262 



Life and Writings of Father Beschi. 



[Apris. 



ence After his time, the following persons, with many others, com« 

 posed treatises on this dialect, viz. Palac^yanar, Ageiyan^r, Nattat- 

 tanar, Mayesurer, Cattiyan^r, Avinayanar, Cakkeipj^diuiy^r. The 

 works of all these writers have perished, and we know that they ex- 

 isted only by the frequent mention of their names in books wliich are 

 now extant. One ancient work, written by a person called Tolcap« 

 piyanSr {ancient author), is still to be met with ; but, from its con- 

 ciseness, it is so obscure and unintelligible, that a devotee named 

 Pavananti was induced to write on the same subject. His work is 

 denominated Namml, a term that corresponds exactly to the Fienrh 

 helleslettres, andi the 'L-A.im. titter (S humaniores. Although every one 

 is familiar with tliis title, few have trod even on the threshold of the 

 treatise itself. The author divides his subject into five parts, which 

 are comprised in the following line : — 



** 1st. (oTQp^^ — Ezhuitu— Ze^^er*. This head treats on pronun- 

 ciation and orthography. 



"2d. 0«9=/ra)— Choi — l^orrfir ; which are composed of letters. This 

 head treats of the noun, the verb, and the other parts of spe( ch. 



"3d. OurTQ^oT — Porul — Matter; or the mode in which, by uniting 

 words, a discourse is formed. This head treats on amplification, the 

 affections of the mind, &c. It is sub livided into agapporul, imd pnrap" 

 porut ; that is to say, \nto matte" in tei ior and exfenor, The former 

 relates to the passions and affections of the mind, wliich act on man 

 internally ; the latter, to things external to man. 



4ih. turruL^—Yd.\)p\\—FersiJiration. The Tamil writers confine 

 their remarks on this head to the subject of prosody, and say nothing 

 of the art of poetry. 



** 5th. ^ejsS — Ani — Embellishment. This head treats on tropes and 

 figures. 



The term Panjavilaccanam, which we here used, is the general ex- 

 pression for these five heads. 



*' Pavananti not having completed his design, his Nanmd comprises 

 only the two first heads, viz. Letters and Words ; on each of which 

 he has treated at considerable length On his death, a person, named 

 Narccaviraja Nambi, took up the subject, and wrote on the third head, 

 or matter. A devotee called Amirda&agaren (sea of nectar), composed 

 a treatise on the fourth head, or Versifcaion, which he entitled Carigei ; 

 and lastly, a person named Tandi wrote on the fifth head, or Emhel* 

 lishment: his work was called from him Tandiyalancaram ; the word 

 alancaram being the same as ani. 



