Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c13.108

v2.c13.108

From Malabar we can trace the name in the east through Ceylon (Mālava mountain in Laṅkā) and Sumatra (Malayu) to Malay Peninsula, perhaps even to Moluccos. On the west we can trace it from Malabar to Maldives and Madagascar. It is, no doubt, more reasonable to explain the linguistic facts observed by Ferrand in Madagascar by supposing a common centre in India, from which the streams of colonisation proceeded both towards the east as well as towards the west, than by supposing that Hindu colonists first settled in Malayasia and then turned back to colonise Madagascar. The people of Madagascar have a tradition that their ancestors came from Mangalore.¹ This place is located by Ferrand in the south of Malaya Peninsula, but it should not be forgotten that Mangalore is the name of a well-known place in Malabar Coast and is referred to by Arab writers as one of the most celebrated towns of Malabar.²