1838.] 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts* 



307 



epithet of Chacraverti. From that time the former name of the country 

 {Curambar Bhunii) became extinct. 



Remark.— -This short paper has its value as being a brief and un- 

 varnished account of an historical fact, otherwise variously and ver- 

 bosely told, with much of superfluous fiction, and rhetorical ornament. 



Section 3. An account of Candava rayen and Chethu rayen, the two 

 sovereigns of the Fawn«e?'-—( fire- race, a tribe of low cultivators) who 

 ruled in the fort of Tiruvidai churam. 



This fort was in the district of Chingleput, and this account was taken 

 from the mouth of one named Sahadeven-nattan, 



Anciently the Curumbar ruled in this country. Adondai Cholan 

 came from Tanjore, and destroyed them ; and, having acquired the title 

 of Adondai Chacraverti, he established in their place the Kondai 

 Katti Vdlazhar (agriculturists who bound up their hair as women do). 

 In those days the Fannier, or Patii people, by permission of the ruler 

 of the country, built this fort for themselves as their own. But they 

 paid tribute to the sovereigns of the Andhra, Carnata, and Dravida 

 countries. No written account of their race has been preserved. But 

 of their posterity Candava-rayen and Chetthu-rayen, came to the go- 

 vernment. Being skilful men, they built their old fort very strongly. 

 The m.easures of that fort, as now found, are from south to north 1141 

 feet, east to west 1200 feet. The breadth of its outer wall was 20 

 feet. Around it there M'as a moat thirty feet broad. Besides this outer 

 one, there was an inner fort and a palace on the top of the hill. 



The upper fort was east to w^est 250 feet, south to north 195 feet. 

 While ruling with considerable power they rejected all claims of cus- 

 tomary tribute from superior kings. They w^ere both illustrious ; but 

 Candava-rayen, was the most warlike of the two. He fixed alarm-sta- 

 tions, on eminences at certain distances around his capital. There was 

 no other king like him. When the Rayer came to invade him, as the 

 drums were beaten at different hill stations the Rayer did not know in 

 which the chief was ; and at length the latter watching his opportunity 

 fell on the Royer^s forces, and made great slaughter. The Rayer^s 

 General being greatly incensed came with a greater force ; and, during 

 four months, an uncertain war was carried on, the chief's place not 

 being known ; while night and day he harassed the troops of the in- 

 vader. The Rayer now desisted from open war, intending to effect his 



