August 21st, 2010
The Spanish Helmet – The Tamil Bell – Circa 1500
The Tamil Bell is a broken bronze bell discovered in approximately 1836 (quoted as 1839 in the Taranaki Herald) by the missionary William Colenso. It was being used as a pot to boil potatoes by Māori women near Whangarei in the Northland Region of New Zealand.
The bell is 13 cm long and 9 cm deep, and has an inscription. The inscription running around the rim of the bell has been identified as old Tamil. Translated it says "Muhayideen Baksh’s ship’s ...Read more»
