1838.1 



Report on the Maclienzie Manuscripts, 



281 



more read by them all, find again hidden. After some other matter?, 

 the opening of the other cave is mentioned, to which the instruments 

 before found in the first box were necessary. This was a cave, 

 which was entered by the light of large torches, and thence another 

 box was taken. The inscription on copper-plates and its contents 

 are stated to have referred to the four ages, with the record of some 

 leading names, and coming down to the mention of Vicramaditya' s 

 defeat by Salivahana ; at which era it would appear to have 

 been engraved, and its contents are said to have contained 

 extensive details, (certainly ill suiting a copper-plate record, but 

 there is much of exaggeration apparent) : the simple object of 

 the inscription would seem to have been to commemorate the 

 previous prevalence of the Hindu faith, that the memory might 

 not be lost, during the greatly altered state of things under 

 Salivahana. The three kings rendered great honour to Vira Cama- 

 chi and to his son. There is a brief repetition of matters, connect- 

 ed with the four ages, for the purpose of shewing apparently that 

 all the great events recorded were preceded by the exhibition of 

 human sacrifices, and it was again agreed upon by the three kings that 

 before setting out to conquer Salivahana, a similar sacrifice must be 

 oflfered at a place termed Cudutturi. The contents of the inscription, 

 as regards the list of kings in foregoing ages, was copied out on palm- 

 leaves, and then the copper-plates were returned to the place whence 

 they had been taken. The three kings again went to Casi. Thence 

 they derived three crores of money, said to be dug up from beneath the 

 shrine of a goddess — a variety of fabulous accompaniments. Nine 

 persons in all are represented as having visited Casi, and as subse- 

 quently returning to Cojijeveram. The affair of destroying Salivahana 

 was now entered on ; and the three kings leaving Conjeveram pro- 

 ceeded to Cudatturiyur. Being there, Vira Cholan wrote letters mis- 

 sive addressed to the votaries of Siva, and Vishnu, whether in culti- 

 vated lands or wastes, always excepting the Samana followers oi Sar^ 

 vesvarer, the purport being a call to assemble at Cudatturiyur in order 

 to proceed against Salivahana. A great concourse assembled. 



Salivahana heard of these preparations. (Here the Manuscript 

 takes a retrospect in a few lines, and the passage is important). In 

 former days Vicramaditya ruled in the country of Ayodhya, and built a 

 large town with battlements, and other fortifications. When Saliva- 

 hana Bhoj'a conquered Vicramaditya as he was not fit to rule in that 

 town, he constructed another town in the same country, called 

 Bhoja-raya-piiram, where the descendants of this Salivahana Bhoja 



