Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c14.t2.5

v2.c14.t2.5

The kingdoms had their own kings, but all, except Ferlec, called themselves subjects of the Great Khan *i.e.* the Chinese emperor Kublai Khan. The subjection, however, was more nominal than real, as would appear from the following statement of Marco Polo: "They call themselves subjects of the Great Khan but they pay him no tribute; indeed they are so far away that his men could not go thither. Still all these islanders declare themselves to be his subjects and sometimes they send curiosities as presents." Marco Polo’s statement is corroborated by the facts that an envoy of the kingdom of Samudra visited China in 1286 A. D.² and that embassies were sent by the generals of Kublai Khan, after reaching Java, to some of the Sumatran states including Lambri and Sumatra, *i.e.* Lamuri and Samudra,¹ in 1292 A.D.