Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FReeper Canteen ~ Part XI of War in Ancient India ~ September 21, 2004
A Tribute to Hinduism ^ | LaDivaLoca

Posted on 09/20/2004 7:59:05 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

 
 
For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.
 
 
Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!
 
 




ANCIENT WARFARE





Part XI: War in Ancient India

 
Accounts of Foreign Travelers to India

Coming to later times we have the account of Hiuen Tsang who notices a fleet of 3,000 sail belonging to the King os Assam. There is inscriptional evidence of the possession of a fleet under the Kakatiyas and the Cholas in South india. Marco Polo testifies to the huge size and efficient construction of Indian vessels while Yule in his Cathey refers to Rajput ships en route to China. Marco Polo, a famous Venetian traveler who visited India in 13th Century also visited Thane Port. The first chapter of his book which deals with India is almost devoted to shipbuilding industry in India. Friar Odoric of Pordenone, an Italian Monk who visited India in 14th Century, in his account of his voyage across the Indian Ocean, a mention is made of ships which can carry 700 people.

"Ships of size that carried Fahien from India to China (through stormy China water) were certainly capable of proceeding all the way to Mexico and Peru by crossing the Pacific. One thousand years before the birth of Columbus Indian ships were far superior to any made in Europe upto the 18th century."

(source: The Civilizations of Ancient America: The Selected Papers of the XXIXth International Congress of Americanists  - edited Sol Tax 1951).

Ludovico di Varthema (1503 A. D) saw vessels of 1,000 tons burden built at Masulipatnam. According to Dr. Vincent, India built great sized vessels from the time of Agathareids (171 B.C.) to the 16th century. And no wonder the Portuguese, when they first landed at the west coast, were carried away by the excellent Indian vessels. Later still, the Vijayanagar Empire, which had as many as 300 ports, had a powerful fleet. The naval commander was styled Naviyadaprabhu.

India has a coastline of about 6300 kms. Extensive new archaeological, epigraphical, sculptural and literary material has been added to our knowledge since the early decades of this century. Dr. Radha Kumud Mookerji's Book Indian Shipping - A History of the Sea-Borne Trade and Marine Activity of The Indians From The Earliest Times published in 1912 Orient Longmans ISBN 8121509165) is the most comprehensive study of Indian Navigation up to that period. We now know that many ports on both Eastern and Western Coast had navigational and trade links with almost all Continents of the world. There are many natural and technological reasons for this. Apart from Mathematics and Astronomy, India had excellent manufacturing skills in textile, metal works and paints. India had abundant supply of Timber. Indian - built ships were superior as they were built of Teak which resists the effect of salt water and weather for a very long time. 

"The art of Navigation was born in river Sindhu 6000 years ago. The very word navigation is derived from Sanskrit word Nav (or Nav-ship) Gatih."

Lieut. Col. A Walker's
paper: "Considerations of the affairs of India" written in 1811 had excellent remarks on Bombay-built ships. He notes, "situated as
she is between the forests of Malabar and Gujarat, she receives supplies of timber with every wind that blows." Further he says, "it is calculated that every ship in the Navy of Great Britain is renewed every twelve years. It is well known that teakwood built ships last fifty years and upwards. Many ships Bombay-built after running fourteen or fifteen years have been brought into the Navy and were considered as stronger as ever. The Sir Edward Hughes performed, I believe, eight voyages as an Indiaman before she was purchased for the Navy. No Europe-built Indiaman is capable of going more than six voyages with safety."

He has also further noted that Bombay-built ships are at least one-fourth cheaper than those built in the docks of England. Francois Balazar Solvyns, a Belgian/Flemish maritime painter, wrote a book titled Les Hindous in 1811. 

His remarks are, "In ancient times, the Indians excelled in the art of constructing vessels, and the present Hindus can in this respect still offer models to Europe-so much so that the English, attentive to everything which relates to naval architecture, have borrowed from the Hindus many improvement which they have adopted with success to their own shipping.... The Indian vessels unite elegance and utility and are models of patience and fine workmanship." 

(source: http://www.orientalthane.com/speeches/speech_2.htm).

Surprisingly, many earlier western traders and travelers have expressed the same views. Madapollum was a flourishing shipping centre. Thomas Bowrey, an English traveler who visited India during 1669-79, observes, " many English merchants and others have their ships and vessels yearly built (at Madapollum). Here is the best and well grown timber in sufficient plenty, the best iron upon the coast, any sort of ironwork is ingeniously performed by the natives, as spikes, bolts, anchors, and the like. Very expert master-builders there are several here, they build very well, and launch with as much discretion as I have seen in any part of the world. They have an excellent way of making shrouds, stays, or any other rigging for ships".

