1838.] Analysis of the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 131 



ceedings are fully described ; and the commanding interest of the nar- 

 rative may be considered to close with the final capture of Seringapa* 

 tarn, and its celebration at Madras. The author, however, conti- 

 nues his narrative onwards a few years later ; and closes with a reference 

 to the regulation of the Arcot country, and its management by his 

 patron, Colonel W. Macleod, as Commissioner. 



Remark. — In a general retrospect of the contents of this large 

 manuscript, it appears that the suggestion of an English gentleman, 

 produced that rare result a native Hindu historian, writing under the 

 influence of good sense, and in conformity to a prevailing degree, with 

 European notions of history. In an abstract I have not felt myself 

 obliged to verify or compare his dates and facts with other authorities. 

 There are probably some anachronisms and errors ; but the value of the 

 whole seems to me considerable, and the eighth section, down to the 

 arrival of the English, invaluable. To me that matter is new, and with 

 the incidential coincidences derivable from other papers in this col- 

 lection a narrative may now be carried upwards, with some degree of 

 certainty, to the era of Crishna rayer; above which there is only 

 a short interval of anarchy till we reach the regular Chola government. 

 The whole manuscript, but especially the first half of the eighth Section, 

 ought, I am of opinion, to be carefully translated and edited. 



Prof. Wilson's notice of this MS. (Des. Cat. Vol. I. p. 199,) is as 

 follows : — 



" XI. Kemata-rdjakal, a Palm leaves, b ditto, c ditto, d ditto. An 

 account of the sovereigns of the Carnatic. After a short notice of 

 Yudhishtira, and his brethren, and of some Hindu princes of the 

 lunar family, the MS. gives an account of the Mogul sovereigns of 

 Hindustan, and the family of Nizam All MS. b is an abridgment." 



On reading this notice I went to the college, and searched for a second 

 copy without succeeding in finding one. This copy is much injured by 

 insects. I shall be gratified if eventually I may succeed in effecting one 

 completely restored copy. 



[ To be continued. ] 



Note. Since the above was set up in type we have i*eceived information, 

 that Mr. Taylor's analysis will be printed in the Madras Journal. This does 

 not deter us from publication inasmuch as our readers are for the greater part 

 distinct. On the other hand it is most remote from our wishes to be thought 

 guilty of forestalling our brother editor. We have both a claim to the materials, 

 — he from his connection with the place of their deposit — we from having re- 

 commended their being entrusted to Mr. Taylor for examination ; and we should 

 be thankful to him fpr the opportunity afforded of making widely known the re- 

 suit of his successful labours. — Ed. 



