Chau Ju-Kua - University of Oregon Libraries

1)20 .
BAOnDAD.
103
tiles. Wall-hangings abound. The circuit (of the wall) is pierced with seven
gates, each guarded by thirty men^
wTribute bearers from other countries pay homage below the platform
of the (palace) steps, whence they withdraw after having offered their con-
5 gratulations)).
The inhabitants are tall and of a fine bright complexion, somewhat like
the Chinese, which is the reason for their being called Ta-tsHn ^
They have keepers of official records, and in writing they use Ha (^^)
characters. They trim their hair and wear embroidered gowns. They also
10 have small carts with white tops, flags, etc. (Along the roads) there is a
shed (i^) every ten 11, and every thirty li tliere is a beacon-tower (f-^).
Tliere are many lions in, this country that interfere with travellers and
are likely to devour them unless they go in caravans of an hundred well-
armed men ^.
15 wUnderneath the palace they have dug a tunnel through the ground
communicating with the hall of worship (jj^ ^ ^) at a distance of over
a li. The king rarely goes out except to chant the liturgy (fj j^) and
worship (;i^ ^). On every seventh day he goes by way of the tunnel to the
hall of worship for divine service (^ -^), being attended by a suite of over
20 fifty men. But few amongst the people know the Icing's face. If he goes out
he rides horseback, shaded by an umbrella; the head of his horse is orna-
mented with gold, jade, pearls and other jewels ^
«There is among the kings of the Ta-shi country he who is styled Su-tan
(^ ^); every year he deputes men to send in tribute, and, if trouble is
25 apprehended in the country, he orders the Ta-shi to use their military force
to keep order ^.
«The food consists principally of cooked dishes, bread (f^) and meat.
They do not drink wine; they make use of vessels of gold and silver, helping
themselves to the contents with ladles. After meals they wash their hands in
30 golden bowls full of water.
«The native products comprise opaque glass, coral, native gold (or gold
bullion, ^ ^), brocades (or kincobs, ^ ^), sarsenets (H :flj), red
cornelian and pearls»®; also (the precious stone called) hie-ki-si (,^ ^ ^)
or tung-tHen-si (jg ^ ^)"-
35 In the beginning of the yen-hi period of the Han (A. D. 158— 167)"
the ruler of this country sent an embassy which, from outside the frontier
of J'i-nan (0 ^), came to offer rhinoceros (horns), elephants' (tusks), and
tortoise-shell;— this being the first direct communication with China. As the