1847.] 



on Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



123 



Note. — The copy is complete ; and in good preservation. An entry in 

 the Des. Cat. occurs, Vol. 1, p. 214, Art. 3. 



16. Cheta cati-nondinatacam, a drama, No. 127, CM. 132. 



A poet of Vaguti village in tlie south, of the Mahomedan class, wrote 

 this drama, in imitation of Hindu productions. A Mahomedan bandit 

 plundered in many places, and then placed the spoils at the disposal of a 

 ddsi of the fane at Madura, by whom after a time he was rejected. He 

 then went to Ginjee, and stole the horse of the Nabob at that place ; in 

 consequence of which his legs and arms were cut off; but Cheta-cati, a 

 Mahomedan in power, gave the cripple a palanquin to ride in ; and by 

 worshipping his tutelary god the said cripple had his Kmbs restored. The 

 drama is thence named " the cripple of Cheta-cati" and I imagine it to be 

 a sly lampoon, on the mode in which Hindu books select the most flagrant 

 wretches to make of them distinguished favorites of their deities, provid- 

 ed they only pay a little homage at the popular shrine. 



Note. — The manuscript is complete, and in perfect preservation. It 

 is entered in Des. Cat., Vol. 1, p. 216, Art 9. I have taken my different 

 orthography from the Tamil title inside the book. 



17. Stigriva Vijaya. The triumph of Siigriva, No. 152, CM. 137. 

 A poem by Raja-gopala, the subject being taken from the Ramayana, 



It relates to the deposition of Vali from the throne at Kislildndi by Rama, 

 and the installation of Sugriva the younger brother of Vali, in his place. 

 In return for this service Sugriva became the faithful ally of Rama in 

 his war against Ravana, for the discovery of Sita. 



Note. — The MS. is complete and in perfect preservation. It is enter- 

 ed in Des. Cat. Vol. 1, p. 217, Art. 15. 



18. Crishna-duthu, the embassy of Crishna, No. 52, C. M. 11. 



The five Pdndavas after the expiration of their penance in the wilder- 

 ness, and gaining the friendship of a powerful ally, resolved before mak- 

 ing war on Duryodhana to send to him an embassy in due form, demand- 

 ing the restoration of their kingdom. Dherma raja accordingly commis- 

 sioned his kinsman CmAna to go on this errand; who accepted the office 

 and went to Duryodhana with whom his demand was unsuccessful. 

 Duryodhana thought of killing the messenger; but his father-in-law 

 Jacani represented that openly to kill an ambassador was unlawful ; and 

 suggested a device to effect his imprisonment. This was to erect a seat 

 on a throne over a dungeon on weak supports, with people underneath, 

 prepared to put the ambassador in fetters. Crishna was sent, and on taking 

 his seat found it give way beneath him : but, assuming a supernatural 

 form, he destroyed the people beneath, and then told Duryodhana that 

 it was not his office to do more ; but announced the death of himself, 

 and his kinsmen by Bhima. He then returned from his unsuccessful 

 embassy. 



