184 Analysis of the Mackenzie Manuscripts. [March, 



endowments in lands. At an assembly of the brahmans of the sixty- 

 four villages, it was determined that only the brahmans of eleven vil- 

 lages (or village-districts) should possess the right of offering a particu- 

 lar species of yagam or sacrifice, and of performing some other special 

 ceremonies. In process of time the rule of kings had become extinct, 

 and some brahmans went to Crishna rayer inviting* him to take the 

 rule of the country. He sent two persons respectively named A the 

 raja Perumal and Pandeya raja Perumal, as his viceroys, each for a 

 period of twelve years. After them Cheruman Perumal was sent, who 

 was welcomed by some distinguished persons, safely conducted, and duly 

 installed. He ruled thirty-six years, being three times the appointed 

 period, on account of his good qualities. The rayer however was not 

 satisfied with this extension of the term, and determined on hostilities. 

 Cheruman Perumal took counsel as to the best means of meeting the 

 invasion. In the first place two brahman ambassadors were sent to the 

 rayer to endeavour to pacify him ; but he refused to listen to them. A 

 little fable is narrated of the manner in which the messengers acquired 

 a magical quill, by looking through which the real nature of any being 

 could be discerned. The Cheruman in connexion with the Calicut raja, 

 and other subordinates, assembled a great army, and, while the multi- 

 tudes were asleep, by looking at them through the quill, it was perceived 

 that 10,000 were men, 30,000 gods, and the rest asuras. To the ten 

 thousand a distinctive mark was affixed, and with them the rayer was 

 encountered and defeated. 



The birth of Sancara'cha'rya is then narrated with his proceedings 

 as to the different castes of people and the regulations established by him 

 accounted for in rather a fanciful manner, but it is stated that his regu- 

 lations continued to be observed. Cheruman Perumal continued to 

 rule. A Nay or was killed, who after death is represented as instructing 

 the king to attend to the lessons of a Jonaca (Muhammadan) teacher, 

 according to whose advice he might embark on board ship, and would 

 thereby attain a partial beatification. Hef divided his whole dominions 

 into eighteen portions, which he gave over to the charge of different 

 chiefs. The two ambassadors by whose means the rayer had been con- 

 quered each received portions of country. He specially gave a shield 

 to the Calicut raja. Cheruman Perumal then went away (by sea) 

 to the country termed Asu, (supposed to designate Arabia.) The Calicut- 

 raja afterwards waged war with the various petty chieftains, conquering 

 some of them, and acquiring superiority. 



* He more probably conquered the country, without any special invitation, 

 f This is the Cheruman Perumal who is said to have adopted the Muhamnoa^ 

 dan religion, and to have gone to Mecca. 



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