56 continental south asia and the islands
Ch’ih-t’u
It has been noted above that the Master of Affairs of Military Gar-
risons, Ch’ang Chün, and the Master of Affairs of the Bureau of
Forestry and Crafts, Wang Chün-cheng, volunteered in 607 to travel to
Ch’ih-t’u, which greatly pleased Emperor Yang of Sui. They embarked
in the 10th month (Oct./Nov.) with 5000 gifts from the emperor to
the king of Ch’ih-t’u and reached their destination after a voyage of
about a month. The king sent a Brahman with 30 boats to welcome
them, drumming drums, making music, and presenting golden chains,
ornaments, eight golden pitchers of aromatic oils, other fragrant fluids,
and four lengths of white cotton. Two elephants carried the envoys to
the royal palace, where they presented a letter from Emperor Yang to
the king. After the ceremony, they were taken to lodgings. The king
sent a Brahman with food, served on leaves. After several days, the
envoys were invited to a banquet. When they returned to China, the
king sent an envoy of his own to travel with them. On Apr.9, 608,
Emperor Yang received Ch’ang Chün and the Ch’ih-t’u envoy.^125 The
latter presented golden hibiscus hats and baroos camphor. The emperor
was greatly pleased and conferred on the envoy and his attendants
nominal offices and rewards, to each in in accordance with his rank
(Sui shu 3:12b; 82:4a-5a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 331:13a).
On Mar.14, 609, and June 27, 610, envoys from Ch’ih-tu offered
regional objects (Sui shu 3:12b, 15b).
To-ho-lo
In the 6th month (June/July) of 638, the 5th month (May/June) of
640,^126 and the intercalary month (July/Aug.) of 643, envoys from
the king of To-ho-lo to the T’ang court offered regional objects (Chiu
T’ang shu 197:3a; Ts’e-fun yüan-kuei p.5024).
In the 2nd month (Mar./Apr.) of 649, To-ho-lo together with
the states of K’o-ling and To-p’o-teng presented elephant tusks and
great pearls.^127 In exchange, the king of To-ho-lo requested good
(^125) Sui shu 82:5b dates the audience 610, which must be wrong.
(^126) For 638 and 640, Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024 writes Tu-ho-lo.
(^127) Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei says a fire pearl, i.e.burning-glas.