Two days after the departure of the king from Pegu, we sailed towards the city of Malacca, where we arrived after a voyage of eight days.  Not far from this city is a famous river named Gaza[90], the largest I ever saw, as it is 25 miles broad, and on the other side of it is seen the very large island of Sumatra, which by old writers was called Taprobana, and which is said by the inhabitants to be 500 miles in circuit[91].  Upon our arrival at Malacca, called by some Melcha, we were commanded to appear before the sultan, who is a Mahometan and tributary to the great sultan of Chini[92], because as is said the city was built about 80 years before on account of the convenience of its harbour, being one of the best in the ocean, and to which doubtless many ships resort for trade.  This region is not everywhere fruitful, yet it has a sufficiency of corn and cattle, although scarce of wood.  They have plenty of birds of the same kind with those at Calicut, but the popinjays or parrots are more beautiful.  It produces sandal-wood and tin; likewise elephants, horses, sheep, kine, pardalles or leopards, buffaloes, peacocks, and many other beasts and birds.  The country has but few products of value, so that its only merchandise is spices and silk.  The people are of a blackish ash-colour, and are clothed like the Mahometans of Memphis, otherwise called Cayr, Alchayr, or Babylon, on the Nile.  They have very large foreheads, round eyes, and flat noses; and they are so much given to murder and robbery that it is dangerous to go abroad in the night, for they kill one another like dogs, and therefore merchants always remain on board their ships in the night.  The people are fierce, barbarous, and unruly, insomuch that they will not submit to any governor, being altogether addicted to sedition and rebellion, and they always threaten to quit the country when their rulers endeavour to enforce order; which threat they are certainly able to execute, as their country is upon the sea-coast.

[Footnote 90:  It is obvious from the context, that this famous river of Gaza refers to the Straits of Malacca.—­E.]

[Footnote 91:  The Taprobana of the ancients certainly was Ceylon.  Sumatra is about 977 statute miles in length, and 200 in its greatest breadth, so that its circumference must exceed 2500 miles.—­E.]

[Footnote 92:  By Chini in the text is probably meant Acheen in Sumatra.—­E.]

We stopt no time at Malacca, but hiring a brigantine we sailed from thence for the island of Sumatra, and arrived at the city of Pyder or Pedier about 80 miles from the mainland, where we found an excellent harbour.  The island of Sumatra is governed by four kings, who with their people are all idolaters, and do not differ much in fashions, apparel, and manner of life from the inhabitants of Tanaserim.  They are of a whitish colour with large foreheads, round