[Hatzfeld (_Dict._) derives _satin_ from the Italian _setino_; and _setino_ from SETA, pig’s hair, and gives the following example: “Deux aunes et un quartier de satin vremeil,” in _Caffiaux, Abattis de maisons à Gommegnies_, p. 17, 14th century. The Portuguese have _setim_. But I willingly accept Sir Henry Yule’s suggestion that the origin of the word is Zayton; cf. _zeitun_ زيتون olive. “The King [of Bijánagar] ... was clothed in a robe of _zaitún_ satin.” (_Elliot_, IV. p. 113, who adds in a note _zaitún_: Olive-coloured?) And again (_Ibid._ p. 120): “Before the throne there was placed a cushion of _zaitúni_ satin, round which three rows of the most exquisite pearls were sewn.”—H. C.] (_Recherches_, etc., II. 229 _seqq._; _Martini_, _circa_ p. 110; _Klaproth, Mém._ II. 209–210; _Cathay_, cxciii. 268, 223, 355, 486; _Empoli_ in _Append._ vol. iii. 87 to _Archivio Storico Italiano; Douet d’Arcq._ p. 342; _Galv., Discoveries of the World_, Hak. Soc. p. 129; Marsden, 1st ed. p. 372; _Appendix to Trade Report of Amoy_, for 1868 and 1900. [_Heyd, Com. Levant_, II. 701–702.]) NOTE 3.—We have referred in a former note (ch. lxxvii. note 7) to an apparent change in regard to the Chinese consumption of pepper, which is now said to be trifling. We shall see in the first chapter of Bk. III. that Polo estimates the tonnage of Chinese junks by the number of baskets of pepper they carried, and we have seen in last note the large estimate by Giov. d’Empoli of the quantity that went to China in 1515. Galvano also, speaking of the adventure of Fernão Perez d’Andrade to China in 1517, says that he took in at Pacem a cargo of pepper, “as being the chief article of trade that is valued in China.” And it is evident from what Marsden says in his _History of Sumatra_, that in the last century some tangible quantity was still sent to China. The export from the Company’s plantations in Sumatra averaged 1200 tons, of which the greater part came to Europe, _the rest_ went to China. [Couto says also: “Os portos principaes do Reyno da Sunda são Banta, Aché, Xacatara, por outro nome Caravão, aos quaes vam todos os annos mui perto de vinte sommas, que são embarcações do Chincheo, huma das Provincias maritimas da China, a carregar de pimenta, porque dá este Reyno todos os annos oito mil bares della, que são trinta mil quintaes.” (_Decada_ IV. Liv. III. Cap. I. 167.)]