The Colas c12.73

c12.73

Of the ports in other parts of the Tamil country we have similar descriptions in the literature of the Śangam.⁷⁶ Even inland cities like Madura had guards of ‘dumb *mlecchas*’ and ‘*yavanas*’ in complete armour keeping watch in the king’s palaces. The *Perumbāṇāṟṟuppaḍai*,⁷⁷ a poem of the same period, speaks of tall lighthouses on the coast summoning ships to harbour by the night.