1839.] Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts. 



22 



to become rulers of the country. Their request was accorded ; on con- 

 dition of building a great many Saiva temples. The said* man ruled 

 ninety years ; and specially distinguished himself by killing Surasuran, 

 who had greatiy molested the peaceful inhabitants of the country. From 

 this circumstance, his power would appear to originate. He transmitted 

 his rule to his descendants. [Here unhappily a chasm in the manuscript 

 occurs]. Mention of Kulottunga Chola ; and of Siva linga- Chola, afflict- 

 ed with leprosy; and of other transactions. The entire period of the 

 Chola rule was I i 59 years. The account was written at Tanjore in the 

 Crodhana cycle year by Vencoji-agoja, who states in the conclusion, 

 that if the learned shall discover in his production any mistakes, or 

 errors, they are requested to extend to these their indulgence, and par- 

 don. 



Remark. — On the document is an English endorsement as follows: 

 41 Account of 1 6 Chola rajas, procured at Capistaium, in which three 

 pages are lost." The apology of the author, at the close, must, be 

 weighed ; for it implies his own consciousness of possible errors, or de- 

 ficiencies. It is, however, to be noted that the passage about the killing 

 Surasura'i illustrates a section of the Sevendhi st'hala-pa ana n, wherein 

 the first founder of Uriytir, and Trichinopoly, is termed Sura-vathittan, 

 or ** the slayer of Sura ;" and is therein described as the first ruler. 

 The term of 1159 years, for the Chola dynasty, is too great: divided 

 among 18 it would give about 65 years to each ; and we otherwise know 

 the term to be too great. As regards the Cunumbi tribe, I understand 

 that Cunumbi is a common M ihratti term to express a tribe, or caste, 

 which is not of Hinht extraction. 



This document besides being incomplete, wanting a leaf in the midst, 

 and some others at the end, is also greatly damaged, by insects eating 

 away portions near the outer margin. It is only not quite so far gone, 

 as the first section in the book; and a complete, or connected, restora. 

 tion of what remains of the document is not practicable. Nevertheless 

 as all versions of the Chola dynasty, are, desirable ; as this d i :ument 

 throws a ray of light on the Sfhala-purana of Trichinopoly: and is need- 

 ful to support, on reference, the abstract herein given ; I have had its 

 restoration attempted : which, upon the whole, has been successful. 



Section 4. Account of the establishment of Tonda-mandalam. 

 According to this paper, there were only four or five huts of A' rata p »o- 

 pie (wild savages) previous to its subjugation by the Choi* king. He, ia 



