The walls have a circuit of 7 or 8
miles, but embracing much vacant ground. The chief exports now are tea and
sugar, which are largely grown in the vicinity, tobacco, china-ware,
nankeens, etc. There are still to be seen (as I learn from Mr. Phillips)
the ruins of a fine mosque, said to have been founded by the Arab traders
who resorted thither. The English Presbyterian Church Mission has had a
chapel in the city for about ten years.
Zayton, we have seen from Ibn Batuta's report, was famed for rich satins
called Zaituniah. I have suggested in another work (Cathay, p. 486)
that this may be the origin of our word Satin, through the Zettani of
mediaeval Italian (or Aceytuni of mediaeval Spanish). And I am more
strongly disposed to support this, seeing that Francisque-Michel, in
considering the origin of Satin, hesitates between Satalin from
Satalia in Asia Minor and Soudanin from the Soudan or Sultan; neither
half so probable as Zaituni. I may add that in a French list of charges
of 1352 we find the intermediate form Zatony. Satin in the modern form
occurs in Chaucer: -
"In Surrie whilom dwelt a compagnie
Of chapmen rich, and therto sad and trewe,
That wide where senten their spicerie,
Clothes of gold, and satins riche of hewe."
- Man of Lawe's Tale, st.
