Marco Polo's Voyage to Indian Seas: 30: Tana
Tana is a great kingdom in the west; the inhabitants idolaters, with a language of their own, under a sovereign subject to no other. It does not produce pepper, or such spices as other provinces; but yield incenses, not of white but of brown colour. There is a great trade in leather, finely dressed, also in good cotton, both raw and made into cloth.
The merchants import gold, silver, brass and other goods necessary for
these kingdoms, receiving various articles in return. But I have a bad thing to tell you; for many pirates issue and hence scourge the sea, and greatly injuring the sailors, and king sanctions their conduct, having made an agreement, that they bring to him all the horses captured, which are very numerous, being in a great request over all Hind. But gold, silver, precious stones, and rest of the cargo, belong to themselves. Now this is bad and very unjust conduct. Let us leave this country and speak of Cambia.
Notes:-
Periplus Maris Erythraea does not mention the port of Tana. In those times, the first century, Bharuch was the chief port in the western coast, and the Gurjara and piracy were unheard of.
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