_ 139 _ the ruler did not merely draw profits from taxes on trade but himself played an active part in trading. His residence dominated the trading city, which was administered by four shahbandars, representing the main communities among the residents. These were the Chinese and traders from South-East Asia, men from Java and the other islands, Sumatrans, Peguans and Bengalis from the 'leeward lands'. Kling(A) merchants from Coromandel, and finally, the Gujaratis, who had become the most important group on account both of their widespread trading contacts and their influence at the sultan's court. Tomé Pires also said of Malacca that all the merchandise of the East and the West was to be found there, especially coral, useful metals, opium and rosewater from the Middle East, textiles from India, rice from Java and Pegu, which could be had in exchange for precious woods and spices from Molucca and silk and porcelain from China. When the Portuguese became the masters of Malacca in 1511, they retained the same structure of trade and the same routes, in association with Asian merchants, particularly with the Kling because they were not Muslims. (A) Kling was the name given by the Malays to the people of the Coromandel coast.
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