Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s3.t2.89

v2.c13.s3.t2.89

In the Ming period, Zheng He sailed west seven times and visited Kollam. Ma Huan, who accompanied Zheng He, said in the *Yingya Shenglan* that this state was surrounded by the sea on four sides, was bounded by hills in the east and was narrow at the northern and southern ends. Its people believed in Buddhism and worshipped cows and elephants. It had various fruits and vegetables and different kinds of cattle and sheep. The sheep had green fur and long feet and stood two or three feet tall; the cattle weighed three or four hundred jin. Many people engaged in selling butter and people mixed their food with butter. They usually had two meals a day. ‘*Juan* 326 of the Ming History’ notes that Small Gelan bordered on Kochi. In spite of poor lands and low incomes, the people were honest and warm-hearted. Pearl umbrellas, white cotton cloth and pepper were exported to China. In the fifth year of Yongle (1407), Kollam is recorded as having sent an envoy to China to pay tribute, and the Ming court presented silk, sheer leno fabric and other gifts to its king.