﻿S50 A SUMMARY ACCOUNT OF THE 



tlic famous calpani, which preserves hfe to a great 

 age, and by tlie virtue of which she lived 240 years. 

 From this fabulous narration, which is differently 

 represented in several 'I amid antient vvritings, I will 

 proceed to her performances, which are the little 

 moral Treatises Atisudi, Kormewenden, Mudurciy 

 Nad'waU, and Kahi oluckam. TJiese are introduced 

 in the Taimd Schools, and read by the children 

 amongst the first books which they learn to read. 

 But neither the children understand it, nor can 

 hardly any master comprehend each of the sentences 

 they contain, as some are composed of such high and 

 abstruse words, which admit more than one sense, 

 and some say that each sentence could be interpreted 

 in live different ways. Some appear to me clear 

 enough, and adnfitting only one interpretation ; but 

 some are so dark, and those with M'hom I have con- 

 suited, vary so much amongst themselves, that I found 

 it difficult to decide between their interpretations, 

 and I clioose therefore that which srave the best 

 sense, and according to that manuscript which I 

 possess, for there are also different manuscripts. 



The sentences are placed according to the order 

 of the Tamul Alj^habet; each accordingly begins 

 with a letter, therefore we may call it, Tlie Golden 

 Alphabet oF the 'lamuls. 



I SH A LL now give fust a translation of the Atisudiy 

 and shall continue to translate the rest, if this meets 

 with a favourable accej)tance from the friends of 

 antient Indian Learning-. 



Translation of thk ATisijDr, by Avyau. 



Glory and Honour be to the divine son of him, 

 who is crownetl with the flowers* of the Ati (Bau- 

 hinia tomentosa. ) 



Charity be thy pleasure. 



Be not passionate. 



Be 



* Shiven is represented with this flower round his head, and Pul- 

 tEYA.K or VicjiiN£suREN is hls fust Soii who is hero implored. 



