Entry

Dao Ling-meng, who had been sent by Si Lun-fa, the Ping-mian Pacification Superintendent, came and offered tribute of local products and also presented the pacification superintendency seal which had been conferred by the Yuan. Ping-mian is one of the quite distant South-western yi. From Da-li in Yun-nan, one passes through Jin-chi and then arrives there. It is the so-called Bai-yi (百夷). During the Yuan dynasty, it was regularly subordinate to Ava-Burma. They have walled towns with outlying suburbs, both containing buildings and houses. The people all live in multi-storied houses. Their products are elephants and horses. Both officials and the people shave their heads like monks. When coming or going, they ride on elephants. In the earlier dynasties, they did not have contact with China. It was only in the Yuan dynasty that an envoy was sent to pacify and instruct them and they came to offer tribute. In the 15th year of the Hong-wu reign (1382/83), the Great Army reached Yun-nan and took Da-li and Jin-chi. On hearing the news Si Lun-fa was afraid and sent an envoy to the Court.