History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c37.s1.t2.3

v1.c37.s1.t2.3

The climatic condition in South India is quite tropical, ancient Tamil literature indicates that the ancient Tamil were not wearing only leather clothes but also from leaves ‘Thazhi uddai.’ and that of bark ‘Mara uddai.’ They were also eating meat of goat, cow, elephant, deer etc. The covering of the animals, not eatable, were used to make leather and leather articles. Their gods were also attired with the skins of deer, tiger etc. These skins were also used to make seat to sit on or sleep comfortably with the effect of good air cushion. Recently it was noticed and used fur skin as bedsheet for patient with severe burns. The ancient Tamil used chest gear covered with tiger skin. They used protective covering known as ‘Kavasam’ made of moulded leather, elephant hide and layers of other hides pasted together to cover separately, head, chest, hand, finger, leg and foot.