Description

About the book:-From his travels in Malaysia-Indonesia the author drew a book on Asian trade, the Suma Oriental que trata do Mar Roxo até aos Chins. He wrote the book in Malacca and India between 1512 and 1515, completing it before the death of Alfonso de Albuquerque (December 1515). He feels that this is the earliest European description of Malaysia and the oldest and most extensive description of the Portuguese east. It is a collection of varied i nf or mat i on: hi s t or y, geogr aphy,ethnography, botany, economi cs,commerce, etc., including coins,weights and measures. He was careful to study the accuracy of information gathered from merchants, navigators, and others with whom he had contact. This makes them a keen observer, despite their non-fluid prose, superior to other Portuguese writers of the time. The book, conceived to be an account for Manuel I of Portugal, and perhaps due to an assignment received in Li s bon bef or e hi s depar t ur e, i sc o n s i d e r e d o n e o f t h e m o s tconscientious first-hand sources for the study of Indian geography and trade of the time, and one of the mosti mpor t ant s our c e s of s t udy f orcontemporary Islam in Indonesia. The book contains 42 illustrations and maps which makes the discourse more valuable for the students and readers.