The Pandyan Kingdom from the Earliest Times to the Sixteenth Century c17.21

c17.21

The king possessed much other treasure of great value besides the best of the pearls that were found in his kingdom. 'Round his neck he has a necklace entirely of precious stones, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and the like in so much that this collar is of great value. He wears also hanging in front of his chest from the neck downwards, a fine silk thread strung with 104 (108?) large pearls and rubies of great price. The reason why he wears this cord with the 104 great pearls and rubies, is (according to what they tell) that every day, morning and evening, he has to say 104 prayers to his idols. Such is their religion and their custom. And thus did all the Kings, his ancestors before him, and they bequeathed the string of pearls to him that he should do the like.'