I do not doubt, the passage should run.

Let us observe that his point of departure in sailing north to the Nicobar Islands was the Kingdom of Lambri.  This seems to indicate that Lambri included Achin Head or came very near it, an indication which we shall presently see confirmed.