1838.] 



Report on the Mackeiizie Manuscripts. 



3 



ments on the whole are distinct : 1 think this MS. important to be 

 compared with that, and some of its parts are perhaps more valuable 

 than the Kerala Ulpatti. Like that document I think this one merits 

 translation, as affording materials towards a digested account of the 

 Malay alam country. 



2. Pururava-raja Cathai, ox ih^idlQ king Pwrurttya.—No. 53.— 

 Countermark 12. 



This is a sort of romance grounded on some ancient legends con- 

 cerning Pururava, the son of Budha and I la ; but drawn out, by the 

 addition of many apparently fictitious incidents, into a tale of the class 

 termed Upa-jndva ; in which the hero and heroine usually suffer great 

 loss and damage, through the malice of Saniy regent of the planet 

 Saturn; and, after passing through extreme distress and degradation, 

 at length come forth to renovated, and increased, prosperity and hap- 

 piness. It seems to be a somewhat favourite mode of writing among the 

 Hindus. With the exception of some few matters at the commence- 

 ment, there are incidents scattered through the tale calculated to in- 

 terest and amuse ; regarded as fictitious views of life and manners, 

 very different from those of western people ; but there is nothing of his- 

 torical value J at least to the best of my judgment. A reference may be 

 made to the notice, in a following page, of a Telugu poem, bearing a 

 similar title with this one, and founded on the same early legend, though 

 differing widely in details. The Telugu work is the superior one in 

 point of composition. This Tamil work is in very ordinary prose. The 

 manuscript is complete ; but very much damaged by insects. Not 

 wishing to let it pass out of my hands in that condition ; and, at the 

 same time, not thinking it worth restoring on paper, I have had it re- 

 copied on new palm-leaves, in which condition, with moderate care, it 

 may long be preserved in the collection. In any series of Hindu 

 romances it would merit a place. An expectation that it might possi- 

 bly contain historical details, led to its examination at so early a period 

 of the present enquiries. 



3. Jaina Panchamarca Ulpatti, or an account of the five (irregular) 

 systems among Jainas. No. 173. — Countermark 1074. 



A manuscript of ten palm-leaves, in Tamil and GranCha characters 



