1 838. j Account of Tondaman Chahravarti. 119 



ceased. The brahmans did not succeed in obtaining the patronage of 

 the Hon'ble Company. A brahman made some repairs, with alms 

 collected by him ; and the Cumbhdbishegam (or transfer of the inhe- 

 rent divinity of the image, into a pot of water), was performed during 

 the process of the repairs. 



Section 15. — Account of the tribe of Nohkars in the Tiruvatiir 



district. 



This class of mountebanks arose about the year 214 era of Saliva* 

 h.na. They acquired skill by the assistance of Devi (or Durga). 

 On one occasion they especially exerted themselves at Trinomali, fix- 

 ing their pole on the top of one of the loftiest turrets of that fane ; and 

 going through their feats as though the pole was fixed on the ground. 

 They then, as a body, beggrd of the spectators to affiliate them into 

 their tribes ; which request was refused. At length the tribe of wea- 

 vers consented to receive and incorporate them into that tribe. Hence 

 they are considered to be the weavers adopted children. 



Note. These people have not the appearance of Hindus. Perhaps 

 they came to India about the abovementioned period ; and they would 

 desire to be naturalized. I have heard another account of their origin. 

 They may add a class to the number of those who, being in this coun- 

 try, are not aboriginally Hindus. 



III. — Manuscript Book, No. 15, countermrtrk 769. 



Section 1. — Account of the war of Tondaman Chacraverti and 



Visvavasu raja. 



Adondai the son of Kulottunga Chola haVing destroyed the 

 Curumbars, and cleared the waste-lands, ruled the country. Its four 

 boundaries are mentioned, and a hyperbolical description is given of its 

 splendor and power. A king from the north named Visvavasu came 

 with a great army and fought with him for a year, by which much of 

 the country was laid waste, and the whole conquered, Adondai fled 

 with some scattered remnants of his forces, and lived for some time on 

 fruits and roots, the spontaneous productions of the earth. While 

 wandering about a temple of golden-colored turrets struck his view: 

 he entered and worshipped Isvaka and Isvari' therein ; and deter-^ 

 mined to remain there. After some time he was favored with a vision 

 of the local numina, who assured him that his adoration was accepted, 

 and promised him a great army, with the entire recovery of his posses- 

 sions. As Tondaman was afraid of his adversary, this fear was re- 

 proved ; and as a sign he was told, that on going to the encounter, he 

 r 2 



