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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XXI. 



later periods, who went to their mansions and sang their 

 praises, ever came back thence unbenefited or unrewarded. 

 There is, indeed, no nook or corner in all Tamilakam where the 

 open-handed liberality of the primitive Velir is remembered 

 except with feelings of praise and admiration. Of this type 

 were the great Vallals Vel Avi, Vel Ay, Vel Evvi, Vel Pari, 

 and Vel Pekan, who all flourished about 1,800 years ago, 

 and whose beautiful histories, too long to be here inserted, 

 may well form the subject of a future essay. Not less illus- 

 trious and great were also their distinguished descendants, in 

 sounding whose praises the poets of a later date have 

 exhausted all their command of language as well as the 

 resources of poesy. 



" Tho' things diverse from diverse sages' lips we learn, 

 'Tis wisdom's part in each the true thing to discern." — 



Pope's translation of Tiruvalluvar's " Rural," stanza 423. 



