_First published in 1921_
"When you sail from Chambra fifteen thousand miles on a course
between south and southeast, you come to a great island called
Java. And experienced mariners of those Islands who know the matter
well say that it is the greatest Island in the world and has a
compass of three thousand miles. It is subject to a great King and
tributary to no one else in the world. The people are idolaters.
The Island is of surpassing wealth, producing black pepper,
nutmegs, spikenard, galingale, cubebs, cloves and all other kinds
of spices.
"This Island is also frequented by a vast amount of shipping, and
by merchants who buy and sell costly goods from which they reap
great profit. Indeed, the treasure of this Island is so great as to
be past telling."
Marco Polo.