NO. 44—1893.] CHILAPPATIKARAM. 87 



might ever be prosperous. At the present time among 

 Hindus this is not usual in private ceremonies, though in 

 their temples blessing the ruling sovereign takes place on 

 festival days. 



In the second chapter (II.), Manaiyarampddutta Kdtai, 

 is related the daily life of Kovalan and Kannakai, and 

 amongst other things it is there stated that the merchants of 

 the city were also shipowners, kalam being used to denote 

 ships. 



In the next chapter (III.), AranJcettu Kdtai, is given a full 

 and interesting description of a dancing girl, the qualities 

 and qualifications of a dancing master, music teacher, sing- 

 ing master, the player on wind instruments, the musical 

 instruments then in use, and the different modes in the 

 music of that time ; and the learned commentator of the 

 poem, Adiyarkkunallar, gives a full commentary on these 

 matters. 



The fourth chapter (IV.) is entitled "The Beauty of 

 Evening," and gives a description of sunset, moon rise, the 

 loves of Madavi, the dancing girl and Kovalan, and the 

 sorrow of Kannakai at her separation from her husband. 



The fifth chapter (V.) deals with the celebration of the 

 worship of Indra. A beautiful description of Pukar, — the 

 chief seat of government of the Cholas at the time,— its 

 buildings, busy streets, the foreign merchants and their 

 ways, the sellers of perfumes and flowers, embroidery 

 workers in silk, cotton, and rat furs, follows. Mention is 

 also made of the different kinds of food used, amongst 

 them pittu and appam, not unknown now to our European 

 residents. Toddy was sold by the women of the lowest 

 caste, as also was fish; and vettilai, "the betel leaf," 

 then, as now, universally used in India and Ceylon, is also 

 mentioned. 



The sixth chapter (VI,), entitled " Sea-bathing," describes 

 how the inhabitants, from the prince down to the peasant, 

 proceeded on stated occasions to the sea, and how they 

 spent their day after sea-bath. It also describes the scents, 



