Maggs Bros.

First English translation of the “Description of Barbarous People” (Chufan zhi), written by Zhao Rukua (ca. 1170-1231), an inspector of foreign trade in Fukien in the first half of the 13th century (Song dynasty). It records Chinese trade and exploration in Southeast Asia, India, Persia and Arabia where myrrh, pearls, frankincense and a variety of other products were imported. This translation caused a great stir at the time, as it challenged the widely held view that the Chinese did not know countries beyond their own spheres of influence. Arab trade with China in fact goes back to the Tang dynasty and the introduction traces the development of Chinese maritime intercourse with southeast Asia, Persia and Arabia until the 13th century. Miscellaneous notes on foreign countries and their products, in two parts: Part I has descriptions of the history and culture of all the known countries and islands from Egypt to Japan. It lists 58 countries and regions, including Oman, Mecca, Zanzibar, Somalia, Libya, and Egypt; Part II describes the history and use of some 43 commodities that were traded. There is also a comprehensive General Index and a very useful Index of Unusual Foreign Names and Terms Occurring in Chinese Texts.

David Dean Barrett (1892-1977) was an American soldier and diplomat who served over 30 years in China. He met with Mao Zedong during negotiations at Yenan in 1944.

Rare.