1834.1 The Island and Bridge of Sivasamudram, 88 



BAH, having discovered a root which had the quality of making a 

 man invisible, ground it into a very fine powder, and mixing it with 

 a little oil, made a mark on his forehead with the composition^ 

 which, causing him to be invisible, he formed the audacious de* 

 sign, and actually achieved the enterprize, of frequenting the table 

 of Gangarayen, and feasting on the luxuries of the king's dishes. 

 He continued to do this, it is said, for the space of about twelve 

 long years, until, the consumption at the king's table on these days 

 being unusually great, the queen observed it, and wished to know 

 the cause of the extraordinary consumption. Having laid her plan, 

 she one day made Gangarayln, bathe in a very warm bath, after 

 which she had meals placed before him, all of which were very hot- 

 ly feasoned, and caused him on eating to perspire a great deaL 

 The invisible chakler being at the same time at the table partook 

 of the same hot dishes, which causing him also to perspire violent- 

 ly, his enchanted mark dissolved and dropped off, when he was 

 instantly discovered by the prince, and on being questioned who 

 he was, declared the truth, and fell dead on the spot. The 

 king finding that he was defiled by having eaten with a chakler^ 

 consulted the s^dstras which directed him, for the expiation of so 

 great a sin, to plunge himself and his wife into the Cdvert. In 

 obedience to this mandate, he caused his favourite mare to be sad- 

 dled, and taking his wife behind him, proceeded to the falls of the 

 western branch, from the precipice overhanging which he leaped 

 into the " roaring whirlpool " beneath. This fall has hence receiv- 

 ed the name of Ganganachuki, or the leap of Gangarayen, and 

 the most perpendicular part of it is called, The Mares-tail.'^ 

 This prince is said to have reigned about sixty years; and after his 

 I death, his younger brother, named Nonachi Gangarayen, suc- 

 ceeded him. He governed the country in the greatest tranquillity, 

 supporting and encouraging, as his brother did, every devotional 

 ceremony and charitable institution. After a short time, however, 

 finding the possessions of his hereditary kingdom too small, he 

 seized some districts belonging to the Poligars, viz. Palliam, 

 SinganellorSy BundahuUy, Hajipuram, Colligal, Muduganda, 

 JiraganellorCy and Gundagalem. He had a son Gangarayen, 

 and a daughter named Minatchama, who was given in marriage 

 to Achyutarayen, a petty Rajd of a Drug called Kelemalay^ 

 near the Mudhalli Hills. Nonachi Gangarayen reigned peace- 

 ably for the space of about forty years ; and after his death, his 

 throne was left to his son, who after a peaceable government of 

 about thirty years, was dethroned by his brother-in-law Achyuta 



