[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Kashmir](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir) › [Tārīkh-i Rashīdī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi) › [The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross) › 9.3.6 # The Rashīdī History 9.3.6 The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 9.3.6 - **Language:** English ### [9.3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.9.3.6) In this way much of the narrative that has come down to us, is from the pen of a man specially well informed and qualified to expose the real state of affairs, on such a subject as the missions of homage from the west. He tells us that the tribute brought to the capital was merely nominal in value, but that the Emperor, considering it beneath his dignity to receive presents from foreigners without making a return, not only entertained the tribute-bearers on a handsome scale, but paid highly for the objects presented to him in the shape of return gifts, so that every man pocketed "a piece of gold daily, over and above his necessary expenses." For this reason, the privilege of carrying offerings to China was keenly competed for among merchants and others, who paid highly for a nomination to the post of tribute-bearer. When the time came for setting out, these so-called ambassadors, says Ricci, forged letters in the name of the kings they professed to represent, in which the Emperor of China was addressed in obsequious terms. "The Chinese," he continues, "receive embassies of a similar character from various other kingdoms, such as Cochin-China, Siam, Leu-Chieu, Corea, and some of the petty Tatar kings, the whole causing incredible charges on the public treasury. The Chinese themselves are quite aware of the imposture, but they allow their Emperor to be befooled in this manner, as if to persuade him that the whole world is tributary to the Chinese; - [Previous: 9.3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.9.3.5) - [Next: 9.3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.9.3.7) - [Up: 9.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.9.3) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.9.3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.9.3.6) · Pramāṇa