- E [12] He Had Evidently Missed The Monsoon, And Had To Await Its Return.

From this kingdom or division of the island, it probably acquired the name of Sumatra, by which it is known in modern geography.

From the circumstance in the text of not seeing the great bear, it is probable that Marco was stopped near the south-eastern extremity of the island. What is here translated the great bear, Pinkerton calls, from the Trevigi edition del Maistro. The polar star was invisible of course. - E.

[13] Called Deragola by Pinkerton, from the Trevigi edition. - E.

[14] He here distinctly indicates the manufacture of sego. - E.

[15] Nicobar and Andaman, on the east side of the bay of Bengal; called Necunera and Namgama in the Trevigi edition. - E.

SECTION XIX.

Of the Island of Ceylon, and various parts of Hither India.

Sailing from Angaman 1000 miles west, and a little to the south, we come to the island of Zelan or Ceylon, which is 2400 miles in circumference; but was anciently 3600 miles round, as appears from the former charts of the country, the north winds having occasioned the sea to destroy a great part of it. This is the finest island in the world, and its king is called Sendernaz. The men and women are idolaters, and go entirely naked, except a small cloth before them. They grow no corn except rice; and they have plenty of oil of sesame, milk, flesh, palm wine, Brazil wood, the best rubies in the world, sapphires, topazes, amethysts, and other gems.

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