490 Analysis of the Mackenzie Manuscripts. [June, 



The writer closes with some brief mention of his ancestors and 

 himself, from which it appears that they and he had been hereditary 

 chiefs of the Mapalas. 



Section 10. — Account from Yogiyar (or religious ascetics), at the 

 village of Alipudumbu, in Malayalam, 



The ascetics of the said village address Mr. Baber, who had direct- 

 ed certain queries to them, and after briefly adverting to the formation 

 of the country, the location of brahmans in sixty -four villages, the 

 choice of a king, and privileges of the Namburi brahmans, they pro- 

 ceed to state, in answer to an inquiry, as to ancient bool.s, that the 

 Kerala Ulpatti exists in the common language, and that a copy of the 

 work in Sanskrit may be found at Codangnur, ( Cranganore ? J In 

 reply to another inquiry they state, that there are no inscriptions on 

 stone remaining; to another reply as to events subsequent to Parasu 

 Rama, they state that Parasu Rama formed the country and located 

 therein the brahmans, in sixty-four villages, charging them with certain 

 duties and ceremonies ; that these brahmans introduced Cheruman 

 Perumal as king ; that Cheruman Perumal appointed other chiefs, 

 and subordinate divisions of government. They further state, that the 

 Malayalam country property extends from Gohemam in the north, to 

 Canya Curnari (or Cape Comorin) in the south ; and they advert to 

 the religious foundations, and different images worshipped within the 

 boundaries of the country. (The whole of the reply is very concise.) 



There follow a few Sanskrit slocas (stanzas) in the Malayalam ? 

 character, supplied by the chief of the beforementioned ascetics, and 

 simply confirmatory of the brief account given : it is not stated from 

 what book or record the stanzas were obtained. 



Section 11. — Account of the Cottai yatla, chief of the Mdpala caste, 



in Malayalam. 



(This title in the index of the original does not well agree with the 

 contents.) 



Certain persons, whose names are given in reply to certain queries 

 from the cutcherry made in July, 1806, wrote to this effect. 



There are no stone or copper inscriptions in the country concerning 

 ancient kings, they had learnt from their forefathers, that in the dis- 

 trict of Paracu-mitil (the Wynaad country), to which their answer 

 refers, of old, there were no other inhabitants than Verdars (wild 

 hunters), under rulers termed Verda raja. In those days a Cumbala 

 rija, proceeding from the north on a pilgrimage to a shrine named 

 TirunelU, had to pass through the Wynaad country, and was taken by 



