l83B»] History of Tondumandulam. 403 



Historical Indication. 

 Divested of fable, the probability is that a gold mine was anciently 

 discovered in the field of a Brahman, and worked by one of the rayers. 

 The closing- circumstance is within the range of credible tradition. 



Section 6. — Accounts of the places of hidden treasure, hi the Arcot 



District. 



1. In Paduvur, there are four Panta curzis in which, they say, 

 treasure is contained. 



2. In Tiruvidaichuram, in a Peddri Kovil, under the image of 

 Durga, there is stated to be buried treasure. There is a sort of pro- 

 verbial saying to this effect current among the country people there- 

 abouts. Notice of an account given to a servant (gomasteh) of the 

 surveyor general of seven vessels of buried treasure, and of a human 

 sacrifice, offered by some persons who, in consequence, took away one 

 Vessel, and went to live at Wandiwash. 



3. In Neyamali, they say there is hidden treasure. 



4. Beyond that village near Chingleput the pagoda of Tiruvades* 

 veren, at Callatur, at Cunatur, Vembdcam near Chingleput, Uttura 

 Melur, and some other places, there is said to be buried treasure. 



Remark. Perhaps Colonel Mackenzie's instructions to his agents 

 included inquiries on the above subject : with one exception, as to the 

 Panta curzis, I do not see that any light is reflected on past history 

 by such traditions. 



Section 7. — Ancient history of Tondamandalam, and its earlier 

 inhabitants called Vedars and Qurumbars. 



After the deluge the country was a vast forest, inhabited by wild 

 beasts. A wild race of men arose ; and, destroying the wild beasts, 

 dwelt in certain districts. There were then, according to tradition, no 

 forts, only huts, no kings, no religion, no civilization, no books ; men 

 were naked savages : no marriage institutions. Many years after, the 

 Qurumbars arose in the Carndta country : they had a certain kind of 

 religion ; they were murderers. They derived the name of Curumbar 

 from their cruelty. Some of them spread into the Drdvida desam, as 

 far as the Tondamandata country. They are now found near Uttra 

 Merur ; but more civilized. They ruled the country some time ; but 

 falling into strife among themselves, they at length agreed to select a 

 chief, who should unite them all together. They chose a man who had 

 some knowledge of books, who was chief of the Dravid i country, and 

 was called Camanda Qurumba prabhu, and Palal raja ; he built a fort 

 3 E 



