Elements of South-Indian Palæography, from the Fourth to the Seventeenth Century A.D. c4.11

c4.11

The Phœnicians who voyaged for Solomon came to Southern India at least, and exported from thence peacocks which were called in Hebrew by a Tamiḷ name[^1). The Persians about 500 B. C. conquered India (that is probably, the Punjab and part of India Proper or Northern India), under Darius; and in the inscriptions at Persepolis and Naksh-i-Rustam India occurs as the 21st and 13th province, respectively, of that monarch's empire[^2). According to Herodotus India was the 20th satrapy, and paid as tribute 360 talents of gold. To pay such a very large sum a great extent of the country must have been subject.