For previous references,
Delia Decirna,, III. 298, 361; IV. 60; I.B. IV. 99; Cathay, p. 77;
Note by Dr. H. Gleghorn; Marsh's ed. of Wedgwood's Etym. Dict. I. 123;
Southey, H. of Brazil, I. 22.)
NOTE 3. - This is the Colombine ginger which appears not unfrequently in
mediaeval writings. Pegolotti tells us that "ginger is of several sorts,
to wit, Belledi, Colombino, and Mecchino. And these names are
bestowed from the producing countries, at least this is the case with the
Colombino and Mecchino, for the Belledi is produced in many
districts of India. The Colombino grows in the Island of Colombo of India,
and has a smooth, delicate, ash-coloured rind; whilst the Mecchino comes
from the districts about Mecca and is a small kind, hard to cut," etc.
(Delia Dec. III. 359.) A century later, in G. da Uzzano, we still find
the Colombino and Belladi ginger (IV. 111, 210, etc.). The Baladi is
also mentioned by Rashiduddin as an export of Guzerat, and by Barbosa and
others as one of Calicut in the beginning of the 16th century. The
Mecchino too is mentioned again in that era by a Venetian traveller as
grown in the Island of Camran in the Red Sea. Both Columbine (gigembre
columbin) and Baladi ginger (gig. baladit) appear among the purchases
for King John of France, during his captivity in England. And we gather
from his accounts that the price of the former was 13d. a pound, and of
the latter 12d., sums representing three times the amount of silver that
they now indicate, with a higher value of silver also, and hence
equivalent to about 4s. and 4s. 4d. a pound. The term Baladi
(Ar.), Indigenous or "Country" ginger, indicated ordinary qualities of no
particular repute. The word Baladi seems to have become naturalised in
Spanish with the meaning "of small value." We have noticed on a former
occasion the decay of the demand for pepper in China. Ginger affords a
similar example. This spice, so highly prized and so well known throughout
Europe in the Middle Ages, I have found to be quite unknown by name and
qualities to servants in Palermo of more than average intelligence.
(Elliot, I. 67; Ramusio, I. f. 275, v. 323; Dozy and Engelm. pp.
232-233; Douet d'Arcq, p. 218; Philobiblon Soc. Miscellanies, vol. ii.
p. 116.)
NOTE 4. - In Bengal Indigo factories artificial heat is employed to promote
the drying of the precipitated dye; but this is not essential to the
manufacture. Marco's account, though grotesque in its baldness, does
describe the chief features of the manufacture of Indigo by fermentation.
The branches are cut and placed stem upwards in the vat till it is three
parts full; they are loaded, and then the vat is filled with water.
Fermentation soon begins and goes on till in 24 hours the contents of the
vat are so hot that the hand cannot be retained in it. This is what Marco
ascribes to the sun's heat. The liquor is then drawn off to another
cistern and there agitated; the indigo separates in flakes. A quantity of
lime-water then is added, and the blue is allowed to subside. The clear
water is drawn off; the sediment is drained, pressed, and cut into small
squares, etc. (See Madras Journal, vol. viii. 198.)
Indigo had been introduced into Sicily by the Jews during the time of
Frederick II., in the early part of Polo's century. Jews and Indigo have
long vanished from Sicily. The dye is often mentioned in Pegolotti's Book;
the finest quality being termed Indaco Baccadeo a corruption of
Baghdadi. Probably it came from India by way of Baghdad. In the
Barcelona Tariffs it appears as Indigo de Bagadel. Another quality often
mentioned is Indigo di Golfo. (See Capmany, Memorias II. App. p. 73.)
In the bye-laws of the London Painters' Guild of the 13th century, quoted
by Sir F. Palgrave from the Liber Horne, it is forbidden to paint on
gold or silver except with fine (mineral) colours, "e nient de brasil,
ne de inde de Baldas, ne de nul autre mauveise couleur." (The
Merchant and the Friar, p. xxiii.) There is now no indigo made or
exported at Quilon, but there is still some feeble export of sappanwood,
ginger, and pepper. These, and previous particulars as to the present
Quilon, I owe to the kindness of Mr. Ballard, British Resident at
Trevandrum.
NOTE 5. - Black Tigers and black Leopards are not very rare in Travancore
(See Welsh's Mil. Reminiscences, II. 102.)
NOTE 6. - Probably founded on local or caste customs of marriage, several
of which in South India are very peculiar; e.g., see Nelson's Madura,
Pt. II. p. 51.
[1] The etymology of the name seems to be doubtful. Dr. Caldwell tells me
it is an error to connect it (as in the first edition) with the word
for a Tank, which is Kulam. The apparent meaning of Kollam is
"slaughter," but he thinks the name is best explained as "Palace" or
"Royal Residence."
[2] 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 Kola, a name for pepper in Sanskrit, may be derived from
the name of the country Kolam, North Malabar, which is much more
celebrated for its pepper than the country around Quilon. This
Kolam, though resembling Kollam, is really a separate word, and
never confounded with the latter by the natives.
