Chapter SUMATRA to SUNDA of S by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

great traffic from this port to China, this being in fact the most important merchandize exported thence. The country is very abundant in provisions, and rich in groves of trees, and has excellent water, and is peopled with Moors who have a Moorish king over them.”—Correa, iii. 92.

1553.—“Of the land of Jaüa we make two islands, one before the other, lying west and east as if both on one parallel. … But the Jaos themselves do not reckon two islands of Jaoa, but one only, of the length that has been stated … about a third in length of this island towards the west constitutes Sunda, of which we have now to speak. The natives of that part consider their country to be an island divided from Jaüa by a river, little known to our navigators, called by them Chiamo or Chenano, which cuts off right from the sea,¹ all that third part of the land in such a way that when these natives define the limits of Jaüa they say that on the west it is bounded by the Island of Sunda, and separated from it by this river Chiamo, and on the east by the island of Bale, and that on the north they have the island of Madura, and on the south the unexplored sea. …” &c.—Barros, IV. i. 12.

1554.—“The information we have of this port of Calapa, which is the same as Çumda, and of another port called Bocaa, these two being 15 leagues one from the other, and both under one King, is to the effect that the supply of pepper one year with another will be xxx thousand quintals,² that is to say, xx thousand in one year, and x thousand the next year; also that it is very good pepper, as good as that of Malauar, and it is purchased with cloths of Cambaya, Bengalla, and Choromandel.”—A. Nunez, in Subsidios, 42.

1566.—“Sonda, vn Isola de’ Mori appresso la costa della Giava.”—Ces. Federici, in Ramusio, iii. 391v.

c. 1570.—

“Os Sundas e Malaios con pimenta,
Con massa, e noz ricos Bandanezes,
Com roupa e droga Cambaia a opulenta,
E com cravo os longinquos Maluguezes.”

Ant. desc Abreu, De. de Malaca.

1598.—Linschoten does not recognize the two islands. To him Sunda is only a place in Java:—

“… there is a straight or narrow passage betweene Sumatra and Iaua, called the straight of Sunda, of a place so called, lying not far from thence within the Ile of Iaua. … The principall hauen in the Iland is Sunda Calapa,³ whereof the straight beareth the name; in this place of Suda there is much Pepper.”—p. 34.