Note 2 — Chapter XXII

There is still a

Syrian

church of St. George at Quilon, and a mosque of some importance;—the representatives at least of those noted above, though no actual trace of antiquity of any kind remains at the place. A vague tradition of extensive trade with China yet survives. The form

Columbum

is accounted for by an inscription, published by the Prince of Travancore (

Ind. Antiq.

II. 360), which shows that the city was called in Sanskrit

Kolamba

. May not the real etymology be Sansk.

Kolam

, “Black Pepper”?

On the suggestion ventured in this note Dr. Caldwell writes:

“I fancy Kôla, a name for pepper in Sanskrit, may be derived from the name of the country Kôlam, North Malabar, which is much more celebrated for its pepper than the country around Quilon. This Kôlam, though resembling Kollam, is really a separate word, and never confounded with the latter by the natives. The prince of Kôlam (North Malabar) is called Kolastri or Kolattiri[A]. Compare also Kôlagiri, the name of a hill in the Sanskrit dictionaries, called also the Kôlla giri. The only possible derivations for the Tamil and Malayalim name of Quilon that I am acquainted with are these: (1.) From Kolu, the ‘Royal Presence’ or presence-chamber, or hall of audience. Kollam might naturally be a derivation of this word; and in confirmation I find that other residences of Malabar kings were also called Kollam, e.g. Kodungalur or Cranganore. (2.) From Kolu, the same word, but with the meaning ‘a height’ or ‘high-ground.’ Hence Kollei, a very common word in Tamil for a ‘dry grain field, a back-yard.’ Kolli is also, in the Tamil poets, said to be the name of a hill in the Chera country, i.e. the Malabar coast. Kôlam in Tamil has not the meaning of pepper; it means ‘beauty,’ and it is said also to mean the fruit of the jujuba. (3.) It might possibly be derived from Kol, to slay;—Kollam, slaughter, or a place where some slaughter happened ... in the absence, however, of any tradition to this effect, this derivation seems improbable.”