yielded by the King of Ceylon as a gift to Kublai Khan, and carried with signal honour to China.  MARCO POLO describes the scene as something within his own knowledge:—­“Quando autem magnus Kaan scivit quod isti ambaxiatores redibant cum reliquis istis, et erant prope terram ubi ipse tune erat, scilicet in Cambalu (Pekin), fecit mitti bandum quod omnes de terra obviarent reliquis istis (quia credebat quod essent reliquiae de Adam) et istud fuit A.D. 1284.”]

The beginning of the fifteenth century was, however, signalised by an occurrence, the details of which throw light over the internal condition of the island, at a period regarding which the native historians are more than usually obscure.  At this time the glory of Buddhism had declined, and the political ascendency of the Tamils had enabled the Brahmans to taint the national worship by an infusion of Hindu observances.  The Se-yih-ke foo-choo, or “Description of Western Countries,” says that in 1405 A.D. the reigning king, A-lee-koo-nae-wurh (Wijaya-bahu VI.), a native of Sollee, and “an adherent of the heterodox faith, so far from honouring Buddha, tyrannised over his followers."[1] He maltreated strangers resorting to the island, and plundered their vessels, “so that the envoys from other lands, in passing to and fro, were much annoyed by him."[2]

[Footnote 1:  B. xviii. p. 15.]

[Footnote 2:  Ming-she, b. cccxxvi, p. 7.]

In that year a mission from China, sent with incense and offerings to the shrine of the tooth, was insulted and waylaid, and with difficulty effected an escape from Ceylon.[1] According to the Ming-she, or History of the Ming Dynasty, “the Emperor Ching-tsoo, indignant at this outrage on his people; and apprehensive lest the influence of China in other countries besides Ceylon had declined during the reign of his predecessors, sent Ching-Ho, a soldier of distinction, with a fleet of sixty-two ships and a large military escort, on an expedition to visit the western kingdoms, furnished with proper credentials and rich presents of silk and gold.  Ching-Ho touched at Cochin-China, Sumatra, Java, Cambodia, Siam, and other places, proclaiming at each the Imperial edict, and conferring Imperial gifts.”  If any of the princes refused submission, they were subdued by force; and the expedition returned to China in A.D. 1407, accompanied by envoys from the several nations, who came to pay court to the Emperor.

[Footnote 1:  Se-y[)i]h-ke foo-choo, b. xviii. p. 15.  This Chinese invasion of Ceylon has been already adverted to in the sketch of the domestic history of the island, Vol.  I. Part IV. ch xii. p. 417.]