The Colas c30.31

c30.31

Benjamin of Tudela states that Chulam was seventeen days by sea from Kish; Chulam may therefore be Quilon or some other port more to the north on the west coast of India and probably subject to Cōḷa rule. Of the people of this place, their government and country, Benjamin observes:⁷⁷ 'They are descendants of Khush, are addicted to astrology and are all black. This nation is very trustworthy in matters of trade, and whenever foreign merchants enter their port, three secretaries of the king immediately repair on board the vessels, write down their names and report them to him; the king thereupon grants them security for their property, which they may even leave in the open fields, without any guard. One of the king's officers sits in the market, and receives goods that may have been found anywhere, and which he returns to those applicants who can minutely describe them. This custom is observed in the whole empire of the king.' Regarding the hours of business, Benjamin also says: 'From Easter to new year (from April to October), during the whole of the summer the heat is extreme. From the third hour of the day (nine o'clock in the morning) people shut themselves up in their houses until the evening at which time everybody goes out. The streets and markets are lighted up and the inhabitants employ all the night upon their business which they are prevented from doing in the day time, in consequence of excessive heat.'