Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c24.s1.t7.4

v1.c24.s1.t7.4

The Periplus further records (chapter 63) that near the estuary of the Ganges “there is an island called Khrusē, which has the best tortoise-shell of all places in the Erythraean Sea”; this was an important commodity of export to the Roman empire. Seneca criticised the prevailing luxury of Roman men and women and the use of costly tortoise-shell. Just as pearls were adored by the Romans, the Indians liked red corals from the Mediterranean Sea which used to be imported to India by the Romans. Conch-shells, or chank-shells were exported at Marallo (Mantotte?) during the sixth century AD. Even earlier, the artistic products made by the chank-cutters in Korkai and Kaviripaddinam found their ways to the West.