Marco Polo's Voyage to Indian Seas: 05: Cianba [1]

On leaving the port and sailing west, and somewhat southwest 1500 miles you reach a country named Cianba, which is very great and extensive. The people are idolaters.  They have their own language.  Their king pay tribute to the great Khan. This tribute is in fine elephants of the country.  The great Khan seeking to subdue the king sent in 1278 one of his barons, with many men, horse and foot, who began to lay waste the country. The king, who was very aged and much afraid of such powerful warriors, did not venture to engage them on the open plain, and remained secured in strong cities and and fortresses.  But all the land and houses were wasted and destroyed.  Grieved at this desolation, he sent the messengers, to the great Khan, who said to the great khan, "Sir, the king of Cianba salutes you as his liege lord, and states himself to be a man of great age, who has long preserved his kingdom in peace.  He offers to be your vassal, and pay a liberal tribute in elephants, and beseeches that your baron and army will cease to ravage his kingdom." The Khan having heard this message, took pity upon him and ordered his general to withdraw, and conquer another country, and he has ever since received this tribute of largest and most beautiful elephants.  In this kingdom no handsome girl can be married till the king sees her, when, if he pleased he takes her to wife, otherwise he gives her money, with which she can be married to a noble man.  In 1285, when I Marco Polo was there the king had 326 sons and daughters of whom 150 were men that could carry arms. Besides elephants the country abounds in lignum aloes and the wood called ebony, which is very black and is used in making chess boards and writing desks.  I now proceed to a great island named Java.


Notes:-
1. Cianba: Ancient Chamba region ruled by Indo-chinese kingdom lasting from 2nd century CE to 17th century CE. It extended from Central and southern coastal region of Vietnam. There are many places in eastern India with toponym Chamba, Champa, or Champaran. By studying this toponymic connections researchers can gain insights into the migration pattern.  This phenomenon is often known as linguistic relic or toponymic echo.

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