1848.] Analysis of Machenzie Manuscripts. 



ITT 



is an extravagant romance, with respect to which it may be quite sufficient 

 t-o refer to the adequate, though brief notice, in the Des. Cat, Vol. Ij 

 p. 327, Art. 28. 



Note. — The Manuscript is quite fresh iti appearance and uninjured. 

 Out of six books of the poem, when complete, there is only one book con- 

 tained in this copy. 



11. Vipra nardyann chefitra. No. 134, C. M. 302. 



The subject of this poem, in the divi pada measure, is either to frame 

 an apology for the theft of a valuable utensil from the shrine at Sriran- 

 gham near to Trichinopoly ; or else to feign that circumstance, as a vehi- 

 culum, for matter of a gross, and sensual character. The period of occur- 

 rence, as to the leading incident, is placed in the time of a CJiola raja, no 

 name being specified. \ It seems to me a work merely of invention ; though 

 some such incident may very likely have occurred. From various books, 

 thefts by servants, in different fanes, may be observed to be no uncommon 

 occurrences. There is quite a sufficient entry respecting this Manuscript 

 in Des. Cat., Vol. I, p. 347, Art. 67, to which I refer. 



Note. — With the exception of the first leaf, on which the name of the 

 writer would appear, which is now wanting, the poem is complete. The 

 appearance of the Manuscript is old, it is untouched by insects; but a lit- 

 tle broken at the ends, by wear or usage. 



12. Capota-vdcyarn. No. 129. Countermark 375. 



^ The subject of this composition in the vachana-cavyam, is a sort of 

 fable stated to have been delivered by Ruma to Suyriva, when he needed 

 the help of the latter, and his foresters, in the war against Havana. The 

 substance is the willing devotedness of a dove that gave itself to death, 

 when its mate had been previously killed, and some similar matter. The 

 moral of the fable seems to be to urge the exposure of life in the recovery 

 of Sita ; both the life of Rama and of Sugriva, with his sylvan followers. 



Note. — The first leaf and writer's name are wanting : the remainder 

 is complete, and damaged only by wear. 



13. Bi-ahma-nayaki-dandaca. No. 123. Countermark 468. 



The dandaca is a species of composition of the plainer kind. This 

 Manuscript is by Siva ramdiyer of Tiru-corna-mane, a village in the Ton- 

 diman^s principality near Trichinopoly. The subject is the eulogy of the 

 Sacti or local goddess of the Saiva class, of which the writer was a vota- 

 ry. It is quite a recent copy, and in the large and rude hand-writing ap- 

 parently of a school-boy. Any entry in the Des. Catalogue is not appa- 

 rent; though v.; 'las the usual marks of classification. 



14. Tiru-calacodi-ptirvottarum. No. 125. C. M. 291. 



This is a fragment of six small palm leaves. It is a local legend of a 

 Saiva shrine, in the extreme south ; a site of military operations in the 

 early part of this century : according to which Agastya and FuiasCIiyi 



VOL. XV. NO. xxxiv- Y 



