APPENDIX III
THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY INTO CHINA
In connection with the province of Shensi, in addition to the Nestorian tablet, there is another testimony as to the early introduction of Christianity into China which is perhaps not widely known. In an ancient Arabic manuscript written in the year of the Heira 569, or 1173 a.d., and translated by Eusebius Renaudot [1] are given some most interesting accounts of some early Arab travellers to China, dated a.d. 851 and 870 respec- tively. The second account, or "The discourse of Abu Zeid al Hasan of Siraf," tells of another still earlier Arab traveller who calls himself a cousin[2] of Mohammed. The testimony of this man is of such interest that we quote a considerable portion.
"There was formerly a man of the tribe of Koreish whose name was Ebn Wahab, descended of Hebar, the son of Al Asud, and he dwelt at Basra. This man left Basra when that city was sacked and came to Siraf, where he saw a ship ready to make sail for China. The mind took him to go on board this ship, and in her he went to China, where in the sequel he had the curiosity to travel to the Emperor's Court; and leaving Canfu he reached Cumdan[3] after a journey of two months. He staid (sic) a long time at the Emperor's Court. . . . This man, when we saw him, was well advanced in years, but had his senses perfectly about him, and told us that when he had his audience the Emperor asked him many questions about the Arabs, and particularly how they had destroyed the kingdom of the
- ↑ Wells Williams quotes a translation into French dated a.d. 1845. The title-page of our copy is dated London, 1733, and from a note in the preface was probably translated about a.d. 1673.
- ↑ This is probably used in a loose sense, for he speaks of Mohammed as being long dead. Mohammed died a.d. 632.
- ↑ Canfu is the same as Kanfu in the Hangchow Bay, and Cumdan is probably Sian Fu, for the Syriac inscription on the Nestorian tablet speaks of "Cumdan the royal city."— Ed.
