The Bonus of the G.T. here is another example of Marco's use, probably
unconscious, of an Oriental word. It is Persian Abnus, Ebony, which has
passed almost unaltered into the Spanish Abenuz. We find Ibenus also
in a French inventory (Douet d'Arcq, p. 134), but the Bonus seems to
indicate that the word as used by the Traveller was strange to Rusticiano.
The word which he uses for pen-cases too, Calamanz, is more suggestive
of the Persian Kalamdan than of the Italian Calamajo.
"Ebony is very common in this country (Champa), but the wood which is the
most precious, and which is sufficiently abundant, is called 'Eagle-wood,'
of which the first quality sells for its weight in gold; the native name
Kinam," (Bishop Louis in J.A.S.B. VI. 742; Dr. Birdwood, in the
Bible Educator, I. 243; Crawford's Dict.)
CHAPTER VI.
CONCERNING THE GREAT ISLAND OF JAVA.
When you sail from Chamba, 1500 miles in a course between south and
south-east, you come to a great Island called Java. And the experienced
mariners of those Islands who know the matter well, say that it is the
greatest Island in the world, and has a compass of more than 3000 miles. It
is subject to a great King and tributary to no one else in the world. The
people are Idolaters. The Island is of surpassing wealth, producing black
pepper, nutmegs, spikenard, galingale, cubebs, cloves, and all other kinds
of spices.
[Illustration: View in the Interior of Java.
"Une grandissune Ysle qe est avelle Java. Ceste Ysle est de mont grant
richesse."]
This Island is also frequented by a vast amount of shipping, and by
merchants who buy and sell costly goods from which they reap great profit.
Indeed the treasure of this Island is so great as to be past telling. And
I can assure you the Great Kaan never could get possession of this Island,
on account of its great distance, and the great expense of an expedition
thither. The merchants of Zayton and Manzi draw annually great returns
from this country.[NOTE 1]
NOTE 1. - Here Marco speaks of that Pearl of Islands, Java. The chapter is
a digression from the course of his voyage towards India, but possibly he
may have touched at the island on his previous expedition, alluded to in
note 2, ch. v. Not more, for the account is vague, and where particulars
are given not accurate. Java does not produce nutmegs or cloves, though
doubtless it was a great mart for these and all the products of the
Archipelago.
