1838.] List of Choia kings. 409 



virtue of his munificent acts to the temple, he should be readmitted to 

 his former state, and again become De'vendra. 



Observation. 

 The composition of this, like the former, is in 'poetical and hyperbo- 

 lical language ; but with incorrect orthography. A Pdndiyan king is 

 otherwise understood to have repaired and beautified Trinomallee ; and 

 on this circumstance the fable is constructed. It seems to be a portion 

 of the Trinomallee St'hala-purdna, as may be ascertained when that 

 Puranan comes to be examined. But it is of little use beyond illustra- 

 ting native opinions ; and was restored because found in a book greatly 

 damaged by time ; though in itself, this section remained quite legible. 



Section 6. — A list of Chola kings. 



The list contains a few names only, without any dates ; the transcrib- 

 ing them has not appeared to be of any importance. 



Preface to the first part of the History of India composed by Nar* 

 rayanen Astronomer (of the Ananta Ron race). 



(This is not entered in the table of contents at the beginning of 

 book, No. 20.) 



This book was written at the request of Col. W. Macleod of Arcot* 

 during Lord Bentinck's government of Madras. After the usual 

 poetical invocation it gives an account of the cause of its being written* 

 the different powers and kingdoms to be included : and the authorities 

 consulted in the compilation. The work proceeds to narrate the crea* 

 tion of the elements of all things, by Narrayanen ; the formation of the 

 Brahmandam, or mundane egg, and the division therein of the orders 

 of beings and things. An account of the different yugas. Formation of 

 gods, asuras, and mortals. Avatar as of Vishnu. Eclipses ; fasting at 

 that time peculiar to India. After some Indian astronomical details, 

 the writer states his preference of another system, that of the earth 

 turning on its own axis, and revolving round the sun, with different 

 latitudes, (evidently derived from intercourse with Europeans.) Geo- 

 graphical divisions of India, on the native system ; some mention of 

 Nipdl, Moghulstan, Turkishtan and Hindustan proper. This leads to 

 mention the birth of Krishna about one hundred years before the end 

 of the Dwdpara yuga ; and his reigning in Dwdraka, a town which he 

 had built on the sea shore. The end of the first book. 



The foregoing is another copy, so far, of the large work entitled 

 Carnata rdjakal, before abstracted. Should other Cdndams, or books, 

 be found among the paper MSS. the whole MS. may be restored ; 

 but the above is of no special use, being merely another copy of a por- 

 tion which exists in the larger work. 



