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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.2 |
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Citation Information
336
MARCO POLO $ooK III.
the " Pattayana ` par excellence ' of the Coromandel Coast, and the great port of the Chola kingdom." *
Some corroboration of the supposition that the Tanjore ports were those frequented by Chinese trade may be found in the fact that a remarkable Pagoda of uncemented brickwork, about a mile to the north-west of Negapatam, popularly bears (or bore) the name of the Chinese Pagoda. I do not mean to imply that the building was
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Chinese Pagoda (so called) at Negapatam. (From a sketch taken in 1846 by Sir Walter Elliot.)
Chinese, but that the application of that name to a ruin of strange character pointed to some tradition of Chinese visitors.` Sir Walter Elliot, to whom I am indebted for the sketch of it given here, states that this building differed essentially from any type of Hindu architecture with which he was acquainted, but being without inscription or sculpture it was impossible to assign to it any authentic origin. Negapatam was, however, celebrated as a seat of Buddhist worship, and this may have been a remnant of their work. In 1846 it consisted of three stories divided by cornices of stepped brickwork. The interior was open to the top, and showed the marks of a floor about 20 feet from the ground. Its general appearance is shown by the cut. This interesting building was reported in 1859 to be in too dilapidated a state for repair, and now exists no longer. Sir W. Elliot also tells me that collectors em-
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* It was also perhaps the Fattan of the Mahomedan writers ; but in that case its destruction must have been after Ibn Batuta's time (say middle of 14th century).
t I leave this passage as it stood in the first edition. It is a mistake, but this mistake led to the engraving of Sir W. Elliot's sketch (perhaps unique) of a very interesting building which has disappeared. Dr. Caldwell writes : " The native name was ` the Jaina Tower,' turned by the English into China and Chinese. This I was told in Negapatam 3o years ago, but to make sure of the matter I have now written to Negapatam, and obtained from the Munsiff of the place confirmation of what I had heard long ago. It bore also the name of the Tower of the Malla.' The Chalukya Malla kings were at one time Jainas. The Seven Pagodas' near Madras bear their name, MaMallei púram, and their power may at one time have extended as far south as Negapatam." I have no doubt Dr. Caldwell is right in substance, but the name Criina Pagoda at Negapatam is at least as old as Baldaeus (1672, p. 149\ and the ascription to the Chinese is in Valentyn (1726, tom. v. p. 6). l t is, I find, in the Atlas of India, " Jayne Pagoda."
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Alba An
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