A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c12.81

c12.81

erected by Malik Kâfur on the sea-coast in 1310, but apparently not at Râmesvaram, which lies in the extreme south of India, on the eastern coast opposite the island of Ceylon. Moreover, it is extremely improbable that a Muhammadan sovereign could, in the fourteenth century A.D., have penetrated so far south with such a handful of men. They would have been harassed at every step by myriads of Hindus, who, though doubtless trembling at the sight of a Muhammadan, would, we may be sure, never have permitted 5000 men to traverse in peace 1000 miles of forest and mountain; for Râmesvaram is fully 500 miles from Vijayanagar. Malik Kâfur's expedition is said to have taken place after the conquest by him of the Ballâla Râjah of Dvârasamudra in Maisûr, when he erected a mosque on the *sea-coast of Malabar*, and therefore nowhere near Râmesvaram. Colonel Briggs has observed this difficulty,¹ and thinks that the place alluded to must be Sadâsivaghur, on the western coast, south of Goa, adding, "The spot . . . is called Cape Ramas on our maps."² He believes, however, that the remains of an old mosque do exist at Râmesvaram, and its date should be settled. Leaving it to others better informed to throw light on this point, I return to Bukka Râya and his doings.