Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India c2.40

c2.40

The Tamil literature of the south also gives a convincing picture of the sea trade. The description of the port of Kāveripaṭṭīnam or Puhār with its seashore godowns, foreign merchants and markets is so realistic that it is not found anywhere else. At some time the great sea ports of Barbaraka, Bharukachchha, Murichipaṭṭana, Dantapura, Tāmralipti etc., repeated the pattern of Kāverīpaṭṭinam. The statements of two Tamil poets about Muchiri is worth noting. According to them "The foreign ships bring gold to the sea port of Muchiri within the boundary of Kerala passing the frothy water of the Periyar river. This gold was transferred from larger ships to smaller boats. Bags of black pepper were brought from houses to markets and merchants loaded them on ships in exchange for gold. At Muchiri the music of the waves never stopped."