[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) › 9.3.7 # The Rashīdī History 9.3.7 The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 9.3.7 - **Language:** English ### [9.3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.9.3.7) the fact being, rather, that China pays tribute to those kingdoms." This account may be somewhat overdrawn in respect of the comparisons made with such States as Cochin-China, Siam, Korea, etc., for in these cases it is well known that there was no question of the Chinese winking at an imposture, and allowing themselves to be befooled. Tribute from these States meant political subjection; the exaction of it at regular periods was a serious affair, and one of the cardinal points of Chinese foreign policy. But where the small States of Central Asia were concerned, it was apparently not regarded as so important a matter, and there can be no doubt of the fact that, at the period in question, the custom of sending tribute-bearing missions to China had degenerated, in the Khanates of Eastern Turkistan, to mere trading adventures, and that the Chinese must have been aware of the abuse the custom had undergone. Even one of the circumstances that gave rise to Goes' mission, hinged upon a fraudulent embassy of this kind. A Musulman merchant, on his return to Lahore from China, gave the Jesuits there, information regarding the road to 'Cathay,' which appears to have had much influence in deciding them to send forward Benedict Goes. The man, on appearing at Akbar's court, and on being asked by the Emperor how he obtained admission to the Chinese capital, replied with frankness, that he had gone in the character of an ambassador from the King of Kashghar. - [Previous: 9.3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.9.3.6) - [Next: 9.4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.9.4.1) - [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.9.3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.9.3.7) · Pramāṇa