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harbor, at all times perfectly smooth. The average depth of water is 18 feet. The entrance, only 3 cables in width, lies close to the fort point.” {Imp. Gaz., XI, 275; so Vincent, Muller and McCrindle. )
53. Aurannoboas.— The text has initial T instead of A , no doubt a corruption. McCrindle places it at the modern Malvan (16° 3' N., 73° 28’ E. ). It is a place of considerable importance, good iron ore being found in the neighborhood. To the Marathas an island in the harbor is Sivajl’s cenotaph, and his image is worshipped in the chief shrine. (See Imp. Gaz., XVII, 96.)
The name Malvan is a contraction of Maha-lavana, ‘ ‘salt marsh, ” and the Greek Aurannoboas is perhaps intended for the Sanscrit Aranya-vaha, which would have a similar meaning.
53. Islands of the Sesecrienae.— These are probably the Vengurla Rocks (15° 53' N., 70° IT E.), a group of rocky islets some 3 miles in length and 9 miles out from the modern town of Vengurla, which was a port of considerable importance during the Dutch occupation in the 17th century. {Imp. Gaz., XXIV, 307.)
53. Island of the Aegidii. — This is perhaps the island of Goa (15° 20' N., 74° 0' E. ), the present Portuguese possession. It is of historical importance, having been settled by Aryans at an early date, and appearing in the Puranas. {Imp. Gaz., XII, 251; so Muller and McCrindle.) The Imperial Gazetteer, following Yule, prefers to identify it with Anjidiv (14° 45' N. , 74° 10' E. ); but the location is less satisfactory unless we assume the order in the text to be wrong, and to refer to the grouping of this and the following island on either side of the Karwar point.
53. Island of the Caenitae. — This is probably the Oyster Rocks (14° 49' N. , 74° 4' E. ), a cluster of islands west of, and facing, the roadstead of Karwar.
53. Chersonesus. — Greek, “peninsula.” This answers for the projecting point at the modern Karwar (14° 49' N. , 74° 8' E.), from early times a trade center for the North Kanara, and an active port as late as the 16th century, exporting fine muslins from Hubli and elsewhere in the interior, also pepper, cardamoms, cassia, and coarse blue dungari cloth. {Imp. Gaz., XV, 65.)
53. Pirates.— Marco Polo (III, xxv), says of this coast, “there go forth every year more than a hundred corsair vessels on cruise. These pirates take with them their wives and children, and stay out the w T hole summer. Their method is to join in fleets of 20 or 30 of these pirate vessels together, and then they form what they call a sea cordon, that is, they drop off till there is an interval of 5 or 6
