In
the said paper and notes the quotations and conclusions of Mr. Thomson have
been anticipated; and Fansur also, which he leaves undetermined,
identified." - H.C.]
[1] I formerly supposed Al-Ramni, the oldest Arabic name of
Sumatra, to be a corruption of Lambri; but this is more probably of
Hindu origin. One of the Dvipas of the ocean mentioned in the
Puranas is called Ramaniyaka, "delightfulness." (Williams's
Skt. Dict.)
[2] Van der Tuuk says positively, I find: "Fantsur was the ancient name of
Barus." (J.R.A.S. n.s. II. 232.) [Professor Schlegel writes
also (Geog. Notes, XVI. p. 9): "At all events, Fansur or
Pantsur can be naught but Baros." - H.C.]
[3] Liquidambar Altingiana.
[4] The Californian and Australian giants of 400 feet were not then known.
CHAPTER XII.
CONCERNING THE ISLAND OF NECUVERAN.
When you leave the Island of Java (the less) and the kingdom of Lambri,
you sail north about 150 miles, and then you come to two Islands, one of
which is called NECUVERAN. In this Island 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. They are Idolaters.
Their woods are all of noble and valuable kinds of trees; such as Red
Sanders and Indian-nut and Cloves and Brazil and sundry other good spices.
[NOTE 1]
There is nothing else worth relating; so we will go on, and I will tell
you of an Island called Angamanain.
NOTE 1. - The end of the last chapter and the commencement of this I have
taken from the G. Text. There has been some confusion in the notes of the
original dictation which that represents, and corrections have made it
worse. Thus Pauthier's text runs: "I will tell you of two small Islands,
one called Gauenispola and the other Necouran," and then: "You sail north
about 150 miles and find two Islands, one called Necouran and the other
Gauenispola." Ramusio does not mention Gauenispola, but says in the former
passage: "I will tell you of a small Island called Nocueran" - and then:
"You find two islands, one called Nocueran and the other Angaman."
Knowing the position of Gauenispola there is no difficulty in seeing how
the passage should be explained. Something has interrupted the dictation
after the last chapter. Polo asks Rusticiano, "Where were we?" "Leaving
the Great Island." Polo forgets the "very small Island called
Gauenispola," and passes to the north, where he has to tell us of two
islands, "one called Necuveran and the other Angamanain." So, I do not
doubt, the passage should run.
