The Pandyan Kingdom from the Earliest Times to the Sixteenth Century c17.23

c17.23

'When the King dies none of his children dares to touch his treasure. For they say, "As our father did gather together all this treasure, so we ought to accumulate as much in our turn". And in this way it comes to pass that there is an immensity of treasure accumulated in this kingdom.' That Marco was correctly informed as to the extent of the treasures accumulated by the Pāndya rulers is seen clearly from the statements of Wassaf on the matter. Of Kales Dewar (Kulaśēkhara) he says: 'His coffers were replete with wealth, inasmuch that in the treasury of the city of Mardi (Madura) there were 1,200 crores of gold (dinars) deposited. . . . Besides this there was an accumulation of precious stones, such as pearls, rubies, turquoises and emeralds—more than is in the power of language to express.'