The king of Java has a large and sumptuous palace, the most
lofty of any that I have seen, with broad and lofty stairs to ascend to the
upper apartments, all the steps being alternately of gold and silver.
The whole interior walls are lined with plates of beaten gold, on which the
images of warriors are placed sculptured in gold, having each a golden
coronet richly ornamented with precious stones. The roof of this palace is
of pure gold, and all the lower rooms are paved with alternate square
plates of gold and silver. The great khan, or emperor of Cathay, has had
many wars with the king of Java, but has always been vanquished and beaten
back.
[1] More recent and more accurate travellers have informed us, that this
profusion of gold, on the idols and temples of the Buddists,
especially, is only rich gilding. - E.
[2] This seems properly enough corrected on the margin by Hakluyt, by the
word Comori, or the country about Cape Comorin. - E.
[3] Simoltra or Sumatra. - Hakluyt.
[4] Probably alluding to tatooing, which will be explained in the voyages
to the islands of the Pacific ocean.
