Marco Polo's Voyage to Indian Seas: 19: The Kingdoms of Maabar

Updated today 05/03/2026

When you depart from Seilan and go westward about sixty miles you go to the extensive province of Maabar on the mainland.  It is called India the Greater, [1] and is indeed the noblest and richest country in the world.  In this province there are five kings, who are brothers, and the one that reins here is called Sendarhandi Davar.  The largest and the finest pearls are found in a gulf between continent and the island, having no more than ten or twelve paces depth of water, and in some places only two.  Vessels large and small resort thither from the beginning of April to

the middle of May, and cast anchor in a place called Bettalar about sixty miles out at sea; they then go in boats and begin the fishery.  Many merchants formed into companies hire and pay the men employed.  They gave a tenth to the King, and a twentieth to the Abraiamain who enchants the fishes, depriving them of the power to injure the persons who dive under the water for the pearls; indeed he can enchant also all kinds of beasts and birds.  The charm only lasts during the day.  At night the animals enjoy full liberty. When the men in the boats found water four to twelve feet deep, they plunge to the bottom and get shells called sea-oysters and within this flesh are found pearls of all sizes and shapes.  These are brought up in large quantities, and distributed all over the world - the king drawing from them great revenue.  During the rest of the year, they are not found here; but at a place three hundred miles distance they are taken from September to the middle of October.

Notes:- 

1.The exact terms that he used was Hind Maior. Here it was changed by the translator.  Maabar refers to a region around Coromandal coast, and specifically it may be Madras.

2. Bettalar: Likely any one of the 572 islands in the Andaman Nicobar Islands.

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