30 



Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts, 



[July 



This paper, though in the Tamil language, relates to the Malayalam 

 country. It begins with an account of the offspring of a Brahman by 

 a Chanddla woman, which child was thrown into a river, and taken out 

 at some distance by a Brahman woman, who after some time discover- 

 ed the child to be a Chandala. Various families are then adverted to 

 and also a variety of local customs. The mention follows of the gene- 

 rations of the race of Cavalapa Nayar not well admitting of abstract. 



Remark.— The said Nayar 1 am informed resided near Palgatcheri, 

 and his family consists of various subdivisions : the paper may there- 

 fore be of local interest and importance ; though, seemingly, not of con« 

 sequence in any general point of view. 



Section 3. Account of PM/Awp«^^?«m,near Sadras. 



In the 2301 st year of the Cali ijuga there were two Racshasas named 

 Chaturangan, and Balarangan, who were very powerful, and lived in 

 Chaturanga patnam fSadras). These cleared the forest from MailapuVf 

 as far as to Cudalur (Cuddalore), and destroyed the wild beasts. Mavali 

 Chacravertlis traditionally said to have been their descendant. A legend 

 follows, designed to fix the locality of the account of Mabaliio this neigh- 

 bourhood; but the incidents differ from the usual narrative,as for example 

 in the Bliagavata. The Jainas afterwards had an ascendency in this 

 neighbourhood ; and seventy-two families built the town calledPtf/^Mpa^- 

 nam (or Newtown), from being then newly built. Seventy-two head men 

 among them rode in palankeens (a mark formerly of high distinction). 

 A chief to the north of them, fought with them. He was named Purii" 

 shotiama-prabhu. After much loss, on both sides, he was taken and 

 killed, by being fed with rice without salt. In consequence of the 

 cruelties of the war a town received the name of Kodavupatnam (de- 

 rived from a word denoting cruelty). It is then (absurdly) stated, that 

 they fought against Sanatcumara ; and being denounced by that royal 

 sage, a mud-shower descended and destroyed their towns, and the sea 

 overflowed them. Thus from Mailapur to Cudalur^ not one stone 

 upon another,"* now remains of their habitations. 



Section 4. Account of the Fedar, of the Wynaad district. 



* This phrase is employed in the manuscript. The overflowing of the sea is to be 

 specially noted. The circumstance is mentioned in other papers. 



