306 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts, 



[April 



These excavations are stated to be of various fashions, and sizes, 

 and some have the appearance of being tombs of great or distinguish- 

 ed men. Tradition states, that great wealth was most certainly dis- 

 covered and carried away from some of these excavations^ 



Section 2. An account of Tondaman Chacraverli^ in the district of 



Canchi [Conjeveram), 



There were forty-four generations previously of the Chola race, 

 who were persons of self government, but the last of them Kulot- 

 tunga Cholan (who had only a son and a daughter) having killed 

 the son of Camhan the poet, the latter killed the king's son, 

 and the king afterwards formed an intercourse with one of the female 

 attendants of his court, and had privately a son by her who was named 

 Nagi-naga-rattanam. The child was exposed in a golden vessel on the 

 banks of the Caveri river, and was discovered by the Brahmans and 

 head officers of the king who recommended it to the king for protection 

 as being like him, and from an adonda flower being near the child they 

 called it Jdondai. The king gave it in charge to his queen to rear it 

 up, who readily undertook the task. The king's Mantiri (or minister), 

 was alone somewhat instructed in the secret. The child proved to be 

 possessed of heroic qualities. On consulting how to give him a king- 

 dom, an eye was cast on the country northward, wherein the Curuni' 

 dar had constructed twenty-four forts, being an immense forest (wild 

 or open place). Kulottunga Chola fought with the wild people (Cwr- 

 umbar), but could not conquer them. Adondaiy his illegitimate son 

 with a great army fell on them and conquered them to extermination, 

 Kulottunga then came ; and, having the forest cleared, founded the dis- 

 tinguished town of Canchi-puram in which he built a fane, and dug a 

 channel for the river Palar to flow through it, or near it. There being 

 a deficiency of inhabitants, Kulottunga gave his minister much wealth, 

 who going to other countries brought men and women, and had them 

 married together, according to their respective tribes or castes. By 

 way of affixing a stigma on the newly conquered country the minis- 

 ter recommended that it should be called Tondar-mandalam " the land 

 of slaves." But the king without penetrating his minister's design, 

 called it Toyidai-mandalam, and gave it to his illegitimate son Adondai^ 

 who was accordingly crowned in Canchi ; and as he had conquered 

 the ferocious people, the former inhabitants, he acquired the additional 



