CONTENTS.
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Introduction. |
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| Political divisions of the known world 1800 years ago—The Tamil-land—Ancient Tamil literature recently published—Antiquity of the literature—Sangha poets—Ilánko-Adikal, brother of a Chera king and author of the Tamil epic Chilappathikaram—Allusion in the poem to contemporary kings Satakarnin of Magadha and Gajabaahu of Ceylon | 1 |
Geography of Tamilakam. |
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| The limits of Tamilakam—Neighbouring kingdoms—The thirteen nadus of Tamilakam and principal towns in them—Identification of places mentioned by Pliny and Ptolemy | 10 |
Foreign Trade. |
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| Early trade routes—Strabo—Discovery of direct route by sea from Arabia to Tamilakam—Pliny’s account of the trade— Fuller account in the Periplus of the Erythran Sea | 31 |
Tamil Races and Tribes. |
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| The Villavar and Minavar—The Nagas—Naga tribes: Maravar, Eyinar, Oliyar, Oviyar, Aruvalar, Parathavar—Mongolian immigrants from Tamilitti in Bengal called Tamils—Tamil tribes: Marar, Thirayar, Vanavar or Celestials—Kosar identical with the Koshans who conquered Northern India—Aryan immigrants—Princess of the Lunar race who founded Southern Madura—Brahmin settlement—Ayar or Shepherd races—The bull fight their national pastime—Jews—Correct reading of the double years in Jewish grant | 39 |
