98 continental south asia and the islands
celain vessels, aromatics, rhinoceros horns, elephant tusks, coral, amber,
pearls, steel, tortoise shells, carnelian, chü-chü,^193 rock crystal, foreign
cottons, ebony, sapan wood etc. This list mingles together imports
and exports and refers to trade in general. It is interesting, however,
that with the exception of lead, steel, chü-chü, and ebony, all items also
were part of the goods exchanged on the government level.
Garments, caps, and belts were frequent Chinese exchange gifts.
The starchy Confucianists took the view that the only right way to
dress was the Chinese way. The court therefore did the foreigners a
service by providing them with the right apparel.
Information on the rate of exchange is scant, only two previously
quoted instances being recorded for the entire period. But judging
from its 19% profit in 1022 and 31% profit in 1028, Chiao-chih did
well in its government trade with Sung.
(^193) According to Hirth and Rockhill, Chau Ju-kua, p.19 note 3, probably a large
white shell of the cockle kind.