Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/31

Rh Kudam, Kuddam and Ven. The names were appropriate to the natural peculiarity of each province. Pooli, or “the sandy tract” extended most probably from the banks of the modern Agalappula to the mouth of the Ponani river. The soil of this part of the country is remarkably sandy. Kudam, or “the western land” denoted apparently the region between the mouth of the Ponani river and the southernmost mouth of the Periyar near Ernakulam. This would have been the most western land to the first immigrants who came into Malabar by the Palghat pass. Kuddam, or “the land of lakes” comprised the territory around the modern towns of Kottayam and Quilon which is to this day known by the same name to the natives of the country. The river Pâli or Pâlâi which flows through this province formed at its mouth several islands and lakes, and hence this tract was called Kuddam or the “land of lakes.” South of Kuddam lay Ven which stretched up to very near Cape Comorin. The low hills and valleys in this region were covered with luxuriant forests of bamboo, and therefore it was aptly named Ven-nad or the “bamboo land.” East of Kudam was Karkâ, or the “rocky region.”

The five Nadus above mentioned formed the Chera Kingdom the capital of which was Vanchi or Karur. It was situated on the banks of the Periyar, far from its mouth and near the foot of the Western Ghats. The site of the town is now a deserted village, known as Tiru-Karur, three miles from Khothai-mangalam, and 28 miles east by north of Cochin, where the remains of an old temple and other massive buildings are still visible. The town was strongly fortified, and on the battlements were mounted various engines to throw missiles on those who