1838.] Analysis of the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 105 



II. — Examination and Analysis of the Mackenzie Manuscripts depo- 

 sited in the Madras College library. By the Reverend William 

 Taylor. 



Palm-leaf 31 'S. No. 217, counter mark 74. 



A :— TAMIL. 



I. — Conga desa RojdkaL 



There are two copies of this valuable manuscript both of which were 

 read and compared together. The one was found to be an imperfect 

 copy of the other, having besides a considerable chasm in the middle : 

 the superior copy has also a short break in the passage relating to a 

 change of Vishnu Verrd'hana of Talcdd from the Jaina to the Vaish- 

 nava faith ; there is also an omission of one or two names. In other 

 respects the better manuscript is complete. The palm-leaves of this 

 copy (and of the inferior one also) had suffered much from being eaten 

 through by insects : in some places letters, in others words, were quite 

 eaten away : these, however, could be made out by a little attention ; 

 and to prevent further illegibility, I directed the manuscript to be re- 

 stored in paper, forming a valuable record. 



Though the title indicates only a narrative of the ancient Cdnga-de- 

 sam (being as it would appear the same with the modern Coimbatore 

 country) yet the work contains distinct chapters, or sections, which 

 might be regarded as distinct productions on the Chola, Oyisdla and 

 Vijayanagara kingdoms ; these kings having been successively con- 

 querors of the Conga country. The first record of the country goes up 

 nearly to the commencement of the Christian era, and narrates the 

 rule of some chiefs down to the close of the ninth century, and con- 

 quest of the country about that time by Aditya Varma a Chola prince. 

 Various matters are narrated in connexion with this dynasty, and some 

 light is thrown on the Pdndya-desam, such as the records of that 

 kingdom would not own. The Conga country then seems to have 

 come under the rule of the Oyisdlas whose capital was above th« 

 Ghats, in the Mysore country. These gave way before the Payers, of 

 Bisnagur. 



Both dynasties of Oyisdlas and Rdyers are given from the com- 

 mencement. The record is brought down to a period subsequent to 

 the transfer of the remains of the Payer power to Pennacdndai ; and 

 concludes witli narrating warlike operations in the Mysore country, 

 with the siege and storming of Seringapatam A. D. 1609-10, nearly 

 two hundred years antecedent to a like event which made it for a time 



