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sopher among the Tamuls. Dr. John, in the protestant mission 

 on the Coromandel coast, has given a very interesting account of 

 this extraordinary woman, accompanied by many valuable trans- 

 lations from her writings. This Indian phenomenon was a poly- 

 theist, and invoked the god Pulleyar, or the deily held by the Hin- 

 doos to be the protector of learning and science, as Mercury was 

 among the Greeks. The time in which she lived, is placed in the 

 age of the three famous kings, Sholen, Sheren, and Pandien, which 

 falls about the ninth century of the Christian asra. Amongstother 

 sciences this lady was well acquainted with chemistry, and her 

 moral writings were written for the benefit of mankind, particu- 

 larly for youth. Her performances are introduced in the Tamul 

 schools, and read by the children amongst the first books which 

 they learn. Dr. John further says, " but neither the children un- 

 derstand it, nor can hardly any master comprehend each of the 

 sentences the} 7 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 five different ways. 

 Some appear to me clear enough, and admitting only one inter- 

 pretation; but some are so dark, and those with whom I have 

 consulted, vary so much amongst themselves, that I found it dif- 

 ficult to decide between their interpretations; and I chose there- 

 fore that which gave the best sense, and according to that manu- 

 script which I possess ; for there are also different manuscripts. 

 The sentences are placed according to the order of the Tamul 

 alphabet; each accordingly begins with a letter; therefore we 

 may call it, the golden alphabet of the Tamuls. From several 

 hundred aphorisms and maxims, translated from three treatises by 

 Avyar, I have selected the few following, as a specimen. 



