185 price there and they take on board plenty of iron; saltpetre, different coloured cotton threads, and other small goods, like the Venetians used to bring to our parts, and pepper from Sumatra and Malabar which is worthfifteen to sixteen ducats per quintal in China or more, depending on where they take it, and in Malacca they buy it for four ducats. They also take anfião which we call opium; frankincense; coral; Cambay and Pulicat cloths. These Chinese who live from trade and sailing always take their wives and children with them on their ships, where they live permanently and they do not have any other houses. To the North, this kingdom of China borders Tartaria. Loo-Choo There are many islands lying in the sea off the coast of China, in addition to which there is a very large land mass, which is said to be a mainland. Three or four ships like the Chinese ones belonging to white people would come to Malacca from there each year. They are said to be great and rich merchants. They would bring bars of gold and silver; silk andfine cloths; plenty of excellent wheat; beautiful porcelains and many other goods. They would take back the same goods from Malacca as the Chinese did. The people of Malacca say that they were the best men, richer and more honourable merchants than the Chinese. We have not got any news of these people as yet, as they have not been back to Malacca since it belongs to Our Lord and King. The End.
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