continental south asia and the islands 57horses, which were provided (Chiu T’ang shu 197:3a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei
p.5025).
T’ou-ho
The Chinese first learned about this state in Sui times (Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 332:14b).
Between 627 and 649, envoys from T’ou-ho to the T’ang court
presented a letter in an envelope of pure gold. It furthermore offered
vases, golden tablets, valuable belts, rhinoceros horns, elephant tusks,
and maritime products (Hsin T’ang shu 222C:4b; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao
332:14b).
Chou-mei-liu.
On July 25, 1001, nine envoys from the the ruler of Chou-mei-liu to
the Sung court offered 1000 catties of putchuck, 100 catties of white
copper, 100 catties of hard tin, 35 catties of stems of coptis teeta,^128
100 catties of lithospermus officiniale,^129 one red felt, four pieces of
fancy cottons, 10,000 catties of sapan wood,^130 and 61 elephant tusks.
The envoys were given an audience and presented with caps, belts,
and garments. They returned with a letter from Emperor Chen-tsung
(Sung shih 489:24a-24b; Hsü Tzu-chih t’ung-chien ch’ang-pien p.411; Wen-
hsien t’ung-k’ao 332:19b).^131
On Aug.8, 1014, a Sung edict referred to the arrival of envoys from
Chou-mei-liu (Sung hui-yao kao 10122:11b).^132
(^128) An herb.
(^129) A plant yielding a purple dye.
(^130) A red soluble wood, yielding a purple dye.
(^131) Sung shih transliterates the first syllable in the name of Chou-mei-liu with
the character for “boat”, Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao with the character for “commandery”
(chou).
(^132) The text miswrites the name Chou-liu-mei. Sung shih 490:19b dates this mis-
sion 1004.