232 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XIX, 
names of Lubbai, Marakayar, Choolia, Rowther. etc. These 
troubled to investigate. As the historic spirit is far stronger 
among them than among Indians, their traditions and old 
Ooks may serve to throw considerable light on the history of 
Christianity on the Coromandel Coast. 1 would suggest that 
you induce the Jesuit athersin Madura and Tinnevelly to get 
all information they can from the Lubbai.! I was told that 
there is a place in the Nanguneri Taluk in Tinnevelly, which, 
according to tradition, is one of the early settlements of the 
Lubbai. I forget its name. It begins with an E. (Erradai 2). 
Pulicat is another place where information might be available 
among the Lubbai.”’ 
Certainly, if the Lubbai have histories, one would expect 
the Christians and their Church of St. Thomas and some of 
the St. Thomas legends to have found a place inthem. We are 
still in the dark for instance about the fight between Christians 
and Muhammadans which ended the Christians’ settlement of 
Mylapore between 1340 and 1498 in the destruction of the 
place. Rather striking is the name of the Muhammadan saint 
of Covalong: ‘l'amim. It sounds much like Thomas. But, 
e ed. 
“The burial of Hazarath Thameemul Ansari at Covelong. 
“ Hazarath Thameemul Ansari was Ashabi (disciple) of the 
Prophet Mohammad. He was buried about 700 years back at 
Covelong rga (tomb) was erected on his remains by 
Nawab Sadatullah Sahib of Arcot, about 150 years ago, and the 
two villages of Vedakadambadi and Perumalleoy in Chengalpet 
alugq were endowed for its maintenance, which is still enjoyed 
by trustees, 
‘“Covelong was then inhabited by fishermen and Cholia 
Muslims ?only. One morning, the fishermen came across a box 
dancing on the waves and tried to seize it, mistaking it for a 
treasure trove. But, however much they tried to capture it, it 
would slip away from their hands, evading their grasp. 


' We may succeed better by making the story public on this occasion. 
: Cholia Muslims seems to mean Muslims of the Chola or Coromandel 
coast. 
_ oe res = sid os ; nihil ty iii aes | eR ae ae a ne 
