84 



ON THE NAMES OF 



taming many small hamlets, each bearing the village namOj 

 with a distinguishing suffix indicating the relative position 

 of each within the village limits, and often having the suffix 

 teru 11 = street, in place of the village name. 



The following facts may be gathered from a short study 

 of the names on the map (see Indian Atlas, sheet 80) : — 



(a.) The comparative absence of rivers, tanks and 



channels, &c, for irrigation. 

 (b.) The absence of hills, mounds, and rocks. 

 (c.) That this part of the country has been to a great 

 extent jungle (kddu = wilderness, forest), and 

 inhabited by rude unruly irreligious folk, 

 rather pastoral than agricultural, such as 

 Idaiyan, Kalian, Kurumban, Pallan, Valiyan, 

 Yedan, &c. 



(d.) But there is a fair sprinkling of places termed 

 Agraharam, Chattram, Mangalam, Madam, 

 Pattanam, Pettai, Santai, Yayal, &c, indicat- 

 ing the presence of more civilized people, and 

 telling of trade, agriculture, and brahmanical 

 influence, especially in the more fertile parts, 

 and along the coast where lies the track of the 

 pilgrims to and from Pamesvaram. 



Whilst the vegetable kingdom appears to contribute liber- 

 ally to the onomatology of the district, the animal kingdom 

 is but scantily represented by kokku the crane, mayil the 

 peacock, nari the fox or jackal, and a few others. 



These facts are further illustrated by the following groups 

 of common appellative adjuncts to the proper names of south 

 Indian places displaying those which are present and those 

 which are absent, but are found either in the neighbouring 

 districts or more generally throughout the Tamil country. 



" The suffix "tara in Malayala has the same meaning- and use. 



