Name
Sumuta = Sumutra, during the first years of the eleventh century, nearly
300 years before Marco Polo's voyage; and under the name of Sumutra, by
the Arab sailors, previously to the first voyage of the Portuguese in
Indonesia.
IX., p. 287.
FERLEC.
Prof. Pelliot writes to me that the Ferlec of Marco Polo is to be found
several times in the Yuan Shi, year 1282 and following, under the forms
Fa-li-lang (Chap. 12, fol. 4 v.), Fa-li-la (Chap. 13, fol. 2 v.),
Pie-li-la (Chap. 13, fol. 4 v.), Fa-eul-la (Chap. 18, fol. 8 v.); in
the first case, it is quoted near A-lu (Aru) and Kan-pai (Kampei).
- Cf. FERRAND, Textes, II., p. 670.
XI., pp. 304-5.
SAGO TREE.
Sago Palm = Sagus Rumphianus and S. Laevis (DENNYS). - "From Malay
sagu. The farinaceous pith taken out of the stem of several species of a
particular genus of palm, especially Metroxylon laeve, Mart., and M.
Rumphii, Willd., found in every part of the Indian Archipelago, including
the Philippines, wherever there is proper soil." (Hobson-Jobson.)
XII., p. 306. "In this island [Necuveran] they have no king nor chief, but
live like beasts. And I tell you they go all naked, both men and women,
and do not use the slightest covering of any kind."
We have seen (Marco Polo, II., p. 308) that Mr. G. Phillips writes
(J.R.A.S., July, 1895, p. 529) that the name Tsui-lan given to the
Nicobars by the Chinese is, he has but little doubt, "a corruption of
Nocueran, the name given by Marco Polo to the group.
