ABSTRACT
When the revolt broke out and the flames of disorder were kindled, Shaykh Burhán ad-Dín and others advised me to return to [Southern] China before the disturbances became chronic. They presented themselves with me to the representatives of Sultan Fírúz, who sent three of his suite to escort me and wrote orders for my treatment as a guest [on the journey]. We travelled down the river to Khansá, and thence to Qanjanfú and Zaytún, and on reaching the last I found the junks ready to sail for India. Amongst them was a junk belonging to al-Malik az-Záhir, the ruler of Jáwa [Sumatra], the crew of which were Muslims. His agent knew me and was delighted at my arrival. We sailed with fair winds for ten days, but as we approached the land of Tawálisl, the wind changed, the sky darkened, and it rained heavily. We passed ten days without seeing the sun, and then entered a sea which we did not know. The crew of the junk became alarmed and wished to return to China, but that was out of the question. We passed forty-two days not knowing in what sea we were.
