Sailing Around Erythraean Sea: Fifty Nine: Colchi and Agaru

From Comari toward the south this region extends to Colchi, where the pearl-fisheries are; (they are worked by condemned criminals); and it belongs to Pandian kingdom. Beyond Colchi there follows another district called Coast country, which lies on a bay and has a region inland called Agaru. At this place, and nowhere else are bought the pearls gathered on the coast thereabouts and from there are exported muslins, those called Agaritic.

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1. This Section is little confusing because it starts with the words, "From Comarin toward the south". Onward voyage from Comari is naturally to North because Comari is on the southern tip of Indian subcontinent. If we follow the words literally he may assume Kolachel as the next point of visit. The real point of visit was Korkai, on the northern bank of Tamarabarani River. It was a port of Early Pandyan kingdom. It is now about six kilometres inland from the shore because of coastal land formation and retracing of sea. It was a centre of pearl fishery at the time being discussed. Argaru mentioned in the document may possibly be Aranthangi, northeast of Karaikudi. The ruins of an ancient port, the walls of which were not built of stone or brick but of mud stands there signifying its old glory. The Coast Country, mentioned in the section, may be somewhere around east of Aranthangi. There is no record of its ancient history except that the place was under the domain of Thondaimans.

Here the translation of the document must have provided the Koine Greek terms instead of English terms. The ancient fort at Aranthangi must have been the trading post of the merchants.

End of the Section 


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