1840.] 



Report on (he Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



m 



divisions of the day and night are attributed to them ; and as these 

 follow in various alternaiion, so different actions of the birds correspond 

 with different periods of the day and night. Some of these actions are 

 fortunate ; some the reverse : consequently it requires both labour and 

 skill to discover what bird rules the hour, and whether the action of the 

 bird at the time is propitious, or adverse. If adverse, nothing must be 

 done just (hen. This artificial system, I have understood, is not gene- 

 rally received. One more preposterous it would be difficult to ima- 

 gine. This last part is incomplete. 



Kemaek. — The book is generally in good preservation, the ink a little 

 pale, bat at present nothing further is requisite than moderate care. 



Manuscript book, No. 14. — Countermark 155. 

 '^Section 1. — ParamarVha Guru. 



A sarcastic series of tales by Beschi, levelled at heathen ^^Mfw* ; and 

 intended, at the same time, to assist in learning familiar phrases in the 

 Tamil language. It was translated by Mr. Babington. The above copy 



is complete. 



Section 2,—Agastya varaldru. 



An extract from the Cast Cdndam of the Scanda puranam ; hereto- 

 fore given in an abstract of that book. Vide 5thHeport» 



Section 3. — Jati-vallamai. 



A tract on differences of caste, written by Veda Nayakj a Christian 

 in Colonel Mackenzie's employ. 



Section 4. — J dti beda nul. 



The poem of Ulaga ndt^ka, heretofore noted (vide 4th report). The 

 subject is, the differences, and distinctions, of castes, or tribes. 



Remark. — The contents of this book are in very good preservation 

 The different sections are entered, under distinct heads, in the Descrip-. 

 tive Catalogue. 



