Marco Polo's Voyage to Indian Seas: 15: Kingdom of Fansur [1]

The people of Fansur are idolaters. It nominally acknowledge the great Khan.  Here grows great Canfara fansuri, the camphor of Fansur. It was much more valued.  It sells for its weight in gold.  Wine is drawn from trees in the manner described in previous chapter.  Another wonder is that in this province meal is obtained from them.  These are large, the bark is thin, and the interior all full of meal.  The inhabitants take it out, and make very good paste, of which we often ate.  Having told you of the kingdoms in this part of the isle, I will say nothing of the two others, because we did not visit them.  I will now, therefore, go to another small island called Gavenispola.

Notes:-

1. Fansur: Modern day Barus, a town in northern Sumatra, Indonesia.  It was a well known port town since 7th century.  Fansur or Pansur means the spring of water, in the local Batak language. Batak is a collective term used to denote closely related ethnic groups found in North Sumatra.

2. In the case of the tree from which the meal (starch) is obtained is Sago palm.

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