Materials for the Medieval History of Indonesia

Java1322.Ordorico.de.Pordonone.

Report Ordorico de Pordonone about 1322. Description of Java in the Majapahit era, by Ordorico de Pordonone who probably reached Java on his way to China, following the description of Marco Polo : political and economical importance, products of the islands, palace of the kings, relations to China. Domenichello, pp. 172-73.

Caput XXXIII. Iava.

Penes hoc regnum est una magna insula, nomine Iava, quae bene tribus millibus miliarum circumdatur. Rex huius Iava, sub se septem reges possidet coronatos. Haec insula multum bene inhabitatur, et est de melioribus in mundo una. In ipsa nascitur camphora, cubebe; crescunt ibi melegotae, nucesque muscatae et multae species praeciosae. Hic est copia victualium, praeter vinum.

Caput XXXIV. De domo praeciosa.

Rex ipse habet unum pallacium tam praeciosum et mirabile quod multis impossibile videtur. Scalae huius palacii sunt magnae et altae. / Harum graduum unus est aureus et alius de argento. Pavimentum eius habet unum latus de auro, et alium de argento. Muri quoque eius intrinsecus laminis aureis sunt vestiti, in quibus laminis (sculpti sunt) solummodo equi habentes circa caput unum magnum circulum aureum, sicut apud nos sanctorum diademata describuntur. Ille autem circulus plenus est lapidibus praeciosis. Et tectum huius templi est de auro purissimo fabricatum.

Chan tamen magnus Chatay saepius fuit in bello cum isto rege in campis, de quo semper iste sollemniter triumphavit.

Chapter XXXIII. Java.

Close to this kingdom(1) there is a big island called Java which is circumscribed by more than three thousand miles. The king of this Java has under him seven other kings. This island is well-inhabited and is one of the best of the world. In it there are camphor, cubebs; there grow melgots, nuts of muscat and many valuable spices. There is plenty of victuals, with the exception of vine.

Chapter XXXIV. About the precious palace.

This king has a palace so valuable and wounderful that it seems impossible to many people. From its steps one is from gold and one from silver. But the wall of it is decorated with golden tiles in which there are images of horses which have a golden circle around their heads like in here the saints are circumscribed by diadems. This circle is completely made from precious stones. And the roof of this building is made of pure gold.

The Great Khan of Khatay(2) was often at war with this king in the fields, in which the latter always triumphated.

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(1) this refers to a kingdom Recemgo or Boterrigo (and in many other forms) which is not easily identified.
(2) China.

first adaptation 10.04.2009 Jürgen Sarnowsky / revised 10.04.2009 /
first draft, not proofread /