Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c14.t4.1

v2.c14.t4.1

Of the independent states in Malay Peninsula that rise into prominence about the beginning of the fifteenth century A.D., the most important was undoubtedly that of Malacca, which rapidly grew to be the leading commercial centre in that region. The early history of this kingdom is involved in obscurity,² as we have to depend mainly upon indigenous traditions, either recorded in native chronicles or handed down by Portuguese writers. Ferrand has collected together all these traditions which seek to trace the history of the kingdom since its foundation.³ It is needless for our present purpose to examine all these in detail. Leaving aside the incredible accounts of Gaspar Correa who places the foundation of Malacca in the eighth century A. D., the remaining authorities date the event in the thirteenth, fourteenth, or the beginning of the fifteenth century A.D. As to the details, those given in ‘Commentaires d’Albuquerque’ are supported in a general way, and particularly as to the names of kings, by Jean de Barros and Godinho de Eredia. They are also confirmed to a certain extent by the Chinese Annals.¹ We may, therefore, begin with the version of Albuquerque² regarding the history of the kingdom of Malacca.