Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s1.30

v1.c5.s1.30

The Italian Marco Polo, who served as an official under the Yuan Dynasty, noted the presence of Indian merchants at the port of Fuzhou. He wrote that “many merchant ships arrive at this port. Indian merchants bring all kinds of pearls and jewels here and sell them and make huge profits. This river (Minjiang River) is not far from Zaytun (Quanzhou), and the water flows into the sea. The ships from India row up the river to Quanzhou city.” His reference to the huge quantities of pepper, sandalwood and medicinal materials to be found in Quanzhou was probably an indication of the extent of trade with India, since India was very likely the source of much of these products. About the region of Malabar, Marco Polo said it produced pepper, ginger, cinnamon and cotton cloth, and that “ships from the southern provinces (of China) carry copper for balance. They also carry gold brocade, silk, gauze, bullion and many medicinal materials that Malabar doesn’t have to exchange with the goods in this place.”