220 
ON THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS 
called Xurumbas. (This is an allusion to the meaning of 
(^j^ihq, Kurmnjm, or @ jj^lol/^^sotlq, Kurumpiittanam, savage- 
ness, stubbornness, insolence, wickedness. It is, however, 
derived from the national name of the Kurumbas, and not 
vice versa.) In course of time they extended their dominion 
to the very border of Tondamandalam, and a few Kuxumbas 
settled in Salapakkam near Uttaramallur, where their descen- 
dants are still known as Kurumbas. Before they had any 
king, they roved about unrestrained like wild hunters in the 
forests, till, when dissensions and quarrels had arisen among 
them, Kamanda Prahhn restored peace and quiet. He con- 
vinced them that it would be to their advantage to elect a 
king and they followed his advice. As he was a wise and 
popular man, he himself was chosen king, and henceforward 
he was known as Kamanda Kurumha Prabhu, the ruler of 
the Dravida country and Raja of Pulal. The kingdom was 
called Kurumhabhumi, the land of the Kurumbas, and this 
name was entered in all the official documents. He built a 
fort at the town of Pulal, its walls were constructed of bell- 
metal, and its strength and grandeur defied description. 
His rule extended over a vast territory, and as several of his 
subjects betrayed occasionally an inclination to rebel against 
him, he subdivided his realm into 24 districts, in each of 
which he erected a stronghold and appointed a governor. 
The fort of Pulal was his own capital. The foUomng are 
the names of some of these fortified places : Pulalkottai, 
Amurkottai, Kalatturkottai, Puliyui'kottai, Cempurkottai, 
IJiTukattukottai, Venkunakottai, Ikkattukottai and Patnvur- 
kottai.i" 
The Lite F. W. Ellis gives in his classical article on the Mirasi ques- 
tions all the 24 names, besides the above named are further mentioned : 
Manaviirkottai, CenkattukOttai, PaiyurkCftai, E>-irkfittai, Tam;irkottai^ 
Palkunrakottai, IlankattukOttai, Ksliyurkott'^ii. Cirukaraikoitai. Katikai- 
kettai. Cantirikaik6tt.n, Kunwpattirakottkii, V^nkalakfittai and V(?lijrkott;ii. 
— Mr. Ellis obtained the list from the .Tfiftnapnikas;! Matam. Compare the 
Papers oil Mirdsi Ri(jht, Madras, 1862, pp. 23.'j-241. 
See also Abbe Dubois' Dnn iptiou of the People of India, second editiou, 
p. 342, and Jlr. .1. H. Nelson's Manual of Madura, V.wl 11, pp. 64, C>d. 
