Marco Polo seems to have regarded Bengal and Pegu as parts of China:  he mentions the gold of Pegu, and the rice, cotton, and sugar of Bengal, as well as its ginger, spikenard, &c.  The principal branch of the Bengal trade consisted in cotton goods.  In Guzerat also, there was abundance of cotton:  in Canhau, frankincense; and in Cambaia, indigo, cotton, &c.  He describes the cities on the east and west coasts of India; but he does not seem either to have penetrated himself inland, or to have learnt any particulars regarding the interior from other persons.  Horses were a great article of importation in all parts of India:  they were brought from Persia and Arabia by sea.  In the countries to the north of India, particularly Thibet, corals were in great demand, and brought a higher price than any other article:  this was the case in the time of Pliny, who informs us, that the men in India were as fond of coral for an ornament, as the women of Rome were of the Indian pearls.  In Pliny’s time, corals were brought from the Mediterranean coast of France to Alexandria, and were thence exported by the Arabians to India.  Marco Polo does not inform us by what means, or from what country they were imported into the north of India.  The greater Java, which he represents as the greatest island in the world, carried on an extensive trade, particularly by means of the Chinese merchants, who imported gold and spices from it.  In the lesser Java, the tree producing sago grows:  he describes the process of making it.  In this island there are also nuts as large as a man’s head, containing a liquor superior to wine,—­evidently the cocoa nut.  He likewise mentions the rhinoceros.  The knowledge of camphire, the produce of Japan, Sumatra, and Borneo, was first brought to Europe by him.  The fishery of pearls between Ceylon and the main land of India is described; and particular mention is made of the large ruby possessed by the king of that island.  Madagascar is particularly mentioned, as supplying large exports of elephants’ teeth.

Marco Polo’s description of the vessels of India is very full and minute:  as he sailed from China to the Indian islands in one of these vessels, we may suppose it is perfectly accurate. according to him, they were fitted up with many cabins, and each merchant had his own cabin.  They had from two to four masts, all or any of which could be lowered; the hold was divided not merely for the purpose of keeping distinct each merchant’s goods, but also to prevent the water from a leak in one division extending to the rest of the hold.  The bottoms of the vessels were double planked at first, and each year a new sheathing was added; the ships lasted only six years.  They were caulked, as modern ships are; the timbers and planks fixed with iron nails, and a composition of lime, oil, and hemp, spread over the surface.  They were capable of holding 5000 or 6000 bags of pepper, and from 150 to 300 seamen and passengers.  They were supplied with oars as well as sails:  four men were allotted to each oar.  Smaller vessels seem to have accompanied the larger ones, which besides had boats on their decks.