32 ORIGIN AND SPREAD OF THE TAMILS as middle men and knocked away a part of the profits arising from various transactions. Solomon, who flourished then, wise as he was, did away with these middle men and entered into direct dealings with Indian merchants. This was in Ophir as also in Tyre. This must have naturally increased the volume of Indian trade. Again trade activities between South India and the Persian coast and Aden have been traced from the ruins of the Achaemaenid city of Susa when it was the capital of the Elamites. Libation cups and bangles made from Indian conch are the material evidences. Indian timber was found in the ruins of Bris Nimroud and Ur. Chank ornaments were discovered in Tello, the site of ancient Lagash. Darius was much more enterprising than Solomon. He found practical difficulties in the overland trade and wanted to link up India with the Mediterranean by a shorter route and therefore achieved the completion of the Suez Canal begun by that farsighted Pharoah Necho. It may also be noted that Greece in the fifth century B.C. imported peacocks from India. The Baveru Jataka * confirms the Indian intercourse with Babylon up to the 5th century B.C. by way of the sea. If we continue the story of South Indian commerce, we have the evidence of Pliny of overseas trade with Rome, Rome went in for spices, scents, pepper, pearls and beryl, all products of South India in return for hard cash. We see a number of Roman coins in many districts of Sopth India. Has not Pliny said
