Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. CONTENTS v
3. FIGURES, MAPS, AND TABLES ix
4. NOTE ON CHINESE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN THE MING DYNASTY xi
5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xiii
6. PART I The Stage
7. Chapter One SMALL, REMOTE, BUT SIGNIFICANT 3
8. Chapter Two FROM ZAITUN 17
9. Chapter Three SAILING TO THE INDIAN OCEAN 30
10. PART II A Destination
11. Chapter Four WHO ONCE LANDED IN THE MALDIVES? 53
12. Chapter Five THE KINGDOM OF ATOLLS 72
13. Chapter Six MONSOONS AND CURRENTS 94
14. Chapter Seven BETWEEN THE SON OF HEAVEN AND THE SULTAN 103
15. PART III The Cargo
16. Chapter Eight THE TREES OF THE MALDIVES 121
17. Chapter Nine SHIPS WITHOUT NAILS 129
18. Chapter Ten COWRIE SHELLS 148
19. Chapter Eleven DRIED FISH, GRAINS, AND HANDKERCHIEFS 168
20. Chapter Twelve DRAGON’S SPITTLE 180
21. Chapter Thirteen LAKA WOOD AND FRANKINCENSE 217
22. PART IV Reminiscences
23. Chapter Fourteen A RUINED BUDDHIST PAST 225
24. Chapter Fifteen PORT MARRIAGE 235
25. Chapter Sixteen A TRUE ROMANCE 254
26. Chapter Seventeen AN ECHO: THE “CHINA BIRD” 263
27. NOTES 281
28. BIBLIOGRAPHY 333
29. INDEX 353