666 Notes on the Buins at MaMhdlipuram. [No. 7. 



however certain, that there must have been a wealthy, and therefore 

 in all probability a numerous, population, where dwelling-houses 

 were built of burned bricks, cemented with lime mortar ; and where 

 masons were sufficiently acquainted with the mysteries of their art, 

 to use foundations of concrete, formed of the most durable materials, 

 and on the most approved principles. It must be remembered that 

 in classical days, the extremity of the peninsula was the entrepot of 

 commerce, between the east and the west. Gribbon says, " Every 

 year about the summer solstice, a fleet of a hundred and twenty 

 vessels sailed from Myas Horinas, a port of Egypt on the Red Sea. 

 The coast of Malabar or the island of Ceylon was the usual term 

 of their navigation, and it was in those markets, that the merchants 

 from the more remote parts of Asia expected their arrival. This 

 fleet traversed the ocean in about forty days, by the periodical assist- 

 ance of the monsoons." Whence we gather that the European fleets 

 proceeded to India, with the commencement of the S. W. monsoon ; 

 and remained there until the beginning of the N. Easterly ; which 

 is consonant with all we know of the habits of the seamen of anti- 

 quity. But, at that time of year, the ports of the Malabar coast 

 would have been extremely unsafe ; besides that no large city is 

 known to have flourished at that epoch, any where near Ceylon, 

 with access from that quarter. It is therefore far more probable, 

 that the laden ships, favoured by the strong southerly current along 

 the shore, passed by the Malabar coast, and by the island of Ceylon, 

 to find harbour on the Coromandel coast, and await the change that 

 would take them on their return voyage. I have the authority of 

 a commander of approved skill, and well acquainted with these seas, 

 for saying that there are no physical features to prohibit the idea, 

 that Mavellipoor may have been one of these ports. He answers 

 my enquiries: "There are no reefs off the Seven Pagodas; and 

 the only danger in the vicinity, is a small reef nearly abreast of the 

 collector's house at Tripalore, hence called the Tripalore reef, upon 

 which one of the Company's vessels was wrecked some fifty years 

 ago : but so near shore (half mile) as not to create any alarm at the 

 present day," when its situation is perfectly ascertained. He adds, 

 that even now ships passing along this coast generally make Sadras 

 hills, to get into a good position for reaching more northern parts : 



