Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.38

v2.c14.38

Hou Xian had been ordered many times to visit states in southern Asia. He went there mainly by land, but the sea route was also mentioned. According to Hou Xian of *Ming Shi* (*History of Ming* *Dynasty*, Book 304), in the seventh month of the 13th year of (Yong Le Era) (1415), the Emperor wanted to contact Bangla and so ordered Hou Xian to lead a fleet. Bangla was a state in eastern India then and was far from China, and its King Saifuddin sent envoys to offer local specialties.