526 hsia
Hsia exported horses, camels, cattle, falcons, carpets, herbs, salt,
pearls, jade etc.,^56 but on the government level the sources for Sung
chiefly record the offer of horses and camels, if they itemize the mer-
chandise at all. Since Sung had a chronic shortage of horses, these
may well have been the most coveted commodity. This is what the
Sung is stated to have received:
960 or soon thereafter: 300 horses.
976: 1000 cattle and sheep.
990 or soon thereafter: one white falcon. Rejected.
994: horses and camels.
995: fine horses.
1002: horses and camels.
1006: 725 horses, 300 camels.
1007: 500 horses, 300 camels.
1049: horses and camels.
1062: 50 horses. Rejected.
1072: horses. Rejected.
1085: horses, one white camel.
1086: horses and camels.
1087: horses and camels.
1094: horses.The Chinese paid with silver, cash, silk, gold, silver and [porcelain]
vessels, silver boxes, gongs, brocade robes, garments, winter garments,
caps, gold, silver and jade belts, silver horse trappings, litchis, tea,
wine, drugs, and books.
(^56) See Cambridge History of China, vol.6, p.196. Emperor Shih-tsung of Chin com-
plained to his officials in 1172:”The Hsia State exchanges pearls and jade against
our silk. That is not profitable” (Chin-shih 134:6a). The pearls had of course been
obtained by Hsia through the caravan trade on the Silk Routes.