1838.] 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts, 



311 



dwelt in certain districts. There were then, according to tradition, no 

 forts, only huts ; no kings, no religion, no civilization, no books ; men 

 were naked savages : no marriage institutions. Many years after, the 

 Curumbars arose in the Carnata country : they had a certain kind of 

 religion ; they were murderers ; they derived the name of Curumbar 

 from their cruelty. Some of them spread into the Dravida-desam as 

 far as the Tonda mandala country. They are now found near Uttra 

 Melur; but more civilized. They ruled the country sometime, but 

 falling into strife among themselves, they at length agreed to select 

 a chief, who should unite them altogether. They chose a man who had 

 some knowledge of books j who was chief of the Dravida country, and 

 was called Camanda Cwumba-prabhu, and Pulal raja. He built a 

 fort in Puralur. He divided the Cwrwrnfea-land into twenty-four parts* 

 and constructed a fort in each district. Of these the names of ten 

 are — Puralur^ the royal fort, Callatur, Amur, Puliyur, Chembur, Utthi- 

 kadu, Katiyam,, Venguna, Icattukottai, Paduvur. While they were rul- 

 ing, there was a commerce carried on by ships. As the merchants of 

 Caveripum-palnam sought trading intercourse with them, the Curumbas 

 built the following forts (stations) for trade : Pafti pulam, Sala-cupam, 

 Sala-jJakam, Met/ur, Cadalur, Alampari, Maracanam ; whence, by means 

 of merchants from Caveripum-patnam and the Curambar, a commercial 

 intercourse by vessels was carried on. They flourished in consequence; 

 and while without any religion, a Jaina ascetic came and turned them 

 to the Jaina credence. The Basti which the Pural king built after 

 the name of that ascetic, is still remaining together with other Basti, 

 BX\d some Jaina images in different places ; but some are dilapidated 

 and some destroyed, by the hatred of the Brahmans. They were 

 similar to the Jainas of the present day. They were shepherds, 

 weavers, lime-sellers, traders. While living thus, various kings of 

 civilized countries made inroads upon them, as the Chola and Pandiya 

 kings, and others ; and being a wild people who cared not for their 

 lives, they successfully resisted their invaders, and had some of the 

 invading chiefs imprisoned in fetters, in front of the Pural fort. Be- 

 sides.they constrained all young people to enter the Jaina religion ; in 

 consequence of which vexation a cry arose in the neighbouring coun- 

 tries. At length Adondai of Tanjore formed the design of subduing 

 them ; and, invading them, a fierce battle was fought in front of the 

 Pural fort, in which the Curumba king's troops fought, and fell, with 

 great bravery ; and two-thirds of Adondai's army was cut up. He re- 

 treated to a distance overwhelmed with grief; and the place where he 

 halted is still called Cholan-pedu, While thinking of returning to 



