240 



Report on the MacJcenzie Manuscripts. 



[Oct. 



row leaves, and in small writing : it is more seriously damaged than the 

 second. Out of the three a copy might be made, by editorial labour ; but 

 the work is not of such consequence as to render it needful for me to 

 undertake that labour in the present stage of my enquiries. With com- 

 mon care the three copies will last, as they are, for some years to come. 



The three manuscripts are entered in the Des. Catal. vol.1, p. 222. 

 art. XXVII under the title of the first one or Viramaran Katha," 

 The entry is comprised in two sentences ; and it will be corrected by 

 comparing it with the preceding epitome. 



16. MathuraiViro.payiAmmdnu No. 135.— Countermark 95. 



This copy is complete, and only very slightly injured at the commence- 

 ment ; an injury at present of no consequence. 



17. Same title No. 138.— Countermark 93. 



This copy wants four palm-leaves at the beginning ; the remainder is 

 without defect j and very slightly injured, as to condition. 



18. Same title No. 134.— Countermark 94. 



This copy wants twenty-six leaves at the end : and, in the middle, one 

 leaf is broken. It has the appearance of being much older than either of 

 the other copies. As there is one copy complete, it does not appear re- 

 quisite to restore the damage of this one ; especially as the subject is 

 not of high importance. 



After some introductory invocation, and praise of the magnificence 

 of Cdsi, it is added that a king of that place as the reward of, long 

 penance was favoured with a son named Virapen. He was born with 

 a caul, or something similar, round his neck, which being a token 

 of infelicity, an astrologer was consulted ; in consequence of whose 

 advice the child was taken into a wild place, and left exposed under 

 a tree. A serpent, hearing the child cry, approached ; and shaded it 

 from the rays of the sun with its hood. The wife of a man of low tribe 

 came to gather a species of m.edicinal bark ; and on seeing the child (be- 

 ing without one of her own), she took it up, and carried it home. The 

 town where she lived, was ruled by a chief named Bomma. This chief 