A Venetian traveler of 16th Century Cesare de Fedrici, while commenting on the East Coast of India has noted that there is an abundance of material for ship building in this area and many Sultans of Constantinople found it cheaper to have their vessels built in India than at Alexandria. 

Nicol Conti who visited India in 15th century was impressed by the quality Indians had achieved in ship building. He observes:

"The nations of India build some ships larger than ours, capable of containing 2,000 butts, and with five sails and as many masts. The lower part is constructed with triple planks, in order to withstand the force of the tempests to which they are much exposed. But some ships are so built in compartments that should one part be shattered, the other portion remaining entire may accomplish the voyage."

J. Ovington, Chaplain to the British King, the seventeenth-century English traveler, who visited Surat, wrote a book  A Voyage to Surat in the Year 1689. He was impressed by the skill of the Indians in ship-building and found that they even outshone Europeans. The timber used by the Indians was so strong that it would not ‘crack’ even by the force of a bullet so he urged the English to use that timber ‘to help them in war’. Indian Teak stood firmer than the English Oak, remarked Ovington. 

Thomas Herbert, a traveler who visited Surat in 1627, has given an interesting account of the arrival, loading and unloading of ships through small boats at Swally marine (Sohaly), a few kilometres away from Surat. He remarked that between September and March every year, the port of Sohaly presented a very busy and noisy scene for there came many ships from foreign lands. The merchants (baniyas) erected their straw huts in large numbers all along the sea coast, making the whole place thus look like a country fair. The merchants sold various commodities like calicoes, ivory, agates, etc. Many small boys engaged by the merchants were seen running about doing odd jobs. The English found that the small boats used and constructed by the natives could be of immense use. This was a definite gain for both nations. Boats and rafts were used as a means of conveyance for loading and unloading ships. There were about 4200 big and 4400 small boats. There were large-sized boats that could carry even elephants. The boats used by kings and nobles were designed to look artistic. Abul Fazl writes about the "wonderfully fashioned boats with delightful quarters and decks and gardens" 

 

Among the primitive Indian boats, the cattarmaran comes first. It consisted of three logs and three spreaders and cross lashings. The centre log was the largest, and pointed towards one end. Mainly fishermen used the cattarmaran for fishing. A little more skillfully made is the musoola boat, which has no iron fastening. It was mostly used in the Coromandel coast. Dr John Fryer says, "It is possible that the name musoola may be connected with Masulipatarn where boats seem to have been in use".

Another boat made in an indigenous manner was known as dingy. It was hollowed out from a single trunk. Lower down the Ganga, the name was applied to boats half-decked, half wagon-roofed and built of planks.

Purqoo was another type of boat described by Thomas Bowery. It plied between the Hooghly and Balasore. These boats were made very strong to carry ‘sufficient load’. They were also used for loading ships. they could remain in water for a long time without getting damaged. As compared to the purqoo, boora was a ‘lighter boat’ which rowed with 29 or 30 oars. These boats were also used for carrying saltpeter and other commodities.

(source:
Coastal trade flourished with Europeans - By Pramod Sangar).

Sir John Malcolm writes"

"Indian vessels are so admirably adapted to the purpose for which they are required that, notwithstanding their superior science, Europeans were unable, during an intercourse with India for two centuries, to suggest or to bring into successful practice one improvement."

(source: Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. I). 

In the middle of the 18th century, John Grose noted that at Surat the Indian ship-building industry was very well established, indeed, “They built incomparably the best ships in the world for duration”, and of all sizes with a capacity of over a thousand tons. Their design appeared to him to be a “a bit clumsy” but their durability soundly impressed him. They lasted “for a century”. 

Lord Grenville
mentions, in this connection, a ship built in Surat which continued to navigate up the Red Sea from 1702 when it was first mentioned in Dutch letters as “the old ships” up to the year 1700.” Grenville also noted that ships of war and merchandise “not exceeding 500 tons” were being built” with facility, convenience and cheapness” at the ports of Coringa and Narsapore.  

Dr. H. Scott sent samples of dammer to London, as this vegetable substance was used by the Indians to line the bottom of their ships; he thought it would be a good substitute “in this country for the materials which are brought from the northern nations for our navy…There can be no doubt that you would find dammer in this way an excellent substitute for pitch and tar and for many purposes much superior to them.”

source: Decolonizing History: Technology and Culture in India, China and the West 1492 to the Present Day - By Claude Alvares  p. 68-69).

