- Harris
[2] Male-dive signifies, in the Malabar language, a thousand isles. - E.
[3] The subsequent accounts of these islands do not justify this particular
sentence, if the author meant that they were always governed by a
queen. It might be so in this time by accident, and one queen might
have succeeded another, as Queen Elizabeth did Queen Mary. - Harris.
[4] This is the Taprobana of the ancients, and has received many names. In
Cosmas Indicopleustes, it is called Sielendiba, which is merely a
Grecian corruption of Sielea-dive, or Sielen island; whence the modern
name of Ceylon. - E.
[5] This is probably the shark, which is common on all the coasts of India.
There was a portion of the MS. wanting at this place; wherein the
author treated of the trade to China as it was carried on in his time,
and of the causes which had brought it into a declining condition.
- Renaud.
[6] Perhaps some account of this Soliman might be contained in the lost
pages: But the circumstance of a Mahomedan judge or consul at Canfu is
a circumstance worthy of notice, and shews that the Mahomedans had
carried on a regular and settled trade with China for a considerable
time, and were in high estimation in that country. - Renaud.
[7] It is difficult at this distance of time to ascertain the rout laid
down by this author, on account of the changes of names.
