32 Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



Section 6. Account of the Pdnta-curzis at Paduvur. 



[July 



This locality was formerly in possession of the Jainas, as is visible 

 from the remains of their Bastis, or fanes. Tliey were destroyed by 

 the Brahmaus in the time of Adcndai ; and some embraced the 

 Brabmanical system. They had the custom of putting their old 

 people, when very infirm, into vessels of baked earth, and leaving 

 them to die. From thi.s custom, the paper deduces the origin of the 

 T'anta-curzii'*. There is an inscription ; but the letters are become 

 illegible. 



Section 7. Account of the Curumhars. The ancestors of these 

 people were engaged in the great war of the Patidavas, Their des- 

 cendants were afterwards dispersed in various places. Tliese were 

 Jainas. A proverb is current concerning them (from a particular in- 

 cident) that their eyes are on tlieir shoulders. From a custom com- 

 mon among them of hnving their heads shaved on the death of one 

 of their number, they were massacred in one day by barbers. The 

 place is called Xaranihur, A detail of their forts twelve in number 

 is given. 



A Sannii/asi who had seen a book written by the Curumbar, states, 

 that they were nuai n'ou^ auvl powerful before the time of Ado?idai 

 and of the Jaina religion. Various other matters concerning them 

 are rather doubtfully meniinned ; but it is stated, that they certainly 

 held power as late as the time of Crishna-Raye.r ; when, in conse- 

 quence of their pride, the Vellazhas engaged the barbers to massacre 

 them; and, besi.les, th.e troops of Crishna-Royer, along with those of 

 the Wiyalvar poligars, further destroyed them. 



Note. —The massacre of the Curumhars^ in one day, was noted in 

 the abstract of a preceding paper. — See Second Report. 



General Remark.— This book is a collection of traditionary state- 

 ments by one of the agents of Colonel Mackenzie. Some of the 

 contents previously occurred in documents before examined. Being 

 injured, and written in pale ink, the book was restored. In cases 

 wherein the contents harmonize, in substance, with those of other 

 books, the agreement in testimony may be considered as affording ad- 

 ditional evidence to the points in question. 



* See Second Report.— Paper on the Pania Curzis. 



