242
Previous identifications of this name have failed to take into ac- count the fact that it was inland, and in a different country from the Pandyan kingdom.
The capital grew up around a fortress built on the summit of the Rock of Trichinopoly, which rises abruptly out of the plain to a height of 340 feet above the old city, which nestles picturesquely at its foot. “The view from the frowning heights of the rock is very grand. Little is now left of the old fortifications but the citadel and a pagoda- like temple. A covered passage hewn out of the rock leads to them. ’ ’ (Furneaux, India, p. 430. )
After the destruction of Uraiyur about the 7th century A. D., the capital was removed to Malaikurram, the modern Kumbakonam (10° 58' N. , 79° 22' E. ), which still retains traces of its former grandeur; and after other changes to Tanjore (10° 47' N. , 79° 8' E. ). (Sir Walter Elliot, Coins of Southern India, 130; Vincent Smith, Early History, 164, 342.)
59. Argaritic muslins. — The textile industry of both Trichi- nopoly (or Uraiyur) and Tanjore has been famous from early times. There can be little doubt that some of the finest fabrics that reached the Roman world came from this kingdom of Chola. From this part of India, in the middle ages, came those gold-threaded embroideries which were in such demand in the Saracen markets.
60. Ships from the north — that is, from the Ganges and Bengal. Kalidasa, in the Raghuvamsa, tells of a tour of conquest of India, made by Raghu, the great-grandfather of Rama; starting from Ayodhya (the modern Oudh) he went eastward to the ocean, “having conquered the Bangalis, who trusted in their ships.” (Foulkes, in Indian Antiquary, 1879, pp. 1-10.)
60. Camara.— Ptolemy mentions a Chaberis emporion, at one of the mouths of the Kaveri River; probably both this and the Camara of the Periplus were nearly, if not quite, identical with the modern Karikal (10° 55' N., 79° 50' E.).
60. Poduca. — This is probably intended for Puduchcheri, “new town,” the modern Pondicherry (11° 56' N., 79° 49' E. ). So Bohlen, Ritter, Benfey, Muller, McCrindle and Fabricius; Yule, following Lassen, prefers Pulikat (13° 25' N., 80° 19’ E. ).
60. Sopatma. — This is probably Su-patana, “fair town,’’ and may be identified with the modern Madras (13° 4' N., 80° 15' E. ).
Lassen (II, 542) doubts the possibility of identifying either Camara or Sopatma; and there is no evidence that Pondicherry ex- isted at the time of the Periplus. The location of all three ports can be no more than conjectural.