Alain Danielou (1907- 1994) son of French aristocracy, author of numerous books on philosophy, religion, history and arts of India has written:

"India's naval dockyards, which belonged to the state, were famous throughout history. The sailors were paid by the state, and the admiral of the fleet hired the ships and crew to tradesmen for transporting goods and passengers. When the British annexed the country much later on, they utilized the Indian dockyards - which were much better organized then those in the West - to build most of the ships for the British navy, for as long as ships were made of wood."

(source: A Brief History of India - By Alain Danielou  p. 106).

***

India became the first power to defeat a European power in a naval battle - The Battle of Colachel in 1742 CE.

A dramatic and virtually unknown past, in an area of bucolic calm surrounded by spectacular hills: that is Colachel, a name that should be better known to us. For this is where, in 1741, an extraordinary event took place -- the Battle of Colachel. For the first, and perhaps the only time in Indian history, an Indian kingdom defeated a European naval force. The ruler of Travancore, Marthanda Varma, routed an invading Dutch fleet; the Dutch commander, Delannoy, joined the Travancore army and served for decades; the Dutch never recovered from this debacle and were never again a colonial threat to India. 

 

   

The ruler of Travancore, Marthanda Varma, routed an invading Dutch fleet; the Dutch commander, Delannoy, joined the Travancore army and served for decades; the Dutch never recovered from this debacle and were never again a colonial threat to India. 

***

The Battle of Colachel in 1742 CE,  where Marthanda Varma of Travancore crushed a Dutch expeditionary fleet near Kanyakumari. The defeat was so total that the Dutch captain, Delannoy, joined the Travancore forces and served loyally for 35 years--and his tomb is still in a coastal fort there. So it wasn't the Japanese in the Yellow Sea in 1905 under Admiral Tojo who were the first Asian power to defeat a European power in a naval battle--it was little Travancore. The Portuguese and the Dutch were trying to gain political power in India at that time. Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch in 1741. He was an able ruler. He established peace in his country - Travancore. It was a remarkable achievement for a small princely state.

(source: The Battle of Colachel: In remembrance of things past - By Rajeev Srinivasan - rediff.com and  http://www.kerala.com/kera/culture1.htm). For more refer to chapter on ).

For more information on Navy refer to chapters on Pacific Suvarnabhumi and Seafaring in Ancient India). 

 

Next Tuesday, Part XII of War in Ancient India






TOPICS: Culture/Society; Free Republic; Front Page News; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: ancientnavigation; godsgravesglyphs; india; navigation; odoricofpordenone
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 241-260261-280281-300 ... 361-372 next last
To: Fawnn

Auntie Fawnn.....#250!!


261 posted on 09/21/2004 4:27:34 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 250 | View Replies]

To: All

Help in a hurricane: Audrette Morris comforts Damian Ward after his car flipped over in high wind and torrential rain on Interstate 59 in Birmingham, Ala. Ward later walked to an ambulance and was transported to a hospital.

262 posted on 09/21/2004 4:30:19 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 250 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; A Jovial Cad; Darksheare; All

HOLY COW!!!

I've been battling these bunch of negative naybobs by myself. Thought everyone might like to have a shot at some of these knuckleheads spouting off in the comments section against Bush in his hometown newspaper. Especially annoying is the idiot named "I Am Grouchy".

http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12966466&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475626&rfi=6


263 posted on 09/21/2004 4:30:33 PM PDT by txradioguy (HOOAH!!!...Not Just A Word...A Way Of Life!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

Distraught in Dixie: Alex Norton weeps amid the ruins of her childhood home along Scenic Highway in Pensacola, Fla. Her family sold the home only days before the storm hit, but she was devastated to see it destroyed nonetheless.

264 posted on 09/21/2004 4:31:49 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 250 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

FReep mail to you, just sent.


265 posted on 09/21/2004 4:32:29 PM PDT by Radix (This Tag Line is real, but the contents are fake.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 260 | View Replies]

To: All

Braidy bunch backs George: Six-year-old Madison Long of Rochester, Minn., is sure her choice for president will come out ahead in November.

Did somebody have the answer to how this worked?

266 posted on 09/21/2004 4:34:13 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 205 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

Hi Kathy. these photos of the hurricane survivors are so heartbreaking.. aren't they. I have worked with and donate to a group who sends blankets and soft toys for young children to these areas for a few years now. It makes me so sad to think of what these folks have gone through esp.. the kids. May God watch over them and comfort them.


267 posted on 09/21/2004 4:42:49 PM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross (It's not Bush's fault... it's the media's fault!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 262 | View Replies]

To: txradioguy

Salvo just fired.

Repeat!


268 posted on 09/21/2004 4:55:29 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (MAKE SURE YOU ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED AND VOTE Nov 2nd!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 263 | View Replies]

To: Diva Betsy Ross

Those pictures of the devastation are indeed heartbreaking. One of the "good" things is that a blanket and stuffed animal for a kid can really make a difference. Kids are so resilient.


