212 



Notes of an excursion along [no. 6, new series, 



and Christians. From Eddavah to Quilon the distance is about 

 12 miles, a journey performed by boats in 3 or 4 hours. There is 

 nothing remarkable in the voyage unless it be several slightly ele- 

 vated terraces at short intervals which have much the appearance 

 of ancient sea beaches. The uniformity of level is remarkable, and 

 the distance from the present sea line not being great, would 

 perhaps occasion the Geologist no great difficulty in arriving at 

 the history of their origin. 



Quilon at present garrisoned by a Corps of Native Infantry, was 

 formerly* a place of some importance. It is variously spelt Col- 

 lam, Coulam and Coilon, signifying in Tamil 'language ' a tank." 

 It was built, says Bartholomew, in 825 after Christ, and was for- 

 merly a city of considerable note. The natives of Malabar begin 

 their era at the period of its foundation saying ' ' so many years 

 after the foundation of Collam." The Portuguese built a large and 

 spacious fortress here, near the modern town of Tangancharey. It 

 is now quite in ruins. Quilon at one time had an independent 

 prince of its own known by the title of the Rajah of Tangancha- 

 rey. He was subdued and taken prisoner by Vira-Martanda, Ra- 

 jah of Travancore in 1764, when, his territory Was annexed to the 

 latter kingdom. 



One of the earliest accounts of Quilon is found in the travels of 

 Marco Polo, who lived in the fourteenth century. Discoursing on 

 the several products of this country, he especially alludes to the 

 manufacture of Indigo which he asserts was made here of superior 

 quality and in great quantities. He gives the process of its manu- 

 facture as follows. " They procure it from a herbaceous plant 

 which is taken up by the root and put into tubs of water where it 

 is suffered to remain till it rots, when they press out the juice. 

 This again being exposed to the sun and evaporated leaves a kind 

 of paste which is cut into small pieces of the form in which we see 



Marco Polo's Travels, p. 410, Bohn's Ed. 

 * " About two hundred years ago, the Town was rich, and great and populous ; 

 traded toby many Indians, enlarged by tbe Samoryn, and able to number a hun- 

 dred thousand inhabitants ; of such repute it then was for situation, trade, and 

 fidelity of the Cowlamites. But now, the period of her excellency is outrun ; for 

 Calicut first, and then Goa have not only monopolized but attracted the trade of 

 this as well as other parts thereabouts." Sir Thomas Herbert's Voyage, p. 339, 

 1677. 



