352 



Marava-J a/hi- Vernanam i 



[Oct-. 



ther. The circumstance however, so authenticated, comes in at a 

 period when other already published manuscripts admit a period of 

 confusion ; though pride, or love of country, might conceal so humili- 

 ating a fact, as that the feudatories of Madura had once been its lords 

 and masters. Still this was a period when the Pandiya kingdom was 

 in dispute by rival claimants, and in a state of civil war ; a period 

 usually very convenient for neighbours to take advantage of : hence 

 probably the temporary Marava supremacy. 



It has been a custom, from very remote times, for pilgrims to visit the 

 shrine at Ramiseram ; and the office of the local chiefs always was to 

 conduct those pilgrims, or see them conducted, in safety, guaranteeing 

 them, for a small acknowledgment, from the attacks of robbers among 

 that lawless tribe, by which the country was peopled. In connexion 

 with this circumstance, we find the first link in a regular historical chain ; 

 and this incident is not of more ancient date than A. D. 1500, or about 

 that time. The chief spiritual guide of Mutthu Kistnapa Naicker, 

 king of Madura, having occasion to visit Ramiseram, was safely and 

 loyally conducted thither, and back again, by one of the seven chiefs, or 

 guardians. Through the chief Guru's interest and recommendation, 

 Mutthu Kistnapa Naicker invested the local chief formally with the 

 title of Seihupalhi, and with some oilier privileges ; among the rest 

 with the right of building a fort. The Sethupathi subdued, and 

 brought into order, other portions of the province, before anarchical ; 

 carrying collections of revenue to Madura, and meeting there with 

 great acceptance. The result of this policy at Madura, though very- 

 successful for a time, was ultimately to exalt one of the descendants of 

 a before insignificant chief into a rival of the celebrated Tirumald- 

 naieker, the second son of Mullhu Kistnapa Naicker, and third from 

 him in order of succession. The valour of Tirumala-naicker's general 

 Rdmapaiyen restored matters; the rebel was taken on the island of 

 Ramiseram, carried to Madura, and imprisoned in fetters. During his 

 imprisonment the pilgrims suffered annoyance ; and, at ttieir interces- 

 sion, he was released, and re-instated. The good effects of this ge- 

 nerous policy Tirumala-naicker afterwards experienced, in the Sethu- 

 patht being the chief instrument of repelling an invasion, of the Din- 

 digul province, by the Mysoreans. As a reward the sovereign of 

 Madura bestowed on the Sethupatht those distinguished honours, which 

 are adverted to in the following document. At a later period also 

 Choka-nalha Naicker, a degenerate descendant from the Madura lords, 

 was rescued from ignominious bondage to a rebellious favourite, by the 

 conduct and valour of Ragu-natha-dever, more frequently styled 

 Kilaven Sethupathi : a brave soldier, but unhappily a cruel man. 



It will be perhaps superfluous here minutely to trace all the particu- 

 lars of the history of this principality, seeing that they may be found 



