Illustrated Gazetteer of the Maritime Kingdoms, Volume 4

[The naming of] Java, Yingshe, Hugu, Koupan, and Menzhu original: "瓜哇、影射、互穀、叩槃、捫燭". These represent various historical transcriptions for locations in the Indonesian archipelago (such as Java and Kupang) that Wei Yuan considers redundant or misidentified in older records.—this is the second flaw.

Thirdly: Several countries located on the same island or along the same coast are divided into separate entries when they should not be. Patani, Pahang, Johor, Malacca, and Kelantan These are all regions in the Malay Peninsula. are all vassal states on the southern border of Siam original: "暹羅" (Xianluo), the historical name for Thailand.. Borneo, Brunei, Java, Sulu, and Banjarmasin original: "馬神" (Mashen), a transcription of Banjarmasin on the island of Borneo. are all situated around the same islands. It would be more appropriate to attach the contiguous vassal states to the record of Siam, and to establish a single collective record for those shared on the same island, such as Brunei Wei Yuan notes that Chunni (淳泥) and Wenlai (文萊) refer to the same general region/island of Borneo..

Aside from a few famous large island nations like Aceh, Srivijaya original: "三佛齊" (Sanfoqi), the influential maritime empire based on Sumatra., Lesser Java, and Sri Lanka original: "錫蘭山" (Xilanshan). Literally "Mountain of Ceylon.", the rest are mostly desolate isles and small islets. Their populations consist of no more than a few hundred families, and they have only sent tribute [to China] once or twice. They have no bearing on historical development—why include them in the records? It would be better to describe them collectively in a single chapter, merely listing their names.

Yet, in the previous histories, each country has its own entry, creating a confusing sight. They are generally described as being "somewhere in the Southeast Sea," with no verifiable boundaries or history to document, and no trade or border defense worth mentioning. This is the third flaw.

Wei Yuan further states: The climate of that land, its...