1838] Meport on the Mackenzie Manuscripts, 283 



insignia, by Cachi Viran. Thence they proceeded to besiege Trichino- 

 poly. Cachi Firan by means of the copper inscription at Conjeveram, 

 before mentioned, knew that by the craft of Fibushana (younger brother 

 ai Havana) there was a subterraneous entry into the fort of Trichinopo- 

 ly. This was passed by a few people with torches, who thence pro- 

 ceeded to open the Chiritamani gate, by which the troops entered in 

 multitudes ; and destroyed Salivahana^ together with his Samana 

 troops, with great effusion of blood. A pariar named Fellan escaped on 

 Salivahana's horse ; and with him a hundred others with their families, 

 escaped, and went to the sea shore, whence he proceeded to some island, 

 so as to leave behind the proverbial saying " Fallan went to the river." 

 The destruction of Salivdhana is dated in C : Y : 1443 (in writing at 

 full). The three kings celebrated their conquest. Fira Chola had to get 

 rid of the crime of killing Salivdhana styled Sarpa-dosha-Brahmahalli 

 (that is a degree of sacredness adhering to ASahra/iawaj as born under 

 the influence of Athi-seshan, assimilating the crime to the evil of 

 i5mAm«w -slaughter, though not the same). In consequence of this 

 crime he became infatuated, and fell sword in hand on his own troops, 

 who on all sides ran away to avoid him, besides which he sloughed his 

 skin, in the same way as a serpent changes his skin, annually. His 

 companions seeing these things consulted together ; and in consequence 

 Cachi Firan gs.ve instructions to his wife Camachi to assume the guise 

 and appearance of a Curava woman, of the description practising palm- 

 istry. She accordingly came into the town in that guise, when the 

 three confederates had her called, and first submitting their own palms, 

 brought Fira Cholan to submit to the like process. The fortune teller 

 isaid, that he had killed Salivdhana of such and such a race, and must 

 expiate the crime by building a great number of fanes to Siva^ to 

 Vishnu, to Suhrahmanya, dwellings for ascetics, and dwellings for 

 Brahmans ; and to enforce the duty a long narration is given of distin» 

 guished personages, in former ages, who had expiated like crimes, by 

 building an immense number of such structures. At the mere hearing 

 of the duty, Fira Cholan found his malady alleviated ; and the doing 

 accordingly was determined upon. The Curatti (or fortune teller) 

 went away and resumed her proper form as Cdmdchi. The kings in- 

 spected the fortification of Trichinopoly, which they found only fit for 

 racshasa ; but extended it so as to be fit for a regular Hindu-soye* 

 teign. They then returned to Conjeveram, where by their desire Cachi 

 Viran, read to them the writings on palm-leaves, his copy of the be- 

 fore mentioned copper-plate inscriptions ; and, according to the ap- 

 |>ointmeflt therein stated by Batmf the division of castes and tribes was 



