1838.] Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



25. Same title. No. 118.— Countermark 123. 



245 



These are two copies of the same poem. The first one wants twenty 

 palm-leaves, from different places. The second copy wants the 95th 

 leaf only. Two complete books can, at any time, be formed, by copying 

 deficient portions in the one from the other. The first is a little damaged ; 

 the other in good preservation. 



The subject is a fictitious narrative, of a kind not adapted to an ab- 

 stract ; and quite irrelevant to the object of my present enquiries. It 

 may be sufficient to refer to the entry of both MSS. in the Des. Catal. 

 vol. 1. p. 214. art. IV. 



28. Camhan-pddal, the chant of Camhan the poet. No. 225. — Counter- 

 marked 164. 



This manuscript contains seventy stanzas of the kind termed dsi^iya- 

 viruttam ; and, at the commencement, is said to have been composed by 

 Camhan. The subject is a panegyric of the Fanniyar, a class of Hiiidus 

 who formerly had local authority in the Carnatic. The Vanniyar, are of 

 the agni-culam (or fire race), and are herein said to be descended from 

 Samhhu muni. They are praised for their skill in the use of the bow and 

 arrow ; and it may be inferred, that they prevailed against feebler 

 neighbours. 



Remark. — The manuscript is of recent copying, and in very good pre- 

 servation. I am told, by a competent judge, that this book does not bear 

 a resemblance to Camhan' s style. For my own part I consider, that a 

 formal ascription of its authorship to Camhan, at the commencement, is 

 equal to an admission that it is the production of some later poet, making 

 use of the former's name. Tamil literature abounds with such literarv 

 licenses. The book is entered in Des. Catal. vol. 1, p. 224, art. XXXVI. 



27. Dottiya-Mafhura-Cdlz-amman-purvotarum, or -dncient account of 

 the Durga, in the Dottiya district of the Madura country, No. 246, 

 — Countermark 61. 



This image was buried in an ant-hill, and was dug out thence by a 

 Pandaram, who, with the aid of the neighbouring villagers, built for it a 

 Small fane ; after being installed in which certain prodigies were accom- 

 plished ; especially in healing the sick or diseased. One day a man of 



