1850.] 



of Continental India, fyc. 



143 



merce. He was afterwards afflicted with what the natives term 

 *' spiritual folly ;" allowed the JBrahmans to take his wealth and, 

 as stated, build with it the fane of Tayuman Nalle, on the rock at 

 Trichinopoly, while he himself became a devotee ; was killed, as the 

 narrative says, by the kick of an animal, while absorbed in medita- 

 tion : and ultimately became united to Siva : that is, in the phrase 

 of the country, he died. But the said merchant's wealth was acquir- 

 ed in a singular manner, according to the Manuscript quoted. In 

 early life he adopted an orphan boy, who appeared to be silly ; but 

 by the result, was discovered to have been an incarnation of Siva, as 

 Tayuman. The boy had, by degrees, evinced shrewdness ; and, on 

 one occasion, the merchant thought he could place in him sufficient 

 confidence to send him in charge of his venture, with the periodical 

 fleet. He went ;. sold the cargo advantageously ; and then invested 

 the whole proceeds in what natives term varattis (or cow-dung 

 cakes). He was laughed at for his pains. The returning fleet met 

 with adverse winds ; and was detained much beyond the usual time ; 

 so that the whole convoy became greatly distressed for want of fuel 

 to cook their food. It was then remembered that one vessel was 

 loaded with the desired article ; and pressing instances were made 

 to the young man to sell them ; or at least to barter his cargo against 

 security for an equal number of fuel-cakes on their return. After 

 considerable apparent hesitation he consented, on condition that one 

 cake should be taken from his cargo, sealed and weighed, and like 

 for like duly returned. This was agreed to: all due securities were 

 taken ; and the singular cargo was consumed before, by a now fa- 

 vorable wind, they reached home. The deposited cake was handed 

 .ip before the authorities : it was again weighed and the seal broken ; 

 md on being examined inside was found to contain gold-dust, the 

 tare being inconsiderable. Nearly the entire weight of so many 

 -akes, as the cargo had contained, was by agreement to be returned 

 in gold-dust. The other merchants were ruined ; and, (as we some- 

 times say), the fortune of the boy's master made for life : though the 

 result was as before stated. 



There may be the fictitious, and the apocryphal in the tale. But 

 is, according to Marsden, Sumatra had gold-mines, and in the palmy 

 >eriod of the Menang Kabau dynasty a large traffic was carried on, 



