623 



Bepori on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



[Oct, 



There follow some unconnected documents, given in by individuals ; 

 stating the ground of their rights to certain agraJidrams, or similar pos- 

 sessions. These are of no permanent value. 



After these conies what is properly the SVhala purunam., consisting, 

 irj the earlier portion, of a tissue of legendary fiction, and super- 

 natural machinery, often puerile ; and extracting portions from Pu- 

 ranas or from the Mahabharaia, fixing the locality of action to the 

 fane in question, Avhich seems to be otherwise termed Veda purl. 

 There is occasionally a reference to Racshasas, Vedars and Kira- 

 tas, as different from Hindus. The name of Veda-puri is stated to 

 be derived from Veda- Vyasa, on account of his presence at this place. 

 At length towards the end of the MS. a reference is made to Kidottunga 

 Cholan, and his illegitimate son Adondal ; enabling me thenceforv/ard 

 to recognize the place as that where Adondai is said, in another MS. 

 to have had a vision of Siva and Parvati, encouraging him to proceed 

 against the Jaina-Curumhars. The legend of a chorister from Indra's 

 world sent dov;n to earth to do penance is begun ; and, from what is 

 stated, it can be anticipated that he is the opponent whom Adonda 

 concjuered, termed in one of the preceding documents Visvavasa raja ; 

 but, at that place, there are leaves wanting : how many it is not possible 

 to say. However I do not think the loss of consequence, as we have 

 the narrative, both simple and ornate, in other papers. 



A minute specification, as to accounts of expenses requisite for the 

 fane, is tied up at the beginning of the MS. The portion first ab- 

 stracted (which is valuable) does not I conceive properly belong to the 

 document. The manuscript is a little injured ; but not to any measure 

 of illegibility. On the whole (with the exception indicated) it claims 

 no further notice. 



I conceive it to be the document entered in Des. Cat. vol. 1, p. 178- 

 art. XLII. If so, the mention of contents, proceeds no further than the 

 minute specification of accounts, improperly placed at the commencement 

 of the book. The fixing the locality to Cholangivaram. near Chittiir 

 m_ay be of service ; because the place is connected with historical as- 

 sociations. 



11. Marava jdti Chariira, or account of the Maravas of Ramnad and 

 Sivagangai districts, No. 23S. — Countermark 107. 



This manuscript, of fifteen palm-leaves, was translated by me, and 

 afterwards printed in the Madras Journal of Literature and Science No* 



