[131] Aḥmad Shāh: Four years in Tibet, pp. 45, 74. (Benares, 1906.) [↑]
[132] Broomhall, p. 206. Tu Wen-siu, the leader of the Panthay rebellion from 1856 to 1873, who for sixteen years was practically Sultan of half the province of Yunnan, issued a proclamation in Lhasa itself, at the outset of his revolt, in order to gain Muhammadan recruits. (Id. p. 132.) [↑]
[133] Mission d’Ollone, pp. 207, 226, 233. [↑]
[135] A. Bastian: Die Geschichte der Indochinesen, p. 159. (Leipzig, 1866.) [↑]
[136] R. du M. M., tome i. p. 275. (1907.) [↑]
CHAPTER X.
THE SPREAD OF ISLAM IN CHINA.
Tradition ascribes to Muḥammad the saying, “Seek for knowledge, even unto China.”[1] Though there is no historical evidence for these words having ever been uttered by the Prophet, it is not impossible that the name of this country may have been known to him, for commercial relations between Arabia and China had been established long before his birth. It was through Arabia, in great measure, that Syria and the ports of the Levant received the produce of the East. In the sixth century, there was a considerable trade between China and Arabia by way of Ceylon, and at the beginning of the seventh century the commerce between China, Persia and Arabia was still further extended, the town of Sīrāf on the Persian Gulf being the chief emporium for the Chinese traders. It was at this period, at the commencement of the Tʼang dynasty (618–907) that mention is first made of the Arabs in the Chinese Annals;[2] they note the rise of the Muslim power in Medina and briefly describe the religious observances of the new faith.