Marco Polo's Voyage to Indian Seas: 24: City of Cail [1]

Cail is a great and noble city, belonging to Asciar, the eldest of the five brother kings [2] Its port is frequented by all the ships from the west, Curmoss, Quisci Aden and the whole of Arabia [3]. The merchants bring them hither because it was a good market, frequented by purchasers from other quarters. The king possesses immense treasures, and wears many precious stones.  He rules his nation very justly and uprightly, for which cause the merchants frequent it, and afford him great profit.  He has three hundred wives and upwards holding it a great honour to increase their number.  When discord arises among the five brother kings, their mother, who is still alive rushes between them, and will not allow them to fight.  Often, when they will not yield to her prayer, and are about to engage, she takes a knife and says, "If you will not renounce this quarrel, I will kill myself presently and cut away the paps with which I gave you milk." When the sons see this great piety in their mother, they feel themselves bound to make peace.  But as soon as she is dead, they cannot fail to quarrel and destroy each other.

All the natives here, as well as generally throughout the subcontinent, have continually in their mouth, the leaf called tambul.  It affords them gratification, and its use has become quite habitual; after chewing, they split out.  They mix it with camphor and other aromatic nuts, and quick-lime.  When anyone wishes to insult another in the grossest manner, he spits on his face. The injured party then hastens to the king, and declare his wish to decide the quarrel by combat.  His majesty furnishes him with a sword and a shield; and all the people assemble as spectators of the conflict, which is only terminated by the death of one of the party.  They are not, however, allowed to strike with the point of the sword.  Now let us depart and tell you of the kingdom of Coilon.

Notes:- 

1. Cail: Kayalpatnam or Korkai in Modern day Tamil Nadu.

2. Asciar: An AI overview of Google gives the following version:

That Sultan Jamaluddin was the ruler of Kayalpatnam when Marco Polo visited the place in the late 13th century. Interestingly Henry Yule and Henry Cordier who edited Travels Of Marco Polo gives a very elaborate version. It is this: 

A) In about 875 CE or so, the legend goes, not far away from Cairo, on the shadow of Mount Mukhadham, existed a town called Qirafathul Kubra. It was from this town that year, about 224 men, women and children, all descendants of first Caliph of Islam Abubakar Siddique (Ral) belonging to the Bakhri tribe left Egyptian shores under the leadership of Mohamed Kalji in a ship made of wood (hence marakayar) eventually landed on the shores of Kayal.

This region at that time was under the Pandya King Abhirama Raja Adhiraja Raja Jayaveera Rajukaar.  It is said that the new arrivals were given land by the king to settle and carry on their trading.  A land title was also issued by the king to this effect. 

The above arrival is termed the First wave.

The second wave:

About 1284 CE, it is said, five boat loads of people escaping repression and natural disaster left Egypt to various destinations.  One such boat reached the city of Kayal. The number of people is unknown. They were well received by the Pandya ruler Sundaram Pandya Thevar. The refugees were led by Jamaluddin, believed to be 21st descendant of Prophet Mohammed (Sal) 

Pandya King sent Jamaluddin as his envoy to Kublai Khan. After his return Jamaluddin was a regular supplier of horses to the king, and he eventually 

rose to become the commander of King's army.  Following the death of Sundara pandya in 1294 CE, Jamaluddin is believed to have succeeded the throne.

Henry Yule was a Scottish Orientalist (1820 to 1889) Together with the French linguist and Orientalist, Henry Cordier published Travels Of Marco Polo in 1903.

Kayalpatnam region was called Tenpadi Nadu under the reign of Cholas and Pandyas. It lies on the banks of Tamirabarani river.  According to Dr Caldwell a new emporium emerged between Korkai and the sea after the sea had retreated due to increasing elevation of the line of coast.

Later on the eve of arrival of Portugese, conflicts arose between them and the Muslims and Paravas and the latter had become a Pawn in the hands of Portugese.

3. Curmoss: Harbour Town in the main land and Hormuz island in the Persian Gulf. Quisci is Qeshm, an arrow shaped island south of Bandar Abbas. Both the islands are in Strait of Hormuz.  All these were ancient trading centres. Hormuz island acquired the name from the Harbour Town of mainland.  It was a principality of Mongolian Ilkhanate and the principality paid tribute to the Khan. Qeshm island was a trade and navigation centre.  Aden is a port city located in Yemen.