Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s23.t4.4

c23.s23.t4.4

The place name *toṇṭi* occurring in the Kīḻavalavu inscription (No. *10*, 2nd century B.C.) may be identified as the ancient seaport of the Pāṇṭiya kingdom on the east coast involved in pearl-fishery and maritime trade from the earliest times. While the Cēra seaport of Toṇṭi on the west coast was more famous in the Caṅkam Age, the eastern port is also referred to in early Tamil literature.¹ Presently a small port on the east coast, Tondi is connected by a highway to Melur near Kīḻavalavu, probably tracing the ancient route (see Map I).