the Nicobar Islands.  Molayu should thus lie half-way between Bhoja and Kieh-ch’a, but this indication must not be taken too literally where it is given for a sailing vessel, and there is also the statement of De Barros, which does not allow us to go too far away from Palembang, as he mentions Tana-Malayu next to that place.  We have therefore to choose between the next three larger rivers:  those of Jambi, Indragiri, and Kampar, and there is an indication in favour of the last one, not very strong, it is true, but still not to be neglected.  I-tsing tells us:  ’Le roi me donna des secours grace auxquels je parvins au pays de Mo-louo-yu; j’y sejournai derechef pendant deux mois.  Je changeai de direction pour aller dans le pays de Kie-tcha.’  The change of direction during a voyage along the east coast of Sumatra from Palembang to Atjeh is nowhere very perceptible, because the course is throughout more or less north-west, still one may speak of a change of direction at the mouth of the River Kampar, about the entrance of the Strait of Malacca, whence the track begins to run more west, whilst it is more north before.  The country of Kampar is of little importance now, but it is not improbable that there has been a Hindoo settlement, as the ruins of religious monuments decidedly Buddhist are still existing on the upper course of the river, the only ones indeed on this side of the island, it being a still unexplained fact that the Hindoos in Java have built on a very large scale, and those of Sumatra hardly anything at all.”—­Mr. Takakusu (A Record of the Buddhist Religion, p. xli.) proposes to place Shih-li-fuh-shi at Palembang and Mo-louo-yu farther on the northern coast of Sumatra.—­(Cf. G.  Schlegel, Geog.  Notes, XVI.; P.  Pelliot, Bul.  Ecole Franc.  Ext.  Orient, II. pp. 94-96.)—­H.C.]

CHAPTER IX.

CONCERNING THE ISLAND OF JAVA THE LESS.  THE KINGDOMS OF FERLEC AND BASMA.

When you leave the Island of Pentam and sail about 100 miles, you reach the Island of JAVA THE LESS.  For all its name ’tis none so small but that it has a compass of two thousand miles or more.  Now I will tell you all about this Island.[NOTE 1]

You see there are upon it eight kingdoms and eight crowned kings.  The people are all Idolaters, and every kingdom has a language of its own.  The Island hath great abundance of treasure, with costly spices, lign-aloes and spikenard and many others that never come into our parts.[NOTE 2]

Now I am going to tell you all about these eight kingdoms, or at least the greater part of them.  But let me premise one marvellous thing, and that is the fact that this Island lies so far to the south that the North Star, little or much, is never to be seen!

Now let us resume our subject, and first I will tell you of the kingdom of FERLEC.