Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c13.s2.t7: 1. West Borneo (Pu-ni)
Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champā; Vol. II: Suvarṇadvīpa) v2.c13.s2.t7
- Language
- English
1. West Borneo (Pu-ni)
v2.c13.s2.t7.1
We have already described the relations of this country with Java. In 1370 the king of Pu-ni at first did not dare to send even an envoy to China for fear of Java. But we read in the history of the Ming Dynasty¹ that in 1405 he not only got investiture as king from the hands of the Chinese emperor, but even went with his whole family to China to pay respects to the emperor. The next king reported to the emperor that ‘his country had to give Java forty caties camphor baros every year and begged an imperial order to Java that this annual tribute should be stopped in order that it might be sent instead to the imperial court’. The emperor accordingly “gave an order to Java telling them not to ask any more the annual tribute of this country”. We further read that the late king of Pu-ni represented to the emperor in 1405 A.D., that his country was now altogether subject to the imperial government. Henceforth the kings of Pu-ni sent regular tributes to the imperial court, and some time even personally attended the court with their family. (See infra Bk. IV., Chap. IV).
v2.c13.s2.t7.2
¹ Ibid, pp. 111-3.