269 posted on 09/21/2004 4:58:32 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 267 | View Replies]

To: txradioguy

My message is NOT showing up yet?


270 posted on 09/21/2004 5:06:11 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (MAKE SURE YOU ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED AND VOTE Nov 2nd!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 263 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

A US military tank is seen from the window of a Bradley fighting vehicle as it rolls past a street of Baghdad.

Warning, objects in view finder have more fire power than it might appear.

 

An undated file photograph shows suspected al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. A militant group headed by al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has killed a second American captive in Iraq after the lapse of a 24-hour deadline on September 21, 2004, Arabic television channel Al Jazeera said. Al-Zarqawi was 'intimately involved' in the killing of American hostage Eugene Armstrong, a U.S. intelligence official said on Tuesday after the CIA determined that the al Qaeda ally was the speaker on the videotape of the beheading.

Hey Reuters, after reading your News for years and I was positive that there were no Al-Qaeda in Iraq. 

What is up with that? 

Are you simply Liars and Propagandists?

I sarcastically caption, you decide!

 

A US soldier walks in front of wreckage from a suicide car-bomb that exploded on the main road leading to Baghdad International Airport. An Iraqi civilian was killed and 19 people wounded in the attack.

No subversive caption writers from radical so called news organizations were injured during the making of this post.

 

Visitors to the beach frolic as the sun sets in Santa Monica, California September 20, 2004. September 21 marks the final day of summer.

 

271 posted on 09/21/2004 5:08:01 PM PDT by Radix (This Tag Line is real, but the contents are fake.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 260 | View Replies]

To: tomkow6; Old Sarge
Hello there!


272 posted on 09/21/2004 5:13:26 PM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross (It's not Bush's fault... it's the media's fault!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 271 | View Replies]

To: Radix

Perfect captions!! I really like the Bradley picture. And somehow we need to find and liquidate the butcher, al-Zarqawi.


273 posted on 09/21/2004 5:21:27 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless America and Our Troops Who Protect Her)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 271 | View Replies]

To: txradioguy; All

http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12966466&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475626&rfi=6

Check it out!


274 posted on 09/21/2004 5:40:19 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (MAKE SURE YOU ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED AND VOTE Nov 2nd!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 263 | View Replies]

To: txradioguy

Thanks for the ping, sorry I'm late to the party, just got home from my son's football practice. Ever since the Dimocrats have started to fall apart with all this Rathergate and Kerry falling further behind in the campaign the trolls have been crawling out of the woodwork to howl with rage. I've seen a fair number of the ZOTTED right here on FR during the past two weeks.


275 posted on 09/21/2004 6:11:45 PM PDT by A Jovial Cad ("I had no shoes and I complained, until I saw a man who had no feet.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 263 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Yeah you gotta be patient....they take their time in posting what you say.


276 posted on 09/21/2004 6:13:04 PM PDT by txradioguy (HOOAH!!!...Not Just A Word...A Way Of Life!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 270 | View Replies]

To: txradioguy

For some reason I'm having problems posting over there (probably operator error)...am going to try again.


277 posted on 09/21/2004 6:30:20 PM PDT by A Jovial Cad ("I had no shoes and I complained, until I saw a man who had no feet.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 276 | View Replies]

To: Diva Betsy Ross

What have you DONE to that poor wretched creature?!?


278 posted on 09/21/2004 6:52:13 PM PDT by Old Sarge (ZOT 'em all, let MOD sort 'em out!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 272 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

 

Michael Chiklis as The Thing

 

Jessica Alba as The Invisible Woman

 


Chris Evans as The Human Torch

 

Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic

 

May the Fours be with you!

 

Let the reader understand!

 

279 posted on 09/21/2004 6:52:14 PM PDT by Radix (This Tag Line is real, but the contents are fake.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 273 | View Replies]

To: Radix

BITE ME!!!


Just think of them as daquiri mix...


"Trepinksi! How many times we gotta do this, the round goes in POINTY END FIRST!!!"


"Alright now, Pilot, move her this way... No careful, she's doing it agai- stop swinging, you said you'd.. Will You Behave Yourself - Not the Bridge, NOT INTO THE BRIDGE! MOJO!!!


"Well, THAT'S what happens, when you've got four bolts left over, right, Jenkins?"
"Sorry, Sarge..."

280 posted on 09/21/2004 7:03:05 PM PDT by Old Sarge (ZOT 'em all, let MOD sort 'em out!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 203 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 241-260261-280281-300 ... 361-372 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson