608 Analysis of the Mackenzie Manuscripts* [June, 



ram, where he ruled 35 years. Some fable follows, about the birth of 

 Jambhukesvarer, the tutelary god. The son of Suba-cholan was 

 called Vara Guna Cholan. He dedicated his wife to the service of 

 the god, in the fane of Jambhukesvarer. He led her to the fane by 

 the right hand, and soon after all her body except the right hand was 

 found to have been taken into the image. Vara Guna, considering 

 "that he had taken hold of this right hand, earnestly inquired what crime 

 he had committed, that he should be so marked. Soon after the hand 

 also was drawn in. After some time the god, in the shape of a brah- 

 man, appeared to the king ; and reproaching him for offering up his 

 wife, invited him to make a sacrifice of himself also, which he is stated to 

 have done, when he rejoined his wife on a celestial car, and both acquir- 

 ed beatitude. He ruled 75 years. Pugerh Cholan formed the town 

 of Uriyur and ruled therein, with great credit, for 60 years. By 

 the advice of his mantiri (or minister) he engaged in an inroad on the 

 Chera king ; in order to get plunder, with which fanes and brahman 

 choultries, might be built, and fame in the world acquired. The 

 Cher an repelled the invasion, and the mantiri, who was also general, 

 only just escaped with his life ; but, to make it appear as if he had con- 

 quered, he brought a hundred skulls and shewed them to the king. 

 Among these heads one was discovered to be that of an ascetic, from 

 having braided hair ; at which circumstance great grief arising and the 

 loss of the kingdom being feared, the head was put into a case of gold. 

 A fire being kindled the king prepared to commit himself to the flames 

 along with the head; but Siva appeared, on his bullock vehicle, and 

 told him his devotedness was accepted, that the fault of the war was 

 his minister's, not his, and commanded him to live prosperously. At 

 his own request, notwithstanding he was beatified, holding the said skull 

 in his hand. Hence his epithet Pugerh Cholan or " the praised." Kri- 

 bala Cholan succeeded, and became accomplished in knowledge. In- 

 stead of taking one-fifth as his predecessors had done from the cultivators, 

 he contented himself with one-sixth part. He acquired great ascen- 

 dancy, and ruled with great equity. By reason of it, the tiger and the 

 cow rested in the same shed ; the cat and the rat dwelt in the same 

 place ; the snake and the frog were like mother and child, (symbolical 

 language). Thus his people were without strife, or divisions. Injus- 

 tice was unknown. Notwithstanding, the king fearing neglect on the 

 part of his, ministers, or servants, had a bell erected between two pillars 

 in the public street, proclaiming that if any one was aggrieved, it was 

 only necessary to sound the bell, and the king's attention to the case 

 would be given. He thus ruled with great prosperity until 64 years of 



