Report on the Mackenzie Manuscrfpt9. [Jan. 



the Madura Puranam, and from the comparison of the two a few his- 

 torical facts may be gleaned with some measure of certainty. It is to 

 be noted that this (according (o the MS.) last of the Chola race, made 

 Combacoyium (twenty miles N. of Tanjore) his capital. This is the 

 first document I have as yet met with, stating that fact ; though I al- 

 ways thought that Combac.oiinm must once have been a metropolis, from 

 traces remaining. 



Section 3. — An account of the Ydnddu-jati, or wild people of Sri- 

 hdri-cotta, received from an old man of that tribe. 



Of old, one named Raghava, brought with him sixty families from 

 Paca-nalti district, and located himself with them at Sri-hdri-cotta^ 

 and clearing the country, formed Raghava-puram. The people by 

 degrees spread through a few adjoining districts. A who came 



from Benares, and was named Amhike svarer, resided in MacThyaranya 

 (or the central wilderness) ; and there, daily bathing in a river, paid 

 homage to Siva. These wild people, of their own accord, daily brought 

 him fruits and edibles, putting them before him. At length he en- 

 quired of them the reason, they replied that their country was in- 

 fested by a terrible serpent, and they wished to be taught charms to 

 destroy it, as well as charms for other needful purposes. He taught 

 them, and then vanished away. 



These wild people, being skilful in magic, continued in the forest. 

 They are of four classes: — 1. Chenju Vandlu.— 3. Coya Vandlu.-— 

 2. Yana dulu.— 4. Iralu Vandlu. 



The Ydnddu people are skilful in medicine. The Coya people re- 

 side to the westward in the wilds at Gooty, Athavani, and other cir- 

 cumjacent places. Within their forest boundaries, if any traveller at- 

 tempt to pluck fruit from any tree, his hand is fastened to the spot, so 

 that he cannot move ; but if, on seeing any one of the Coya people, 

 he calls out to that person explaining his wishes and gets permission, 

 then he can take the fruit and move away, while the Coya forester, on 

 the receipt of a small roll of tobacco leaf, is abundantly gratified. 

 Besides which the Coya people eat snakes. About forty years since, a 

 Brahman passing through the district, saw a person cooking snakes for 

 food, and expressing great astonishment, was told by the forester, that 

 these were mere worms ; that if he wished to see a serpent, one should 

 be shewn him ; but that, as for themselves, secured by the potent 

 charms taught them by Jmbike svarer, they feared no serpents. As 

 the Brahman desired to see this large serpent, a child was sent with a 



