Tangut

Approximately the modern province of Kansuh, China. Milton refers to Pilgrimes 3. 543, where Purchas gives the following marginal note: “Tangut mentioned by Polo, a large Kingdom, Northward from Cathay, of China.” Taprobane. (See also Summatra.) P. R. 4. 75. Probably Milton thought of Taprobane as Ceylon, as do modern geographers. It.has also been identified with Sumatra. (Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 658.) It frequently appears on old maps (Ortelius, Parergon, p. 1.) as the last island toward the east. Among the ancients Pliny gives the most complete account: “It hath beene of long time thought by men in auncient dayes that Taprobane was a second world, in such sort as many have taken it to be the place of the Antipodes, and called it the Antichthones world. But after the time of Alexander the Great, and the voyage of his armie into those parts, it was discovered and knowne for a truth both that it was an Island, and what compa it bare. … It beginneth at the Levant sea of Orient all Indians, from which it stretch eth and extend eth between the East and West of India. Wee come to farre. better intelligence.. and more notable information, by certaine Emba adours comming out of that Island in the time of Claudius By these Emba adours we were Csesar the Emperour.... informed of the state of that Island, namely, that it contained five hundred great towns in it; and that there was a haven therin regarding the South coast, lying hard under Palesimundum the principall citie of all that real me, and the kings seat and pallace; by just account 200,000 of commoners and But even this Island Taprobane, as farre off as that there were citizens.... seeming as it were cast out of the way by Nature, and all this world wherein we live, is not without these vices and imperfections wherewith we are tainted and infected. For even gold and silver also is there, in great request and highly esteemed and marble, especially if it be fashioned like a tortoise shell. Jemmes and precious stones; pearles also, such as be orient and of the better sort, are highly prised by them. Moreover, these Emba adours would say that they had more riches in their Island than wee at Rome.” (6. 22.) it is, divided from:... 299